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5 Reasons Your Spec TV Pilot Should Contain A Show-Stopping Central Character

The Problem With Spec TV Pilots One of the biggest issues I see in speculative (not commissioned) TV pilots is a lack of a show-stopping central character. But why is this an issue? Well, if we want our spec TV pilot to be read and/or commissioned by industry pros, a show-stopping central character is non-negotiable. It’s common sense our own TV pilots need to be storytelling catnip for that commissioner. One of the ways we can do this is by creating a show-stopping character. A character so interesting and compelling, big-name and talented actors will want to attach. All About Show-Stopping Central… Read More »5 Reasons Your Spec TV Pilot Should Contain A Show-Stopping Central Character

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Ink and Emotion: Tracing The Path Of A Romance Novel

From Idea to Page: Tracing The Journey Tracing the path of a romance novel is all-important in understanding what your target reader wants. The latter is not about ‘selling out’, but selling. It’s what professional writers DO. As I’ve written before on this blog, romance is the #1 genre of all time. Whether you love it or loathe it yourself, it’s fair to say readers LOVE it! Tracing what they enjoy and why does not have to mean writing solely for the marketplace. It’s possible to give readers what they want, while also writing what YOU love too. It may… Read More »Ink and Emotion: Tracing The Path Of A Romance Novel

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10 Quick Tips To Writing Romance In The 2020s

All About Writing Romance So, you want to write romance in 2026, huh? Good. But before you roll your eyes at another “boy meets girl” idea, let me stop you. Romance isn’t dead, it’s thriving … and if you want to write it without looking like a clueless dinosaur, here’s what you need to know. Ready? Let’s go … 1) Romance goes with EVERYTHING! Yep … Everything. Thrillers? Romance. Dark fantasy? Romance. Even your grim post-apocalyptic world needs a smidge of “OMG, they might die but also maybe get together?” Humans crave relationships, so don’t ignore them. 2) Diversity isn’t… Read More »10 Quick Tips To Writing Romance In The 2020s

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10 Quick Tips To Self-Edit Your Screenplay Or Novel

How To Self-Edit Your Screenplay Or Novel I’m a big believer in the self-edit for my drafts. I don’t see the point in sending my novels or screenplays out – even just to peer reviewers – without giving my writing a good polish first. I also recommend Bang2writers self-edit before paying for feedback, too! However, I’ve worked with writers now for over twenty years. I’ve noticed that many writers don’t know what an effective self-edit entails. They’ll tend to hyper-focus on itty-bitty things that don’t matter. Then they’ll move words around the page randomly. Waaaah. So, if you’re keen to… Read More »10 Quick Tips To Self-Edit Your Screenplay Or Novel

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Ho! Ho! Ho! Top 10 Christmas Episodes of Favourite TV Sitcoms

Sitcom Christmas Episodes So I love sitcoms and I love Christmas … so it made sense to round up my favourite festive episodes for the holiday season. This time, I took them from my favourite 5 sitcoms of all time: New Girl, Modern Family, Brooklyn 99, Will & Grace and Friends. Be sure to share your faves in the comments! Ready? Let’s go … New Girl 1) LAXmas (s4, ep10) I think this might just be my favourite sitcom Christmas episode of all time! A storm causes chaos at the airport as Jess attempts to go to the UK to… Read More »Ho! Ho! Ho! Top 10 Christmas Episodes of Favourite TV Sitcoms

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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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“I Like Your Style!” Top 10 Writing Tips To Improve Yours

Your Writing Style Is Important Writing style is unique, but there are things we can consider in making our style the best it can be. As Lucy always says on this site, good writing craft is the least we can do. Style is part of that. Of course, there are no rules. Experienced writers can get away with anything. However, below are some things to be aware of, especially if you are writing a book or short story for the first time. “Writing fiction is a delicate balance.” Sol Stein from Stein On Writing 1)  Avoid The Passive Voice The… Read More »“I Like Your Style!” Top 10 Writing Tips To Improve Yours

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FRIENDS at 30: What Lessons Can Writers Learn From This Classic Sitcom?

30 Years Of Friends For many of us, it’s hard to believe Friends is 30 years old … but for others, it’s all too obvious. Comedy dates and 30 year old humour can sink like the Titanic. But even 30 years on since its first broadcast on September 22nd, 1994, Friends seems to be as popular as ever in the social media age. There are countless accounts dedicated to the sitcom, some run by fans who weren’t even born when it started. (Hell, my youngest loves it and was born donkey’s years after it FINISHED!). When I started writing case… Read More »FRIENDS at 30: What Lessons Can Writers Learn From This Classic Sitcom?

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Fantasy Vs. Science Fiction: What’s The Difference?

Fantasy Vs. Science Fiction One of the most searched-for terms leading to this blog is ‘fantasy vs. science fiction’. Since so many writers seem to want to know the difference, I thought I’d round some up. Fantasy and science fiction are two VERY popular genres in the spec pile, screenplay or novel. I seem to read them all the time. These genres have some similarities, but also some distinct differences as well. Without further ado, here’s my breakdown of  fantasy vs. science fiction … Ready? Let’s go! 1) Setting First up on fantasy vs. science fiction is setting. Whether urban… Read More »Fantasy Vs. Science Fiction: What’s The Difference?

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NEW GIRL Case Study: How To Learn To Plot by Watching Sitcoms

All About New Girl New Girl was a sitcom that ran between 2011-2018. The show followed the fates of an offbeat young woman Jess (Zooey Deschanel), a teacher who is trying to get over her breakup with her boyfriend after he cheats on her. If you’re in the UK, you can find it on DisneyPlus in its entirety. Jess moves in with three young men: Nick, a Chicago-born university dropout who now works in a bar; Schmidt, an advertising executive who believes he is God’s gift to women; and Winston, a former pro basketball player who is trying to find… Read More »NEW GIRL Case Study: How To Learn To Plot by Watching Sitcoms

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Character Introductions

On Character Introductions Character introductions are super-important in good writing, whether it’s a novel or screenplay. A well-crafted character introduction provides context and relevance, which means the audience can connect with the characters on a deeper level. What’s not to like? Unfortunately, character introductions are often where writers stumble, which in turn affects the rest of the story. For the five biggest mistakes writers make with character introductions, check out the following … ready? Let’s go! 1) Laundry List Intros This is probably one of my ultimate pet peeve character introductions in both scripts and unpublished novels because it’s SO… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Character Introductions

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Is Your Writing Falling Foul of ‘Moral Perfectionism’? Find Out Here

‘I Don’t Want To Get It Wrong’ Is your writing suffering from ‘moral perfectionism’? The reason I ask is that I’ve noticed a huge uptick in the writers I work with worried about ‘getting it wrong’. What ‘wrong’ means can depend, but usually relates to the depiction of marginalised characters and communities. A writer will feel stressed and even frozen by fear at seeming like an ‘over-privileged asshole’. This may relate to … Male writers writing female leads White people writing BIPOC characters Straight writers writing LGBTQ characters Able-bodied writers writing disabled characters More affluent writers writing about poverty and/or… Read More »Is Your Writing Falling Foul of ‘Moral Perfectionism’? Find Out Here

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