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Why Your Screenwriting Career Is Stalling (And How To Fix It)

Feel like you’re stalling? If you feel like your screenwriting career is stalling, you’re not alone. The past ten years have created huge problems for the industry. Screenwriting circa 2026 is more challenging than it has ever been. Industry pros have left in record levels, with those that remain telling me it’s the worst they’ve ever seen it. But the point of this post is not to make you feel despondent. Instead, it’s designed to help you stop stalling and get your best chance of getting out of the spec script trenches. Ready? Let’s go … 1) Concept still sells!… Read More »Why Your Screenwriting Career Is Stalling (And How To Fix It)

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Why Most Spec Scripts Fail (It’s Not The Idea – It’s The Execution)

It’s All In The Execution? Most scripts don’t fail because the idea is bad – they fail because the execution is not doing the work. But how can we tell if our execution is not cutting it? Here’s 8 common pitfalls I see regularly in spec screenplays. Ready? Let’s go … 1) A situation is not a story A cool idea or set-up isn’t enough. Your concept at the heart of your story needs to be road-tested at foundation level. A story = movement. This means your story requires escalation, cause & effect, and a protagonist driving towards a clear… Read More »Why Most Spec Scripts Fail (It’s Not The Idea – It’s The Execution)

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What Writers Can Learn From The Short Film That Launched a $1 Billion Franchise

Selling, Not Selling Out ‘Write me a low-budget screenplay that launches a $1 billion dollar franchise.’  A producer said this in a room full of writers I was in, back at the very beginning of my career. To say it landed with me BIG TIME is an understatement. It made me realise that story is not the only thing writers must contend with. As a collaborative medium, it’s also our job to come up with ideas that SELL. Of course, this is where writers might say: ‘But I don’t want to sell out!’ I totally get this. It can seem… Read More »What Writers Can Learn From The Short Film That Launched a $1 Billion Franchise

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Top 10 Quick, Actionable Resolutions For Writers In 2026

Your Writing Resolutions For This Year Writing resolutions can get a bad rap, especially when writers FAIL at enacting them … but they can be super-useful at helping writers focus and get stuff done. I think the main problem with writing resolutions are … i) Writers go too big and get overwhelmed ii) Go too small and get bored iii) Or they go too vague and aren’t sure HOW to get them done That’s why I’ve deliberately kept these resolutions focused, actionable and meaty enough to move the needle (but not so large they’ll freak you out). Ready?? Then let’s go!… Read More »Top 10 Quick, Actionable Resolutions For Writers In 2026

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Into The Spec Pile: 12 Quick Tips On Making Your Submission Stand Out

Into The Spec Pile I’ve been diving into the spec pile of screenplays and novels for 20+ years now. ‘Spec’ is short for ‘speculative’, meaning no one in the industry has asked the writer to create that story. Instead, the writers have done it themselves ‘on spec’. I always call it the SPEC pile rather than the more common ‘slush pile’. To me, ‘spec pile’ is much more neutral, whereas ‘slush pile’ seems very derogatory. It is essential to remember that ANY story – script or novel – is someone’s hopes and dreams. However, I also like to shine a… Read More »Into The Spec Pile: 12 Quick Tips On Making Your Submission Stand Out

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Top 5 Reasons A Writing Retreat Will Help Your Writing

So, You Want To Go On A Writing Retreat? A writing retreat offers the rare chance to step away from everyday life and fully immerse yourself in your novel or screenplay. Whether it’s tucked away in a stunning countryside location or held virtually from the comfort of your own home, a retreat provides dedicated time and space to prioritise your writing. It’s a sad fact that many writers struggle to carve out time for their craft. Between demanding jobs, family responsibilities, and the mental toll of modern life, it’s easy for writing to slip to the bottom of the list.… Read More »Top 5 Reasons A Writing Retreat Will Help Your Writing

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3 Important Wake Up Calls For Screenwriters And Authors

Wake Up Calls For Writers One of the biggest wake up calls I ever had was realising I was a workaholic. We live in a hustle culture and we glorify the grind. I was used to people telling me how impressed they were by my output. It’s true I was prolific, but I was also completely and utterly burned out. Ironically, I was working so hard I couldn’t do my best work! That realisation changed everything for me. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your writing goals too, you’re not alone. Many writers struggle, feeling creatively ‘frozen’. They may be trying… Read More »3 Important Wake Up Calls For Screenwriters And Authors

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Top 7 Tips To Help Your Indie Book Sell (Even Without Viral Marketing!)

The Silent Bestseller Why do some indie books thrive, even without viral marketing? We all hear stories of self-published books skyrocketing to bestseller status overnight, thanks to a viral TikTok trend or an influencer’s endorsement. But what about the indie books that don’t explode right away? How do they quietly build an audience over time? That’s been my journey. As the author of three suspense-thriller novels – Caught In Cryptic, Falling Cryptic, and Nighty Night, Dear – I’ve come to appreciate the long game. Some books don’t need a viral moment … They just need the right readers to find… Read More »Top 7 Tips To Help Your Indie Book Sell (Even Without Viral Marketing!)

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15 VERY Unpopular Opinions About The Craft & Business Of Writing

Unpopular Opinions About Writing Bang2write was built on ‘smack talk’, which means I’m known for my outspoken opinions. That said, I never *just* give opinions! I’ve always backed them up and based them on experience, with examples. So, looking for unpopular opinions about writing? You’ve come to the right place.  Bring it … Ready? Let’s go! The Craft Of Writing 1) Many first drafts are literally unfixable Hemingway got it right … Most first drafts are shit. Sad but true! Hell, even the ‘good’ ones will be full of missed opportunities and obvious issues. Also, don’t be afraid of going… Read More »15 VERY Unpopular Opinions About The Craft & Business Of Writing

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Getting Nowhere? 3 Top Tips To Help You In Your Writing Career

Getting Nowhere? Read On … I hear from writers all the time who feel frustrated, despondent and like they are getting nowhere. They may tell me they feel ‘locked out’, or perhaps they are getting ghosted by industry pros. Let me offer the view from the other side. Hardly a month goes by without me having to block a writer. Sometimes it’s multiple writers. Supersadface. I don’t want to. I want to help.  Whilst I have to make a living, I give oodles of my time and expertise away for NOTHING on the B2W platform. That’s why there’s so much… Read More »Getting Nowhere? 3 Top Tips To Help You In Your Writing Career

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5 Unusual Things I Did To Create My Dream Writing Career

On ‘Breaking In’ To The Industry I don’t like the term ‘breaking in’, which is why I always tell Bang2writers to CREATE their dream writing career. I think it’s a much more useful term. It reminds us that we have the tools to do whatever we want! There is indeed no clear-cut path and every creative will have a different one. That said, I was a rank outsider in the industry, starting from a position that was both complex and challenging. By sharing my story, I hope I can inspire you as you create YOUR dream writing career. Ready? Let’s… Read More »5 Unusual Things I Did To Create My Dream Writing Career

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#1 Error That Kills Interest In Your Pitch 100% Of The Time

#1 Error That Kills Your Pitch Obviously there are lots of ways to kill your pitch, but there’s a #1 error I see most often. This error is so widespread and so simple, you’ll kick yourself once you see it … … HIDING your story behind intangible, thematic stuff. In other words, writers go for VIBES over the actual events of the story. Instead of being overt about what literally happens, the writer will fall back on that #1 pitching error like this … A retired bodyguard faces his demons from his traumatic past as he guides a kidnapped girl… Read More »#1 Error That Kills Interest In Your Pitch 100% Of The Time

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