Ready to Write Your Screenplay? Not So Fast.

There’s hundreds of tips on how to write a screenplay, but if they were any good there wouldn’t be so many bad screenplays out there. Well, that’s not quite fair…but then again maybe it is to some extent. The harsh reality is that most screenplays in the market that get submitted to Hollywood are not good. That’s why you need to know some fundamental things — not just about the format and structure, but about what makes a good story.

Here’s some basic information to get you going and I’ll provide some great books and resources further down the page.

Resist the urge to just start writing blindly. I’m begging you.

Concept

Before you dive right in and start buying screenwriting software and before you write down the first action line or piece of dialogue. Take some time — no, take a lot of time to think about the concept of your story. A bad concept can cost you months and sometimes years of wasted time. Imagine spending the next 4 to 6 months writing a screenplay about a movie nobody is interested in seeing except you and your friends. There’s a saying “write what you love” or “write what you know” but keep it real with yourself and realize that if you’re intent is to see your movie on the big screen in front of a mass audience then you need to “write what everybody else loves” to a degree as well.

Try these exercises to get your brain juices flowing:

Make a list of your ten favorite movies Make a list of a few favorite novels Write down what your favorite genres are Make a list of your five best characters from any novel or movie

If you look at those lists then you’ll probably realize a pattern and it should become obvious what you’re most interested in. If you’re still stuck, then check out these books on ideas.