Joss Whedon's Top 10 Tips for Writing a Screenplay

I have said, many times over, how I am simply unimpressed with Joss Whedon. Now, don't get me wrong - I am not saying I don't like his work. I do like some of his work, in particular, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I never saw when it originally aired and am just now getting into thanks to Hulu. But aside from Buffy, everything else I've seen by him tends to go nowhere.

Of his latest project, Cabin in the Woods, Whedon told one reporter, "Ultimately, it’s my take on the classic horror movie... I think after everyone sees it, they’ll love it so much that there will be no more need for movies."

Now, he obviously had his tongue-in-cheek here, but I don't think it's far off the mark, because that was exactly what I was going to say about his entire canon: he's simply overrated. And, yes, when the Whedonites see this Cabin in the Woods, it does not matter one whit how good it really is, how well it compares to real classic horror flicks, or anything else - they are going to consider it the best thing since the advent of the home computer.

But I will not fault the man this: he does work. And regardless of what I, or anyone else, think(s) of his work, I have to respect the fact that he does exactly what he says. So I am bringing you Joss Whedon's writing tips. If you care to discuss them, leave a comment, because I have plenty of Top 10 Writing Tips lists to share, many of which I feel are stronger than this one.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009