Finish that screenplay! (Writing resources)
- Ghost Note Editorial
- Oct 18, 2023
- 2 min read
Writing is hard. The process is full of doubt, despondency, frustration. And more often than not, by the end of it we don't even know if what we have is good or bad or simply half-baked.
A common misconception about writing is that it will just come to you or that anybody can crank out a script if they have natural talent. Far from it. It is laborious, it is structured work, it requires practice like woodworking.
Having an idea for a good story is only the beginning. Now you have to put in the time. Build it like a cathedral. It can feel daunting. But organisation and structure eliminates a lot of those anxieties. You can find your own way to structure it but you have to know the rules to bend the rules! Here is a list of resources we think have the right balance between instruction and inspiration when it comes to filmmaking! We've kept the list small so it isn't overwhelming.
"A podcast about the first-draft secrets behind great movies and TV shows. Each episode, the screenwriter behind a beloved film shares with us their initial screenplay for that movie. We then talk through what changed, what didn’t and why on its journey to the big screen. Hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek."
"The creators of Welcome to Night Vale Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink believe the only bad writing is not writing. Start With This is a podcast gone creativity playground designed to put your ideas in motion. Each episode centers around a writing topic. Then they give listeners two short assignments: something to consume and something to create. Make something—anything. Then make something else."
This a GREAT and practical book on screenplay writing and can apply to other forms of writing as well. While it's a fairly dense read, it is more helpful for those looking to break down and analyse the fundamentals of storytelling.
Finally, the best way to write a good screenplay is to read good screenplays. This google drive link makes the best tv and film scripts (and show bibles) available to you. Our advice - read as many scripts as you can! Set a weekly target and try to stick to it. If nothing else, it will help you develop good taste.
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