No matter what stage of your writing career you are in, there are ample articles to help you in everything from Fade In to Fade Out. We’ve listed a few standout articles here to refer to as needed, whether you need advice on coming up with your idea to writing a logline to building character arcs. We’ll add more as we come across them.
Reading
One of the best ways to learn how to write a screenplay is by reading screenplays. Before long, you’ll learn formatting tricks, dialogue techniques, and more. There are ample places on the internet to find scripts. Many screenwriting contests also seek readers to help evaluate their entries.
8 Reasons to Read Screenplays – ScreenwritingU Magazine
How to Read A Screenplay – Go Into the Story
Blacklist Scripts: The Complete Guide – Script Reader Pro
Script Index – LA Screenwriter
Read the Best Screenplays from the 1950s– Shore Scripts
Genre Screenplay Collection – Shore Scripts
20 Best Comedy Scripts to Read and Download – Script Reader Pro
TV Pilots to Read – Shore Scripts
Getting Started
Before diving into your script, take time to prep. We’ve listed numerous articles here to help you test your idea, craft a logline, and much more.
48 Ways to Becoming a Productive Screenwriter – Script Reader Pro
How to Become A Screenwriter: The Ultimate Guide – Script Reader Pro
Screenwriting Rules, Guidelines & Expectations – Screencraft
What screenplay should you write next – ScriptFirm
The Ultimate List of Story Development Questions – Screencraft
101 ‘What If?’ Story Writing Prompts – Screencraft
5 Proven Ways to Unlock Original Movie Ideas – Script Reader Pro
3 Steps to Take Before Your First Draft – Script Reader Pro
The 3 C’s of Screenwriting – ScreenCraft
How to get started with your screenplay – Creative Screenwriting
What Makes a Great Screenplay – The Guardian
How long should it take to write a screenplay? – The Script Lab
Sun Tzu’s Art of Screenwriting – Screencraft
How to raise the stakes in your plot – Go Into the Story
How to write a killer first draft – ScriptMag
10 Steps: How I Write A Script – Scott Myers / Go Into the Story
Vomit Your Screenplay in 5 Weeks – The Script Lab
Why Your Outline Could Kill Your Screenplay – Creative Screenwriting
Outlines, Treatments and Scriptments, Oh My! – Screencraft
How to Write a Script Outline – Script Reader Pro
What is an Inciting Incident in a Screenplay? – Script Reader Pro
How to Write A Screenplay – ScriptNotes podcast with Craig Mazin
Michael Hauge’s Blueprint for a better script – Creative Screenwriting
Learning from the First Great Screenwriting Book: Part 1 – Screencraft
Learning from the First Great Screenwriting Book: Part 2 – Screencraft
Learning from the First Great Screenwriting Book: Part 3 – Screencraft
The Differences Between Traditional and Archetypal Storytelling – Screencraft
The Screenwriter’s ABC’s: An Alphabet of Screenwriting Advice – Screencraft
Top Script Writing Tips Every Screenwriter Should Own – Script Reader Pro
Agents and Managers
How to Get an Agent or Manager – Script Reader Pro
Characters
What your hero wants: Outer Motivation – Michael Hauge
What your hero wants: Inner Motivation – Michael Hauge
What your hero wants: Longings & Needs – Michael Hauge
What your hero wants: Preliminary Goals & Ultimate Objectives – Michael Hauge
What your hero wants: Sameness – Michael Hauge
What your hero wants: Revealing Your Hero’s Desires – Michael Hauge
How to Develop Your Characters – No Film School
4 Ways to Approach Desire in Your Main Character – LA Screenwriter
3 Ways to Make Characters More Dynamic – The Script Lab
4 Steps for Making Peculiar Characters Believable – LA Screenwriter
Children Don’t Think Like Little Adults – Creative Screenwriting
5 Ways to Write Better Female Characters – Screenplay Readers
3 Ways to Create Bad-Ass Characters – The Script Lab
VOTE Method: How to Write Super-Powerful Characters – Story Into Screenplay
Creative Ways to Conjure Character Names – Screencraft
What’s your character’s ultimate deal breaker – Script Magazine
The Ultimate Screenplay Character Development Hack – Script Reader Pro
How to Create the Perfect Character Arc Using Structure and Theme – Script Reader Pro
Concept
What is High-Concept and How Can I Write it? – Standout Books
How to Write and Pitch High-Concept Movies – Movie Outline
5 Questions to test your story concept – Go Into the Story
Contests
