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5 Things Writers Can Expect When Your Screenplay Starts Filming

Congratulations! So … your project has been greenlit and the first day of principal photography (aka filming) is set. Yay! However, a lot of writers are unaware of what happens AFTER you’ve hit *send* on your “final-final-final” draft. It’s time to shed light on the production stages of your script and what happens during the filming stages … Right up to post-production! Here’s 5 things writers can expect once their project starts filming… ready? Let’s go! 1) Yet More Drafts Oh, you thought you were finished?? NOPE! Once your project is greenlit and you’re working towards the first day of… Read More »5 Things Writers Can Expect When Your Screenplay Starts Filming

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10 Quick Tips For Your Writer’s Resumé

All About The Resumé Most writing submissions require a writer’s resumé now. Bang2writers are always asking me what they should include in theirs, so I thought I would pull together my top tips for you. Ready? Let’s go … 1) Presentation is everything First impressions count. Make sure your resumé (aka your CV, if you’re a Brit like me) LOOKS professional. There’s no set way to do this, so don’t panic … It’s more a case of ‘you’ll know it when you see it’. Swapping with your writing peers is a great idea to see what works and what doesn’t… Read More »10 Quick Tips For Your Writer’s Resumé

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B2W FAQs – Legal Edition

Questions on Copyright & Other Legal Issues Should I copyright my writing? In the UK, copyright of your writing is automatically yours. You don’t need to do anything specific beyond this. MORE ON THIS. However, copyrighting work by sending it to an outside agency is pretty much mandatory in the USA. If you want to send your work to America, you will have to do this. Bang2writers have reported good user experiences copyrighting work with The Writer’s Guild of America and The Script Vault. If you want to copyright your writing and it gives you peace of mind, then fine… Read More »B2W FAQs – Legal Edition

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Top 5 Copyright Mistakes Writers Make

All About Copyright When it comes to copyright and intellectual property rights and laws, writers are often misinformed by urban legends. Their focus is often in the wrong place. Writing is not an easy job. It takes so much time, effort and energy to complete a novel or screenplay … So why aren’t writers ensuring they know their rights on copyright? 1) Thinking that ideas can be copyrighted Writers often get very suspicious about sharing the idea they are working on. They think that if they do someone will steal their idea and write the script they intended to write.… Read More »Top 5 Copyright Mistakes Writers Make

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Lawyer Characters

Lawyer Up! Lawyer characters have long been popular in novels, on TV drama and in movies. As the author of Convictions, the first in a new legal suspense series featuring legal eagle Natalie Bach, I’m all for sexing up the legal profession. But if I’m brutally honest, too many lawyer characters out there are samey or even stereotypical. Here’s my take on a few mistakes writers make about lawyer characters. Ready? Let’s go … 1) The lawyer is dodgy In real life, lawyers have to be of the highest integrity and will be disciplined or struck off if they step… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Lawyer Characters

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Top 10 Legal Questions For Writers

Legal Eagles I’ve had loads of legal questions lately from the Bang2writers, so I thought it would be a good idea to round them all up here for everyone. So if you have a burning legal question, check out the below! Before I begin though, a quick disclaimer … DO remember B2W is not a lawyer or legal expert!! The below is based only my own experiences and the various deals and situations I’ve seen going round the writing block. If you require legal advice, then speak to a real expert ASAP. Let’s go … 1) What is an option… Read More »Top 10 Legal Questions For Writers

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Trying To Get Agents

All About Agents Agents are always in every writer’s sights. With a new year beckoning, NOW is a great time to think about your submissions strategy. But whether you’re a novelist or a screenwriter, do make sure you avoid these epic clangers! 1) Not Following The Submissions Guidelines First up, the obvious one. I know I always bang on (!) about following submission guidelines, but this is because writers STILL don’t do this! NEWSFLASH: all legitimate agents will have their submission guidelines listed on their websites. Before you submit ANYTHING, look at their websites and find out what they are.… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Trying To Get Agents

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Better Safe Than Sued: 5 Legal Tips For Writers

Essential Legal Tips Did you know that writing can be a legal minefield? While you can get away with a lot under ‘fair use’, there’s still a limit to what you can legally do as a writer. There are some areas where you might end up coming unstuck if you’re not careful.Try to avoid any mistakes by keeping these five legal tips in mind while you work: 1) Copyright is important! (But probably not the way writers think) A lot of the time, especially in this digital age, writers have no idea how copyright works. They don’t necessarily understand, for… Read More »Better Safe Than Sued: 5 Legal Tips For Writers

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A Spotlight On Due Diligence For Writers

Due Diligence Writers are urged to do their ‘due diligence’ a lot. This is especially relevant when it comes to finding and evaluating agents, producers and publishers, but also any services or we might pay money for. This may include obvious stuff like screenwriting, novel and short story contests, but also other things like writing courses, software and other things we may buy or use. However, as many Bang2writers may have noticed lately, there is a small but nevetherless stubborn contingent of writers around who think practicing ‘due diligence’ means slagging off and/or smearing people, products and services, especially on… Read More »A Spotlight On Due Diligence For Writers

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Erotica

Cringey Capers You only have to dip into the erotica section of Amazon to see that it is distressingly easy to write poor sexy tales.  Yet just by following a few simple rules you can lift your erotica from tacky to tantalising … Just don’t make any of THESE clangers … 1) No story! Where’s the story? If you are going to write your own sexual fantasies, then don’t forget to make it part of the story and not just a cold happening. 2) Being OTT Keep it your erotica simple and relatable. Use something ordinary and familiar as your starting point-… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Erotica

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5 Simple Ways You Can Source Great Character Ideas

While plot is important, any script will fall flat without the right characters to propel it forwards. Making the audience like (or hate) and care about the characters is extremely important, so you can’t just create a one-dimensional and bland template that you fit to every character. Rather, you should draw on inspiration to make your characters all as unique and interesting as possible. Try these sources next time you need a new character idea: 1) Your past It’s not a good idea to base a character directly on someone you know, as you might end up being sued for defamation… Read More »5 Simple Ways You Can Source Great Character Ideas

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How To Produce A Film Using SEIS

So, MAD MAX FURY ROAD producer Iain Smith gave us all a shot in the arm about film production yesterday … But it’s all well and good SAYING we need to be brave and bold, HOW do we do it??? So, many thanks to @MarkMacNicol, a Bang2writer and LSF Talent Camper from last year’s intake who’s decided time waits for no (wo)man and istaking the bull by the horns … He WILL get his films made, using SEIS and film tax credits, thus taking on the role of producer!! OUTSTANDING!! Mark breaks down this complicated-sounding venture into just seven or… Read More »How To Produce A Film Using SEIS

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