I only "BOLD" my Slug Lines for certain scripts
The Bold and the Beautiful truth about how I write
It’s Saturday, and one of the swells of the year, so I’m keeping today’s publication short and to the point. And yes, it’s about bolding your slug lines.
What’s the deal with that?
I started bolding mine long before it was a thing on Writing Twitter. But there's a caveat for me. If it’s a comedy feature, or a holiday movie, I do no bold them. In fact, I don’t bold anything (like character names) in those genres.
Say what now?
I believe a writer must feel out format and stylistic choices in a way that fits their own writing strengths, and the genre at hand. Make sure your script reads well for your eyes, specifically. If you don’t like the way a script with bolded SLUG LINES flows (a.k.a the scene headers) then don’t bold them!
The little things matter with storytelling.
I found comedies to be less funny when they were bolded.
Christmas movies felt too dramatic with the bolded scene headers.
Style in scripts is like style in fashion. It’s opinion based. And different looks/vibes work better for some rather than others. Don’t wear a fvckin’ turtleneck unless you can rock it. That’s how you should approach writing.
Ultimately, I want you to relish in the freedom of being a writer. Find a voice that’s comfortable for you. That’s the voice that’s going to be the most confident and electric. The most powerful. The ideal voice for the most success.
And you, my awesome friend, deserve it all. But let’s start with baby steps. You build a wall by laying one brick at a time. So if you’re worried about what to bold, just ask yourself, what reads best for you when it’s someone else’s script.
Happy Saturday; I’m off to Topanga.
PEACE, LOVE, ABUNDANCE & STRENGTH!
-Spyder Dobrofsky
