Writing Craft & Showbiz Career Info
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Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd Joe Burke is an indie filmmaker and actor best known for his new award-winning movie Burt, Four Dogs, Another Cancer Movie, House Sitting and more. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous national commercials and television...
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Published 5 hours ago
Plata Publishing is launching a children’s imprint that’s an extension of the parent company’s adult nonfiction title, Rich Dad Poor Dad....
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Published 13 hours ago
Last week’s article on direct sales elicited significant response from readers and service providers. Here’s what they had to say....
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Published 13 hours ago
The adult market accounted for 80 percent of the most recent quarter’s declines. Romance and thrillers are the categories hardest hit....
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Published 13 hours ago
A coalition of seven charitable foundations announced the launch of the Literary Arts Fund in the United States....
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Published 13 hours ago
In 2015, after the release of my first book with Burrow Press, a small press based out of Orlando, Florida, I was invited to give a reading at a public library. The book I’d always imagined I could write was...
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Published 20 hours ago
One of the most recognizable words in our modern culture is “Frankenstein.” But in Guillermo del Toro’s magnificent new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, another name (rather, the other part of that name) is much more important: “Victor.” This...
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Published 20 hours ago
An in-depth discussion of hybrid publishing today: what has driven its growth, and what should you know before investing?...
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Published 1 day ago
To be caught in the spotlight of our pretensions is the worst kind of embarrassment there is. And so, one thing I found notable in the years I spent writing a biography of Bob Dylan and his poetic songwriting was...
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Published 1 day ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd WATCH 'SITE' TRAILER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV8fZvBVPLU An accomplished WGA screenwriter, feature director, producer and Emmy-recognized editor, Jason Eric Perlman has collaborated on over 20 feature films since completing USC Graduate Cinema. He has...
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Published 2 days ago
Over 300 writers, scholars, and public intellectuals have pledged to not contribute to the New York Times’ Opinion section until three demands have been met. The demands address the anti-Palestinian bias in the paper’s op-ed pages, which have been a...
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Published 2 days ago
A few years ago, David Wilkinson got in touch to ask for advice on his crowdfunding campaign. One of the topics he wanted to chat about was the ‘cost’ of offering a “Thanks” credit to his backers....
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Published 2 days ago
Conditional cause-and-effect sentences can be quite rigid, and that’s where conditional sentence variations can come in handy. While they are extremely useful, conditionals can become a little tedious if they always begin with if and when. That’s why having variations at hand can help with style, flow, rhythm, and clarity, and reduce unnecessary repetition. The… The post 15 Conditional Sentence...
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Published 2 days ago
When thirty-three-year-old Richard Carrington settled down to sketch sunspots on the morning of September 1, 1859, he could not have known that he was about to witness the most important change ever glimpsed in a cosmic environment. His career, once...
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Published 2 days ago
Confusing words are one of the sneakiest little traps that always lie in wait for writers. Some words sound the same, some look alike, while others can have meanings that are just slightly different, but enough to change the sense of a sentence. Getting these types of words wrong can make your writing confusing, awkward,… The post Why Confusing Words...
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Published 3 days ago
Our new book STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 0:00 - I Knew This Idea Could Be A Movie As Soon As I Heard It 17:26 - What The Last 5 Years Of Screenwriting Has Taught Me 31:30 - I Was Really Bad At Story Structure... Here's What Changed 41:04 - Why I Don't Fear Failure Anymore (And...
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Published 5 days ago
I analysed 1,941 trade press articles and spoke to leading critics to uncover whether standing ovations actually mean anything....
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Published 5 days ago
Do you struggle when you try to describe things you can’t see or touch in your writing? It’s always easier with objects, things, and people you can see because you can use descriptive adjectives to paint a picture. But when it’s a feeling, an emotion, or an intangible abstract idea, your normal describing tools don’t… The post How To Describe...
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Published 6 days ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd Zac Reeder is an Emmy-nominated producer and seasoned media executive with leadership roles at Netflix, Hallmark, and MarVista. Now as a producer’s rep and distribution/financing consultant, he helps independent film and TV producers secure deals, maximize exposure,...
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Published 7 days ago
The engaging adaptation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” convinces parents and kids that no place is cooler than a kindergarten classroom....
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Published 7 days ago
The bestselling author, who writes under the name Ruby Roe, has seen her career take off after getting on TikTok and investing in direct sales....
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Published 7 days ago
The founders hope the software will address data management problems in literary agencies, where information entry is often manual....
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Published 7 days ago
Authors who have strong brands and/or serve identifiable communities have plentiful tools to reduce reliance on Amazon and Ingram....
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Published 7 days ago
You often read writing advice saying adverbs are bad, but learning how to use adverbs effectively is a key skill for any writer. That’s not to say that teachers, editors, or even famous authors are wrong to warn about using adverbs in writing. But adverbs are a natural part of language and writing, along with… The post 15 Ways To...
