Betsy the Gremlin

Writing about writing to avoid writing her writing.

Screenwriting

All about the craft of writing scripts.

  • Do you still believe these outrageous film industry myths?

    There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about the world of screenwriting and film, just like any industry. The pervasive untruths that people believe about filmmaking are pretty wild, and before I got enmeshed in this world I believed plenty of them myself. (Heck, part of me still wants to believe that I can make Read more

  • Competition conniption.

    I’m trying to decide if I want to tweak and submit one of my pilots to competitions again. There’s a few that are due on the 31st, and the pilot did okay last year (AFF Second Rounder good! Yippie!), so it’s not a completely impossible option. Hell, it might be a good shot even. I’m Read more

  • Overused film tropes that will get your screenplay trashed!

    There are some things in storytelling that we repeat, rehash, and make anew. That’s part of the human condition; we love telling stories and boy howdy, do we love hearing, reading, and seeing them on the screens. Chalk it up to the hero’s journey, but humans are just super into that rising-action/climax/conclusion cycle. And within Read more

  • 5 Unexpected Books That’ll Make Your Screenwriting Better (and one popular one you can trash!)

    There’s a slew of books and lists of books about how to write screenplays, and they’re all fine, but let me tell you, it’s the weird and unexpected books that really added to my writing chops. Read on for a list of books you need on your shelves to up your writing game, and your Read more

  • How to write accents in your screenplay!

    Part of the Dialogue Doctor series! (Disclosure; some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you choose to purchase through them) The Dialogue Doctor is back after a long hiatus, mainly due to quarantine depression (because seriously, this situation is depressing…). Got a question about writing dialogue? I’m Read more

  • Writing ‘Foothills’ – A film about a school shooting

    Reflecting on an average American school shooting through screenplay. Working Log Line; In the immediate wake of a school shooting, the community of Foothills Christian High and first responders struggle to contain the situation and understand what has happened. (I’m not above admitting this log line is awful… it’s a work in progress) A school Read more

  • Writing ‘Foothills’

    Reflecting on an average American school shooting through screenplay. Working Log Line; In the immediate wake of a school shooting, the community of Foothills Christian High and first responders struggle to contain the situation and understand what has happened. (I’m not above admitting this log line is awful… it’s a work in progress) A school Read more

  • International Women’s Day

    Merci Adèle! My last big girl blog post was about being a fat woman trying to make it as a screenwriter. Now I’m wondering if perhaps a more pertinent problem is just to be a woman trying to make it as a screenwriter. And whether or not that’s worth it in an industry that is Read more

  • Leave the actors alone! Writing scripts that actors love!

    Something I am guilty of doing in my screenplays and have to actively fix in later drafts of work is over-directing the actors. Adding too many ‘umm’s and notes. Not the worst no-no in screenwriting etiquette, but not a great look for anyone. It’s a habit that makes sense; you know how the scene is Read more

  • The Dialogue Doctor; Leave the Actors Alone

    (Betsy the Gremlin is a self-appointed Dialogue Doctor. Everyone says she’s good at writing dialogue and by gum she wants you to be good at it too!) Part One of Many; Leave the Actors Alone Something I am guilty of doing in my screenplays and have to actively fix in later drafts of work is Read more