Skip to content

short film

Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make (And How To Avoid Them)

Continuing with my Top 5 Mistakes series, Mary’s jumped in for me today to share her thoughts on what NOT to do *as a writer overall*. She’s telling it like it is, so you better listen, Bang2writers … Enjoy! We all want to be the pinnacle of perfection, but reality has to kick in sometime. As a writer, you’ve made mistakes before and you’re going to make them again. This doesn’t make you a bad writer: it merely makes you human. But learning from our mistakes is what prevents us from repeating them, and being aware of what to look… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make (And How To Avoid Them)

Share this:

Top 5 Craft Mistakes Writers Make

Writing Craft versus Format Too often, spec screenwriters think “craft = format”. No. NoNoNoNoNoNo! Format involves the “look” of the page and is the VERY LEAST you should do, Bang2writers. What’s more, you can get on top of the latest expectations and preferences in format by script readers and their bosses very easily. Just check online lists like the one at The B2W Format 1 Stop Shop. So … Screenplay format is the ‘done thing’ (aka HOW you lay it out on the page) Craft is HOW you do it – ie. the actual storytelling. So, what are the top 5… Read More »Top 5 Craft Mistakes Writers Make

Share this:

Top 5 Mistakes Even Savvy Writers Make With Loglines

Savvy Writers I’m assuming we’re all savvy writers who all know loglines are NOT taglines … So let’s put REAL loglines under the microscope in the next instalment of my Top 5 Mistakes series! 1)  Writers forget 1 (or more) of “The 3 Cs” Clarity, characters, conflict – in that order, please! Here’s why: Without clarity, we don’t understand what’s going on We need to know who your character/s are to want to get on board the journey We need to know the conflict to understand what your character/s are up against. EXTRA TIP FOR YOU: I’ve noted savvy writers… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Even Savvy Writers Make With Loglines

Share this:

Top 5 Screenplay Format Mistakes

How’s your screenplay format? Screenplay format gets a bad rap and is often conflated with writing craft. Whilst sometimes the two things DO cross over, this post will deal predominantly with **how** your script looks ON THE PAGE. Continuing in the Top 5 Mistakes series, I’ll be concentrating on screenplay format today. (I’m assuming your layout, spelling, punctuation and grammar are awesome already. If not, you can check here: 10 Common Errors In Your Writing You Need To Fix Right Now.) Ready, then? Let’s go … 1) Overly long sluglines (aka ‘scene headers’) A slugline or scene header in a… Read More »Top 5 Screenplay Format Mistakes

Share this:

A Look In The Spec Pile: @Create50, THE IMPACT

Following on from Wednesday’s brilliant post by @ShoreScripts on spec screenwriting clichés, here’s a look inside in the Create50 “lock-in” for LondonSWF’s second crowd-sourced feature film, THE IMPACT. Basically, Team LSF – and some very knowledgeable guests – locked themselves inside Ealing Studios during bank holiday weekend. Over the course of the two days, we re-read and deliberated over the finalists in extreme detail. From there, we created The Impact’s storyworld and built a preliminary story arc of 50 final screenplays, so filmmakers can make their choices in phase 2 of the project. An announcement re: the final 50 will… Read More »A Look In The Spec Pile: @Create50, THE IMPACT

Share this:

3 Steps To Reader Proof Your Screenplay

Reader-Proof Your Screenplay I always recommend Bang2writers reader-proof their scripts. Whilst there are no rules in this screenwriting malarkey, but there are best practices. It should be noted I am talking principally about writing CRAFT here. (There are also lots of format niggly pet peeves that really wind script readers up, which is why I list them all HERE). But what do I mean when I say writers need to reader-proof their script? More, next. STEP 1) Wanted: Good Stories, Well Told First things first. If we want to beat the gatekeepers, it’s very simple. We have to give the… Read More »3 Steps To Reader Proof Your Screenplay

Share this:

