by Trevor Mayes | Jul 8, 2018 | Style, Writing
When do you start a new paragraph? One thing that tends to confound new screenwriters is the issue of paragraphs. Some scripts have longer paragraphs. Other scripts have shorter ones — some as short as one word. So how do you decide it’s time to start a...
by Trevor Mayes | Jun 13, 2018 | Modern Craft, Style, Writing
Efficiency Screenwriting is all about efficiency. Maximum impact with the minimum number of words. So one of my biggest pet peeves is when I see the following in scripts: She shakes her head no. There are two big things wrong with that action line: Why is the word...
by Trevor Mayes | Dec 20, 2017 | Style, Words, Writing
Dude, aren’t all verbs active? Good question, smartass! The truth is, there are passive and active forms of verbs. The active form (without the “ing”) is almost always the best one to use. For example, I often see a variation of the following...
by Trevor Mayes | Aug 20, 2014 | Formatting, Scene Headings, Screenwriting Basics, Style
Comma Chameleon Commas are great. I’m a fan. Without them, misunderstandings abound… But why are so many commas turning up in scene headings these days? Did I miss the memo? Let’s clarify what I’m talking about. It’s the use of commas in...
by Trevor Mayes | Jan 10, 2011 | Formatting, Style
What the heck is Pre-lap? I had a good discussion with some of my screenwriting friends last week about using “PRE-LAP” in a script. Since many hadn’t heard the term before, I thought I’d cover it on my blog for those who may be unfamiliar with...
by Trevor Mayes | Apr 13, 2010 | Scenes, Style, Writing
Short And Sweet I’m fortunate enough to have two friends named Donna. Curiously, they both share a trait: they get straight to the point — no padded sentences or beating around the bush. I love it. You always know where you stand and it saves a ton of...
