Tom Vaughan
@storyandplot
Daily Tweets on screenwriting. Writer of 8 films, including WINCHESTER + others. I share what I've learned as a pro at http://storyandplot.com and @UHouston 🐾
Big picture story structure: Act 1: I have a problem. Act 2A: I think I'll solve it. Act 2B: This is harder than I thought. Act 3: The sacrifice. Keep it simple. Great story structure is necessary, but it is just the framework. It's the scenes, characters, and surprising…
It took me a while, but about 10 years ago, I finally settled on a consistent process that takes me from idea to final draft. 1. Pre-Outline. 2. Outline. 3. Treatment 4. The screenplay 5. Rewrites. This naturally creates slightly different versions of the same story as I…
A surprisingly well-kept secret about screenwriting: You do not have to show anyone your first screenplay. You don't have to put so much pressure on yourself about how anyone feels about it. You can write it. And then go write the next one using everything you just learned.
A major mental shift that changed my creative life: Neither screenwriting nor filmmaking is a zero-sum game. Stop competing and start collaborating. You'll make each other better, you'll see more success and you'll have more fun doing it.