Reposting this as I'm continuing to be plagued by scripts that open this way. I get it, you want to evoke the tone and mood, but half a page of what a location looks like without any interesting action puts a reader to sleep, killing any initial excitement. #scriptsky

#scriptsky Worried that you might be using overused tropes or featuring harmful representations in your screenplay? Check out Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity’s very useful #writeinclusive factsheets - www.writeinclusion.org/factsheets

Are you making sure that the reader is imagining each scene exactly the same way you are? #screenwriting #scriptwriting, #screenplay #screenwritingtips, #thescriptreader, #screenwritingcontest, #shortcom #scriptsky

Here are some mid-year sitcom/half-hour comedy entry observations for you. #screenwriting #scriptwriting, #screenplay #screenwritingtips, #thescriptreader, #screenwritingcontest, #shortcom

When characters have to explain stuff purely for the benefit of the audience, it can come across as being forced, unnatural, or contrived. That's totally fine in an early draft, but later on, there are more effective ways to weave this info in. Here's 5 methods to help you #scriptsky

Vague sluglines are doing my nut in #scriptsky A crew needs to know specifically WHERE we are, not just a general guide like "TOM'S APARTMENT" or "LONDON". On the flip side, being too specific is also annoying. If a scene heading runs over one line on the page, it's probably overkill.

Been reading a lot of sitcom pilots that play it safe with predictable gags that make your eyes roll. Predictable = boring. Not playing it safe comes with risks, but that's the gamble. #screenwriting #scriptwriting, #screenplay #screenwritingtips, #screenwritingcontest, #shortcom, #scriptsky

Back when I was writing 1-pagers, we were told not to never add images or crazy fonts. Now that I'm reading them, I absolutely love a visually appealing page, especially if it helps convey the visual style of the show. But that's my personal opinion. Do so at your own risk! #scriptsky

After having a nice break from social media, I'm back! Let's kick off the week by hating on AI, which I've had the misfortune of reading far too much of lately. I say hating, but what I'm probably doing is helping writers disguise it better. Can't win! #scriptsky

We're on the 1hr TV pilots now! #screenwriting #scriptwriting, #screenplay #screenwritingtips, #thescriptreader, #screenwritingcontest, #shortcom, #scriptsky

Subtext isn't just a character avoiding talking about a topic; it's passive aggressiveness, it's trying to sway a narrative, and it's ulterior motives. Don't overthink it. You read between the lines every day in real life. #scriptsky

If you're trying to squeeze your story into 30 or 60 pages, listing Acts (which should all start on a new page) can start to push the page count up. If you are inserting Acts, make sure you do it correctly. There's a lot of room for error. #shortcom, #scriptsky

There are always strong contenders in this contest, and dare I say it, the British excel when it comes to sitcom writing. Want to prove me wrong? Get submitting! #screenwriting #scriptwriting, #screenplay #screenwritingtips, #screenwritingcontest, #scriptsky

Writers also need time to think, too. Just don't get stuck there! #screenwriting #scriptwriting, #screenplay #screenwritingtips, #thescriptreader, #scriptsky

- Attention spans are getting shorter. - People are overworked and stressed. - Free time is a luxury. That's 3 strong reasons to ditch any setup that might be slowing your story while making the reader lose interest along the way. #scriptsky

We don't need to love a protagonist straight away, but we do need to find them compelling enough to want to read through 120-odd pages to find out what happens to them. #scriptsky

This script is by a new writer just starting, who knows there are flaws, but is willing to put themselves out there in order to get some helpful feedback, which is something to be commended. These are errors everyone makes until they learn otherwise. And that's okay. #scriptsky

Search for any props you've written in CAPS because they're super important (if you do this), and go make sure that prop comes back into play somewhere else in the story - ideally multiple times. Audiences love setups and payoffs. #scriptsky

New writers can be guilty of making all characters sound the same. Ideally, a reader should be able to recognize a character solely from the way they speak. Sitcoms are a great example of this. Remove the names from your dialogue and see if you can tell who's speaking. #scriptsky

If you're not enjoying writing, figure out why. Too difficult? Break things down into smaller parts. Boring story? Take the plot in a completely different direction. Hate character design? Write people you already know. Hate rewrites? Tackle 1 prob, scene, or sequence at a time. #scriptsky

Pro feedback matters, but you’ll get more from it if you do the groundwork yourself. Read scripts. Study what makes pages turn. Nail formatting. Rewrite. Learn to self-assess (critiquing others helps). Get used to people reading your work. Aim for excellence, not perfection. #scriptsky

Check out the first 2 pages of a psychological horror from r/ReadMyScript. The atmosphere is on point, but it’s dense, and the pacing feels more like a novel than a screenplay. I might've been too harsh, but let me know what hooks you and where it starts to drag. #scriptsky

Quick preview of the Beat Sheet Bundle (only £1.69) available in the store. There are five classic structures you can use to craft your story, plus one that encompasses them all. How would changing the structure alter your plot? >>>Link in the Bio<<< #scriptsky

Here's some more observations from the spec pile. #scriptsky

Scottish screenwriters and filmmakers, get yerself along to SI-FAN, the coolest film fest in town. Edinburgh Filmhouse May 1-4! #scriptsky

While screenwriting can certainly feel like a solitary endeavour, filmmaking is very much a team effort. If you're not scratching someone else's back, do you really expect anyone to scratch yours? #scriptsky

Use this simple guide to quickly double-check that you're not wasting your time by trying to force your story into a format that doesn't work. >>>Link in the Bio<<< #scriptsky

This is last draft stuff focusing on enhancing readability. If you need to hammer a point home, go for it, but usually, stating the obvious is just adding more words to trawl through, instead of pushing the story forward. Cut the fluff! #scriptsky

As a script reader, you see the same old issues crop up over and over. These errors (when combined) make it easy to pass on a script, which is great at whittling out the chaff, but reading shit scripts all day can be incredibly soul-destroying at the same time. Burnout is real, folks! #scriptsky

Short Com isn't just looking for traditional sitcoms (aka low-cost comfort food for the eyes), comedy dramas, compelling single-cam realism, and binge-able comedy content are all just as welcome. If you've got a half-hour script that's funny as f*ck, this is the contest for you. #scriptsky