I’ve had more than my fair share of jobs: paperboy, busboy, yacht technician, landscaper, house painter, production assistant, office manager, carpenter, spin instructor, college professor, screenwriter, producer, director, and Co-Founder of The Script Lab. But despite all of these working experiences, the hardest two jobs I have had (and still work at everyday) are as husband and parent. Sure, I’ve made mistakes – lots of them. It took me almost a decade to understand that my wife didn’t want me to “fix” every problem; she just wanted me to listen. And when it comes…

Screenwriting is a skilled trade, and a good screenplay must be molded and managed with craftsman hands. But the hard truth is that good screenwriting is a “nose to the grindstone” occupation. And if you want to be a serious screenwriter, you must make the commitment. Be disciplined, get organized, prioritize, and above all else, write. So if you’re willing to do the work to turn your idea into a competed screenplay, follow these ten key steps: