The Screenwriting Curriculum

Note: This is a work in progress, more to come. E-mail me with suggestions if you have them: quinnelk@gmail.com.

You want to learn how to write movies? Here’s how:

Features

• Screenwriting Rules & Advice

  • 10 Screenwriting "Rules" All Screenwriters Should Ignore

  • 10 Things I Used to Think Were IMMENSELY Important in Screenwriting, That Turned Out To Be Not Important At All

  • 10 Things Screenwriters Don't Need to Worry About

  • The (Only) Four Elements of Screenwriting

  • What Is the Worst Screenwriting Advice?

• Overall Movie Concepts and Ideas

  • 5 Tips from the Pros for Adapting Books into Film Scripts

  • The 10 Greatest Movie Concepts of All Time

  • Cracking the High Concept Code

  • High Concept Could Make You Rich

  • Is Your Script "Based On" or "Inspired By" a True Story? What's the Difference?

• Character - General

  • Five Lessons That Will Forever Change The Way You Write Character

  • 6 Ways to Write Better Female Characters

  • 200 Heroic and Villainous Character Traits

  • Character Introductions: Part 1

  • Character Introductions: Part 2

  • Character Introductions: Part 3

  • Character Introductions: Part 4

  • Character Introductions: Part 5

  • Character Introductions: Part 6

  • Character Introductions: Part 7

  • Character Introductions: Part 8

  • Character Introductions: Part 9

  • Character Introductions: Part 10

  • Character Introductions: Part 11

  • Character Introductions: Part 12

  • What is Characterization — Direct vs Indirect Characterization Explained

  • The Chemistry Of Character-Walter White

  • Revealing Character - "Grab a CUP"

  • Tips for Writing Dimensional Characters

  • Understanding the 3 Types of Character Arcs

  • Want Complex Female Characters? Put Them in Action

  • What Makes a "Strong" Female Character?

  • What Makes Pixar Characters So Memorable?

  • What ‘Star Wars’ Can Teach Us about Character Arcs

  • Why You Should Avoid Writing Passive Characters (& How to Make Them Active)

• Character - Protagonist

  • Writing Movie Heroes We'll Root For

• Character - Antagonist

  • 7 Tricks for Writing Bad Ass Antagonists

  • How to Be a Funny Villain

  • To Build a Great Villain, Start With One of These 13 Motivations

  • The Villain Problem is a Retcon Problem

• Character Archetypes

  • Character Type - Artist

  • Character Type - Clown

  • Character Type - Prostitute

  • Character Type - Warrior

  • The Role of the Trickster in “The Dark Knight”

• Dialogue

  • 7 Tips for Writing Good Dialogue in Your Screenplay

  • 8 Things You Can Do to Write More Realistic Dialogue

  • Ten Tips to Improve Your Dialogue Right Now!

  • The Definitive List of Cliché Dialogue

  • Dialogue Dementia - Common Dialogue Mistakes and How to Fix Them

  • The Goal of Dialogue

  • The Last Dialogue Article You’ll Ever Have to Read

  • On-the-nose Dialogue

  • What Does Breaking the Fourth Wall Mean?

  • What Makes a Movie Line Memorable? Rhetorical Questions

• Voiceover/Narration

  • 3 Ways to Use Voiceover in Your Script

  • 15 Movies Screenwriters Should Watch to Study Narration and Voiceover

  • Everything You Need to Know About Narration and Voiceover

• Story - General

  • 3 Simple Steps to Master the Rule of Show, Don't Tell

  • 3 Simple Tips to Speed Up Script Pacing

  • Create High-Value Conflicts to Elevate Your Drama

  • The Finale of ‘The Wire’ Offers Small Moments of Hope in a Cycle of Despair

  • How ‘The Hateful Eight’ Turns Limitation Into Brilliance

  • The Meta Storytelling of ‘Westworld’

  • Steven Spielberg Makes Us See With Our Ears

  • The Story Must-Have Checklist

  • Types of Stories, Plot Types, Themes & Genres

  • ‘War of the Worlds’ and Spielberg’s Mastery of Tension

  • What ‘The Twilight Zone’ Teaches Us About Storytelling

• Structure - General

  • 8 Sequence Structure: The Best-Kept Screenwriting Secret

  • The Four Act Structure

  • To Hell With Story Structure

• Structure - First Act

  • 15 Movies That Effectively Begin with the Ending

• Structure - Second Act

  • How to Master the Middle of Your Screenplay

• Structure - Third Act

  • Dance Party Endings.

• Structure - The Hero’s Journey

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 1: The Ordinary World

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 2: The Call to Adventure

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 3: Refusal of the Call

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 4: Meeting the Mentor

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 5: Crossing the Threshold

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 6: Tests, Allies and Enemies

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 7: The Approach

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 8: The Ordeal

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 9: The Reward

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 10: The Road Back

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 11: The Resurrection

  • ScreenCraft’s Exploration of the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey Part 12: The Return

• Plot - General

• Plot - Devices

  • 17 Plot Devices You Can Use to Elevate Your Story

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Identifying Movie MacGuffins

  • ​​Everything You Need to Know About Artifacts of Attraction

  • Everything You Need to Know About Artifacts of Doom

  • Everything You Need to Know About Chekhov’s Gun

  • Everything You Need to Know About Flashbacks

  • Everything You Need to Know About Framing Devices

  • Everything You Need to Know About Love Triangles

  • Everything You Need to Know About MacGuffins

  • Everything You Need to Know About Montages

  • Everything You Need to Know About Red Herrings

  • What is Deus Ex Machina - The “God From the Machine” Plot Device Explained

• Plot Points - Inciting Incident

  • Ari Aster Has Mastered The Inciting Incident

• Plot Points - Death

  • 9 Overused and Unrealistic Deaths that Screenwriters Need to Stop Writing

  • 10 Reasons to Consider Killing Your Main Character

  • 25 Signs Your Character is About to Die

• Plot Points - Twists

  • 101 Great Plot Twist Ideas to Elevate Your Script

  • Everything's Connected - Set-up, Payoff and the Twist

  • The Plot Twist Checklist

• Scene - General

  • 5 Fixes For Boring Scenes!

  • 10 Questions That Will Help You Find Scenes That Don’t Work

  • 75 Types of Scenes You Can Use in Your Screenplays

  • The Anatomy of a Great Car Chase

  • Creating Tension and Suspense in a Sequence

  • How to Read the Climax of ‘A Few Good Men’ Like a Fight Scene

  • How to Write Great Scenes — 4 Elements Every Scene Should Have

  • How to Write A Scene by John August

  • How To Write An Engaging Action Scene

  • Why We Can’t Get Enough of Steven Spielberg’s Action Scenes

• Set Pieces

  • Set Pieces, Part 1: Spin the Plot

  • Set Pieces, Part 2: Emotional Meaning

  • Set Pieces, Part 3: Stakes

  • Set Pieces, Part 4: Complications, Roadblocks and Reversals

  • Set Pieces, Part 5: Entertainment

• Exposition

  • The Walk and Talk: Crafting Exposition That Won’t Bore Your Audience

  • What Rogue One Can Teach Us About Backstory

• Genre - General

  • Break Genre Rules Like a Master Filmmaker

• Genre - Biography

  • How ‘Walk Hard’ Almost Destroyed the Musical Biopic

• Genre - Action

  • WRITING FIGHT SCENES: A Kick in the Head

• Genre - Comedy

  • 20 Comedy Clichés We’re Totally Over

  • Comedy Loves Bad Decisions

  • Funny Character Arcs Follow a Different Path

  • Genre Breakdown: The Different Types of Comedy Films

  • High Concept Comedy: What It Is and How to Write It

  • What Hollywood Wants (and How to Give It to Them): High Concept Comedy

• Genre - Documentary

  • 7 Reasons You Should “Script” Your Documentary Projects

• Genre - Drama

  • 6 Essential Traits of a Great Drama Screenplay

• Genre - Fantasy

  • The Craft and Rules of Worldbuilding in Science Fiction & Fantasy

  • Making Your Own Fantasy Film: A Field Guide

  • Why Magical Realism is a Global Phenomenon

• Genre - Film Noir

  • The Beginner’s Guide to the Subgenres of Film Noir

• Genre - Horror

  • 8 Horror Screenwriting Tips from the Writer of SINISTER

  • The Content Creator Starter Kit: Folk Horror Films

  • Horror and Comedy are More Alike Than You Think

  • How Internet Fiction Could Shape the Future of Scary Movies

  • The New Rules: How to Successfully Survive a Modern Horror Movie

  • Wanna Get Noticed in the Industry? Write Horror.

  • Why Dumb Decisions are Smart Moves in Horror Films

• Genre - Romance

  • 4 Ways Characters Can "Meet-Cute" in Your Romantic Stories

  • The 5 Genre Filmmaking Elements Every Rom-Com Needs

  • 12 Ways to Solve a Love Triangle

  • Genre Breakdown: The Different Types of Romance Films

  • How to Write a Romantic Comedy When You Hate Rom-Coms, Part 1

  • How to Write a Romantic Comedy When You Hate Rom-Coms, Part 2

  • The Romantic Comedy Ideology

• Genre - Science Fiction

  • The Craft and Rules of Worldbuilding in Science Fiction & Fantasy

  • Genre Breakdown: The Different Types of Sci-Fi Films

  • How Great Jump Scares Are Made In Horror Movies (Vs. Bad Jump Scares)

  • How to Speak Science Fiction: A Field Guide

  • How to Write Sci-Fi Scripts for Streaming Television

  • Sci-Fi 101: Tips for Creating Awesome Time Travel Films

  • Trope School: Time Travel in Film

  • What Makes A Killer Horror Movie Character? Common Horror Character Archetypes

  • Why a Cold Open Might Be Your Sci-Fi Script's Secret Weapon

• Genre - Superhero

  • The Superhero Film: A Guide for Superfans

• Genre - Thriller

  • Genre Breakdown: The Different Types of Thriller Films

• Genre - Western

• Movie Type - Briefcase Full of Cash

  • Movie Story Type - Briefcase Full Of Cash

• Movie Type - Chase

  • Movie Story Type - Chase

• Movie Type - Chick Flick

  • Movie Story Type - Chick Flick

• Movie Type - Contained

  • The Art of the Single Room Film

  • Writing the Contained Script (and Not Just Thrillers!)

