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The Most Important Step

David Gane
David Gane
— 1 min read

The biggest challenge when you begin to write is to get past the notion that things are supposed to look a certain way.

Often, the questions beginning writers ask are: How do I write a slug-line? How do I do a voice-over or a person speaking off-screen? How much description do I give of a place or person? When do I capitalize words, sounds, or names?

Formatting is a skill that can be learned with time. Similarily, it is pointless worrying about how to get an agent or a producer to see your script even before you have one ready to show.

The most important first step is to start writing and start finding the action of your story: Somebody wants something but something is in the way. This is how they try to get around it and either they get it or they don’t. Then what happens?

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David Gane

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Co-writer of the Shepherd and Wolfe young adult mysteries, the internationally award-winning series, and teacher of storytelling and screenwriting.

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