Screenwriting

From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting

Don't Miss November's Community Open House- Free Webcast Event for All Members!

Don't Miss November's Community Open House- Free Webcast Event for All Members!

Tuesday, November 25th at 12:00 pm PT!

Every success story begins with a first step.

If you’re ready to take yours, join me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, for our November Community Open House Webcast happening Tuesday, November 25th at 12:00 pm PT!

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-house-webcast

Whether you’re chasing representation, looking for collaborators, or simply tired of creating in isolation, this live event is your chance to show up, be seen, and start making real progress.

This isn’t just an overview — it’s your creative launchpad. You’ll walk away with practical tools, new connections, and a clear path forward, no matter your background or where you are in your career.

You’ll Learn How To:

  • Navigate Stage 32 like a pro and make the platform work for your goals
  • Build authentic connections through the Stage 32 Lounges
  • Access Education, Certification, and Script Services tailored to your next big move
  • Show up in ways that get you noticed by the right people at the right time
  • Participate in real-time Q&A and get guidance specific to your path

Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, actor, producer, composer, editor, or wear multiple creative hats — this is where your Stage 32 journey truly begins.

If you can’t attend live, don’t worry — registering ensures you’ll receive the full recording to watch anytime from anywhere.

Who’s planning to join me live for the Open House?


Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and one other

David Miller
Slug Lines - Love 'em or Leave 'em?

In a recent review, the reviewer stated, “…transitions like “Fade in/Fade out” are generally discouraged in modern screenwriting.”

This got me to asking myself, should these transitions be removed out and left to directorial discretions? My current thinking now is to leave them out.

Would love to kno...

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Maurice Vaughan

I stopped using FADE IN, David Miller. It saves space. I switched from FADE OUT to END. I could get rid of END if I wanted. Slug lines are the scene headings....

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Ilanna Mandel

do you will use Act One etc?

CJ Walley

Certainly not discouraged at all and a very concerning comment from anyone giving reviews. I say that as someone who doesn't personally use FADE IN and FADE OUT to bookend a script.

Transitions are gen...

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Liked by Maurice Vaughan and one other

Roberto Antonio Pérez Ortiz
"taking care of the health of the story" (¿?)

Is it possible to create a fictional story that combines medical drama with sci-fi, historical drama, lots of action, and touches of comedy? Not only is it possible, but it's already been done. It's called “TIME MEDICS.” I've been passionate about science fiction for as long as I can remember. I rem...

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Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations on finishing your series bible and pilot script, Roberto Antonio Pérez Ortiz! Is this your November Write Club Week 4 post?

Roberto Antonio Pérez Ortiz

I actually have five more fiction series projects with their bibles and pilot scripts completed. I started with this one because it is the only one that has been translated into English so far. The others are in Spanish for now.

Ilanna Mandel

Congratulations. May I ask why the Bible is so long but the script is so short? Or, do you hope to set up a series that features half hour episodes?

Maurice Vaughan

Great, Roberto Antonio Pérez Ortiz. Congratulations! Is this your November Write Club post for the week?

Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and one other

Ilanna Mandel
Issues with Script Exchanges

Dear Fellow Scribes: I would like to know what people here expect when they do an exchange for a script review? I've sent mine to several members and not one person gave me anything more than a few passing comments. On the other hand, I provided a line by line critique with a detailed review. One pe...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Ilanna Mandel. I expect the reader to point out what works and what doesn't work. If they give me suggestions to make things work, that's a bonus. I give the same in exchange....

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Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and 17 others

Geoffroy Faugerolas
Thankful!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I just want to say how grateful I am for this community.

November Write Club has reminded me why I love this work: watching hundreds of you show up for yourselves every single day, cheering each other on, and making real progress. The momentum has been incredible....

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Thank you Geoffroy Faugerolas for all the good energy you bring to all of us. Happy Thanksgiving and have a relax, you owned it! I am really happy to have you on board with us....

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Jack Binder

Great work Geoffroy Faugerolas - Happy Thanksgiving!

CJ Walley

It's posts like this that make Stage 32 special. Well done to all those taking part.

Michael Thorn

Very much enjoy the way you host the webinars so the gratitude is two-way

Leonardo Ramirez 2

I'm grateful for you Geoffroy Faugerolas. You've been a bright spot and an encouragement. Thank you so much for all you've done and all you're doing.

Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and 11 others

Sandra Isabel Correia
November Write Club/Week 3 Achievements & Week 4 Goals

Hey Screenwriters crew!

We’re closing out Week 3 of November Write Club, and I’d love to hear from you:

• What did you achieve this past week?

• What are your goals as we head into Week 4?

My Update

I’m really happy to share that I achieved my major November Write Club goal one week early! Today I finish...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Thank you, John January Noble and you are very welcome. I am happy you find inspiration in our community. Now, take a leap pf faith and focus on what you have to make it better and better :))...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

You are doing very well, Maria Caeiro. I know that, so keep doing, even if takes more time, the quality will improve:))

Sandra Isabel Correia

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh, thank you so much! Huge congratulations on finishing BoFS. Recalibrating after a big project is such an important step, and it’s inspiring to see how you’re already diving into...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

You’re welcome, Sandra Isabel Correia, and thank you as well :D my brain hasn’t been this energized since working on Petal (which incidentally is a heptalogy of novels, among other things) and getting...

