Skip to content

media

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 10 Screenwriting Commandments From William Goldman

About William Goldman William Goldman was a novelist and screenwriter. If you’ve never heard of him, then where have you been?? His contribution to the creative arts is phenomenal. He was also a huge influence on B2W!! Goldman’s works include his thriller novel Marathon Man and his cult classic comedy/fantasy novel The Princess Bride, both of which he also adapted for the film versions. Goldman also won Oscars for his screenplays Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and All the President’s Men (1976). He also did a brilliant job of illuminating the process for writers in his non fiction books… Read More »IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 10 Screenwriting Commandments From William Goldman

Share this:

10 Quick Tips About Writing TV From Gina Fattore

About Gina Fattore Gina Fattore is a television writer, showrunner and author. Gina’s credits include Dare Me, Better Things, UnREAL, Masters of Sex, Parenthood, Californication, Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creek. Wow! That’s quite the resumé. Gina has also written a comic novel about her life as a TV writer, The Spinster Diaries, which is available now. Her TEDx talk, ‘Become What You Believe’ has had 16,000 views and you can watch it HERE. Since you Bangers love TV writing, I thought I’d ask Gina for her tips about it! Ready? Let’s go … 1) Write The Script Only YOU Can Write… Read More »10 Quick Tips About Writing TV From Gina Fattore

Share this:

Writers, This Is The Very Least You Can Do

Newsflash! Good screenplay format is the VERY LEAST expected of a screenwriter. Yup, it’s true … Writing craft doesn’t mean what you think it does. Too many spec screenwriters OBSESS on format, thinking that equals good craft. NOPE!!! Seriously wish this was the least we need. Eek. So by all means study screenplay format and “reader proof” your script … If your script looks professional, this might get you through the door. That’s the good news. The bad news? You ARE NOT going to stay there if your concept, characters and story ain’t up to scratch. Hashtag facts! It’s different for… Read More »Writers, This Is The Very Least You Can Do

Share this:

6 Crucial Storytelling Tips You Will Thank Me For

Every Bang2writer knows storytelling is not easy. But whether you’re writing a novel, screenplay or any other kind of writing (including sales copy, blogs and other content), incorporating storytelling in your writing is a MUST! Ready? Let’s go … 1) Show, don’t tell Yes, this line has become a bit of a cliché throughout the writing industry. However, that doesn’t make it any less true. As we rush to meet deadlines or to push out new content, it’s one of the easiest habits to forget. The concept seems straightforward, but the subtle difference between the two can trip up writers… Read More »6 Crucial Storytelling Tips You Will Thank Me For

Share this:

Why Theme In FRIENDS Is Better Than You Think

Theme in Friends It’s fair to say the internet erupted with news of a Friends reunion, recently. I’ve written about Friends a fair amount this year on this blog, so thought I would return to the show, with reference to theme. Theme refers to ‘an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature.’ Friends is about a bunch of young friends, all getting through life and love, dealing with whatever it throws at them. Being a sitcom, it’s about dysfunctional family too. Le duh. However, with theme we make our OWN meaning too. How each individual audience… Read More »Why Theme In FRIENDS Is Better Than You Think

Share this:

Top 5 Networking Mistakes Writers Make

Networking Mistakes You’ve been counting down for months, excited about the upcoming event you’re going to.  The plan is to network with agents, publishers and fellow writers.  In your head you’re fabulous at networking … Or are you?? In order to survive a networking event without disastrous consequences avoid making the following mistakes as though your life depends on it.  First impressions last a lifetime! Here’s what NOT to do when networking, plus what you should do instead. 1) You Ignore Others You’ve arrived. You’re milling through the crowds of people and spot someone your desperate to talk to.   However,… Read More »Top 5 Networking Mistakes Writers Make

Share this:

In The Spotlight: Shonda Rhimes’ Top 10 Writing Rules

Learn From Shonda Rhimes! So, B2W is the first to say there are no writing rules … But there ARE things we can learn from the best writers working today. TV writing goddess Shonda Rhimes is obviously one of them! So whether you call them ‘rules’, ‘best practices’, ‘guidelines’ or something else, she has plenty of great writing advice for us. B2W’s new intern Alice has rounded up some classic Shonda for us to consider in honing our craft and getting our own writing off the ground. Enjoy! All About Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes is one of the most successful… Read More »In The Spotlight: Shonda Rhimes’ Top 10 Writing Rules

Share this:

5 Cool Things About John August’s Highland 2.5 Screenwriting Software

All About Highland 2.5 Last week in Los Angeles, about 100 screenwriters gathered in a Hollywood penthouse bar to celebrate the latest update to screenwriting software Highland. The Mac-based app was created by BIG FISH, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and ALADDIN screenwriter John August. Highland counts Hollywood heavyweights among its fans, including Michael Chabon who said: “It is truly such a beautiful app. I have more genuine affection for it than almost any other: the way you love a favorite hand tool or kitchen knife.” So, what makes this app so intriguing? A few things … 1) It was created… Read More »5 Cool Things About John August’s Highland 2.5 Screenwriting Software

Share this:

No Writers, You’re Not Being ‘Excluded’

On Being Excluded Feeling excluded from the industry? You’re not alone. It seems a lot of writers feel this way. If you’re part of the B2W Facebook group, you may have seen several mini-spats in there this week. These things always seem to jump up at the same time, because feelings run high and writers have A LOT of feelz. The purpose of this post is to address why writers might feel excluded, but also why this is not necessarily the issue they think. Ready? Let’s go. The BBC Drama Writers’ Scheme The first one revolved around the new BBC TV… Read More »No Writers, You’re Not Being ‘Excluded’

Share this:

How To Be A Successful Writer – Tips From Joanna Penn

Be A Successful Writer – meet Joanna Penn! B2W always says it’s worth asking those who DO the job you want … So I cracked open my little black book and contacted successful ‘authorpreneur’, Joanna Penn. Joanna is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under ‘J.F.Penn’, she also writes non-fiction for authors. She’s also a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 101 sites for writers by Writer’s Digest. What I love about Joanna’s advice here is it’s just as applicable for screenwriters as it is… Read More »How To Be A Successful Writer – Tips From Joanna Penn

Share this:

Why FRIENDS Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers)

Rise of the Spec TV Pilot Every screenwriter alive wants to write a great pilot episode of their own, if the spec pile is anything go by. When I started B2W back in the day, I hardly ever saw spec TV pilot episodes of any kind. Fast-forward fifteen years and I would venture I read more spec TV pilot episodes than anything else! It also means THE most popular article on this entire site is How To Write TV Series Bibles – over 130K+ unique hits now. Wow! That said, spec TV pilot episodes are notoriously difficult to write. Whilst… Read More »Why FRIENDS Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers)

Share this:

7 Things I Learned As A Writer From Reality TV

This Is Reality? Reality TV gets a bad rap. You don’t have to go far to discover people denigrating it, both online and in real life. It’s considered the opiate of the masses, sometimes exploitative and/or generally not very stimulating in any meaningful way. In fact, this is such a popular opinion that comedian Bill Hicks’ infamous Executive 11110 (‘You are free, to do as we tell you‘) skit could replace ‘American Gladiators’ with, ‘Here’s reality TV! Here’s 56 channels of it!’ some twenty five years on, easily. (Though in real terms I suspect there there would probably be more than… Read More »7 Things I Learned As A Writer From Reality TV

Share this: