So Your Mama Loves It, But Is It Ready for the Big Time?: The 10 Most Common Mistakes Screenwriters Make (And How You Can Avoid Them)

A primer for the beginner, and an advanced workbook for the expert, this book begins by warning writers of the perils of submitting their work too soon, then guides them through the process of crystallizing their stories, identifying and correcting mistakes, and developing the skills to judge when the work is ready for the marketplace. While it may sound obvious, the most common problem in a screenplay is the lack of narrative drive--the reader is just not eager to turn the page. Once a writer understands the propulsion of their story, they then must express that energy in every line of dialogue, description, and action. In screenwriting, everything counts, everything, everything, everything. It is through this powerful expression that originality develops, authenticity, and authorial mastery. These are the qualities that sweep a reader away, and attract champions to a piece of writing. This book uses familiar principles in fresh and insightful ways to give the writer the vision and clarity to create their most powerful work.