Draft Zero: A Screenwriting Podcast

In our annual Backmatter-only episode, Stu and Chas indulge themselves by offering personal opinions on the life and work of emerging screenwriters based on their own personal experience. To that end, they discuss: what is and is not in your control in relation to an emerging writing career; choosing what project to develop next; using the Black List site to gain traction; the difference between treatments for pitching as opposed to for development; and the difference in writing style when writing on spec as against work for hire. We also unexpectedly have a guest: David Wappel kindly joins us to share his thoughts on anchoring nouns. RUNNING ORDER Intro What is in your control? (@ 05:27) Choosing what to develop (@ 28:58) Using the Black List site (@ 33:24) Treatments for development vs for pitching (@ 59:47) Writing on spec vs work for hire (@ 01:23:23) Backmatter on backmatter (@ 01:37:37) EPISODE LINKS Wordplayer.com: WORDPLAY/Columns/55. "Time Risk" by Terry Rossio M. Night Shyamalan on His Failures