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

The problem is, when I face that blank piece of paper, or computer screen, my mind also goes blank. Duh. I can stare at the screen for an hour, just meditating on whiteness.

From time to time I am inspired to haul out my watercolor paint box and a nice white piece of watercolor paper. The same thing happens. Whatever it was that inspired me to get my art tools out has suddenly disappeared. The idea is gone, and again I meditate on whiteness.

I know from talking to hundreds of writers, photographers and artists that I am not the only one with the Blank Page Syndrome!

Over the years I have come up with ways to keep the idea pipeline full.  What works best for ME may not work for you. So though I will give you my technique for fighting the blank page syndrome, I encourage you to contribute your ideas and techniques.

My blank page syndrome pops into being when I put myself on the spot. The fact that I have created a deadline somehow leads to the diagnosis, “brain dead.”

At other times I have an endless stream of ideas.  My clients can’t shut me up. I don’t have enough time to implement all the ideas I have for my blogs and newsletters.

My solution is to capture my ideas when there is no deadline looming. It took me over a year to develop a system for capturing the ideas in a way that is easy, fast. elegant and ultimately useful given MY working style.

If I am in front of my own computer, it is easy. I use an online program called Backpack to capture my ideas in the form of notes or lists.  I can track my ideas by creating pages, or tags.  For example, if I had an idea for this newsletter … I might put my idea on my “Freelance News Ideas” page or if I put it on another page (for example my “Twitter Info” page … I could tag the page with “FN ideas.”

If I am not at MY computer, but a computer is handy I will send myself an email labelled “Freelance News Ideas.”  Then when I get back to my office, I’ll transfer that to Backpack.

If no compute is in sight, back to a low tech solution. File cards in my purse or briefcase.

I still regularly come up against the Blank Page Syndrome, but now the solution is seconds away. Now there’s another problem! Which one of these thousands of ideas should I choose?

I’d love to hear YOUR solution to the Blank Page Syndrome!

Melanie Rockett
the IDEA Queen … 625,689 ideas and counting!