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Published 7 days ago
Jane’s reporting has shown that unknown authors still land memoir deals, a fact which gave one writer the will to persevere—and succeed....
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Published 8 days ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd 0:00 - I Thought You Had To Be Crazy To Be A Filmmaker 13:04 - I’ve Submitted 10 Times To The Nicholl Fellowships, Here’s How I Won 35:01 - The Writing Process I Use To Discover What...
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Published 9 days ago
The unsettling and inexplicable experience of Barney and Betty Hill -- of alien abduction -- was recounted meticulously in John Fuller's best-selling book, The Interrupted Journey. The same tale was also memorably adapted for American TV screens fifty years ago today, in October of 1975, by writer Hesper Anderson and frequent TV-movie director Richard Colla.The film's title was changed to The UFO Incident, and actors...
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Published 9 days ago
Even the most confident authors can be struck by the fear of publishing, so don’t think that it’s only you. You’ve worked for months, or even longer, on your manuscript, and you’ve celebrated finishing the last chapter. But then your stomach starts doing cartwheels at the sudden thought of sharing your story with the world,… The post The Fear Of...
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Published 9 days ago
Our new book... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 0:00 - What John Grisham Taught Me About Writing 8:37 - There's No Such Thing As Can't... Only How 20:14 - Stop Letting Yourself Down... How To Go After Your Goals 33:58 - Why Some Artists Quit And Others Don't 47:08 - Why I...
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Published 12 days ago
Writing Powerful Genre If you want to write powerful genre novels and screenplays, you’ve come to the right place. Powerful genre is a non-negotiable in the 2020s in both screenwriting and publishing … but this means you really have to know what you’re doing! So if you want to harness the true power of genre,… Read More »Top 10 Tips For...
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Published 12 days ago
I’ve been teaching English for a long time, but the history of English rules never ceases to amaze me. To say it’s a messy language is putting it mildly. However, that’s also the beauty of English. It’s a language that’s alive, evolving, and adapting; unbridled from convention and regulation. While its history goes back centuries,… The post The Beautifully Messy...
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Published 12 days ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd Adam Argot has worked in film, TV, games, and publishing as a director, writer, author, story and concept artist for over 15 years for both major and independent studios. Along with...
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Published 14 days ago
Most recently an editor at Riverhead, Calvert Morgan looks to represent “writers of vision and ambition.”...
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Published 14 days ago
Likely it’s because of Amazon shifting fully to what’s known as the A10 algorithm, which deprioritizes traffic from paid advertising....
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Published 14 days ago
There is a hard truth about cinema-going that many in the exhibition sector don’t seem to want to admit....
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Published 14 days ago
If you’re a new site owner or just starting a blog, finding free content for your website can help you create pages or posts quite quickly. For new authors building a site to launch a book, you’ll need posts, pages, images, and media to help get your site off the ground. If you’re in a… The post 10 Free Content...
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Published 15 days ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd 0:00 - David Zucker (Naked Gun, Airplane!) On How He Broke Into The Comedy Business 12:42 - Why 99% Of Comedy Movies Today Aren't Funny 25:37 - Biggest Difference Between A...
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Published 16 days ago
Horror is thriving in every corner of film, from IMAX blockbusters to micro-budget gems. Here’s how the genre is shifting, and what comes next....
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Published 16 days ago
In the early 1990s, outspoken screenwriter Joe Eszterhas was the toast of Hollywood.The writer behind the mega-hit Basic Instinct (1992) quickly became the highest-paid screenwriter in history, not to mention one of the most controversial. And for good reason. His scripts enthusiastically blended brutal violence with lurid sex, and his outlook on women was either blatantly misogynist or extremely feminist, depending on your interpretation. Eszterhas...
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Published 16 days ago
If you are wondering whether it’s possible to write a book on your phone, the answer is yes, it’s technically possible. However, it’s far from being the most practical way of writing a book. The biggest challenge is, of course, the keyboard. Yes, some people are adept at using it, but even the best will… The post Can You Write...
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Published 16 days ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd Tony DuShane is the author of the semi-autobiographical novel Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk. He adapted the screenplay for director Eric Stoltz, and the film is now available on Amazon...
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Published 17 days ago
Film Courage is hosting an online writing class this Saturday, October 11th from 12-2pm on Scene Study - Story Questions Writing Workshop - More info here: https://buff.ly/6IQPs6Q Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd 0:00 - You Can...
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Published 19 days ago
What Is ‘Optimism Bias’? Optimism bias is the tendency of an individual to overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate the possibility of negative events. I see it all the time in writers, who may feel their masterpiece novel or screenplay will get picked up right away … and when they don’t, they get… Read More »5 Steps To Writing...
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Published 19 days ago
I am very proud to report that our indie, low-budget mockumentary web series Abnormal Fixation (entering its second season in 2026) was just announced as a semi-finalist in the category of new media/episodic series at the Iceberg Film Awards in Oslo! Congratulations to the cast and crew for this continued recognition, as we wrap up our film festival circuit. Also, special...
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Published 19 days ago
