Creativity 101: March 13, 2010 : 8:32 pm

Read This Instead of Screenwriting Books

I have read a number of instructional screenwriting books, but I can’t really think of anything useful I’ve taken from them.  Most of the sources that inform my screenwriting aren’t about it at all.

Here’s the advice I refer to whenever I’m writing:

• Get in and out of the scene as fast as you can – William Goldman
• In everything, consider its opposite – Judith Weston
• Can I convey this information without dialogue?
• Use an element once, or use it three times.  Twice sets up false expectations
• Don’t use excessive numbers of words Brevity is best.
• Do you actually care about this moment, or are we just supposed to care?
• It needs a rewrite.  Again.

It’s a simple list, but it works for me.  Leave your own advice in the comments and I’ll update the list with the most relevant ones.

Related posts:

1. Read More Screenplays (And How)


2. The best advice on screenwriting you can get


3. Disconnect, Screenwriting, and Storytelling (Interview)


4. John August: Breaking Storytelling Conventions


5. Test-Screening Your Screenplay

tags: screenwriting