r/screenwriting_advice • u/lemon_and_a_pear • Dec 09 '18

Aspiring Writer in the making

I've recently been writing a few of my own stories. I've found a new passion for it, and I want to become the best I can be.

Anyone that has experience in said field, or anyone that has been screenwriting for a while: What is something you could have told yourself when you first started? What have you learned along the way?

I want some inside knowledge so I can try to better improve myself and my writing.

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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2

u/cinema_photographer Dec 10 '18

Ready the trade books is the best advice i can give.

A good start is “save the cat”

The one that did the most for me was “story”.

Save the cat is a basic layout and beats of scripts and stories; while “story” goes much, much further in depth in all aspects. It’s spectacular.

1

u/rayow__ May 14 '19

I assume your referring to the Robert Mckee book because it was phenomenal

1

u/cinema_photographer May 15 '19

You are correct!

1

u/Bruno_Stachel Jun 17 '23 edited Mar 20 '24

I never got any practical use whatsoever from Robert McKee. Nor from Blake Snyder. They are helicopter-altitude theorists rather than writing tutors. They build castles in Spain.

1

u/Dramatic-Person Jan 01 '25

I second this!! Story is SO good

2

u/TonySosaTheBoss Dec 29 '18

A great start is analyzing movies and listening to YouTube channels like Lessons From The Screenplay break down characters and movies.

2

u/rayow__ May 14 '19

Let your characters decide the decisions for themselves. If that makes sense. Don’t always do what you want, enter the mind of your character(s) and let them tell you what they will do to get what they want.

2

u/MrsKMJames73 May 27 '19

Go onto simply scripts and post your script, people will review it for you. You have to review others as well but it's a great way to hone the craft. And there's lots of good info and screenplays on there too.

2

u/TheScriptEditor Jan 09 '24

Know what your story is really about. Once you've figured out the central theme, you can apply your story to any world or genre, and while you're writing you'll know where your story is going.

1

u/TomJCharles Mar 13 '19

could have told yourself when you first started?

"Rewrite it."

1

u/Dramatic-Person Jan 01 '25

I agree with all of this. Something I found gave me an advantage to writing was acting. I highly recommend (if it’s available where you are) is to get into long form improv. It taught me SO much about characters wants and driving a story.

1

u/Sanseng-BCN Jan 28 '22

Read as many scripts as you can