NEW STUFF: Coming this summer! Finally a book on something writers actually need :) "Every writer has a subplot problem. But most of them don't know it. The subplot problem is where a lot of stories quietly fall apart." #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #amwriting #novels #memoirs #amwriting

Looky what I just got :) Now will someone please make the damn thing? #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #scriptsky #scriptwriting #indiefilm #scriptation

The whole keep building on the mall thing is giving Winchester Mystery House

COME WATCH: Writers Block ... learn what it is & isn't and how to bust it... cool process at the end. Writers Block is 99.9% bunk and .1% substance. Learn how to deal with that .1%!!!! bit.ly/4a0Eu8e #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #writersblock #screenwriting #novels #indieauthors

Everybody keeps looking for the 'best' writing routine to be productive—Stephen King, CS Lewis, etc—here's mine: get up, go to computer, do email, do social media, do more email, scroll youtube, write, scroll FB reels, check email, go to gym, walk dog, write, go to bed... repeat. You're welcome

NEW STUFF: here is the final cover for my new ebook series on the Enneagram-Story Connection... thanks Laura McCorkindale, for the title suggestion!!! Lots to say in this new series ... so say tuned! #writingcommunity #writersky #writing #scriptsky #indieauthors #amwriting #enneagram

LAST CLASS 2026: Story-Subplot Connection—8wks—24/7 classroom—1:1 coaching—feedback on all work—and more—nobody talks about subplots and how critical they are, let alone what they are and how to build one. Now's your chance... bit.ly/3MWmFfG #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #amwriting

Busted... #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #writing #aiwriting #indieauthors

THE BOOK BIZ: Nice argument about why MFA programs suck!!! And why so much of contemporary lit feels/sounds the same (like soulless screenplays instead of novels). I don't agree with everything she says, but 80%... worth a listen... bit.ly/43LsZOh #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #mfa

Can CBS News get any more cringier? Bari Weiss has really put her foot in a pile of stink. This cannot end well. So sad, and totally avoidable. #cbsnews #scottpaley #newsmedia #writingcommunity

THE BIZ: Here is the link to full ep.... worth a listen ... youtu.be/8z2Jc4n_pxs?... #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #streaming

1 SPOT LEFT & 10 days 'til @ScriptAnatomy's *DRAFT INTENSIVE* w/writer, Emmy winner, Director/Prod! Crush that 📺 🎬 pilot w/outline/cript notes w/tools & techniques amp up conflict, emotion, theme, relationships - Nab your spot: bit.ly/4f1pjyY

Thoughts? New book cover for my first intro book in a new series I'm developing ... "The Enneagram 4 Writers"... Just Enneagram basics... not a repeat of my bigger book RSD. But skewed for writers. It's a rift off the RSD cover. #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #amwriting #indieauthors

If you use Amazon KDP to self-pub this is a gr8 vid on the pros/cons. Book distrib is chgng fast and KDP is still the gorilla in the room but not the only one. Amazon is the easy road to self-distib, but they screw us all along the road bit.ly/4dwyiqH #writingcommunitiy #writingsky #writing

"Please read a few pages.... " sounds innocent. Sounds reasonable. Why not? Nobody wants to be a dick, so why not? Think again. You're asking a lot, and you are clueless. This is why I won't read your fucking script. bit.ly/49iom1s #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #screenwriting #novels

Think you know what this means? Think again :) Writers really get this so wrong ... bit.ly/4umUxVW #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #writing #indieauthors #amwriting #novels

NEW BOOK: The Story Subplot Connection— new ebook from Storygeeks Press—coming kinda soon. Nothing really out there for novelists and memoirists on how to properly do a subplot, let alone defining one. So if you write stay tuned... #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #amwriting #novels

NEW STUFF: Hey ... not bad for one day out from pub launch :) #1 Release :) #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #writing #indieauthors #amwriting

THE BIZ: Vertical Dramas (microdramas) hasn't gone away or evaporated... we just don't hear much @ it in the US ... it's alive and well on the other side of the planet... #microdrama #verticalstories #scriptsky #writingsky #writing #writingcommunity

SCRIPT CONTESTS: BEWARE ... no surprises here for most of you but I decided to try contests this year since I can't get anyone to return any emails :) Never did contests. #scriptsky #screenwriting #scriptcontests #writingcommunity #writing

NEW BOOK: Final Curtain: How the Three-Act Structure Hijacked Dramatic Writing—3-act structure is a 2000-year-old misunderstanding and this book tells its origin story. And who doesn't love a good story? amzn.to/4uarFAd #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #writing #novels #indieauthors

Came across this little gem ... Charles Laughton (1935) Ruggles of Red Gap :) He recites the Gettysburg Address. Don't make 'em like this anymore :) www.youtube.com/watch?v=awsm... #scriptsky #writingsky #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting #indieauthors

THE BIZ: Vanity deals are crashing at the streamers! Obamas, Prince whatever and Megan, even JJ Abrams ... all downgraded to first-look deals at netflix. Great news for writers and experienced showrunners. Real execution is back on the table #scriptsky #writingsky #writingcommunity bit.ly/4uzVt9f

NEW STUFF: My big ebook on 3-act structure is getting final touches ... 150+ pgs! Turned out solid. Going to upturn a lot of apple carts but worth it :) Launch in a week or so ebook/print. Stay tuned! #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #screenwriting #amwriting #writing #indieauthors

AI WRITING STUFF: The number of ads for new AI Book agents that will take your postit notes and turn them into a full novel is frightening. It will be interesting to see how Amazon gate keeps this problem as their site is glutted with AI book slop. #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #scriptsky

NEW NEWS: Just won another laurel for my TV pilot Hotel Street—Finalist Berlin International Screenwriting Festival. Beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick :) #berlin_screenwriting_festival #scriptsky #writingsky #writing #screenwriting

THE BIZ: I submitted a pilot to Slamdance for their contest. Just got "short notes" back. OMG ... this is why contests suck. Could these folks misread a pilot any worse than they did? I don't think so. Totally missed the premise and the promise of the show. I'm just shaking my head. Amazing.

