Screenwriter Backstory
Hi, I’m Jeff Goldstein, and welcome back to Screenwriter’s Backstory.
Have you ever been asked where an idea comes from?
It’s one of the questions I hear most often as a screenwriter. People imagine there’s a magical moment when a story suddenly appears out of nowhere. The truth is, ideas rarely arrive fully formed. More often, they’re smaller sparks – a conversation, a news story, a memory, or a simple “what if?” – that grow into something much larger.
Ideas Are Everywhere
I believe ideas are all around us. Most people notice them and move on. A writer notices them and starts asking questions.
What if things had happened differently?
What if someone made a different choice?
What happened before this moment?
What happens after it?
That’s where great stories begin.
Every screenplay I’ve written started with a single question.
Love You Two began after I read The Da Vinci Code. I found myself wondering, What if Mary Magdalene were alive and living in New York City today? That one question eventually became an award-winning screenplay.
Healed began with another question: What if a man truly had the power to heal—but had to keep it a secret?
Taking Arizona started when I saw the title Senior Trip and thought, What if the travelers were in their seventies instead of teenagers?
None of those stories appeared all at once. They all started with curiosity.
Stay Curious
The next great idea probably won’t arrive with a flash of lightning. It may come from a conversation with a friend, a newspaper headline, a walk through the city, or a question you can’t stop thinking about.
As a writer, I’ve learned not to chase ideas. I pay attention instead. When something makes me stop and ask, “What if?” I write it down. Sometimes it remains just an idea. Sometimes it becomes a screenplay that wins awards.
That’s the magic of storytelling. Great ideas aren’t found. They’re discovered by people who stay curious.
I’d Love To Hear From You
Where have your best ideas come from? A dream? A conversation? A life experience?
Leave a comment and let me know. One simple question might become your next great story.
Jeff Goldstein
Award-Winning Screenwriter
Next Week on Screenwriter Backstory...
Episode 2: Why I Write
Why did writing become more than a hobby? Next week, I’ll share the experiences that transformed storytelling into my life’s passion.
Join the conversation below.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. If this article sparked an idea or reminded you of one of your own, leave a comment. I read every one.