#FirstAct

The Daily Blog

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Welcome to the Blog! This is the heart of our journey into selling a screenplay. Here you will find daily postings about the projects I am currently writing, rewriting and rewriting again. I'll explain my process and and the mechanics of screenwriting, incorporating all revisions into the samples located on the Projects page. But in addition to the writing, we'll delve into the business side of screenwriting and unravel the mysteries of writing query letters and developing pitches. Then when it's all put together, we'll set our marketing plan into action and see what kind of response we get. Hopefully, it won't necessitate a trip back to the drawing board.

But the blog isn't all work and no play. I'll be taking you to film festivals, workshops and pitch fests for an insider's looks at all the action behind the scenes. If you haven't attended one of these events in the past, this will be a good opportunity for you to understand how they work and what to expect when you get there. And you are going to attend, right? You're on a journey, after all.

The blog will also feature interviews with fellow screenwriters, actors, directors and producers, giving you valuable insight into what they've experienced and what they expect when working with writers. The blog will be an indispensible font of information for you as you begin the journey to sell your own screenplay. You can begin that journey right now by subscribing to the blog using the form below.

You can also follow The Screenwriter's Journey on Twitter (William Gilmore #ScriptJourney), Facebook (The Screenwriter's Journey) and YouTube (The Screenwriter's Journey) using the links at the bottom of this page.

So check out a blogcast and then get back to writing. Remember, the journey to a successful screenplay begins with a single keystroke.

Watch the thumbnail versions of the blogcasts by clicking the images below, or to view a larger version and comment on the blog, click the title or the 'Read More' button.

Day 16: Come Ups - Save the Cat First Act Break

You can download the Catalyst section of Act 1 in both the original and STC versions at the links below: Come Ups Original Draft - First Act Break Come Ups STC Draft - First Act Break Yesterday, we continued our journey through the first act of my screenplay Come Ups, comparing the Original Version (OV) with the Save the Cat (STC) draft. I explained the decision to expand the Catalyst moment into a sequence of events that culminated with the Primary Catalyst occurring on pag

Day 15: Save the Cat Act 1 Catalyst

You can download the Catalyst section of Act 1 in both the original and STC versions at the links below: Come Ups Catalyst Sequence Original Version Come Ups Catalyst Sequence Save the Cat Yesterday, I walked you through the first 10 pages or so of my script Come Ups and how applying the Save the Cat method altered my original structure. Today, we continue that process and pick up where we left off. We have already covered 4 of the 6 Plot Beats Blake Snyder says should be inc

Day 13: Save the Cat, Act 1

Download the Save the Cat Beat Sheet here. On Day 13 of our Journey we are going to take a look at Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat method of screenwriting. What is Save the Cat, you ask? It’s a unique methodology for outlining a screenplay using specific plot points or beats on prescribed pages. It provides a wide scope of the structure of your screenplay in moment-to-moment beats. What it does not do is write your screenplay for you. That is still your responsibility. Now, I mus