Screenwriter Blog Posts

Stop Telling Your Idea: 3 Levels of Character DNA to Revolutionize How You Show Not Tell

Beyond the Surface: Is Your Character’s Truth in Their DNA? In screenwriting, the mantra “Show, Don’t Tell” is often treated as a simple instruction to ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

The Business of Screenplay Marketing

Some of the persistent complaints I hear from screenwriters are that they don’t like to market their scripts, they don’t know what to do next, ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

How To Build Equity As A Screenwriter

In Hollywood, as in a number of businesses, contact equity is critical. The more of the right people you know, the more valuable your Rolodex ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

How To Overcome Procrastination Now

WOW! Every once in a while, time goes by so fast that I’ll suddenly realize it’s been a long time since I sent out one ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

Using a Screenplay Theme to Attract a Movie Star

Every screenwriter who sits down to his copy of Final Draft and begins typing a screenplay has the ambition of writing a great screenplay with ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

How to Write Captivating Script Dialogue

One of the biggest challenges in writing a great screenplay, even for seasoned writers, is writing strong script dialogue. The truth is that if you ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

Networking in Hollywood Like the Girl with the Extraordinarily Long Arm

You’ve probably have heard that you need to schmooze in Hollywood, and sometimes hearing this makes actors shudder because they feel it means they need ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

10 Mistakes Screenwriters Make That Drive Readers Crazy

Completing a screenplay is a huge accomplishment. Getting a Hollywood executive to read your script is another big accomplishment. The last thing you want to ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

How To Make An Audience Care About Your Characters

John Truby believes that focusing on details and character traits can lead to superficial characters. Melody Jackson, Ph.D. does, too. Go here to Learn what ...

Written by

Melody Jackson

Show Your Screenwriting Talents With A Short Film

If you've written a screenplay, if you're even thinking about it, or if you've already completed one or more, then you've probably imagined what it ...

Written by

Melody Jackson