Each Philosophy Tip will accomplish a different thing for you.  The first two tips built confidence.  This one will improve the results your scripts will get from Industry players.

First, let's acknowledge that, for those writing a script, whatever they write is interesting and emotional for them.  Every scene is something they created, and so it has intrinsic value in their lives.

But if you're trying to get agents, managers, or producers to stake their reputations on your writing, that writing needs to have value in their world.  Make sense?

Almost every day, I read a script or synopsis that is interesting, but not great.  For anyone in this industry, this is a common experience.  But I've noticed something else that is even more important.

Most of those scripts have one or two diamonds of greatness in them.  I'm talking real diamonds.

Diamonds that could sell the script…IF the diamonds weren't buried in coal.  But all too often, the writer is over-protective of the coal.

What are the diamonds?

DIAMONDS COULD BE:  A High Concept, an aspect of your lead character that is amazing, an opening scene that causes a reader to forget he or she is doing a job, a situation that surprises people, a scene with deep subtext, or even a memorable line of dialogue.

As in real life, the larger the diamond, the more valuable it is.  Details may make a script more credible, but generally, they don't sell scripts.  Those are the tiny diamonds.  Concept and unique lead characters are your biggest diamonds.

COAL IS: Anything that obscures the diamonds.  In this category, the biggest violators are exposition, unnecessary subplots, supporting characters that usurp the leads, and plots that stray from the concept.

The more you write and learn, the better you'll become at discovering and brainstorming diamonds.

Good News/Bad News

The good news is that there's a diamond in your script.  The bad news is that you love the coal.

The even better news is that focusing on the diamonds will give you an advantage in the marketplace.  More than 100,000 writers will try to break in this year, but less than 5% of them will bring in diamonds.  Guess which ones will get the attention of agents and producers?

So what's the philosophy?

It is a total commitment to delivering diamonds to the market.

Remember, the diamonds sell the script.  They are what you pitch.   If you are going to have coal, it needs to be there to highlight the diamonds, not to bury them.  Your job is to find the diamonds and focus the story on them.

ACTION: Look at your current screenplay and make a list of the most interesting parts.  Then pitch your story to a friend.  As you do, notice what lights your friend up.   Also, notice where the pitch bogs down.  Chances are you'll spot both the diamonds and the coal. QUESTION: What are the two most valuable diamonds in your current script, and how can you cause them to stand out in your pitch and your script?

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