“Unlocking the Secrets: 30 Essential Insights into the Art of Spec Screenwriting That Every Aspiring Writer Needs to Know!”

"Unlocking the Secrets: 30 Essential Insights into the Art of Spec Screenwriting That Every Aspiring Writer Needs to Know!"

Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page, heart racing, mind brimming with possibilities, and yet paralyzed by the weight of uncertainty? That’s where the magic—and the madness—of writing a spec script steps in. In the world of storytelling, embracing the “spirit of the spec” means diving headfirst into the creative abyss with nothing but an idea and a dream, hoping against hope that it leads to something extraordinary. Recently, I caught up with a former studio executive turned producer, and our conversation sparked a realization: this impulse to create, despite the odds stacked against us, is not just a gamble; it’s the very essence of what makes us artists. So, let’s unpack this beautiful contradiction—the allure of writing on spec—and explore how it can empower us to bring our wildest stories to life. Ready to venture forth? Let’s explore the journey of creativity together and discover its true spirit. LEARN MORE

The creative empowerment of writing a spec script.

I had a conversation recently with a former studio executive turned producer in which I found myself talking about the “spirit of the spec,” essentially when a person chooses to pursue a project or goal entirely on speculation with the hopes of some eventual payoff. Not everybody would make that choice. To many, with the odds so long against success, doing something on spec is not only illogical, it’s also seemingly inane.

And yet almost all screenwriters, TV writers, novelists, short story writers, playwrights, and poets have as some part of their creative self the spirit of the spec.

After my conversation with the producer, it occurred to me this is a subject we should discuss here at Go Into The Story because it speaks to the very core of why we’re here and what we’re about as people driven by creative impulses — The Spirit of the Spec.

#1. You get an idea

That’s where it all starts.

An image. A feeling. A line of dialogue. A conceit. A character.

Something that catches your fancy. Causes you to stop and think. Triggers your imagination.

Could this be a story? A novel? A movie? A TV series?

You play around with it. Tinker with it. Ask questions.

What genre is it? Who is the main character? What is distinctive about this idea? Is it big

Post Comment