Dear Julie, It seems I have to fight for my writing time. My family thinks I am crazy and I am about ready to give up. What do you suggest? -Frustrated in Ann Arbor Dear Frustrated: If I had a penny for every woman writer who said to me that they feel that their husband [...]

Dear Julie: There’s an old nautical expression “Loose Lips Sink Ships”… People ask me what is the name of your screenplay… Paranoid I guess… but I won’t tell them… well can you tell us what it is about… No… So how far along must I be before I can register the script. If I register [...]

If you have a question you would like to Just Effing Ask Julie Gray, please submit your question HERE. Bribes of cookies, flattery or pictures of cute kitties will definitely move you up in the queue. Hi Julie: I am discombobulated, frustrated, and confused – – Welcome to my world. Oh wait – you haven’t [...]

Hi Julie, Question: As a neophyte wanting to enter the world of screenwriting, which is the most effective method or path to follow? I work full-time and reside in Cape Town [South Africa]. My biggest fear is obtaining a qualification in scriptwriting and then arrive in any country overseas and find out that it’s invalid [...]

Submit Your Question for Julie Gray: Email Julie Gray  Dear Julie, I know that I am supposed to write a back story for my characters. My question is, how detailed does it need to be? Shouldn’t I be more concerned about plot and structure than what my character ate for breakfast?  -Mike in Sherman Oaks Dear [...]

Question: When I’m writing scenes in one location, say hotel or a house, how do I format the sluglines properly? You’ve often heard the terms slug, slug line, and mini-slug in reference to screenwriting.  Understanding these terms is paramount, so let’s explore the slug family. Most common formatting error I have no quarrel with the [...]

Question: How do you create a believable antagonist? Jacob Krueger, award-winning screenwriter, shares advice on how to create the perfect villain in this 7-minute video. Click the image below to watch:

ScriptMag is thrilled to announce Julie Gray of Just Effing Entertain Me will be writing a regular column dedicated to answering your screenwriting questions! Introducing ‘Just Effing Ask Julie Gray’, where you can email your questions to Julie directly! The Director of the Just Effing Entertain Me Screenwriting Competition, Julie Gray also writes for The [...]

Question: What kind of feedback should I seek after the first draft is done? You got to the end of your first draft! Congratulations.  You just gave birth! Er, thanks…  Is my child any good?  I hope it’s a genius.  Maybe it’s an idiot?  How can I find out? Truthfully, a first draft is probably [...]