This article originally appeared on LA Screenwriter. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Write what you know. That’s the old adage that every writer has heard a thousand times. But what does it really mean? Does it mean that your main character should be a version of yourself? No. It means…
Read more
This article was originally published in Script Magazine. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa You’ll hear it time and again – agents, producers, and contest judges who say they’re looking for writers with “a unique voice.” But what the heck does that mean? How can you tell if you have a strong…
Read more
This article was originally published on LA Screenwriter. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) I want to make it clear up front that I am someone who co-founded and co-runs a screenwriting competition. I’m also a writer who has entered a lot of screenwriting competitions and had mixed experiences. A few…
Read more
This article originally appeared on Script Magazine. It is reprinted here with permission. by Tim Schildberger Everyone hates getting feedback. But if you can’t make peace with receiving it, you won’t have a career as a paid writer. Let’s agree that we all send off a first draft to be read with the secret wish…
Read more
This article was originally published on LA Screenwriter. It is reprinted here with permission. Have any of you noticed how all the “complete” lists of nominees for any television or film award show always leave off the writers? I get that the average reader only cares about the actors, but still… Rant over. Here is…
Read more
This article originally appeared on LA Screenwriter. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa At his recent STORY Seminar in Los Angeles, Robert McKee talked quite a bit about the inciting incident. The inciting incident is the moment in your story where your main character’s life goes out of balance. It’s the moment when their…
Read more
This article was originally published on LA Screenwriter. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) I finally got the chance to see Avengers: Infinity War on Mother’s Day – it was part of my gift from my husband. Go see a movie while I watch the baby. (If you’re a parent, you get what…
Read more
Happy new week to everyone! Recently, our co-founder Angela Bourassa wrote an article for Shore Scripts explaining what exactly a screenwriting lab is and why you might want to consider applying for one (like the one that’s part of our grand prize package…). The article includes a list of labs and TV fellowships worth checking…
Read more
Our co-founder Angela Bourassa recently did an AMA on Reddit. The event was a HUGE success with over 280 total comments, and counting. Angela gave a lot of feedback on individual writer’s loglines, so if you’ve been struggling with your logline, check out the whole thread on Reddit. Some of the big logline themes…
Read more
This article originally appeared on Script Magazine. It is re-printed here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) I have a toddler, so I’m constantly prowling Netflix for a new kid’s show or movie that will help my son simmer down before bedtime and, just as importantly, won’t drive me crazy. In my eternal search I’ve…
Read more