Hi Reader,
This past week reminded me of something I think every writer needs to hear:
You cannot grow in a vacuum.
As much as writing is a solitary process, the truth is that we need other people’s stories if we want to get better at telling our own.
Over the last few days, I had the chance to do two very different things:
- act in someone else’s series pilot, and
- provide extensive coverage on someone else’s feature screenplay
Two totally different projects. Different tone, different genre, different goals.
And yet both of them taught me something valuable as a writer.
Why this matters
The more you expose yourself to other people’s work, the more you grow.
You start noticing:
- how different writers build character
- how they handle pacing
- how they write dialogue
- how they reveal plot
- how they use subtext
- how their voice shows up on the page
And the more of that you take in, the more tools you have when it’s time to write your own story.
That’s true whether the work is great, messy, or somewhere in between - because good writing shows you what to aim for. Bad writing shows you what to avoid.
Both are useful.
No two writers tell the same story the same way
This is one of the things I love most about writing.
Even if two writers were handed the exact same premise, the exact same characters, and the exact same plot beats… the scripts would still come out differently.
Why? Because every writer brings a different:
- rhythm
- worldview
- emotional instinct
- genre understanding
- sense of humor
- and narrative voice
It’s like actors playing the same role.
Look at James Bond. The core character has remained basically the same for over 60 years on screen, and even longer if you count the novels. But Sean Connery’s Bond is not Roger Moore’s Bond. Moore is not Dalton. Dalton is not Brosnan. Brosnan is not Daniel Craig.
Same character. Different interpretation every time.
Writing works the same way.
That’s why a screenplay can change so much when a new writer comes in for a polish or a rewrite. They bring something of themselves to it that no one else could.
Why reading scripts matters so much
Watching movies is important. Obviously.
But if you’re a screenwriter, you also need to read scripts.
Scripts let you see:
- how scenes are built
- how exposition is handled
- how action lines move
- how tone is established
- how information is planted and paid off
And when you read enough of them, you start to recognize patterns. You also start to recognize when a script is fighting itself.
That’s where growth happens.
Learn from every genre, not just your own
I would never consider writing horror or action if I didn’t already know those genres like the back of my hand. But what really helps my work stand out is that I’m always trying to learn from other genres too. Westerns. Romance. Period dramas. War films. Thrillers.
Every genre is good at something.
Westerns understand myth and tension.
Romance understands longing and emotional payoff.
Period dramas often understand restraint and subtext.
Thrillers understand momentum.
Horror understands dread.
The more styles and genres you expose yourself to, the more versatile you become.
And then you can start pulling those strengths into your own work in ways that feel fresh.
“Stealing” the right way
Quentin Tarantino once said: “I steal from every single movie ever made.”
And what he meant wasn’t, “copy people”. He meant: take inspiration broadly. Mix influences. Learn from what works. Then transform it into something that feels like you.
That’s what good writers do.
We’re always on the lookout for the next thing we can “steal”:
- a character trait
- a plot point
- a twist
- a line of dialogue
- a scene rhythm
- a genre move
But instead of copying it outright, the goal is to turn it into something unique - something your own. And the only way to do that well is to study as much as you can.
Why this matters professionally too
This doesn’t just make you a better artist. It makes you more useful professionally.
Because when you understand:
- the core genre of a script
- what audience it’s for
- what films it most closely resembles
- and what worked in those successful examples
…you’re in a much stronger position to strengthen the script in a smart, marketable way.
That’s one of the ways I’ve helped writers and producers improve their projects - by helping them identify the films that live in the same lane as their script, then zeroing in on what those films did right.
Not to copy them, but to understand the genre promise, the audience expectation, and the opportunities sitting right there in the material.
My latest video
If you want to know more, I just made a full YouTube video on this topic:
🎥 Watch it here: The Importance of Other People's Stories
Want help with your story?
And if you see parallels with your own script - trying to figure out its genre, comps, structure, pacing, or how to strengthen it without losing your voice - I’d love to help.
✅ Screenplay Coverage (professional feedback + next steps): Click here!
✅ One-Hour Coaching Call (story, structure, pacing, strategy): Book Your Session today!
Till next time, keep reading, keep watching, keep learning, and keep stealing the right way.
Stay creative!
Neil
P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!
Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel
Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking: www.neilchasefilm.com.
Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.
Check out my Gothic horror-western novel, Iron Dogs, available in eBook, print, and audiobook.
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