THERE WILL BE BLOOD was released 16 years ago this week. Acclaimed as one of the greatest films this century and among Paul Thomas Anderson’s best, reading the making of story is like striking oil… 1/43

My screenwriting took a huge leap when I decided to take responsibility for the reader's visual and emotional experience. A big part of this was learning to write vertically. Here is what I mean and why this stylistic choice helps. 🧵👇

THREAD: For writers about contests, and real career progress this year. Some tips and mistakes to avoid from a former development exec (me). 1- Think of screenwriting contests like the Olympics of writing. You have to podium for it to matter. Really, you have to WIN. Because

WRITING FELLOWSHIP ADVICE - a 🧵. I am a WBTV Writers’ Workshop Alum ‘23, Circle of Confusion Fellow ‘23, and a script reader for a studio fellowship. I’m not an expert by any means but this is advice I think will generally apply to most TV Fellowship submissions.

Billy Wilder’s Tips For Screenwriters: 1. The audience is fickle. 2. Grab ’em by the throat and never let em go. 3. Develop a clean line of action for your leading character. 4. Know where you're going. 5. The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the

I think we can agree that the late Princess Margaret’s daily routine is the one we all aspire to

"I try to be as close as possible to the protagonist. The nearer I am to them, the more I discover mystery, phantasms, the imaginary, metaphysics. All this is inside us." --- Krzysztof Kieślowski

It seems obvious, but just a reminder: when writing TV, the work never stops. Say you write a pilot. Prepare yourself for notes from your reps. If you're lucky to receive minimal notes, prepare to write a series document. Then prep a verbal pitch. Then *that* all may change. 1/3

Being a creative is brutal AF right now. No new jobs, mass layoffs, cancellations. If you’re still working on your scripts/novels, submitting auditions, directing reels, drawing, creating — S/O to you. Shoutout to us for making art even when it’s hard. That’s what artists do.

Opening pages: what do literary agents look for? Top insights from ten literary agents, including: 🟡Key elements agents are drawn to 🟡Common pitfalls to avoid 🟡Creating a compelling hook bathnovelaward.co.uk/opening-pages-…

"Writing is a solitary business. It takes over your life. In some sense, a writer has no life of his own. Even when he's there, he's not really there." Paul Auster Ghosts

Midlevel advice from someone who has been querying for years (had one agent, searching for the next): you're going to have to find joy in your writing apart external validation. You've come to grips with industry rejection? Great! But what about your friends and family? 1/?

Rejection after rejection this week... #writerslife

Wow today’s column from Philippa_Perry made me cry and cheer! Excuse me I’m off to my writing shed to keep failing 💪🏼

10 years ago I was still stuck in the query trenches (lost & confused). Here’s a few things I’ve learned about writing/publishing in the past decade 🧵 1. Resilience. Rejection is part of the job. It gets easier. It’s not that your work isn’t good it’s that it isn’t a good fit.

It’s get-in Arcola Theatre for 2023 #PapatangoPrize winner SOME DEMON by Laura Waldren. As we open this world premiere by a debut writer, we thought it might be useful to be transparent about what this show takes. The £££, the timeline, the risks, all of it. So, here goes...

Charles Bukowski did not get an MFA. He worked menial jobs, hoboed around, drank, fought, lived. He became a well known writer late in life & he wrote this, The Laughing Heart, for everyone in a dead-end job or a life off course.

You’re not too old to start over You're too old to keep doing what isn't working. Read that again.

Five years ago today I took the best photo I’ll probably ever take. I like good photos and have a four hour bus journey shortly so need entertaining. Feel free to reply with the best photo you ever took. Accompanying description also welcome.