“Decisions are made by those who show up.”
“Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright.”
“The ability to speak well is not a substitute for substance.”
“You want to write a TV show? Watch TV. You want to write movies? Watch movies. Read scripts.”
“The difference between a good idea and a great idea is the execution.”
“Develop your own voice. Write the way you talk.”
“Dialogue isn’t just what characters say to each other. It’s the art of creating tension, conflict, and personality.”
“The things that you’re afraid of are the things that will be most worthwhile.”
“You don’t have to have the answers, but you must have the questions.”
“Conflict is the essence of drama.”
“Nothing is harder in drama than creating a compelling protagonist.”
“Failure is just another step in the process.”
“You need a compass, not a map, to find your way.”
“An artist’s job is to captivate for however long we’ve asked for your attention.”
“The audience doesn’t want to see characters who know everything; they want to see them discover things.”
“Write from a place of truth, even if the story is fiction.”
“Great writing requires great rewriting.”
“Structure is everything. If you don’t have a strong foundation, the story won’t hold.”
“Keep asking yourself: What’s at stake?”
“Don’t worry about being subtle. Be clear.”
“Dialogue isn’t just about advancing the plot; it’s about revealing character.”
“People don’t speak in perfect sentences. Your characters shouldn’t either.”
“The best scenes are those that are both inevitable and surprising.”
“Find the rhythm in your writing. Words have music.”
“A great scene doesn’t just inform—it transforms.”
“The audience wants to root for someone. Give them a reason to.”
“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just get to work.”
“You can have a great idea, but if it’s poorly told, it won’t matter.”
“Show, don’t tell. But when you do tell, make it unforgettable.”
“The more personal the story, the more universal it becomes.”
“The writer is the architect of the human condition.”
“We are fascinated by the flaws in characters, not their perfections.”
“If the characters care about what they’re doing, the audience will care too.”
“Don’t underestimate the intelligence of your audience.”
“Exposition is like garlic—use it sparingly.”
“Be fearless in your writing. Take risks.”
“It’s okay to not have all the answers right away. Start writing, and the answers will come.”
“Characters should always be active, never passive.”
“Write the kind of stories you would want to see.”
“Don’t write to impress; write to connect.”
“Surprise yourself in your writing; if you don’t, your audience won’t be surprised either.”
“Theater, television, film—it’s all storytelling. Find your medium and master it.”
“You can’t make people care about characters who don’t care about anything.”
“The story comes first. Everything else is in service of that.”
“A great ending makes up for a lot of sins along the way.”
“Write for the smartest person in the room, not the lowest common denominator.”
“It’s okay to be overwritten. It’s not okay to be underwritten.”
“Let your characters say the things you’re too afraid to say yourself.”
“Drama is about overcoming obstacles. The bigger the obstacle, the greater the drama.”
“There’s no formula for great storytelling—only instincts and courage.”