Five Gamechangers to Create a Marketable Script

hrI pity you the poor screenwriter, producer, executive, or director working on a screenplay. To create heat, you must lift your script from good to great. And now!  And cheaply! And without conflict!

But pity won’t help you.

Where should you start to truly create a marketable story, one that can attract requests, reads, meetings, finance, talents? What are the most rewarding creative holes for you to start digging in to really develop and lift your story to a resonant level?

While I work on all aspects and elements of a screenplay, there are five arenas I’ve found that best lift a script from average to good or even great. Ways that can make players want to embrace you and your script. These avenues of opportunity are:

Developing 3D Characters Audiences Want to Watch

Three dimensional original characters leap off the page and screen. And excite actors.

And they are the hallmark of pro writers. And successful producers.

Most scripts have flat, cliched, or boring characters.

There are ways to create 3D and intriguing characters that all creatives can apply.

Just one key to my approach to help you create 3D characters is to develop the main premises of the protagonist. From this we then create layers in his motivation and the multiple traits that make him real. Then this character will be a distinct, complex and compelling individual. Character layers lead to layered plots and scenes. And stories that trap eyeballs.  

Creating a Layered and Original Concept that Hooks!

Don’t be a concept pantser. That’s amateur hour…forever.

Concept is king! Scripts live or die by their concept. Most die a lonely death. And poorly developed concepts are the millstone of failing writers and producers.

I have specific ways to help you develop your story concept. I analyse your idea or premise statement and then I “grill” you to dig deep to create a more layered and original premise. That is, I apply 10+ key questions that will help give your premise layers, emotion, and legs to be able to produce a compelling screen story. We will hunt together for your story hook! This concept development alliance of ours often involves its queen, Theme Development.  

An average premise equals an average script. And closed doors and empty seats.

Applying an Impactful Theme to Move Audiences

Characters and stories that mean something cause the greatest emotion in an audience whether that is producers, funders, or Joe and Jane Public.

If characters and events mean nothing, the audience will feel nothing. And producers or execs will delete you and your story faster than they can say clichéd or boring.

A distinct and original theme is the key to characterization, character and relationship arcs, and emotional events and climaxes. I can, for example, show you how to integrate your characters by making them a variation on a theme. I can also show you how to develop, beat out, and climax a character arc.

Developing a Logical and Thrilling Plot to Excite Audiences

Plot structuring is one of the hardest writing skills to learn but one of the most essential.

As there are creative techniques of how to best conceive a story concept, so there are techniques of how to best develop this big idea into a logical, escalating, and exciting plotline.

You have to learn to think like a plotwriter!

And that means learning what are the key questions to ask of your concept so you can build it into a dramatic and resonant plotline with a riveting climax. Most writers don’t have a plotting method. They must have one if they want to produce scripts that are gamechangers. With a plotting method, plotting is not a guessing game dominated by fear but thrilling fun.

Engaging AudiencesThrough Dramatic Devices

In writing there’s the what and the how.

Pro writers are adept at both!

There are at least nine dramatic techniques that all writers must use to bring their stories alive. That’s the story enhancing how.

I will show you how to reveal/play story information that is the key to all dramatic devices.

I will teach you the tricks of how to develop suspense, mystery, twists, irony, and deception that will kidnap your audience and not let them go. This how of storytelling is vital to being a professional creative who can deeply involve an audience.

What is Your Growth Plan? 

Don’t try to develop your screen storytelling by reading cliches about structure, dialog, and voice, for example. Learn real story basics. Then practise them. And it is best to do so with an expert guiding hand.

Key to my approach of up liftingstories and writing careers is to give the basic principles of screenwriting and then to show you how to apply these to your own individual story.

If you want to learn more about my top five ways to boost your storytelling and writing or producing career, book a free 30 minute strategy call!

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Scott McConnell is a script consultant for hire. Have ideas will travel.     

        “I would recommend Scott to any writer and/or Producer wishing to engage an expert Story Consultant.” John Hipwell, producer, director,writer

Read recommendations of my work here.   

To receive expert one-on-one support regarding your story idea, script, or novel or for a specific writing issue book an Internet, live appearance or email consultation with Scott now via this email address.

                             “Stories are ideas in action!”

© COPYRIGHT SCOTT MCCONNELL