Tom Hanks Quotes

It makes a world of difference when you start with an amazing script.

I sort of love reading the scripts and going, 'Oh wow, what a great idea. I never would have thought of that.'

I'm most suspicious of scripts that have a lot of stage direction at the top of the page... sunrise over the desert and masses of... a whole essay before you get to the dialogue.

Personally, I read a lot of scripts.

There was a time when I read a script and I just got excited about the possibilities.

I suppose I'm most influenced by any good, commercial writer. I learn from everyone.

If you get a script and it's really well written, that's always exciting.

There are a lot of good stories out there, but I haven't found too many great scripts.

Read. Read. Read. Read many genres. Read good writing. Read bad writing and figure out the difference. Learn the craft of writing.

I don't know if it's good or bad, but when I first started writing I imitated the narrative thrust of a movie. And as I worked, I learned what you can do in fiction that you can't do in movies, and vice-versa.

I read a lot of script. In my opinion, most of them aren't good or aren't about people.

First and foremost, it's got to be on the page. It starts with the writing.

I began to ask two questions while I was reading a book that excited me: not only what was going to happen next, but how is this done? How is it that these words on the page make me feel the way I'm feeling? This is the line of inquiry that I think happens in a child's mind, without him even knowing he has aspirations as a writer.

But basically, I'm trying to write a fun story.

Also, they don't understand - writing is language. The use of language. The language to create image, the language to create drama. It requires a skill of learning how to use language.

Every actor just wants good writing.

You use simple brushstrokes in a screenplay for things over which you would take much greater pains in a novel.

I'm very involved in the writing on every level.

I think almost always that what gets me going with a story is the atmosphere, the visual imagery, and then I people it with characters, not the other way around.

Where radio is different than fiction is that even mediocre fiction needs purpose, a driving question.

There's a lot for screenwriters to steal from songwriters, in terms of getting to the point.

When I first read the script a few years ago I thought it was one of the best written scripts I had ever read.

All the writing elements are the same. You need to tell a good story... You've got good characters... People think there's some dramatic difference between writing 'Little Bear' and the 'Hunger Games,' and as a writer, for me, there isn't.

The thing I am attracted to is just good writing and stories that are based somewhat in reality.

My job as an author is to tell the story in the best way possible, to make it flow seamlessly and get the reader to keep turning the page.