FROM THE DESK OF
Amy Suto
Hello! 👋 I’m Amy Suto, a published author and freelance memoir ghostwriter. Subscribe to my newsletter & writing job board here!
For Men: How to Write Female Characters
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!How Are Female and Male Characters Different?
5 Ways to Write What You Don't Know
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:
13 Ways to Be a Better Screenwriter in 2013
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.)
Good Books: Sociopaths and Suicide Pacts
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.
The Last Piece of Writing Advice You'll Need
Some gurus tell you that the three act structure will kill you, while others tell you that if you don't hit every story beat, your screenplay will be doomed. Still, others tell you that outlining is a hoax and you should just write a screenplay with no structure at all because that kills your creativity. Then there are the champions of the outline who say that without it, your script will die in the rough draft phase, and if you do manage to get a final draft out of it, it will take you twice as long as if you'd done an outline.
How to Write a Novel in a Month *Free Full-Color Manual*
I wrote this manual that details how you can write a novel in a month. It includes all the tips, motivational pep talks, and elaborate espresso drinks you could ever need for a month-long writing adventure!
5 Things You Forgot About Rough Drafts
Working screenwriters tend to have several screenplays in the pipeline at once, all at different levels of completion. This way, they can bounce around between all the stages of the writing process without getting fatigued, and always have an answer for the dreaded question, 'what else do you got?' But balancing a pipeline of different projects -- and actually completing them -- takes time. When you start off, chances are you'll just focus on one screenplay at a time. And sometimes, it's easy to forget about the messiness that is the rough draft.
The Doomed Love Trope (And Why It's Awesome)
You've seen it before.Two starstruck lovers fall into such a perfect, idealized form of true love that their passion for each other could burn out the sun if it was one kilowatt brighter. These two youngsters resemble all of our romantic hopes and dreams, and we want them to overcome every obstacle in their path in order to be together.But, of course, their love is doomed due to timing.
3 Reasons Why Screenplays are Like Lattes
Welcome to AmySuto.com! You may also know this website by its alternate name, "Gratuitous Photos of Delicious Caffeinated Beverages."Now, you may be asking "Amy, how on earth are you able to craft an extended metaphor around lattes and screenplays?" And to that I laugh and exclaim, "silly readers! I'm a writer! I make extended metaphors for a living!"Anyways.Here are four reasons why screenplays are like lattes:
10 Ways to Prepare for National Novel Writing Month
Greetings, traveler! Chances are, you're reading this because you've decided to embark on the highly dangerous, highly caffeinated thirty-day whirlwind known as National Novel Writing Month. The goal? To write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. You may not even have an idea for a novel in this point in time. But never fear! This guide exists to divulge the secrets behind a successful month of noveling. Let the adventure begin!
5 Storytelling Lessons We Can Learn From Rian Johnson
Hey Amy, was this blog post partially created out of you wanting to tell people that you saw LOOPER before it was even out in theaters? Why yes, yes it is. That, and writer/director Rian Johnson's films make all of my top ten movie lists. If I were stranded on a deserted island, I'd bring his high school noir film Brick with me. If I had three hours left to live, you can bet I'd be watching his feel-good con man love story adventure, The Brother's Bloom. What's that you say? There's been a nuclear war and I'm only allowed to save five movies from the impending destruction? Looper, consider yourself saved.
Pre-Writing Checklist: 6 Things To Do Before Starting Your Screenplay
I've learned some very important lessons from my overseas travel, but one message actually applies to screenwriting: always prepare yourself for the journey ahead. Writing a script, is, in essence, a journey. Don't be that guy who gets stopped at the border because you forgot your passport and who drinks the water the moment his boot hits Mexicano soil.
Dispatches from Mexico
There's nothing like international travel to remind you how much you value your limbs.
The 5 Basics of Creativity for Writers
Here are the five things writers should know about creativity.
6 Reasons Why Earlier TV Seasons Are The Strongest
When Nikita got renewed, I died of happiness. This high-octane spy thriller is filled with Alias-like twists and turns and movie-quality combat, and the characters are layered and nuanced. I love the first and second season with obsessive tendencies. However, gun to my head I would still say that the first season has stronger storytelling.
9 Creative Approaches to Screenwriting
Over the past year, I've been studying the science behind creativity and how it works while conducting a study of my own. Because when you think about it, being creative is one of the fundamental skills required for screenwriters to be wildly successful. The execs aren't gonna fed ex you buckets of cash unless you've some kind of genius who can pitch and write things they've never seen before.
Non-Official Resume
Eventually I'm going to make a "video resume," which will basically be a 60-minute long montage of me doing awesome things like skydiving and winning a game of extreme shuffleboard.
