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15 Reasons Your Story Sucks

Your Story Sucks Look, I’m not saying your spec screenplay or unpublished novel SUCKS but if you’re consistently getting … rejected ‘It’s not bad but …’ radio silence Then sorry, but it PROBABLY DOES!!! But how do you know, for sure your story sucks?? Well, check out these reasons below and BE HONEST with yourself … Could you try harder on any of these, below??   1) Your concept is not clear enough Concept, premise, seed of the story … Do you know what yours IS? And can you actually describe what it is? Sounds mad, but a huuuuge proportion… Read More »15 Reasons Your Story Sucks

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5 Lessons I Learned Pitching

As an unrepresented writer (and even one WITH an agent!), it’s essential to do your own groundwork to get your first foot in this business … And there’s no bigger step you can take than pitching your own material, the baby you’ve nurtured so tirelessly since its conception! It should be noted that every pitch you ever perform will be different. No two execs are ever the same. However, there’s some universal insights that will greatly benefit you. These following lessons relate to a project of mine, The Nth Degree, which is an espionage thriller with a sci-fi twist. This… Read More »5 Lessons I Learned Pitching

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How NOT To Pitch Agents: 21 Tips For Writers

How Not to Pitch Agents If you want to pitch agents, you have come to the right place. One of the most oft-hit articles on B2W is 29 Ways NOT To Submit To An Agent by BFLA’s Carole Blake. So, with LondonSWF around the corner, I thought now was a good time to invite another agent to give her tips … So please welcome Jennifer Johnson-Blalock! Jennifer is a lit agent in New York and is offering her top tips on how NOT to pitch at conferences and pitchfests. There’s some stellar advice here on how to pitch agents, so… Read More »How NOT To Pitch Agents: 21 Tips For Writers

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4 Essential Elements Agents Want

As a screenwriter, you face a variety of challenges. You want your work to reflect your creativity and your talents. You also want your work catch the attention of a good literary agent so that you might actually make some money for your efforts. This means that you have to take marketability into consideration as well as creativity. Check out these essential, screenplay elements that literary agents are looking for in your submissions: 1) Fit Into One Genre (Hyphens Are Okay) Some of the best movies in history have defied categorization. They might include elements of action, history, comedy, romance, and… Read More »4 Essential Elements Agents Want

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How To Beat The Gatekeepers

Read Phil’s previous guest post on B2W, Is Your Screenplay Ready? AKA 12 Qs To Ask Of Your Writing, HERE. Many thanks to Phil Gladwin, head of Screenwriting Goldmine, for getting in touch with this eye-opening graphic on how to beat “the gatekeepers”, such as script readers, not to mention the MANY other people up the chain! Yikes! Over to you, Phil: “I get a lot of questions about the UK TV industry, and how it all works … So, after a few of those arriving all in one day, I sat back, just mostly for my own amusement, to draw… Read More »How To Beat The Gatekeepers

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The Perfect Screenplay Writer’s Resume: 5 Key Ingredients

One of the most popular and “evergreen” posts on B2W is How To Put Together A Writer’s CV / Resume, so when Michael got in touch about writing a new post on this, I jumped at the chance! Here’s some great pointers on what to put on yours … Good luck with your submissions!  Nowadays, having a well-thought out resume that is able to showcase your skills and traits as a screenwriter in the best possible light is an absolute necessity. Although some would dismiss the idea and point out that one’s work speaks for itself, let us remind you… Read More »The Perfect Screenplay Writer’s Resume: 5 Key Ingredients

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Infographic: Diversity In Hollywood By The Numbers

In the wake of #OscarsSoWhite and The 88th Academy Awards round the corner, now seems a GREAT time to be talking about improving diversity in Hollywood! As any regular Bang2writer knows, B2W is always up for diversity, especially when it comes to female characters, but also marginalised voices in ALL spheres, including (but not limited to), BAME, disabled, and LGBT people – in front AND behind the camera. So many thanks to DuSable Productions who have been in contact with this VERY eye-opening infographic, below! As I mention in my book, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays, we hear ALOT about… Read More »Infographic: Diversity In Hollywood By The Numbers

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3 Questions Your Writing MUST Answer

Bang2writers sometimes write to me, asking if I can tell them whether it’s “worth” them continuing with a project, or even writing altogether. But my answer is always the same: if YOU feel it’s “worth” it? THEN IT IS. If you don’t, then it’s not! Simple, really. But often, those writers don’t really mean the above. What they mean is, “How can I TELL if my project or my writing *could* get any traction with agents, publishers, producers [and so on]?” Well, it’s good news. You totally CAN tell “upfront” if your writing is “worth” pursuing and all it takes… Read More »3 Questions Your Writing MUST Answer

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“It’s A Catch 22!” How To Get Produced Without An Agent

Writer Woe You don’t have to go far on the internet to find screenwriters bemoaning their lot. Whether it’s “No Unsolicited Material” getting them down, or the fact producers will want writers to get agents (and vice versa), the cry of “It’s a Catch 22!” is seemingly always round the (digital) corner. But it’s not a Catch 22! Fact is, there has never been a better time to be a screenwriter. It’s easier than ever to get produced … AND without the aid of an agent. Here’s how … “How Do I Break In As A Screenwriter?’ I’m asked this question constantly… Read More »“It’s A Catch 22!” How To Get Produced Without An Agent

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7 Things Agents, Producers & Filmmakers Can Tell From Your Pitch

Newsflash! There is no “right” way to pitch, just multiple WRONG ways … true story! When it comes to pitching, whether via documents like one pagers or face to face (or both!), writers tend to freak out very easily. It’s not hard to see why. After all, what makes a ‘good’ pitch?? Well, a good pitch is that irritating thing – you know it when you hear it! That said, there ARE some good guidelines to adhere to in the actual pitching situation. Here’s B2W’s take on what makes a BAD and GOOD pitch … Ready? Let’s go … Written Pitches… Read More »7 Things Agents, Producers & Filmmakers Can Tell From Your Pitch

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13 Experts Share Their Notable Diverse Books Of Recent Years

With Tiverton Literary Festival on this weekend (Jun 6th & 7th), I thought I’d take a look at some great fiction recommendations for you lucky Bang2writers. I’ve been a follower and supporter of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign (check out the official site, HERE), so following previously curated posts on representation here at B2W, I thought I’d ask as many experts as I could about this. Make sure you check out our contributors’ links and recommendations! As with previous posts on female characters in movies and television, as well as representation of transgender characters, I asked just two questions: 1) What have you… Read More »13 Experts Share Their Notable Diverse Books Of Recent Years

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Top 10 Writing Misconceptions

Whenever anyone asks what I do and I reply, “I’m a writer” and/or “I’m a script editor“, they’ll reply, “Wow! How interesting.” My reaction to this is always an indulgent, “Awwwwwwwww …” because as anyone knows, there’s a STACK of misconceptions laypeople (and indeed other writers!) have about writing in general. Here’s just ten of them … Enjoy! 1) Writers love writing Hahahaha. No. And Yes. And NO NO NO NO … just no. I hate writing SO MUCH. Except when I don’t and it’s awesome. MORE: 7 Writing Reminders 2) Writing is all about talent Some of us are uber-talented.… Read More »Top 10 Writing Misconceptions

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