With one click
Export a perfectly formatted traditional script.
Try SoCreate for free!
$9.99/mo.
The allure of Tinseltown is strong, especially for US-based writers. In India, it might be Mumbai or Lagos in Nigeria, but the appeal is the same: these places are associated with greatness. If you’ve made it here, you’ve likely found some notoriety for your writing talent, built a strong filmmaking industry network, and, most importantly, you’re earning a steady paycheck. But these things we associate with being a great, successful screenwriter do not just appear for the lucky few. These writers took their writing from good to great and earned their place in the industry by honing their talent through constant practice and grit. And you know what? So can you.
In the end, that’s a simple truth. Raw talent alone won’t get you there, and veteran TV writer and producer Ross Brown agrees. Ross now teaches creative writing for the MFA program at Antioch University Santa Barbara, but his career began by writing and producing shows, including “The Facts of Life,” “Who’s the Boss?” and “Step by Step.” His hard lesson for students?
That’s it. Read and write. Put in the time. Make sacrifices. And you will get better!
In his book “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell famously said that after talking to some of the greats, whether athletes or musicians, he calculated that it takes approximately 10,000 hours to master something. Now, how long it takes you to reach those 10,000 hours is up to you. So, if you’re picturing your life as a successful screenwriter five years from now, you do the math. Then, make a screenwriting plan.
One of the more frustrating parts of screenwriting for many writers is working within screenwriting software that’s uninspiring and hinders creativity. SoCreate will change all of that, and you can be the first to try it by signing up here without leaving this page.
Without having to learn an archaic piece of screenwriting software, SoCreate may help you knock a few hours off that 10,000-hour estimate 😊 and get to your final draft faster. Just remember, you need more than one screenplay … many more. You’ll learn what works simply by reading and writing so much, I can guarantee it.
You’ll take your writing from good to great in no time, and who knows, we may see your name in lights.
Hard work is what separates the amateurs from the professionals, and success must be earned,
You may also be interested in...
Veteran TV Writer Ross Brown Tells Screenwriters How to Rewrite Your Screenplay
As I'm sure you've heard before, writing is rewriting. Whether it's your vomit draft or your 100th revision, there are some simple steps to take to make sure your screenplay is in great shape. “Rewriting can be really challenging because we all want to look at whatever we wrote and say, ‘that is brilliant. I don’t have to change a word!’ And that’s rarely the case,” said Ross Brown, who wrote for hugely popular shows like “Step by Step” and “The Cosby Show.” Now he spends his time teaching other writers how to get their story ideas to the screen as the director of the MFA program at Antioch University ...
How to Crush Through Second Act Problems in Your Screenplay, According to a Veteran TV Writer
“The second act of a movie is really challenging. I compare it to marriage,” Ross Brown began. Okay, you’ve got my attention, Ross! I love a good metaphor, and veteran TV writer, director, and producer Ross Brown (“Step by Step,” “The Cosby Show,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation”) has a few great ones up his sleeve. He is the director of the MFA program at Antioch University, after all, so he knows a thing or two about teaching the art of screenwriting in ways students can grasp. So, as his student for this interview, I asked him what so many of you ask us, how do I get through second act problems in my screenplay ...
How to Come Up With New Ideas For Your Screenplay, with Veteran TV Writer Ross Brown
Veteran TV writer and producer Ross Brown worked on some of the U.S.’s most beloved 80s and 90s sitcoms, including “Step by Step,” “The Facts of Life,” “Who’s the Boss,” and “The Cosby Show,” so he was required to come up with new ideas for his storylines nearly every day. We wanted to know: How do full-time creatives do it? His answer surprised me, and considering the frequency of his writing, you should have no problem using this technique to drum up enough ideas of your own to get started on your next screenplay. “My biggest technique for new ideas is when I feel something emotional in ...