When I was sixteen years old I decided that a computer was much more important than a car — I knew that I wanted to make movies, so I was determined to get the tools necessary to do so. These included certain digital video editing software and screenwriting software — both which were a pretty penny.
As the industry standard at the time, I pursued an Apple Computer with iMovie and Final Cut Pro for the editing of my films, but it was Final Draft that I focused on purchasing from …

If you’re like me you probably find that your best story ideas come when you least expect them, and that they hardly come at all when you go looking for them. Story is not something that can be constructed like a bunch of Lincoln logs — it starts with each screenwriter differently, but it usually flows from both the mind and heart making it personal, unique, and important to the screenwriter.
New screenwriters often ask me where ideas come from, so I thought I’d create a quick reference list — not …

One thing that always entertains me as a reader is when a screenwriter adds a shade of mystery to a character’s background. It adds depth, darkness, and imperfection, which in turn reflects the human condition.
While creating mystery behind a character can be challenging — it can also be extremely minimalist. Though we’ve been trained to expect answers as an audience, this is not to say you as the storyteller always have to provide them. Withholding information is definitely an art, so there’s plenty of room to explore.
In fact, some of …

As we come closer and closer to July, the month I created ScriptXRay (launched the 27th), I felt the need to revamp the site with a new look and a couple ideas in mind.
1. Streamline the look – I suppose this is up for debate seeing how I’ve already received several complaints about the new look, but I’m confident it’ll catch on and become more attractive with time.
2. Experiment with new content – If you’re a subscriber to the site, then you’ll know that I’ve been toying with several ideas …

Written by Jessica Carman Wade
My day job consists of owning my own property management company. However its more like a cross between Monty Python, This Old House, Jerry Springer, and Cops. I use my experiences and observations as a basis for my writing with a little influence from James Thurber. Putting a humorous light to the situations that occur makes it not only enjoyable to the reader, but also keeps my sanity intact.
The main obstacle that I have is how to organize each of these writings and put them …

Update: If you’re one of many who feel Twilight was one of the best stories ever to pass your eyes, ears, and heart – especially with that dreamy Edward character – since Harry Potter, Romeo and Juliet, or any other brilliant story for that matter, check out this homage to Edward Cullen – the hundred and eight-year-old heartthrob who WAS in love with 17 year-old-Bella … until he met someone cooler – Buffy.
Is it stranger that Edward and Buffy actually make a more powerful couple in the forbidden love genre as vampire / …

If you’re interested in sharing your experiences as an aspiring screenwriter with ScriptXRay and its community, check out the POV portion of the site.
The POV was created so aspiring screenwriters could learn what other aspiring screenwriters are doing to reach their dreams.
If you’d like to contribute but you aren’t sure what to write, consider these basic starter ideas:
1. Your experience moving to LA
2. The challenge of finding time to write
3. Your challenges as a writer with a day job
4. Your search for your next big idea
5. Researching your screenplay subject
Once …

Character names, in my opinion, are one of the most difficult challenges of creating characters for a screenplay.
At the moment, I have mixed feelings about naming characters. One: I feel that no matter what you name your character, you can trigger the audience’s memory by branding your character in a way … through action and the actual speaking of your character’s name – more specifically, the repetition of speaking your characters name.
Take Fight Club for example – the two character names you remember most from that movie don’t even belong …

Last night was pretty much like any other night – I left the office, stopped by the house for my things, went out to dinner, and ended up at my daily writing spot, Barnes & Noble, – yet there was something different. It wasn’t my vanilla latte with super-foam; it wasn’t the music; it wasn’t the books …
I realized the screenplay I’m writing might actually be two separate stories.
At first, this thought was a bit scary. When you realize you might be working on two different stories at the same …

Here’s a quick list of 5 resources I find helpful or fun as an aspiring screenwriter. I may have mentioned a few in the past, and I probably mention them again in the future — bookmark these asap!
1. JohnAugust.com – a great place for aspiring screenwriters interested in hearing what it’s like in Hollywood as a pro screenwriter.
2. WordPlay – a repository full of long posts mostly from Terry Rossio of the Terry and Ted writing team behind such films as Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Aladdin, and tumble more …

Thanks to Areya for suggesting this post!
My favorite place to write is the bookstore – Barnes and Noble specifically. There’s something about writing in a bookstore that ensnares you with pure inspiration and encouragement that you can’t find elsewhere. The vivid vista of books when you first walk in, the smell of the books, the booksellers bustling about, the fresh aroma of coffee, and of course, what seems to be an infinite world of books – all of this creates the perfect writing environment in my opinion.
The bookstore is like a …