Screenwriting Blog

Internship Alert! There are SO many more remote opportunities for film industry internships than ever before. Are you looking for internships this fall? If you can earn college credit, there may be an opportunity here for you. SoCreate is not affiliated with the following internship opportunities. Please direct all questions to the email address provided for each internship listing. Do you want to list an internship opportunity? Comment below with your listing and we'll add it to our page with the next update! Continue reading

We all strive to craft compelling and memorable characters in our spec script. The last thing you want is to do them a disservice with a mediocre introduction. So how do you introduce a character? It requires some forethought. Introducing a character is your chance to set the tone and understand how that person matters to your story, so you want to be intentional in your writing. Keep reading to learn about how you can introduce a character depending on their purpose in your story. A major character introduction usually includes the basics: character names, age range, and a brief physical description ... Continue reading

Workforce salary and review site glassdoor.com states that professional screenwriters will earn an average salary of $62,700 per year in 2022. Is that really what screenwriters are making? Let's dig in a bit deeper. We can look at the Writer's Guild's (WGA) Schedule of Minimums to better understand a screenwriter's core compensation and how much professional writers are actually being paid. Note About the WGA's Schedule of Minimums: The union negotiates the schedule of minimums every few years; These numbers are not the average but rather the lowest that WGA members can be paid for a wide range of scripts, from ... Continue reading

You do not need a degree to become a screenwriter. If you’re just beginning to explore pursuing a screenwriting career, know that you do not need to go to college to become a professional television or movie writer. But also know that it doesn’t hurt if you plan to get into the film industry. Today’s blog will explore how life differs for screenwriters who want to go pro based on whether or not they’ve attended film school. Then, hopefully, you can make an informed decision about the route that you’ll take on your screenwriting journey! Can I be a screenwriter without a degree? You can be a screenwriter ... Continue reading

Script reading can be a helpful and educational job for screenwriters while they work to break into the film industry. How do you become a script reader? Keep reading to find out! What does a script reader do? A script reader reads scripts and evaluates them via a script report called script coverage. Script coverage service can vary from company to company but usually includes notes, a logline, character breakdowns, a synopsis, and a grade. The grades are typically "pass," "consider," or "recommend," and, if "consider" or "recommend," the coverage and script then get passed up to the executives within a production ... Continue reading

Toronto Film Festival, September 1, 1976: The very first Toronto International Film Festival, or TIFF as it’s often abbreviated, happened on this day in history in 1976. Nearly half a million people attend the event every year. The event has morphed into a permanent aspect in Toronto as well, occupying a space in the downtown area that offers year-round screenings, workshops, and industry support. TIFF drew 35,000 people and 127 films from 30 different countries in its first year, but Hollywood did not show up. American filmmakers felt that the Canadian audience would have too conservative a view to appreciate its projects. The event is now one ... Continue reading

If you’re wondering how to teach writing to kindergarten students, you’ve come to the right place. While one part of learning to write is to learn the motor skills necessary to write their ABCs, kindergarteners are capable of so much more than that! Once your kindergartener has learned the basic mechanics of writing and letter formation, it’s time to teach them how to put those letters and words to use. Kindergarteners learn three different kinds of writing, including opinion, informative, and narrative. This blog will focus on narrative, also known as storytelling. Storytelling allows kids to use their imaginations and put ... Continue reading

Sometimes, it's hard to get kids to write if they feel distracted or uninspired. But you can spark their imagination with some creative writing prompts meant just for them. Pick a story starter from this list below to keep your child engaged in the writing process. From kindergarten to elementary school and even up through middle school students, these creative writing ideas will spur even the most reluctant writers to jump in and work on their writing skills. They may even want to explore new writing styles and genres when they read through these prompts! Story Writing Prompts for Kids ... Continue reading

Writing a screenplay is challenging enough. But when it comes time to sell that screenplay? You have to know even more, and it has nothing to do with writing. Suppose you’ve made it to the point in your writing career where someone is trying to option or purchase your script. In that case, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed at the idea of negotiating a contract, determining how much your script is worth, and trying to balance your excitement for the sale and your caution about handing off all your hard work. Do you know what to look for in a screenplay legal agreement? Screenplay legal agreement deal ... Continue reading

You won't find your writing focus in a cup of coffee, and it's not some magical thing that the select few writers experience: it takes tried and true tips like those above to determine what works best for you. If you leave it to chance, writing focus wanes. But follow the detailed guide outlined below, and you'll be amazed how much more work you can get done in the same period of time! There's nothing that feels better than a productive writing day. Here's how to do it on the regular. Find Your Flow: You know the feeling: you start writing, and before you know it, hours have passed, and you're wondering where the time ... Continue reading