Amy Suto — Page 19

For Men: How to Write Female Characters

February 11, 2013 by Amy Suto

This post was originally intended to be a satirical comment on the state of female characters in screenplays written by men.

But, ironically enough, after talking to a handful of male screenwriters, I realized that there is a legitimate, long-standing issue amongst male writers when it comes to writing female characters.

I say this without judgment: some male writers just don’t know how to write female characters. Which is why I’m here to help! [Read more…]

5 Ways to Write What You Don’t Know

January 29, 2013 by Amy Suto

The phrase write what you know can be damaging to a writer when taken too literally.

If I wrote only what I knew, I would be limited to the quirky adventures of a screenwriter and her friends in Los Angeles. My main character would spend most of her time writing, running, and blogging, with occasional trips up to abandoned ski resorts to film horror movies or battles done with crocodiles in the harbors of Mexico.

In short, the movie that I want to write does not resemble my life.

But that’s not how “writing what you know” is supposed to be interpreted. It means that you’re supposed to use what you do know as a jumping off point to write what you don’t know anything about, thus lending authenticity to your writing.

Here are 5 ways to write what you don’t know, in a way that will ring true with the reader: [Read more…]

13 Ways to Be a Better Screenwriter in 2013

January 4, 2013 by Amy Suto

Stock Photograph Debate of the Day: Nature Enthusiast or Suicidal Hiker?

Hey guys! It’s 2013, and now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get to work on that screenplay you’ve been wanting to write. Today is a fresh start, where we can put procrastination and overcaffeination behind us, and become more productive, creative people who make up fictional relationships and events alone in front of a laptop (or typewriter, if you’re classy like that.)

With that, here are 13 ways for you to become a better screenwriter in 2013:

1. Refuel your idea bank. Have you ever noticed how heavily our dreams rely on what happened during the daytime? Even the most imaginative situations were inspired by something that we experienced or witnessed. The same concept applies to screenwriting. Take one day a week to do something interesting. Push your boundaries. Look at something in a new perspective. Get lost. Say hi to a complete stranger. What you see — and what you subconsciously take in — will affect your writing. It’s critical to keep refueling and seeking revelations and interesting observations so you can enrich your writing.

2. Declare that “writer’s block” doesn’t exist. “Writer’s Block” was invented so that writers could blame something external for their lack of productivity. In reality, it doesn’t exist. Take this perspective out for a spin, and you’ll realize that writer’s block is nothing but your brain telling you that you need to mix things up. If you can’t write a scene, that doesn’t mean some mythical writing god has blocked your creative channels, it simply means that your creative side is running low on fuel and you need to take a break, go for a walk, write something else, or list all of things that wouldn’t happen next in your story. Praying for inspiration or bemoaning your condition won’t fix anything. If you’re on a deadline, sit down and write the scene, even if it turns out terrible. Just put something on the page. Writing is re-writing, “writer’s block” or no. [Read more…]

Good Books: Sociopaths and Suicide Pacts

December 31, 2012 by Amy Suto

If you can’t tell by the title, I’m kicking off my new book review blog series on a cheerful note.

Three cheers for a new blog series!

I spent four hours hanging out in LAX the other day because my flight was delayed (blizzards, you sly dogs, you). Considering they only give you an hour of complimentary internet there (blasphemy!) I had to stop blogging and tweeting and instead read some of the books I’d recently bought on my Kindle. I’m glad I did, because I read two great books that I want to share with you today.

These books are also fantastic writing fodder, and you may find inspiration for your next screenplay within these pages. Or you might just fall in love with a great book, and that’s a worthwhile goal, too! [Read more…]

10 Best Posts of 2012

December 28, 2012 by Amy Suto

In honor of the New Year, I thought I’d do one of those handy dandy recap posts.

So, here are my 10 best posts from 2012!

5 Lessons Screenwriters Can Learn from The Hunger Games

Lessons that can be learned from a bestselling-novel-turned Hollywood blockbuster.

Why it made this list: Studying smash hits such as The Hunger Games is important. Something in this movie resonated with audiences across the globe. How can we emulate these storytelling tactics in our own work?

5 Twitter Tips for Screenwriters

All of the Twitterquette you need to know as a writer!

Why it made this list: It’s important to put your best foot forward on the internet, because you don’t know who is watching. I’ve seen countless screenwriters get burned on Twitter, because it’s easy to get caught up in arguments or spew criticisms that set your reputation on fire.