Screenwriting Blog

This week, we’re excited to spotlight SoCreate member, Skye Anderson! Growing up in NYC, Skye’s passion for storytelling led her from Off-Broadway stages to screenwriting, with highlights like interning at Spike Lee's 40 Acres & A Mule and being a Nickelodeon Writing Program finalist. She’s currently working on a webisode inspired by her upbringing, challenging stereotypes and showcasing the humanity and dignity of underrepresented voices... Continue reading

A cliffhanger is one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s toolbox. It keeps the audience glued to their seats and eagerly anticipating what happens next. Whether in a movie, TV show, or short film, a well-executed cliffhanger can make your story unforgettable. For screenwriters, crafting a perfect cliffhanger requires skill, timing, and a deep understanding of storytelling ... Continue reading

Publishing a story online has never been easier. Whether you’re sharing your creative work with friends, engaging with a global audience, or pursuing a career in writing, online publishing offers endless opportunities. Let’s walk through the steps to take your story from an idea to a finished piece ready to share online. Publishing stories online allows you to reach readers anywhere in the world. Unlike traditional publishing, where access to readers can be limited ... Continue reading

For most, writing is less of a job and more of a passion. But wouldn’t it be ideal if we could all make a living in a field that we are passionate about? It’s not impossible to get paid to do what you love, if you’re willing to accept the reality: there’s not much stability for writers who choose this path. We asked five expert writers how much money the average writer can expect to earn. The answer? Well, it’s as diverse as the backgrounds of our experts. Per the ... Continue reading

As a New York Times best-selling author and five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, Jonathan Maberry is an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to the storytelling business, including how to get representation as a writer. He’s written comic books, magazine articles, plays, anthologies, novels and more. And while he wouldn’t call himself a screenwriter, this writer does have onscreen projects to his name. "V-Wars," based on Jonathan’s best-selling franchise by the same name, was produced by Netflix. And Alcon Entertainment bought the TV and film rights to "Rot & Ruin," Jonathan’s young adult zombie fiction series. We... Continue reading

Wondering what to gift the special writer in your life? You’ve given them notebooks, and screenwriting how-to books, and writer’s block prompts, and now you’ve hit gifting blocks of your own. SoCreate is here to help you find the perfect present that’s surprising, unusual, and most importantly, useful. We’ve assembled a list of top gifts for screenwriters that will get them excited and ready to write their next blockbuster hit! Screenwriting Gift 1: Airbnb Gift Card: Sometimes all a writer needs to break writer’s block is a change of scenery. Gift your screenwriter a getaway – whether it’s a quiet... Continue reading

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” Have you heard, or maybe even used, that famous quote? You have writers Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson to thank for “Cool Hand Luke,” a 1960s prison drama film that debuted on this day in history. The pair earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay since the film was based on Pearce’s novel, which he sold to Warner Bros. Pearce didn’t have any screenwriting experience, though, so Warner Bros. also brought on Pierson to help write the screenplay. The story is based on Pearce’s actual experience on a chain gang in Florida ... Continue reading

Members can show off their creative work with custom Creator Profiles, which display your SoCreate Stories, experience, and bio information. It’s like IMDb meets LinkedIn meets your writing portfolio – all of the good stuff is now in one place! With a custom Creator Profile, members have: An online portfolio to add your photo, experience, bio, and list available SoCreate stories; A unique URL to share your stories with the world, fully customizable in your SoCreate ... Continue reading

It's probably the most-asked question we hear, "How do I get an agent or manager?" In today's video tip with aspiring screenwriter Ashlee Stormo, she's showing you exactly how she uses popular online platform IMDb Pro to find potential managers and agents that are the right fit for her. Keep in mind, a writer doesn't need representation (screenwriter Adam G. Simon told us this hilarious story of how he represented himself to get his movie "Man Down" made), but it certainly can help. Some writers think querying is an outdated way to get in front of potential agents and managers, but there are plenty ... Continue reading