Betsy the Gremlin

Writing about writing to avoid writing her writing.

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  • Beat Sheets, Everything You Need to Know

    If you’ve done any research into writing a screenplay you’ve probably heard the term beat sheets. Even more likely, you’ve probably encountered my nemesis, Save the Cat*. Blake Snyder’s critically acclaimed book details exactly how to write a screenplay that’ll sell. It’s got the formula and all the tricks of the trade that’ll make you Read more

  • 6 Insightful Film Industry Podcasts for the New Year

    However much you know or don’t know about movies and television, you can’t deny that they are a massive, unhinged, inspiring part of our worldwide culture. And they’re relatively new (just like podcasts are relatively new too!) Humans have been telling stories since about the time we developed fire, but it’s only in the last Read more

  • Disaster Movies and the Gremlins Who Love Them

    I have a guilty secret; I love disaster movies. Disaster movies in any iteration are my bread and butter. Natural disasters and manmade disasters, you name it, I love it. From earthquake to terrorist attacks to avalanches to nuclear reactors failing, I want it all. Ultimately it’s about normal people thrust into completely wild situations. Read more

  • Extra Messy Narrative and the Way to Clean It Up

    Narrative is a funny thing. Films and books follow a storyline, usually linear, that forms the basis of the plot’s narrative (save for a few artsy pieces, which we don’t need to get into). Events in a story connect one after the other until the story is over. In a movie, something from the scene Read more

  • The Voice and Writing Spectacular – Your Fascinating Hollywood Signature

    Let’s talk voice. If you have been writing for any amount of time, and doing any amount of research the chances are high that you’ve come across the term, ‘voice’ or ‘voices’. There are lots of things about having a unique voice in the industry – the abstract ‘voice’ – and making sure your voice Read more

  • Today Vegetables, Tomorrow the World!

    Last week was another experiment in my *~*~*~influencing adventures~*~*~*. It still feels very silly, but dressing up my new Bunnicula shirt from Out of Print was kind of fun. It’s odd. I’m still having some issues accepting my recent weight gain; part of me is miserable about it and part of me is coming to Read more

  • Cozy and Cozier – the Best Autumn Writing Essentials!

    This is my favorite time of year; the transition from summer to fall. It’s not quite autumn and the summer heat is fading and the anticipation of Halloween and the holidays is just around the corner. The desire to get cozy is creeping up, and like a bear getting ready for winter I’m feeling the Read more

  • The Three Essential Rules of Successful, Effective Editing!

    I’ve learned one really important thing when it comes to writing, which is entirely different than editing. This trick makes a world of difference whether you’re writing a screenplay or a TV pilot or a novel or memoir or blog or ad copy. If you’re writing, you need to be doing this one thing. In Read more

  • On Chadwick Boseman’s Passing

    As if this year wasn’t bad enough we lost a great one. He didn’t even let the world know he was sick, choosing to slip quietly back into the universe. It’s devastating. In my most basic fan-girl state I’m sad about the loss of T’Challa; a monumental force in the world of superheroes. But he Read more

  • How to Work and Write and Not Go Crazy

    Finding a balance between following your dreams and working to pay the bills. Writing is amazing if you love it. But for most of us trying to break into the business, it isn’t lucrative. (In fact, I wrote a whole dang post about things I do to manage my money specifically so writers can keep Read more