Sitemap - 2023 - Tales of a Hollywood Screenwriter

The best way to make it in the movie business...

Treatments: THE ESSENTIAL SKILL OF A SCREENWRITER

First Drafts Fast

Stack the deck with your script and package to get that puppy GREENLIT and going!

Screenwriters Need to Make Exposition Work in their Favor

You need to find a way to get your producer, your buyer, your movie star, your agent, your financier, to READ YOUR SCRIPT!

the Golden Era for screenwriters is beginning...

Why finishing your first draft is the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF SELLING SCRIPTS

A few simple tricks to improving your material tenfold as a screenwriter

"Aquaman-ify" Your Screenplay

ONE REASON writing high concept screenplays makes getting produced a little easier for writers

Humor, Horror & Heart

The writers who are destined for success

One Script Away

If you can dream it, you can achieve it

Been swamped in Production on my directorial debut "Down Below" (some career updates & thoughts on the industry)

Writers must stay curious

Making it as a writer REQUIRES you to seize opportunities in the ever-changing Industry

Simplifying Screenwriting

My Predictions for a post-strike era for writers and moviemakers

The Art of Being a Working Writer

Should screenwriters be writing novels during the WGA strike?

I'm a WGA writer and this is what I'll be doing during the Writer's Strike

Let go of "Breaking In" to Hollywood as a screenwriter & focus on selling each Script

Spyder here! Join me on Substack Notes (for a more interactive experience about the screenwriting process & catching breaks)

What does this likely WGA strike mean for screenwriters, both guild and non-union

Stop Blaming Luck for your writing career & Hone the Spotlight of Control

Where there's a Dream, there's a Way

How to Build the Dream Career as a Writer (in reality)

You only need one person to say yes to your script

I want you to succeed as a screenwriter - Q&A advice I heard at the WGA "AIR" Screening

What Separates Successful Writers from Talented Artists

Catching a Big Break as a screenwriter requires strategy (STEP 1)

Screenwriting isn't Journaling

Quit Overthinking What Comes Natural

The BIG FIX most scripts need to get picked up by producers

Unfinished Business as a Writer may be the source of your Creative Blockage

Just how important is your title and logline when it comes to getting a script produced?

5 Practical & Actionable Advice/Tips for writing better scripts

I like pitch decks now

Why Horror is a great Genre to write

Everyone Loves a Comeback Story

Get your foot in the Door as a Writer before you Reinvent the Wheel

Four essential elements the Modern Screenwriter needs to find success in 2023

How to pitch on an OWA (open writing assignment)

Page Counts of the Scripts I've Sold

Probably would've been fired if I didn't know how to write super-fast, at the last minute (TRUE STORY)

Art form to using ALL CAPS, italics, custom spacing, even font size & color in your screenplay

Mind-blowing Little Trick a Development Exec taught me for writing better characters

3 Things need to happen to sell a script w/o an Agent

When It’s Right, It’s Easy

How to make your screenplay descriptions pack a PUNCH

All My Thoughts on What Makes a Great Screenplay

Spring Cleaning for Screenplays (a habit that's led to a lot of deals)

Screenwriters should only ever pay for one thing

Why I think writing scripts fast is a better long-term strategy

Script to Screen (plus, a quick tip before you start your next project)

Blindfolded Writer

Jaws meets La La Land

Tiny little trick I do in my pitch meetings!

How long should a Treatment be? (Sparknotes version)

Ultimate currency for Writers is not caliber of material anymore

High Concept or RUN

A Writer must take Practical Steps everyday for success and self-esteem

I only "BOLD" my Slug Lines for certain scripts

The Kiss of Death for Writers comes in the form of a Compliment

All the reasons why the Screenplay you wrote works better as a Novel

Lightbulb Moment at Page 72

What I learned from doing script coverage for a year...

Fancy getting rid of Writer’s Block permanently?

We're all writers in the end, and must acknowledge the Power of the Pen

Screenplay Feeding Frenzy in January!