How Nicholl Fellowship readers judge a script – Go Into the Story
Getting Past the Reader – Shore Scripts
What Are Script Readers Looking For – Indie Wire
Conflict
3 Ways to Increase Conflict in Your Story – ScreenCraft
Description
How to write minimal description to maximum effect – Go Into the Story
Screenplay Exposition: How to Write it Lean and Mean – Screenplay Readers
Improve your writing style by comparing it to the pros – Script Reader Pro
Writers: Know your place – Creative Screenwriting
5 Secrets to Writing Memorable Character Descriptions – ScreenCraft
Editing / Polishing / Rewriting
35 Quick Edits to Improve Your Script – Script Reader Pro
Dialogue
6 Essential Tip for Writing Better Dialogue – Studio Binder
Writing Good Dialogue and Description – BlueCat
How to write dialogue between two characters – Script Reader Pro
10 Things to Eliminate from Your Dialogue Scenes Right Now – ScreenCraft
How to Avoid Writing On-the-Nose Dialogue – Screencraft
The Ultimate Screenplay Dialogue Audit – Script Reader Pro
Show Don’t Tell: How to Avoid Relying on Dialogue – Script Reader Pro
Endings
7 Ways to Master Endings to Your Screenplay – ScreenCraft
Formatting
How to Format a Screenplay – Screenplay.com
How to Format Your Screenplay Title Page – Script Reader Pro
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due – ScreenCraft
The Screenwriters’ Guide to Formatting TV Scripts – ScreenCraft
35 Common Writing Style Mistakes in Spec Screenplays – Script Reader Pro
Texting in the Movies – David Trottier
How to write a phone conversation in a screenplay – Script Reader Pro
Genre
How to Choose the Right Movie Genre for Your Concept – ScreenCraft
How to Write Four-Quadrant and Animated Scripts – ScreenCraft
10 Steps to Writing a Micro-Budget Screenplay – ScreenCraft
How to Write a Coming of Age Movie – Industrial Scirpts
50 Best Coming of Age Movies with Writing Tips – No Film School
Writing Horror Screenplays: How to Write Occult Horror – Industrial Scripts
Thriller vs. Horror: Why the Subtle Differences Can Save Your Script – Industrial Scripts
How to Write a Whodunnit or Detective Movie – Industrial Scripts
Legal
How to Copyright Your Script – Script Reader Pro
Loglines
Creating your logline and synopsis – ScriptMag
How to Write A Logline for a Character-Driven Drama – Go Into the Story
The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Logline – Script Reader Pro
101 Best Movie Loglines to Learn From – ScreenCraft
Pitching your script
Writing the perfect query letter for your scripts – Screencraft
4 Keys to Writing a Strong Synopsis – Script Reader Pro
How to master the elevator pitch – Screencraft
How to submit a screenplay like a pro – Script Reader Pro
Selling your script
The Ultimate BS Detector for Screenwriters – Screencraft
How to Write a Screenplay Treatment That Gets More Requests – Script Reader Pro
How to Write a Synopsis – Script Reader Pro
How to Sell A Screenplay: 6 Most Popular Methods – Script Reader Pro
How to Sell Your TV Series the Stranger Things Way – ScreenCraft
How to be Ready for Screenwriting Success – ScreenCraft
Podcasts and TED Talks
Best Screenwriting Podcasts for Savvy Screenwriters – Script Reader Pro
Top 20 Inspiring TED Talks for Storytellers – Script Reader Pro
Resources
Screenwriting Essentials: Books, contests, courses – Script Reader Pro
Hollywood Screenwriting Managers List – Script Reader Pro
Screenwriting Software: Comparing the Five Best – Script Reader Pro
10 Free Screenwriting Software Choices – Script Reader Pro
Scenes
Writing the Scene: Reversals – Script Reader Pro
Shorts
A Short Guide on Short Films – Script Reader Pro
Structure
The Eight Sequences – The Script Lab
Screenplay Structure: Five Key Turning Points – Screenplay.com
Act I: Getting Your Protagonist Off to a Good Start – Script Magazine
Theme
5 Steps to Nailing Your Script’s Theme – Creative Screenwriting
3 Ways to Express Your Script’s Message – Script Reader Pro
TV
How to Write a TV Pilot If You’re Serious About Selling It – Script Reader Pro
Getting Paid
Ten Ways to Sidestep Writing for Free – MovieMaker
A Quick Guide to Screenwriters’ Salaries in TV & Film – Script Reader Pro
Getting to the Finish
Why You Procrastinate (And What You Need to Do to Stop) – Richard RB Botto
7 Ways to finally finish your script – BlueCat
See an article that would be a great addition to this list? Drop us a link at tennscreen@gmail.com.
