Illiterate Writer

Another Hollywood nobody blogging about screenwriting. God help us all.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

@DGillboy Sounds like it end up being a great experience. I've always wanted to work with a good book editor… I'm just no good writing books

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

@DGillboy Tweaking the story, not tweaking… for… whatever people tweak for, I mean.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

@DGillboy Do you ever find yourself tweaking for market after the fact?

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

@DGillboy Congratulations! I'm hoping for the best for you.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

@DGillboy Exactly! Knowing the market (and budget) is SO important!

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

A building demolition is interesting. That doesn't mean it has a place in a character-drama about reunited lovers.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

There has to be intention behind every piece of a story. Not just "something interesting", but interesting things that build the story.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

There's a story about Billy Wilder rewriting another script so that ten pages of dialogue was totally replaced by a half page of action.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

The problem with "just make it interesting" is that what interests the writer doesn't necessarily interest the reader.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

For the record, I do not advocate a beat sheet where certain things must happen on certain pages. Nor do I find them as bad as others do.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

Although, plenty of writers use structure as a crutch. There's no denying that. So in a sense, this successful writer is right.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

Human nature is to downplay the importance of what comes easy to us.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

I personally believe that writers who poo on structure don't realize that their work IS structured — it just comes naturally to them.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

Granted, it doesn't take much to be more successful than me, but this writer is a legit industry pro.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

A more-successful-than-me writer insists that structure is BS and all one must do is write interesting things. Yet his work is structured. 🤔

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

Remember, Hollywood is a place of BUSINESS. People do business w/ people they like and trust. Bad conduct can kill a career quickly.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

A really good movie plays a game of diversion much like a street magician. It's not about formula. It's about laying a foundation.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

Pay attention to how much happens in the first 20-30 minutes of a popular movie. The pros make it look effortless.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

Let your work speak for itself and devote yourself to constantly getting better at the craft.

[Illiterate Writer @illiteratewritr]

If you have to tell people that you're a great writer, you're not.