stuck on how to write a screenplay that grabs attention? my 8-step process gives you the skills and plan you need!
Writing a screenplay can be pretty daunting! Even if you’ve written one or several, each new script is a new blank page to stare at. It can be hard to know where to get started.
That used to be me, many scripts ago! I was writing a lot, but I usually wasn’t happy with the outcome. So I took a step back, did a lot of research, read a lot of scripts, and combined that with my knowledge of fiction writing to devise a process to guide me through each new project. It’s no coincidence that the first script I wrote using this process won a major international screenwriting contest, and got me repped!
I use this same 8-step process every time I start a screenplay. It not only covers what to focus on and when, but has actions and exercises to do for each aspect of the craft.
I only share the exact process with my clients! But I can say that it includes:
- Story: what story do you want to tell? And how do you want to tell it? First and foremost, we work on building a story that gets to the bottom of what YOU want to say.
- Character: deep work to create dynamic, complex characters. This step goes way beyond writing a bio—it gives you all the information you need to truly understand your characters.
- Structure: whether for TV or feature, devising an appropriate and appealing structure is a huge part of the process!
- Scene work: the overall structure is important—but so is the structure of your individual scenes. As part of the process we work on making every scene pop!
- Dialogue: dialogue can absolutely make or break a screenplay. Whether you’re writing something bleak or something lighthearted, dialogue plays an important role. And it plays an important role in our process, where we go deep into the dialogue in each scene.
And more!
For 1:1 coaching clients, I guide you through every step of the process. We discuss each step at length during our live calls, and I give you exercises and script work to do in between. That way we can take your idea from a twinkle in your eye to a completed script in just a couple of months!