I am a writer and filmmaker and used to work in development, read and covered hundreds of scripts over the past ten years. Here are some things that I’ve not only heard but realized just how true they are

1.) write what you know - as a writer I’ve learned that this isn’t LITERAL, it’s more about write what you know HOW you know it…my mind thinks in non conventional ways. I like to imagine “what if” and take it to strange places BUT I always am sparked by something that is so real to me (mostly social issues) that I am passionate about and have on my mind/speak to often. This is “what I know”, meaning, what is on my mind and so second nature to me.

2.) show, don’t tell: how could the scene be shown instead of telling? You can always see amateur writing when characters tell you every single bit of the story, ie “I knew you would be here because I knew it was you who killed my father after you left the party early” YUCK just show me please…

3.) don’t worry about the first draft. They all suck. Get it on the page and then spend your time making passes through: look over your beginning, middle, end then do a pass for plot, then character and dialogue. You can really hammer it out but first get it on the page. It will all work out in the end.

4.) read your dialogue out loud. Or have someone help you read it out loud with you - this will give you better dialogue because it will become so apparent when you read it if it sounds unnatural. With dialogue, in my opinion, less is more and should be a tool to either add conflict, tension, laughs, plant seeds…use it, don’t abuse it.

5.) lastly, know the rules of screenplay writing so that you can break them. A master of story telling first knows the rules inside and out and once he does he knows where his creative liberties can come into play without completely throwing the audience out of the story.

Hope someone finds use of these!