10 Screenwriting Tips I’m Thankful For

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Just the tips!

It’s Thanksgiving Week, which means it’s time to sneak away from people you’re convinced you can’t possibly be related to to work on your script! Thought I’d give you some help. Here are ten screenwriting tips I’m thankful for. Feel free to share the tips you’re thankful for in the comments section!

1) Nothing should ever go according to plan.

2) Have characters keep lies from one another. Their dialogue is a lot more interesting that way.

3) A simple disagreement can turn an ordinary scene into a good one.

4) Without a worthy villain, your hero’s journey will feel too easy.

5) Characters shouldn’t be talking about the past or the future. They should be dealing with the present.

6) Every solution in your hero’s journey should come at a cost.

7) Send your character into the place they least want to go.

8) A great character-creation hack is to give your character a primary trait that’s opposite of who they appear to be. A soft-spoken boxer. A pissy nun. An anxiety ridden yoga teacher. A jerky ice-cream truck driver.

9) Never underestimate the power of anticipation – there’s a reason they don’t start you on the top of the roller coaster. They make you go up that hill first.

10) A story only begins once there’s a problem.