Scott Myers has been writing screenplays since 1987 when Universal Studios bought and produced K-9, a spec script he co-wrote. Other movie credits include:  Alaska (1996), starring Thora Birch, andTrojan War (1997), starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Scott is an  Executive Producer with Distillery Pictures, and teaches screenwriting at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and online through UCLA Extension in his spare time.

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This series of 10 blog posts essentially take us through the process he uses to develop a script.

How I Write A Script is found on  Scott’s Blog … Go Into The Story

Part 1 — Story Concept

Part 2 — Brainstorming

Part 3 — Research

Part 4 — Character Development

Part 5 — Plotting

Part 6 — Outline

Part 7 — Script Diary

Part 8 — 1st Draft

Part 9 — 2nd Draft

Part 10 — 3rd Draft

Scott’s script writing process will give you a glimpse of a working writer in action. You will probably take parts of what he does and create your own process.

Need more help?  We have some of our favorite books in our Screen Writing Store … we feature books on screenwriting, on how to sell your script and loads of actual scripts you can read and learn from.

Image by Sprungli

Here are ten great resources about and for writting horror fiction … short stories, novels and screenplays.  Please DO tell us about your favorite sites and horror fiction books or movies.

1.  Horror Factor

Horror Factor offers great resources for almost all levels of horror writers; from enthusiasts to well known authors.
At Horror Factor, you will find almost all resources and tools needed to become a great writer, starting with their own email horror writing course.
User forums, horror writing contests, and horror market listings are also featured in this resourceful website. If you are interested in keeping up to date on what’s happening in the world of horror writing, simply subscribe to the horror fiction newsletter.

2. Horror Writers Association

Horror Writers Association is a guild where horror writers can meet to discuss a spectrum of topics. Guests are only offered a taste of what’s available. To get the full meal deal, you have to become a member.
Horror Writers Association offers three levels of memberships based on the experience you have in horror writing. Once registered as a member, you will have unlimited access to site’s resources such as blogs, market listings, and tips and tools. You can connect with Horror writers around the world through their blogs, myspace pages and websites.

3. Horror Writers UK

Horror Writers UK is an online community where you can publish your horror writing for reviews and critiques by other members. This is a place where, regardless of the type of writing, members are always willing to spend a bit of time helping your out. If you are a novice, then start by reading reviews available on the site. Doing so will give you insight in to how a proper fiction should be structured, the common mistakes in writing, and how a reader’s mind works.

4. World Horror Convention

This website is dedicated for the world horror convention, the annual gathering of professionals in the horror writing industry; authors, publishers, artists, and horror fans. The site also contains a lot of information about horror writing and the content is very well structured.

The message board allows users to share ideas and concerns. In addition to that, World Horror Convention contains many links to horror related websites. Unlike some other listings, this list of external links is up-to-date. By visiting this website, the users can get to know all information about the past horror conventions and also the future plans.

5. Writing Horror Fiction for Tweens

This is an excellent resource that we could not resist putting on the list!. Have you ever wondered how to write horror fictions for tweens?

This article systematically explains us the concerns, tips, and steps for writing horror for tweens. You should follow these advices and tips since you will be writing for a specific segment of children. The author needs to have a very good understanding of how tweens think and how sensitive they are for the subject on the horror fiction.

6. Monolith Graphics

This is one of the special website that is dedicated for horror fictions with horror graphics. By far, this is the best website that can be found for this subject matter. Monolith Graphics offers its users a variety of resources such as books, dark realms, journals, music CDs, gothic tarot, calendars, posters, t-shits, stickers and so on.
When it comes to commercial products such as books, Monolith Graphics facilitates a service where users can directly order from the web. In addition to that, users can also read story excerpts, official book reviews, and fan comments of the books. This definitely allows users to get to know the value of the book before making the purchase.

7. Horror World

This could be your one stop horror writing resource website. Horror World allows users to enjoy many unique resources that cannot be found in other websites.
First of all, the interviews with horror fiction authors are one of the most important features offered by the website. This is a great way to understand how their minds work and their approach to great fiction. In addition to that, Horror World contains a great collection of books in the library, so users can make use of them.
The article archives and chat rooms are a great way of digging up and sharing information, as well. The horror fiction reviews available on this website are comprehensive, yet interestingly shorter than the regular.
8. Writing Horror

This is not a conventional horror writing resource website. It is rather a user group for horror writers created using Yahoo! Groups. In the usual scenario, Yahoo! Groups are created to maintain a community for a common objective. Through Yahoo! Groups, the members can keep others updated about the latest trends, news, events, etc.  When it comes to Writing Horror, there is no exception. The members of Writing Horror keep the rest of the members informed about everything related to horror writing. The members can simply post messages conveying their ideas, concerns etc. and also ask questions from other members.
In addition to the group posts, there are files uploaded by users that contain useful information on horror writing. So check it out!

