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... How to make plot and character work together One of the fastest ways to lose your audience is to let your plot and character drift on separate tracks. You see this most often in early drafts of screenplays, but sometimes it even slips into finished films. A protagonist is introduced with clear qualities and flaws, but then the events of the story don’t really challenge those traits. By the end, the character may have...
Why you still need to know your stuff, even with AI Right now, a lot of writers are asking whether and how to use AI in their writing projects. Where I land is this: AI can (when used well) be a useful creative assistant that helps with things like brainstorming ideas, offering options that get your wheels turning, or acting as a pushback machine that forces you to analyze, evaluate, and defend your story choices. But it’s just that: an assistant. You are the showrunner. The creative...
Hey, it's Naomi with your weekly screenwriting memo! Today's topic... This is the very last time I'll mention the 30-day Zero Draft Challenge starting on April 6th (that's this Sunday). 😊 We have a great group of writers, all ready to dive into writing their next (or first!) screenplay!Join us and finish your Zero Draft by May. And if you haven't heard, find out what a Zero Draft is here. 😉 Let's write a screenplay 7 types of story stakes you may be overlooking Stakes are one of the most...