💬💬 #297 - Making a Good Conversation
This week's newsletter explores how active listening skills are part of what differentiates intersecting monologues from an Inneresting conversation.
Latest
💬 #296 - Strong Feelings. Few Words.
In the heat of the moment, characters are allowed to not know what to say. This week's Inneresting covers how stress and emotion change how we speak.
Scriptnotes Recap: Ep. 712 - Preparing to Direct with Eva Victor
True confessions: I saw Sorry, Baby three times. First time was because I got a screener for Scriptnotes and loved it, the second time was when it came out in theaters I had to show my wife the movie I wouldn't stop talking about, and then I took
↔️ #295 - What a dilemma!
A difficult choice isn't automatically a dilemma, so this week's Inneresting looks at how time pressure raises the stakes and forces character action.
Exposition: As Seen on TV
Ideas for how to use in-universe broadcasts to have fun with exposition!
🪞 #294 - Don't Fear the Symmetry
What happens when you show how much opposing characters have in common? How can "two sides of the same coin" add depth to a story?
Scriptnotes Recap: Ep. 724 - Opening Sequences with Joachim Trier
If you clicked on this and you haven't seen any Joachim Trier movies, go watch a Joachim Trier movie. Any of them. You can't go wrong. And now you're back. What a movie, right? Joachim and his co-writer Eskil Vogt make movies for
♩ #293 - Beat by Beat
What makes for an Inneresting story beat? Let's break things down as small as possible and see what we find.
🧠🗑️ #292 - Trying an experiment
It's all-in on experimental film for Inneresting this week. Let's try something new!
Scriptnotes Recap: Ep. 728 - Beats to Scenes with Drew Goddard
Early on in my Scriptnotes tenure, John slipped during an episode and accidentally called me Drew Goddard. I said, "I wish I was Drew Goddard," to which Craig paused the conversation and very kindly told me that I shouldn't try to be anyone other than myself,
🤼 #291 - Whose side are we on?
This week's Inneresting looks at perspective and audience sympathy. Who are you telling your audience your story is about?
Choosing How We Fight (feat. The Boys)
The climactic battle in Vought Tower from season 3 finale of The Boys, "The Instant White-Hot Wild" gives an example of grounding tight tactics in clear character choices. There are lots of ways to win a fight, but it feels more impactful when the audience believes that
Inneresting
🧪 #290 - A Chemical Reaction
This week's Inneresting focuses on character chemistry! No beakers, goggles, or eye rinse station necessary.
Highland
One Year of Writing with Highland Pro
Thank you to all the writers who've made this tremendous milestone possible!
Inneresting
💺 #289 - The Seat Back Test
This week's Inneresting focuses on visual storytelling elements and not depending on dialogue to explain what's happening.
Highland
Distraction-Free Team Up: Freewrite & Highland Pro Bundle
The best writing tools help strip away everything competing for you attention, giving you a single-purpose solution designed for one thing: getting words on the page. That's why Highland Pro has partnered with Freewrite for a special distraction-free screenwriting bundle from April 15th-April 30! The
Inneresting
🪜 #288 - Not that kind of breakdown
This week's Inneresting wants you to take smaller bites (of your work).
Inneresting
Reverse Outlining Your 2nd+ Draft
You've got a complete draft, you've done a small celebratory dance, and even gotten feedback from readers. It's all coming together! Now what? If you're a little (or a lot lost), a reverse outline may be where you need to start. Instead
Resources
How Many Acts Does a Screenplay Have?
Ask ten screenwriters how many acts a screenplay has and you'll get a range of answers — three, four, five, depending on who you're talking to and whether they're writing film or television. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on format. Here'
Inneresting
😖 #287 - This is Cringe
This week's Inneresting gets uncomfortable, talking about embarrassment, and what can make a fictional character's behavior as Cringe as possible.
Inneresting
How to Make an Awkward First Date (feat. Punch-Drunk Love)
Looking at a sequence from Punch-Drunk Love to find lessons on writing awkward dates for fictional characters.
Inneresting
🔝 2026 Q1 - An Inneresting Digest
A best of compilation of recent links from the Inneresting newsletter, covering writing and topics interesting to writers.
Inneresting
📝 #286 - Getting words on the page
A collection of links on ways to break out of the writing doldrums and go back to putting words on the page.
Inneresting
A Taster's Choice Moment: Inviting Vulnerability in Good Will Hunting
It's emotionally healthy for a character to allow themselves some vulnerability with other people. That doesn't mean every character wants to, and it doesn't guarantee that this is an important goal for every character. If it's important to the character's