9. How to Write a Horror Screenplay

This is a quick outline guide to writing horror screenplays. It’s for people who know what a three act structure is and probably have written something before and are considering writing a horror for the first time. But it’s also worth reading if you want to know why horror movies hold their appeal (and why so many get made).

10. If you want to WRITE horror, you have to READ horror.  Clive Barker is widely acknowledged as the master of nerve-shattering horror. Here are a great selection of his books. Clive Barker Horror Classics

In order to get ANYbody to look at your screenplay, it has to be formatted correctly. There are conventions for character dialogue and for screen directions, there are conventions for headers and footers … and if you don’t have them right, industry insiders will just throw your masterpiece onto the scrap heap without even reading the first line.

There are dozens of screenplay writing software packages that will help you do the job. Problem is many of them are too expensive for someone who just wants to give it a try. For example, Final Draft sells for $200US, Dramatica Pro sells for up to $269US.

So blow me AWAY when Johnny C. Johnson of Mindstar Productions contacted me with the news that Mindstar is GIVING AWAY their formatting software for FREE $0.00 Nadda Nothing.  This is a FULLY FUNCTIONAL program. No trial, no downgraded functions. The FULL meal deal.

I asked Johnny why they were giving it away.  “Because we are in the business of making productions work, and without a script, there’s often no production!”

GO for it. Get it now. These guys are nuts and may soon realize it and start charging.

Get your FREE Cinergy Script Editor

ENJOY … and tell Johnny that I sent you!

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About the Author

(c) 2009 Melanie Rockett

Melanie Rockett is a freelance writer who has written over 500 television scripts, eight books and thousands of published articles. She consults with small business entrepreneurs on how to build a successful and thriving business, and in her spare time drives traffic to her clients websites by getting them on page one of Google.

RESOURCES:

How to Write a Screenplay

How to SELL Your Screenplay

A  horror movie has certain rules. If you break too many the audience will be disappointed.

This is a very short, no fluff, blueprint of how to write a horror script.

1. The Hook. Start with a bang. Step right into a suspense scene. (”Scream” opens with a terrifying sequence with Drew Barrymore on the phone with a killer)

2. The Flaw. Introduce your hero. Give him a flaw. Before you can put your hero in jeopardy we must care for him. We must want our hero to succeed. So make him human. (In “Signs” Mel Gibson plays a priest who has lost his faith after his wife died)

3. The Fear. A variant of The Flaw. The hero has a fear. Maybe a fear of heights, or claustrophobia. (In “Jaws” Roy Scheider has a fear of water. At the end he has to conquer his fear by going out onto the ocean to kill the shark)

4. No Escape. Have your hero at an isolated location where he can’t escape the horror. (Like the hotel in “The Shining”)

5. Foreplay. Tease the audience. Make them jump at scenes that appear scary — but turn out to be completely normal. (Like the cat jumping out of the closet) Give them some more foreplay before bringing in the real monster.

6. Evil Attacks. A couple of times during the middle of the script show how evil the monster can be — as it attacks its victims.

7. Investigation. The hero investigates, and finds out the truth behind the horror.

8. Showdown. The final confrontation. The hero has to face both his fear and the monster. The hero uses his brain, rather than muscles, to outsmart the monster. (At the end of “The Village” the blind girl tricks the monster to fall into the hole in the ground)

9. Aftermath. Everything’s back to the way it was from the beginning — but the hero has changed for the better or for the worse. (At the end of “Signs” Mel Gibson puts on his clerical collar again — he got his faith back)

10. Evil Lurks. We see evidence that the monster may return somewhere..somehow..in the future..(Almost all “Friday The 13′th”-movies end with Jason showing signs of returning for another sequel)

Now you can start writing your horror screenplay. Good luck!

About the Author

Henrik Holmberg writes horror scripts for indie filmmakers.

Also see:  Free Screenplay Writing Software

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association

Splatter Flicks: How to Make Low-Budget Horror Films

Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction)