Blog Fallowing Writing Advice for Screenwriters from Sticksville

These pieces last updated August 2011. If you have a suggestion for other past pieces to include, let me know in comments. thanks.


 The "Big Ones" (Pieces that got me noticed.)
10 Things That Would Make Canadian TV Better.  4 years old, and still relevant.
How Corner Gas Ruined Everything
(taken together, those two posts are the closest thing this blog gets to a "blogafesto.")
Notes on a Frog (this is also linked below but it's one of my favourite posts ever.)

How to Write A Spec:
Part 1: Prep,
Part 2: Research,
Part 3: Breaking The Story
Specs: an addendum

Writing The Television Series:
Part 1: Setting the Table,
Part 2: The Outline,
Part 3: The First Draft,
Part 4: The Second Draft,
Part 5: Production White & Beyond
Being a Freelancer (My episode of Stargate: Universe) 
The Importance of The Takeaway 
What is the "Objective Correlative?"

The Economics of Freelancing in Canada:
Part 1
Part 2

The 'Notes' Process & Prep:
How to Give Notes
Prep: Day 1
Prep: Days 2, 3, and 4
Prep: As Prep Continues
Notes on a Frog

Development & Writing Pilots:
Beware 'the napkin'
Avoiding 'backstory fatigue.'
Don't get caught up in "The Tyranny of Why."
Coincidence, & Knowing your Franchise
The Second Episode Problem
The Fresh, The Familiar & The Impossible Trick.
Hero, or Protagonist?
The Limits of worrying about "Fridge Logic."
How Much Research to Do? Just enough to deliver "The Takeaway." (features Burn Notice)

And when all else fails:

Employing 'The Snooki Principle.'

Writer Time Management:
Pomodoro
Writing at Night is Bullshit.
If you HAVE to Procrastinate...

Breaking In:
What to do before nobody will read you.
Why you should work on your Story Literacy
Co-Writing & Gang Breaking
How becoming a Writer is kind of like "Coming Out."
Take the damn job
Acing the Meeting
Defending Josh Olson
Writers talk: There is Wisdom in Brunch

Misc
The Difference Between an 'Original Work Inspired By' and a 'Derivative' Work -- With Stunning Real Life Examples!

Loving the Bottle Show

The Eyeballs of Men

Writer on the Set

How Interrogation works, really.

Creator Interviews/Talks:

Greg Daniels from "The Office" -- Part 1 and Part 2

Paul Abbot (Shameless, State of Play)

Robert Towne (Godfather, Chinatown)

The Creators/Exec Producers of "Being Erica"

I talk about how I didn't really like "Twitch City" and creator/star Don McKellar takes me to the woodshed (but we part friends. Aw.)