Nicholas Iandolo Speaks About BS Free Writing

In the small, top floor room of Barnes and Noble, Nicholas Iandolo read a few chapters from his book Cut the Crap and WRITE THAT DAMN SCREENPLAY!, and introduced his upcoming book, Cut the Crap and FOLLOW YOUR PASSION!. These books provide writers with simple tools to focus on writing, rather than the elaborate exercises, thought processes and general procrastination that other writing guides promote.

Photo from Amazon.com

“Writing is a soul enriching pleasure and a pain in the ass,” Iandolo said, explaining why writers are so often unsuccessful.  Iandolo said to be a successful screenwriter, or writer in general, you “gotta grow the thickest skin you can,” and just write!

Iandolo encouraged his audience to write, first and foremost.  Only after you write, and continues to write, many screenplays can you worry about distributing, pitching, editing and the like.

“There are five types of BS writers: revisers, planners, thinkers, talkers and start-stoppers,” Iandolo claimed.  These writers invent reasons why they cannot write, or simply talk about their elaborate ideas, but never write them down.  Iandolo’s book provides a remedy for the BS writers: “get off your lazy ass” and do it.

It sounds like a fairly obvious idea, but Iandolo found that it is one that not many writers come to.  After hearing so many writers make excuses and never produce a product, Iandolo finally got fed up.  Throughout his talk, Iandolo mentioned books that encourage writing exercises, such as character development on index cards.  He admitted that these methods are credible, but not necessary.  In order to produce a screenplay, it has to be written; Iandolo continually tells his readers to put his book down, and just write.

The small gathering garnered many questions for Iandolo.  He intercepted questions ranging from inquiries about his novel writing to how to remedy one’s personal writers block, and offered the audience advice as to how to make it as a screenwriter.  Iandolo warned against agents, dubbing them “fair-weather friends,” and promoted attending conferences, mainly The Great American Pitch Fest in Los Angeles.

However, Iandolo was careful to mention that one does not need to go to Hollywood to make it in Hollywood.  He explained that it is often more beneficial to make movies right in your hometown, specifically citing the tax breaks for movies filmed in Massachusetts.  Hollywood should be an after thought where you promote a movie, according to Iandolo.

“Screenwriting is a bitch,” Iandolo said, but in the same breath, he encouraged his audience to grow a thick skin, and get out there. Write that damn screenplay!

Iandolo’s book Cut the Crap and WRITE THAT DAMN SCREEN PLAY is available on amazon.com for $15.00.  His new book is set to come out soon.

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