My screenplay is called ‘Please Rewind Me’. It’s about a young woman who, after the death of her mother, inherits a video shop. Although she has no interest in movies, or business sense she immerses herself in it and struggles to fill the void left in the lives of her mothers friends and cope with her own emotional fallout.

I had been managing a video store for about 8 years when I started ‘properly’ writing it, so by setting it in a familiar environment the conversations and the supporting characters were easier to create. From the people who have read it, the most popular scene is one where Michael (the romantic interest) explains his love of movies. I don’t think I could have written that moment if I wasn’t a movie lover myself.

So I think it’s a good lesson for people who are trying to find their rhythm for the first time.

It was simple logic from my 5th form English teacher, and probably doesn’t apply to experienced and gifted writers as much, but when I was first starting my screenplay and to be honest trying way to hard, I thought back to this and found my starting point.

From Elmore Leonard’s 10 rules of writing.

And what a cool and quirky piece of advice. That may just be the help I need… will try it tomorrow.