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How NOT To Write at Home (Unless You Enjoy Back Pain and Meltdowns)

The Truth About Writing At Home Ah, the dream: pyjama-clad brilliance, coffee in hand, your genius pouring out between bites of leftover takeout. Writing from home sounds idyllic … until it isn’t. The truth? “Freedom” becomes flailing, the couch becomes a chiropractor’s nightmare, and somehow your word count is still zero after three hours of “getting in the zone.” Let’s bust the myth of the home-writing utopia and talk about the chaos it actually breeds. Because unless you enjoy back pain, creative paralysis, and emotionally bonding with your cat more than your screenplay, it’s time for some real talk. 1)… Read More »How NOT To Write at Home (Unless You Enjoy Back Pain and Meltdowns)

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Top 15 Lies Slam Reviewers Share Online: Writers, Have You Had Any Of These?

All About Slam Reviewers Slam Reviewers are different to actual reviewers. Here’s why: my objection is not that slam reviewers didn’t enjoy a book, TV show or movie … that’s absolutely fine. Hell, giving a one star review is fine! I’ve said it multiple times on this blog and I’ll say it again …  our writing is not ‘for everyone’ and that’s part of life’s rich tapestry. We have to accept this as writers. We do this by letting go and moving on. But slam reviewers are those who take it one step further They will give a bad review… Read More »Top 15 Lies Slam Reviewers Share Online: Writers, Have You Had Any Of These?

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Top 10 Reasons Your Spec Screenplay Is Being Sent To Trash

Is Your Script Being Sent To Trash? If you suspect your spec screenplay is being sent to trash, you’re not alone. I started script reading so long ago, most of the submissions I received were ON PAPER. No, I wasn’t born in prehistoric times with dinosaurs running all over the place … it was just twenty years ago. (Cheeky). But these days, most spec screenplays are PDFs and attached to emails, or sent via portals like Submittable. However, this does mean they’re easier than ever to overlook, or get sent to trash. All overworked readers have to do is highlight… Read More »Top 10 Reasons Your Spec Screenplay Is Being Sent To Trash

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Don’t Do It: 13 Warnings From The People Who Read Your Screenplay

#1 Warnings From Real-Life Script Readers   There’s lots of warnings on this site, because I spend a lot of time demystifying the spec pile. It’s why one of my most popular articles series is the Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make. I think Bang2writers like writing warnings so much is because as everyone knows, there’s no ‘right’ way to write a story … but reading scripts, day after day, has taught me there are multiple WRONG ways. But hey, don’t take my word for it. Check out these warnings from other script readers that aren’t me. Be sure to click… Read More »Don’t Do It: 13 Warnings From The People Who Read Your Screenplay

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5 Reminders If You Want To Write This Holiday Season

Want to write this holiday season? If you want to write this holiday season, you’re not alone. Lots of writers dream of time off to write their screenplays or novels — and the festive period can offer writers time to get writing done. However, not everyone will be able – or even want – to write over the holidays … and that’s okay too! In this short video (under 15 mins) I break down 5 reminders for writers this Christmas. They will hopefully help you either get writing done … or help you let yourself off the hook!! Enjoy and… Read More »5 Reminders If You Want To Write This Holiday Season

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10 Powerful Affirmations For Writers & How To Use Them

All About Affirmations Affirmations are positive statements that can help us to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and/or negative thoughts. When we repeat them often, we start to believe in them. This means we can start to make positive changes. I first came across affirmations when I had cancer. My therapist at the time challenged me to use affirmations to challenge my belief I was doomed to die. I had only just survived a breakdown and could not face yet another journey back to health. She told me to repeat to myself the following as a starting point … ‘I will not… Read More »10 Powerful Affirmations For Writers & How To Use Them

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30 Top Tips For Your Younger (Writer) Self

Advice For Your Younger (Writer) Self Got some advice for your younger (writer) self? It’s so easy to look back with hindsight and go ‘Ooops! My younger (writer) self was a bit of a tit.‘ Yup … Been there, done that! I sat down and identified a whopping 30 pieces of advice for our younger (writer) selves. Have I missed any?? Be sure to add your own in the comments. Let’s go … 1) Start NOW Seriously … now. Don’t wait. Conditions will always be impossible and the odds will never get better. So get going! 2) Follow your passion Never… Read More »30 Top Tips For Your Younger (Writer) Self

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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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5 Ways To Create A Powerful Premise

What Is A Premise? ‘Premise’ comes from the Latin ‘premissa’, meaning to ‘set before’. It is also known as a central concept, controlling idea or even ‘seed of the story’. Whatever you call it, it is one of the foundations of writing craft for both screenplays and novels. A story is only ever as good as its premise, which is why we must work hard on ours. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t in good premises is really important. Otherwise we could end up with a draft built on a half-baked idea. So if you want to create a… Read More »5 Ways To Create A Powerful Premise

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10 Ways To Write 1000 Words By 9AM

1000 Words By 9am What if you could write as much as 1000 words by mid-morning, and enjoy the ride? Even though you love writing, it’s probably the most challenging activity you tackle each day. Here are some of the best tips that will let you “eat that frog,” sidestep procrastination, and 1000 words done by 9 AM 1) Create an outline the day before Sitting down in front of a blank screen first thing in the morning is a recipe for low productivity. What you should do instead, is to create an outline the day before, so you’ll immediately… Read More »10 Ways To Write 1000 Words By 9AM

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INFOGRAPHIC: Why Writing Can Be Therapeutic

Therapeutic Writing If you believe writing can be therapeutic, you’re not alone. As writers we can often be very tough on ourselves. We strive to meet deadlines or send out pitches. We scrutinise every piece of work,wondering if we will ever  get published/produced, or reach our readers and viewers in the ways we wish. But how often do we throw off the shackles of our own or others’ expectations and just write whatever we feel like writing? What if we could write for self-reflection and contemplation rather than writing for others? Would that be too indulgent? Therapeutic writing allows us to explore… Read More »INFOGRAPHIC: Why Writing Can Be Therapeutic

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Mental Health

All About Mental Health in Writing Good mental health is key in writing … not just for us as creatives, either! As writers we also need to represent mental health in authentic and meaningful ways in our writing too, as I described in my previous article on How To Challenge Stigma In Your Writing. So I’m delighted to welcome junior psychiatrist and author Rosie Claverton with some big NO-NOs and pitfalls to avoid in your scripts and novels. Over to you, Rosie … Mental Health Representations As we talk more about mental health, depictions of people with mental health problems… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Mental Health

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