Writer’s Digest - Screen/Stage

Grand-prize winner Jacob M. Appel’s comedic stage play puts a wife and a mistress at odds over one man, but for very different reasons.

by Jessie Gridley Read more

The Mistress of Wholesome

Jacob M. Appel's "The Mistress of Wholesome" by took the grand prize in our 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. Read his winning entry here. Read more

The WD Interview: George Pelecanos

Having scribed detective novels and written for HBO’s “The Wire,” George Pelecanos knows what it takes to get down and dirty for his own brand of social crime fiction.

by Jordan E. Rosenfeld Read more

Television Showrunners

Not all television executive producers are showrunners. The title isn’t even listed on credits. What does a showrunner do and how do you become one?

by Robin Rowe Read more

What Producers Want

Producer Lynda Obst loves literature. She’s shepherded five novels to the big screen with more in the works. So, what does the producer of films like Contact, How Lose A Guy in Ten Days, and The Fisher King, look for when reading a book or article?

By John Folsom Read more

Book-To-Film Adaptation Tips

Douglas Preston, who frequently collaborates with Lincoln Child (they've penned 11 novels together and are best known for their Agent Pendergast series), recently shared his thoughts on adaptations, specifically the 1997 movie adaptation of their first Pendergast novel, Relic.

By John Folsom Read more

Turning a Novel into a Screenplay

Let’s face it: A novel and a screenplay are two very different creatures. It’s like comparing a housecat with a bobcat—both are cats, but one you want curled up on your lap and the other, not so much.

by John Folsom Read more

From Idea To Script

Here’s how to turn your promising concept into a screen-worthy script.

by Jurgen Wolff Read more

Does Your Screenplay Need a Treatment or a Synopsis?

A treatment or a synopsis can be an indispensable tool, both for writing and marketing a screenplay. In this article, we’ll look at the relationship between the treatment, synopsis, summary, logline, scene cards and coverage. A synopsis can be a story guide for writing your screenplay, or be written afterwards as part of your film’s press kit. So, how do you write a good synopsis? First you have to know the basics.

by Robin Rowe Read more

The WD Interview: Diablo Cody

After taking home the Oscar for her very first screenplay, stripper- turned- memoirist- turned- screenwriter Diablo Cody is ready for her close-up.

By Chad Gervich Read more

Google Sponsored Links