Screenwriting : Screenwriting Prose by David Charles Russell

Reading other screenplays is probably the best way to work on the prose. When you're reading, think about how the writing style changes depending on what is going on in the scene. If an action scene is written too elaborately, it can slow down the pace of the read and lose the impact it is trying to convey. The website screenplayed.com has videos plying scenes from movies with the screenplay rolling next to them. This is a great tool to see how different uses of writing style become translated into the final picture.

You need a target in your mind to hit. A standard if you like. You will develop that from reading great screenplays. Sorry, no real shortcuts.

I know this will seem self-serving, but the best way to learn and SEE where and how your prose can improve, is to work with a good script consultant and do a Phone Notes call - NOT written notes - so that they can go thru each page with you and show uou where to cut, tighten, strengthen, and give you examples so that you can see it, GET IT, and then apply it to your other scripts. Reading scripts is great but it only works if you really know what youre looking for and GET it. I ld highly suggest working with a real script consultant. not COVERAGE - phone notes! im happy to help at No BullScript but there are a number of good ones to work with.

Hard to answer without some context here. Better prose in terms of what? Efficiency, flow, style, formatting?

One of the most powerful things about reading produced scripts is that you'll experience a lot of radically different voices that have all proven to have found a home in the industry. The take home from that is that there is most likely a place for your voice.

Voice itself, in terms of prose writing, stems from self-confidence. It's a bit like charm and charisma and how that warms people to a person. It can't be forced and comes from a place of inner strength. We don't talk about it enough but where we are mentally has a huge impact on where we are artistically.

One thing is for certain, going into a script with the mindset that our prose is lacking is a sure fire way to set ourselves up to write poor (or at least disingenuous) prose.

There is nothing quite like confidence on the page. It shouts volumes.

So, we end up back in the world of seeking validation. That can be had in a variety of ways from getting feedback to seeing how the market takes to your work. For me, it was writing shorts and giving them away that made me realise there was a gap in the market for my material.

I've found that reading short stories, particularly by efficient writers (Annie Proulx, Karen Russell, Octavia Butler, Neil Gaiman) really helps in getting a feel for economic prose.

When I studied film at UNC-Wilmington roughly twelve years ago, they didn’t have many screenplays. It was either a shooting script or script. I remember reading North by Northwest and thinking ‘He can only get away with these long action sequences b/c he’s already a director.’ Since then, I have read a good amount of screenplays. I have the most difficulty with prose during action sequences or at times when it appears I’ve over-established the tone of a scene. Also with dance sequences, or music montages. Too much elaboration. Sometimes when I watch movies based on novels, it feels like in their writing they are kind of doing the same thing, but that they can get away with it by calling it rhythm and tempo. For instance, House of Dragons is great but some parts seem like perhaps they are getting away with sloppy prose. Lol

I do appreciate all the feedback. Lots of good advice I will utilize. Thank you

Practice is the only way to get better. You're a songwriter - you understand rhythm.