“Unlock the Secret to Success: Why Saying ‘Yes’ Can Transform Your Life!”
Ever find yourself flipping through a script, hoping that each page delivers a pulse-pounding thrill that makes you want to dive headfirst into the next one? Well, if you’ve ever wondered how to paint your screenplay with that irresistible allure, you’re in for a treat! At the recent Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference, literary manager Glenn Cockburn shared a gem of wisdom: “Write ‘yes’ pages.” What, you may ask, is a “yes” page? It’s that magical moment in writing where your reader hits the last line and thinks, “Yes! I need to know what happens next!” Let’s dig into what makes a page ignite interest and keep those readers turning pages like they can’t get enough! Curious? Buckle up as we explore how to transform every single page of your script into a captivating journey! LEARN MORE.
Advice to screenwriters from a literary manager.
At the recent Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference, I moderated three panels, one of which was entitled “Nailing Your Spec Script.” One of the panelists was manager Glenn Cockburn (Meridian Artists). He had a piece of advice for screenwriters: “Write ‘yes’ pages.”
What’s a “yes” page, you ask?
Simply this: It’s a page where when the reader gets to the bottom … they go, “Yes, I want to read the next page.” Like this furry fellow below.
Like the very first page of the screenplay for Knives Out:
The last two paragraphs — right at the bottom of the page — compel us to read the next page. In other words, Rian Johnson has crafted a Page One as a “yes” page.
Takeaway: Look at your current script. Is every page a “yes” page? Is there something you can do to make each page more compelling? Can you organize the words on the page to land at the bottom line with a bang — or a “throat slit” — which makes the reader go, “Damn! I wanna turn the page!”
That’s a “yes” page.
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