While cleaning up my place the other day I came across the stack of scripts I have written throughout my writing career. While there were far more “Bridesmaids” than “Brides” amongst them I’m still proud overall of the accomplishment.

At the very bottom of the pile is the very first script I ever wrote. Its a hollow, mid-80s, “Miami Vice”-knockoff called “The Neon Runner” (::shudder::). Skimming through it there are some interesting visuals, a line or two of clever dialogue and a halfway decent action sequence. Other than that its pretty much dreck. Fewer eyes will lay upon it than Eddie Murphy’s last movie.

If approached by someone to take a writing assignment on spec your initial knee-jerk reaction would more than likely be “Absolutely not! I am the greatest screenwriter that ever lived and I should be paid at a gold-bar-per word rate”. However there are times where accepting it could be beneficial to your career.

Try to think back to the last time you left your local multi-plex thoroughly and completely entertained. Or if movies aren’t your thing try and think back to last song or novel that had you completely enthralled, turning every page with anticipation. What you enjoyed was a product, a product of inspiration. Inspiration, at some point has to become idea, and idea, has to become a written blueprint. Because this is such an integral part of the expression, it can often be the most frustrating. So over the next couple of paragraphs we’ll try to streamline the process that gets you there.