NEW STUFF: 3-Act Structure in Dramatic Writing: Evolution, Function, and Fallacy—a new Rapid Story Development e-book coming soon. Finally, Im presenting my whole argument and case for dumping 3 acts. #writingcommunity #writing #writingsky #scriptsky #screenwriting #amwriting #indieauthors

Damn!

AI WRITER STUFF: AI Writing Stuff: I have all these writer friends who are mad and "disappointed" in me for using AI as a writer. Have you guys actually read my posts????? #writingcommunity #aiwriting #claude #writingsky #writing #scriptsky #screenwriting #indieauthors #amwriting

AI WRITING STUFF: More experimenting with LLMs and basic feedback on creative writing. Constructed a very careful and targeted prompt. Basically: give me development notes. #scriptsky #writingsky #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting #aiwriting #claude #chatgpt

AI WRITING STUFF: Well, I tested a bunch of AI detection apps on web and they suck. Put AI text in and they flagged... put my original writing in... and they flagged 71%AI. Nope nope nope. So much for these apps ... they suck. #writingcommunity #writingsky #scriptsky #writing #aiwriting

BIG NEWS: My new class "Build Your Book" is open for reg! 12wks-1:1 coaching-live classes-direct feedback and more. Not for beginners. Build Your Book means exactly that! Chapters, scenes, the whole shebang—Early bird pricing bit.ly/4e3yn5Y #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #novels #amwriting

THE BIZ: Stumbled upon this little gem— Scorcese talking about Life and Death of Colonel Blimp—one of my alltime favorite movies!!! And how it influenced Raging Bull ... just the best stuff— if you love film you'll love this www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zx8... #scriptsky #film #movies #writingsky

AI STUFF: I've been deep in the rabbit hole with Claude and creative writing b/c Claude is supposed to be the best at writing stuff. NOT. But ... scary good at notes. It had impressed me with development notes. #writing #writingsky #scriptsky #aiwriting #amwriting #indieauthors #claude

AI WRITING STUFF: We're going to see more and more of this kind of stuff —genre-specific AI agents that write very niche books in a flash. This one is for cozy mysteries —a very niche genre/audience. WDYT??? bit.ly/41rfdPX #writingsky #writing #cozymystery #amwriting #novels #aifiction

Jumping down the AI agentic rabbit hole ... OMG I'm such a dinosaur! How did that happen?

NEW VIDEO: Coming soon: Do You Have to Be a Writer to Give Writing Advice? This is a hot button for a lot of writers ... understandably so. But the answer is not as simple as many make it. This video explains why. COMING SOON... #writingsky #writing #writingcommunity #indieauthors #amwriting

Happy 50th Steppenwolf Theater ... regional theater at its best and a national treasure... www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KLE...

Sitzfleisch — my new favorite German/Yiddish word... "butt flesh" or the ability to sit one's butt in a chair and get something done.

Yeah, that's how I feel this morning ...

THE BIZ: 4 producers talk about what the biggest problems there are now getting a movie made. Worth a read if you're in the biz. (and they're right) bit.ly/41Trz3f #movies #indiefilm #scriptsky #screenwriting

The WGA Negotiating Committee has unanimously approved a tentative agreement w the AMPTP for the 2026 MBA. This deal protects writers’ health plan & puts it on a sustainable path, builds on gains from 2023 & helps address free work challenges. Members will receive more info in coming days #WGAStrong

Logline Mastery for novelists and memoirists! New online, self-directed Storygeeks class waitlist open. Watch the intro vid and get on the waitlist! If you write, you need this. Check it out. bit.ly/4bZP1R1 #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #scriptsky #amwriting #indieauthors #loglines

I think Yiddish is one of the best languages... weird for a goy boy to say but עס איז אמת! 🙂

COME WATCH: Don't know a subplot from a steak sandwich? This will help ... just an overview but this lays it out: what a subplot is, isn't, how they work, structure, etc. If you write books, you need this into. :) youtu.be/tHUbqSQT1t4 #writingcommunity #writing #writingsky #scriptsky #amwriting

NEW VIDEO: Build Your Book—a new self-directed class for writers to help them move from development to manuscript pages! Very cool stuff. Watch the long version here: Chk out the longer video on my YT channel : youtu.be/6wm0vcZnNoc #writingcommunity #writingsky #writing #amwriting #writersky

WDYT? Separate bedrooms?????? Hmmm...

MORE FREE STUFF: Whistles & Bells Test infographic ... I talk about this all the time—a quick way to test ANY story idea to see if it might have legs. It really works. Honest. :) #writingcommunity #writing #writersky #writingsky #scriptsky #indieauthors #amwriting

FREE STUFF: Get your free copy of the Writers Workflow Poster— www.storygeeks.com/store #writingcommunity #writing #writingsky #scriptsky #indieauthors #amwriting #amediting #storygeeks