20% Off: The Nitty Gritty of Spec Scripts 🎬

[Script Magazine]

This one-week intensive course focuses on the specifics of writing compelling action and dialogue.

Script Online | The Writer's Store | Online Education 🎁 Take 20% Off with Code HOLIDAY20!  Register for our one-week intensive for only $99.99 $79.99!!! 📆 This one-week intensive course focuses on the specifics of writing compelling action (description) and dialogue. At the end of this course, your expert instructor, Dave Trottier, will evaluate five pages of your spec script. Who is the real audience for your spec script, and what are they looking for? Craft a riveting, engaging spec that can open doors to your success. In this course, you will get an inside view of how to write action and dialogue that captures the imagination and emotions of those who can make a difference. Examples will be provided. Your instructor, Dave Trottier, is a produced screenwriter who has helped hundreds of writers break into the writing business. He is in-demand script consultant, award-winning teacher, and author of The Screenwriter’s Bible (now in its sixth edition), and host of keepwriting.com. Lecture One: Readability Who is a spec script's audience? How to make your script attractive to the reader How to be entertaining and economical Lecture Two: Narrative Description Coloring movie moments and characters The right way to direct the camera The nuts and bolts of effective visual description Lecture Three: Common Dialogue Mistakes Writing exciting exposition Transcending the typical Avoiding overused dialogue tropes Lecture Four: How to Write Great Dialogue Fresh and lean—what does it mean? Leaving room for subtext Making dialogue a character issue Final Assignment 📝 Submit four pages from your spec script for review by the instructor. The Nitty Gritty of Spec Scripts Writing Strong Action and Dialogue November 6 - November 13, 2025 Take 20% Off with Code HOLIDAY20!  Enroll Now!  Meet the Instructor: Dave Trottier Dave Trottier has sold or optioned several screenplays and developed projects for The Walt Disney Company, Hill Fields (for ABC), among others (some titles: Igor’s Revenge, The New Musketeers, A Window in Time, Hercules Recycled, The Penny Promise, and A Summer with Hemingway’s Twin.) As a script consultant and teacher, he has helped clients and students sell their work, break into the biz, and win contests, including two Nicholl Fellowships. His book, The Screenwriter’s Bible is now in its seventh edition and is a top seller. He was honored with the Distinguishing Teaching Award by the University of Phoenix and has taught writing courses, workshops, and seminars at over 30 American universities. He has written his “Ask Dr. Format” column for Script magazine since 1989 and is the friendly host of keepwriting.com. Active Interest Media 2143 Grand Ave Des Moines, IA 50312 USA View online You received this email because you are subscribed to emails from Script Magazine Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive.