The "Rules" of Screenwriting

Typically, beginning screenwriters enter a world they know little about. Many have never written anything before, let alone a screenplay. Many know nothing about show business, except that they love movies and television. Few know how to write drama, let alone drama that will work cinematically. Novices soon realize that learning this complex discipline by trial and error is possible, but it can take years. They search for “the rules,” hoping for a road map that will guide them through the maze.

After all, human existence tends to be organized around sets of rules. Proper deportment in school or on the job. Etiquette for social interaction. Integrity in business. Fair play in sports. Such rules help us overcome barriers so we can progress through life in an orderly fashion. Once we learn them, we can grasp what’s going on, know how to behave, and realize what to expect. Generally, the more complicated the issues, the more rules we have.

It’s normal, therefore, to expect the same kind of organization in screenwriting. Unfortunately, however, screenwriting rules can throw up more roadblocks than they eliminate. Imagine a trip through the Grand Canyon on foot and without a guide. A screenwriter’s education can be even more frustrating. The Grand Canyon literally is carved in stone, and at least you can expect its roads and trails to stay put. Not so with screenwriting.

The film industry is a dynamic medium that constantly evolves and changes. Accordingly, screenwriting must evolve and change to keep abreast of the industry it serves. In screenwriting, therefore, very little is carved in stone. Conventions that are here today can be gone tomorrow. Perhaps something a screenwriter always did ten years ago is now passé.