THIS IS WHY YOU’RE STUCK… IN YOUR SCREENPLAY
Shannan E. Johnson Shannan E. Johnson

THIS IS WHY YOU’RE STUCK… IN YOUR SCREENPLAY

Most writers think they’re stuck because they’re inconsistent.
They’re not.

They’re stuck because they skipped a piece of the process no one ever clearly explained — and then tried to write their way out of it.

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A LOGLINE. THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE YOU’LL EVER WRITE.
Shannan E. Johnson Shannan E. Johnson

A LOGLINE. THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE YOU’LL EVER WRITE.

How, Sway? Because if your logline doesn’t sell the idea, no one will ever read the script. If you’ve ever stumbled when someone asks, “So, what’s your script about?” — you’re not alone. Most writers can talk about their story for hours but freeze when it comes to boiling it down to one line. That one line, though? It’s everything.

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NO ONE IS READING YOUR WHOLE SCREENPLAY
Shannan E. Johnson Shannan E. Johnson

NO ONE IS READING YOUR WHOLE SCREENPLAY

WTF! Why Not? Because your first 15 pages can make or break you in Hollywood. If you’ve been around The Professional Pen for a while, you already know we don’t say this lightly: the first 15 pages of your script determine whether anyone in Hollywood will keep reading.

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YOU CAN’T MAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD… UNLESS YOU OUTLINE
Shannan E. Johnson Shannan E. Johnson

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD… UNLESS YOU OUTLINE

Writers love to say they hate outlining. But here’s the truth: if you want to make it in Hollywood, outlining isn’t optional — it’s required. Outlines are a detailed snapshot of your story — the plot, the emotional arcs, the big turns — used to make sure everyone’s on the same page before you start writing pages.

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YOU DON’T NEED SCRIPT COVERAGE
Shannan E. Johnson Shannan E. Johnson

YOU DON’T NEED SCRIPT COVERAGE

Script coverage isn't for screenwriters. Say WHHHATTTT??? Yes, you read that right. Read to learn the difference between script coverage and development notes and why the industry has been lying to you.

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