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Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and 2 others

Sebastian Tudores
November Write Club Week 4 Blog is a Masterclass on Pitching

Happy Monday to all!

And don't forget the awesome Head of Com...

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Sebastian Tudores

Maurice Vaughan can't wait to find out! awesome

Sebastian Tudores

Meriem Bouziani enjoying the world you're 'living' in is kinda critical - so congrats! also means you're enjoying the process :) is The Silent PFC War the same as the The De-Evolution Game or are they...

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Sebastian Tudores

Elle Bolan a deal has been made!! :) awesome!

Sebastian Tudores

Eddie Lawhorn that's fantastic - looking forward to you sharing them through your project!

Meriem Bouziani

And yes, The Silent PFC War and The De-Evolution Game are completely separate projects.

The Silent PFC War is a psychologi...

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Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and 2 others

Francisco Castro
OWA Selection!!!

My Navajo female-led horror, THE SPLINTER, set in San Juan County, NM, has been selected for an OWA!!! This is the 4th OWA selection for THE SPLINTER!!!

Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations again, Francisco Castro!

Vanessa Chattman 2

Congratulations Francisco Castro!

Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 3 others

Anthony McBride
Dark Times...

Well, it's that time of year--Holiday Season. it's the time when you give thanks, but it's also a time when things get a little "dark" for me. I mean, it gets a little quiet for me as things start to slow down for the approaching industry hiatus.

So, I just fight through the dark times by really focu...

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CJ Walley

In some ways I prefer the literal darkness of winter. I feel a lot less guilty staying inside and writing. Good weather asks too much of us.

Krista Owen

You keep writing stories that inspire and evoke emotion. Then you'll be set when things pick back up! Not to self promote, but if you have scripts ready to go, I can help with premium pitch decks to a...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Anthony McBride. I fight through dark times by writing and spending time with family and friends (like on Stage 32).

Jon Shallit

Full spectrum light inside. Grow lamp helps.

Aleksandar Lahtov

I think it's all about inspiration. Lack of inspiration makes you feel to have dark moments. No worries at all. Inspiration will glow sooner or later for new stories and scripts.

Maurice Vaughan
My Stage 32 Story: Persistence, Healing, & Creative Breakthroughs in Year 3

My friend Leonardo Ramirez shares his Stage 32 story in today’s blog. It's inspiring! Check it out.

And he shares a great idea for this time of year: review your creative year and jot down a quick bullet list of wins and milestones.

www.stage32.com/blog/my-stage-32-story-persistence-healing-creativ...

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Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and 5 others

Meriem Bouziani
November Writing Club Week 4

Hello creatives,

Happy Week 4 of the NWC.

First, I’d like to thank Anglin for his excellent article—so much hope, clarity, and information to help everyone prepare better pitch sessions and increase their chances of hearing “yes.”

My main project right now is The Silent PFC War.

I talk about it consta...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. Congratulations on writing 18 pages!

Meriem Bouziani

I forgot something here.

We also celebrate art.

We celebrate human history.

And we work together to protect all of it.

Cynna Ael

You have a great grasp on your story. That passion is what will let people be interested. You have this, Meriem Bouziani. I know it's difficult when you're tackling such a rich subjet that most people...

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Meriem Bouziani

This is such an important point about the PFC and the brain. The PFC doesn’t work in isolation — it func...

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Meriem Bouziani

Well, this crazy world won’t stop growing.

I’ve just added some new twists that turned it into a full 5D disaster.

Liked by Vanessa Chattman 2 and one other

Nikita Simpson
Second draft of my short

Good morning - hope you're all well!

I have just completed the second draft of my folk horror/thriller short 'Whistle-Stop'. I'm content with what I've changed for now. But I would be so grateful for true feedback. If you wouldn't mind giving it a read here: https://www.stage32.com/loglines/68663 . I...

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Maurice Vaughan

Good morning, Nikita Simpson. Hope you're well too! Congratulations on finishing the second draft!

It's the last week of Stage 32's November Write Club. It can help you reach a goal(s), it's a chance t...

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Jon Shallit

well done

Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 6 others

Sandra Isabel Correia
November Write Club, Week 4 Goals! Our last change for this season :))

We’ve made it to Week 4 of November Write Club, the final stretch to achieve our goals this month!

I’m really happy to share that I finished my major goal early: writing The Misstep screenplay—97 pages in three weeks. My original plan was to complete it by November 28, but focus, resilience, and ded...

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Meriem Bouziani

Congratulations on such great accomplishments.

Good luck with everything that’s coming next.

Cynna Ael

Congratulations! That's amazing news @SandraIsabelCorreia. I'm closing in on my goal-- the editing and revamp of act 2 and 3 of my romcom. Just a couple more days and I should be at a good place to set it aside and relook at it later. This is so encouraging. Thank you!

Sandra Isabel Correia

Thank you, Elle Bolan. I am cheering on you as well :)

Sandra Isabel Correia

Thank you, Meriem Bouziani. I am cheering on you as well :))

Sandra Isabel Correia

Oh Cynna Ael, that's wonderful. I also polished my rom-com Soul Mated, and now, after notes from Mahtub, I am polishing some micro beats. At the same time, I am polishing The Misstep. I love romcoms....

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