Write and Read

Being a reader for Abbot Management and now Bluecat Screenplay Competition has taught me more than I could have wished for.

Reading screenplays is the best way to learn what works and what simply does not. You learn about format, story, and character more than you could in a book or a class. Even if you have a great understanding of screenplays, it will benefit you to read tons of them.

Yeah, I read a lot of junk, but it just reminds you what not to do when you write. Sometimes I read a great screenplay that flows seamlessly and that's where you can go back and study what the writer did and why it worked. So whenever you are not writing, read.

Look through your local job boards for internships, ask your friends and colleagues if you can review their scripts, or simply go to http://www.imsdb.com/ and read some screenplays. Trust me, it will help your craft!