Join the screenwriters who write to me each week saying, "Your columns are so inspiring," "The light came on after reading this," "Great newsletter this week!!! Always seems to be what I need for my writing. It’s like you’re a mind-reader! Thank you!"
Is your story idea actually ready to write?
Is your story idea actually ready to write?Story ideas are like seedlings. Some are ripe and ready to plant, others need more light, more time, or maybe they were never meant to grow into a full-blown screenplay. But many writers never stop to vet their ideas before they start writing. We get excited about an interesting or funny “what if?” We dive in — maybe even write 30 or 40 pages — only to hit a wall when we realize we don’t know what the movie actually is yet. That idea sounded good in your head, but it wasn’t ready to carry a whole screenplay. And then you end up with that half-finished project taking up space on your mental slate — clogging your creative bandwidth and quietly whispering “you should finish me” even if it’s not the right project to spend your time and energy on. (Ask me how I know.) So, by request (hi, Eric!), I'm hosting a new workshop to help you navigate that gap: 🎬 Turn Your Idea Into a StoryA 90-minute live workshop on Sunday, August 10 @ 9am PT / 12pm ET We’ll run your idea through a 3-part vetting process so you can clarify if it’s ready to write. And if it needs a little more development to become a fully-formed story concept, we'll talk about how to do that too. This process is sort of like choosing what to wear to a big meeting. It’s not just about what you like — it’s about what fits your goals, your creative voice, and the kind of work you want to be known for. And definitely making sure you have all the pieces to your outfit. (A suit isn't a suit without the pants.) You’ll walk away with:
Get all the details and grab your spot here. (Just $27 through August 4th!) Can’t make it live? No worries — you’ll get the full replay. If you’ve ever thought “This could be a movie…” Let’s make sure it actually can. Hope to see you there, |
Naomi | Write+Co. for screenwriters
Join the screenwriters who write to me each week saying, "Your columns are so inspiring," "The light came on after reading this," "Great newsletter this week!!! Always seems to be what I need for my writing. It’s like you’re a mind-reader! Thank you!"
Hey, it's Naomi with your weekly screenwriting memo! Today's topic... Are your story’s stakes falling flat? Tell me if this sounds familiar: Your story is doing everything “right": the plot moves, the scenes build, the characters want things. And yet, something’s missing. It’s technically solid, but still doesn’t land. Readers aren’t connecting. They’re not invested. They may even give the dreaded, "Why do we care?” note. That’s not a plot problem — it’s a stakes problem. 3 ways to keep your...
Hey, it's Naomi with your weekly screenwriting memo! Today's topic... Is your scene description helping or hurting your screenplay? If there’s one thing I know after reading thousands of scripts, it’s this: A well-written screenplay actually reads faster. But most writers don’t realize when their scene description is slowing the story down, and losing readers in the process. Here are 3 signs your scene description is hurting the script: 1. Readers start skimming. Your job is to keep readers...
Hey, it's Naomi with your weekly screenwriting memo! Today's topic... Love at first scene You know that moment. You’re watching a movie or reading a script, and you meet a character who completely hooks you. You don’t know everything about them yet, but you’re in. It’s the way they walk into the room. That one unexpected choice. A single line that makes you think, “Ohhhh… I’d follow this person anywhere.” Now think about the character introductions in your screenplay. Do they deliver that...