Top 10 Killer Words That Make Readers Switch Off

When you’re reading all day, every day, for work AND for pleasure you tend to notice how *certain things* slip by (maybe?) unchallenged, even into produced and published works. So here’s B2W’s official top 10 of the words that MOST make me, “WTF??” when I see them, again and again and again … Enjoy! 1) Obviously This is a huge screenwriting no-no in scene description, but I see it pretty much every day, usually describing something we’re supposed to be seeing on screen that pertains to the plot in some way. I’ve noticed too this has started to slip into… Read More »Top 10 Killer Words That Make Readers Switch Off

Share this:

5 Tips For Screenwriters To Find A Producer (And 3 More On Why You’re Failing)

Find Out How It Works So I don’t have to go far on internet-land before I find one of these guys: WRITER: Tell me how to get a producer??? ME: Sure. Come up with a great concept, make sure you know your audience. WRITER: ERM, YOU DIDN’T TELL ME ANYTHING! ME: Le sigh. OK, find out what is possible for what £££, then you’re more likely to hit the mark. WRITER: Fuck that. That’s the producer’s job. ME: OMFG, fine. Start networking, create some relationships. Find them that way. WRITER: WTAF??? But I only want to write!!! So this is… Read More »5 Tips For Screenwriters To Find A Producer (And 3 More On Why You’re Failing)

Share this:

4 Tips For Building Your Screenwriting Competition Submissions Strategy

Screenwriting Competitions can be an excellent way to ignite your screenwriting career. Benefits may include: Circulation of your script to producers/agents, garnering industry attention Networking opportunities with industry professionals Marketing soundbites to include in cover letters or on your website The motivation of a deadline Strengthen your writers’ CV (aka resumé) Boost you confidence in your abilities as a writer Script analysis with an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of your script $$££€€ cash prizes BUT … there are now so many screenwriting competitions, preparing submissions is time-consuming and can set you back quite a bit of $$££€€. So… Read More »4 Tips For Building Your Screenwriting Competition Submissions Strategy

Share this:

6 Steps To Writing A Successful Screenplay

When @JonnyEmmen got in touch with me with his pitch for this article, I will admit I was skeptical: “Just SIX tips to writing a successful screenplay? In approximately 800 words? This I gotta see!” I said! But I think Jonny’s done a great job, DISTILLING the process down! I especially agree with point number 1 on ensuring you can VISUALISE your story. It seems obvious (and it is!) but lots of spec screenwriters forget we’re working in a visual medium! LE DUH. Enjoy, everyone … Many writers dream of writing a great screenplay,  then simply selling it to a… Read More »6 Steps To Writing A Successful Screenplay

Share this:

“It’s A Catch 22!” How To Get Produced Without An Agent

Writer Woe You don’t have to go far on the internet to find screenwriters bemoaning their lot. Whether it’s “No Unsolicited Material” getting them down, or the fact producers will want writers to get agents (and vice versa), the cry of “It’s a Catch 22!” is seemingly always round the (digital) corner. But it’s not a Catch 22! Fact is, there has never been a better time to be a screenwriter. It’s easier than ever to get produced … AND without the aid of an agent. Here’s how … “How Do I Break In As A Screenwriter?’ I’m asked this question constantly… Read More »“It’s A Catch 22!” How To Get Produced Without An Agent

Share this:

Structure Spotlight: 3 Things To Remember For Act 3

All About Act 3 So today we’re talking about Act 3, courtesy of  Bang2writer Craig Howells, who left this question in the B2W Facebook group: I’m really interested in the anatomy of Act 3. What are the Dos & Don’ts? I know you need to pay off, and I’ve got my own ideas (which I’m still working on) but I’d love to know your take on it. I’m not a structure purist. As far as I’m concerned, all stories *just* need a beginning, middle and end (and not necessarily in that order, either!). On this basis then, The Three Acts makes… Read More »Structure Spotlight: 3 Things To Remember For Act 3

Share this: