Category: Screenwriting

Screenwriting margins are the areas around your story that you will want to leave blank. They’re the spaces between dialogue and action, or between different scenes in a movie. This is where you can insert description, character thoughts and other bits of information that aren’t…

An anticlimax is a plot device that occurs in drama, comedy, and other scripted forms of entertainment when the audience’s expectation for a climactic scene does not arrive. Anticlimaxes are often used to heighten the dramatic effect of a scene by slowing or even stopping…

An outline is a list of headings and subheadings, usually ordered in a logical sequence. It’s used to structure your writing so that it’s easier for the reader to understand and navigate. Outlines can be very simple or elaborate, depending on your needs. You may…

Spec scripts are a rough-draft version of the final script that is written and submitted to producers. They exist to give writers an opportunity to get their ideas down on paper, and to test those ideas out before they start writing the actual script. A…

A haiku is a Japanese poem in three lines, with 17 syllables in the first line and 15 syllables in the second. The third line has five. Why does this matter? Because it’s not a very long poem! In fact, it’s about as long as…

Robert Mckee is an American film director and screenwriter, who has made a name for himself in the world of cinema. He is best known for his work on the movie The Big Sick, which was directed by Michael Showalter, and starred Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe…

A supporting character is a character who helps the main character(s). They are not necessarily important to the plot or story. They may just be there for the amusement of the main characters, or they may be the main characters themselves. Supporting characters can be…

Comedy is a difficult genre to write well. There are very few comedic clichés, and the best jokes are often unexpected and witty. Comedy can be hard to write, but it’s not impossible. Here are some tips on how to write comedy: Start with a…

A persona is a fictional character that you assume to be a person. Your persona is your online presence, or the way you present yourself to others. It can be as simple as a username on social media sites, or it can be as complex…

Strong female characters are those that take charge in a situation and lead the way. They don’t need to be the most beautiful or the strongest but they do need to be respected, admired and loved by the audience. They don’t possess any sort of…