If a newbie approached you personally and asked:

What is one piece of advice or a tip you'd tell any screenwriter?

...and you were allowed only one tip/piece of advice to give, what would you want to tell him/her/them?

This question isn't in regards to formatting or how to write a screenplay. I'm talking about your own experience with screenwriting; advice you've ridden on, or developed yourself through trial and error of writing a script and going through the business, if any whatsoever.

My piece of advice is, don't write to become a successful screenwriter in the business. Write for fun, with no constraints, practice with different styles, and become successful with your writing itself.

What advice would you give?

Stay spooked!

Sean

Finish it.  Just finish it.

- Don

If you've got a story in your mind - no matter how absurd or unconventional or non-standard it might be - just write it.

If I offered just one piece of advice, I'd probably go with don't give up. It's not just a great Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song, it's an excellent tip. It might take you your entire life, but just keep going.

Whilst I might still be rank 'newbie' myself, I would always advise peeps to not be in a rush to get their work out there, particularly features. I believe time and hindsight are crucial.

To not let perfectionism get in the way. Just get it done and accept that they’ll always be hurdles to overcome. And things will inevitably get in the way. That’s just life. But if you do get thrown off, just give yourself a break and get back on track once you realise. Procrastination is often going to be an issue too. What is procrastination? I’ll tell you later. Main thing is you always finish what you

Quoted from Pleb What is procrastination? I’ll tell you later. Main thing is you always finish what you

lol  ;D ;D

Don't let competitions, and the desire to quickly succeed, destroy story. Write scripts in your voice, with your vision, and with the tone to match.

If you're marooned for eternity on an island with unlimited food, water and a magical laptop, and you could write anything you want, would you write a screenplay knowing NOBODY will ever see it?

Don't get it right. Get it written.

Logline

If you can’t explain your movie in one sentence and have people intrigued, you don’t have a movie. It can save you months and even years of working on the wrong story.

James.

Don't worry about rules...just write.

**those finish comments were definitely good ones too!

Quoted from jwent6688 Logline If you can’t explain your movie in one sentence and have people intrigued, you don’t have a movie. It can save you months and even years of working on the wrong story. James.

Oh my gosh, yes. A thousand times over. I keep having to relearn this one.

Quoted from jwent6688 Logline If you can’t explain your movie in one sentence and have people intrigued, you don’t have a movie. It can save you months and even years of working on the wrong story. James.

By you don't have a movie, I assume you mean, a script you can't sell?  

Quoted from Robert Timsah By you don't have a movie, I assume you mean, a script you can't sell?

Yes. You know what I mean.

James.