• Movie Type - Disaster

  • Movie Story Type - Disaster

  • The Origins of Hollywood’s Obsession With Disaster

• Movie Type - Gender Bender

  • Movie Story Type - Gender Bender

• Movie Type - The Hangout Film

  • The Hangout Film, the American Dream, and the Pursuit of Straight Chilling

• Movie Type - Low Budget

  • Top 9 Tips for Micro-Budget Screenwriting

• Movie Type - Post-Apocalyptic

  • The Filmmaker’s Guide to the Apocalypse

  • Movie Story Type - Post-Apocalypse

• Movie Type - Revenge

  • Movie Story Type - Revenge

• Movie Type - Sequel

  • The Secret to Sequel Setup

• Movie Type - The Space Western

  • The Space Western — Genre’s Unwanted, Weird Cousin

• Movie Type - Spoof

  • Movie Story Type - Spoof

• Movie Type - Ticking Clock

  • Movie Story Type - Ticking Clock

• Writer’s Voice

  • 4 Layers to a Writer's Voice and Why Cultivating Your Unique Voice is Important

  • 9 Tips for Finding Your Authentic Voice as a Screenwriter

  • How to Develop Your Voice as a Screenwriter

  • How to Write Like Aaron Sorkin

  • Writing the Commercial Screenplay

• Writing - General

  • How to Overcome the 5 Biggest Obstacles to Writing Your Screenplay

  • The Worst Mistake a Screenwriter Can Make

• Writing - Specifics

  • Using Suspense to Boost a Story's Humor

  • On Fading to Black: The Hows, The Whens, and The Whys

  • Stop Writing NOISE!

  • Writing Action Description: It's All Storytelling

• Rewriting and Revision

  • 7 Signs That You're Overwriting Your Screenplay

  • How to Avoid Endless Rewrites by Focusing on the Irony

  • Power Revision

  • Rewriting for the Big Screen: “Script Doctors” and the Art of Revision

  • Tips for Rewriting Your Screenplay Without Starting Completely Over

• The Politics and Ethics of Screenwriting

  • How to Pay Homage to a Creator without Stealing

  • Reflections on Scripted Introductions of Female Characters

  • We Need to Talk About Guns in Movies

  • Why Every Writer Should Be Proud to Be a Creative Thief

  • Writing Inclusively Without Appropriating

Shorts

Television

• Television - Pilots

  • The Anatomy of a Great TV Pilot

  • ‘Breaking Bad’ — Best Pilot Ever?

• Television - Genre

  • How to Write for TV: 15 Most Popular Television Genres

  • The Screenwriter's Approach to Adult Animation

• Television - Writing

  • Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Writing a TV Spec Script

  • Writing for the New Television Landscape

• Television - Show Bibles

  • 10 Steps to Developing Your TV Show Bible

• Television - Marketing

  • How to Write TV Bibles & Treatments: 8 Tips from the Pros

Marketing Yourself and Your Script

• Marketing - General

  • Paths to Becoming a Professional Screenwriter

• Marketing - Loglines

  • How to Write an Effective Logline for Your Next Film or Video

  • Loglines and Tigers and Bears – Oh My!

  • The Simple Guide to Writing a Logline

• Marketing - Script Readers

  • 20 Little Things That Make Script Readers Hate Your Screenplay

  • 36 Practical Tips on How Not to Irritate Your Script Reader

• Marketing - Synopses & Treatments

  • A Movie Synopsis: What it Is and How to Write One

• Pitching

  • 3 Amazing Pitching Tips from Sci-Fi & Fantasy Directors, Writers, and Producers

  • 10 Things You're Doing Wrong When Pitching Your Script

  • The Comprehensive Guide to Pitching Documentary Projects

  • Elevator Pitching: How to Grab Someone's Attention in 30 Seconds or Less

• Queries

  • The 10 Biggest Mistakes Screenwriters Make When Querying

• Representation

  • How to Sign with a Manager (and Agent)

• Etiquette

  • 10 Rules of Film/TV Industry Etiquette Screenwriters Should Know

• Miscellaneous

  • The Stage 32 Entertainment Industry Glossary

Miscellaneous

• The Magical Glue That Holds Movies Together: Editing