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low budget screenplay

How Your Concept Can Kill Your Writing DEAD

What’s The Concept? Concept, premise, controlling idea, seed of the story … Whatever you want to call it, you need that THING at foundation level in your story to be clear and compelling, otherwise your story is SUNK. Put simply, if you don’t have a great concept at the foundation of your screenplay or novel? YOU GOT NUTHIN’! Supersadface. It can’t be true … can it?? How Concepts Kill Spec Scripts & Unpublished Novels YES! It is true. The short version: if your concept STINKS? Your pitch won’t work. You will never get off the starter blocks – no one will like… Read More »How Your Concept Can Kill Your Writing DEAD

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INFOGRAPHIC: Everything You Need To Know About The Screenplay

So, we have a new infographic on B2W today that will hopefully kickstart your new screenplay and/or keep it going, so you can get it written and revised and sent out. Let’s check it out … What Should You Write About? There’s some great tips here on adaptation. Though most screenwriters aren’t going to have the money for options on adapting bestselling books, they can still collaborate with authors (especially self published ones, though literary agents may pair scriptwriters with authors too – always worth asking! ). Beyond adaptation, it’s always worth doing lots of work on your central concept… Read More »INFOGRAPHIC: Everything You Need To Know About The Screenplay

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25 Mistakes That Send Your Screenplay To The Trash

Don’t Get Sent To Trash If you don’t want your spec screenplay moved to trash, you need to read this post. A lot has changed since I became a script reader back in the early 00s … the biggest being PDFs are now the ‘main’ format of spec scripts. Back when I began, they were on PAPER! I would have to stay in all day and wait for the courier to stagger up my driveway with a sackfull of them. Nowadays, I just get sent a link to a Dropbox folder. Aaah progress! I’ll be teaching Breaking Into Script Reading… Read More »25 Mistakes That Send Your Screenplay To The Trash

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7 Things I Learned Writing, Making And SELLING A Thriller

So, I did a blind-read on THE STOLEN waaaaay back in 2010 via an investment initiative — and I gave it a RECOMMEND. I wondered what had happened to it off and on over the last seven years … So imagine my surprise when the filmmaker Emily popped up in my inbox recently! It must be fate! I’m DELIGHTED to hear how THE STOLEN has made it to screen and I’ll definitely be getting my tickets. Make sure you support indie filmmaking, female filmmakers AND female leads by throwing your weight behind it. CHECK HERE or click the below for cinemas… Read More »7 Things I Learned Writing, Making And SELLING A Thriller

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An Epic Rant On Why You NEED Writing Craft

Rules, Schmules Writing craft gets a bad rap. After all, it’s  just ‘rules’ right?? And rules are made to be broken! NO. A million times, multiplied by infinity crossed with eternity into Dante’s 7 circles of Hell — NO!! Writing craft is NOT about rules. Hell, writing craft is not even about guidelines. These things are non-negotiables and frankly, THE VERY LEAST YOU CAN DO. But do YOU know which parts of craft you’re missing, under-utilising or plain misunderstanding in terms of your writing craft? Do you know what to do about it? Do you understand how thee craft elements… Read More »An Epic Rant On Why You NEED Writing Craft

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4 Ways To Kick Ass On Your Second Draft

On The Second Draft Audrey asks: “What are some of the ‘working’ methods for writing the second draft? I’ll take anything at this point!” Audrey’s not alone in panicking over the second draft. I always find it interesting then writers say they love the first draft, yet hate the rewrites. Bang2writers tell me all the time the second draft is the one they really get stuck on. I would bet real money B2W reads more second drafts than any other. Myself, I’m all about rewriting. Perhaps it’s my script editor hat getting in the way, but I LOATHE writing the… Read More »4 Ways To Kick Ass On Your Second Draft

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3 Important Tips About Theme And Story

1) Theme – A Definition Many thanks to Robert Maitland who asks: I’ve written a screenplay and I am struggling to define the theme. I thought I had understood what the theme/premise was, but on sending it to someone they disagreed. I was wondering if you could offer any advice? If we look up ‘theme’ in the dictionary, you’ll see key words from the definition in the graphic above: ‘subject‘, ‘topic’, ‘idea‘, ‘recurs’ and ‘pervade‘. In layman’s terms then, theme is what your story is ‘REALLY ABOUT’ at foundation level. 2) The Importance of Theme Some writers attach a lot… Read More »3 Important Tips About Theme And Story

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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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4 Easy Tips On Writing An Awesome Disabled Character

B2W tries to shine a light on marginalised characters wherever possible, so I’m thrilled to welcome Owen Kent to the blog today with some GREAT thoughts on writing disabled characters. What I love about his insights is they are so simple and easy to implement in our research and writing, whether we’re writing screenplays or books. Be sure to check out Owen’s work via in the links at the end of the post. Enjoy … Writing a character with a disability is something that anyone can do, but doing it right is another question. These are my 4 tips to consider… Read More »4 Easy Tips On Writing An Awesome Disabled Character

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6 Things I Learned From Making Someone Else’s Script

2015 ended on an incredible high for Apple Park Films and we were keen to capitalise on the momentum this gave us, so we set about developing a short film. As a writer I struggle with the short film format, so I put out an open call for short film bloglines. We received over 200 applications, which lead to us producing Emotional Motor Unit. What follows are 6 things that I learned from being on the other side of the process and working with another writer’s work: 1) Only send what you’re asked for when responding to an open call This… Read More »6 Things I Learned From Making Someone Else’s Script

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6 Things Writers Just Don’t Get About Script Readers

You don’t have to go far on the internet to find writers berating script readers … Because too often, writers just don’t understand what this job really entails! But as I’ve made it my business to demystify the submissions process on this blog, here’s a look at my job under the microscope … hope you find it illuminating! 1) Industry pros RELY on script readers … and interns Industry pros RELY on script readers … They will pay readers (or get them to work for free) because they have no time to read the scripts themselves. I know, cuz I’ve literally… Read More »6 Things Writers Just Don’t Get About Script Readers

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Top 5 Story Mistakes Even Good Writers Make

Good Writers CAN and DO Screw Up, Too Good writers are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean they do everything perfectly.  B2W is known as a blog that recognises it’s probably easier to figure out what NOT to do as a writer … So it’s no accident my ‘Top 5 Mistakes’ series is so popular! From craft issues and loglines, through to female characters, research and more, I’ve been trying to outline the numerous ways we COULD trip up. Here’s the top 5 story mistakes even GOOD writers make … Recognise any of these?? GOGOGO: 1) Not planning or outlining beforehand Look,… Read More »Top 5 Story Mistakes Even Good Writers Make

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