"Shit happening" is not a story

Advice from a professional screenwriter

Your Aunt Sally always has a story.

“I just got back from the supermarket, and boy do I have a story for you!”

She then proceeds to tell you every last detail of her trip to the market. How some guy took her parking spot. How long the line at checkout was. How the guy bagging food was rude to her, etc.

Halfway through, you’re thinking, “Is there a point to any of this?”

Here’s the thing: Aunt Sally is just telling you about all the stuff that happened. Some of the events she describes might be interesting, but basically, it’s just a series of moments strung together.

It’s just “shit happening.” And “shit happening” is not a story.

I read a lot of screenplays and stories by emerging writers, and 90% of them are guilty of the same exact thing. Let me give you an example.