CEDAR FALLS -- Within a week of viewing "Juno," last winter's surprise hit about an unintended teenage pregnancy, Scott W. Smith started his "Screenwriting from Iowa" blog.

The film's writer, Diablo Cody, a University of Iowa grad and Minneapolis resident, penned the Academy Award-winning script at coffee shops across the Twin Cities area.

"I wanted to show people that you can be outside L.A. and write screenplays," said Smith, a Cedar Falls filmmaker. "It all comes down to passion and desire."

Last month, the Web site -- screenwritingfromiowa.wordpress.com -- earned an Emmy from the National Television Academy's Upper Midwest Chapter. The blog was recognized in the independent advanced media arts and entertainment category. Smith competed against other professionals from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota for the honor.

"Simply put: His work was outstanding," said Teresa Vickery, chapter spokeswoman.

"Screenwriting from Iowa" is a one-stop shop for anyone inspiring to break into the biz while living outside Hollywood. Smith, who has written seven unproduced feature screenplays, offers advice and inspiration on his blog. The site catalogues the successes of other writers in "flyover country" and explains how new developments have opened up opportunities for screenwriters across the U.S.

"It used to be this weird route where you had to move to L.A. to be involved, but now technology allows people to tap into their own markets and self-produce their own films," said Smith, a producer and director with River Run Productions. "People want something that is a little different, and living outside of L.A. allows you to approach your writing with a sense of regionalism. ï½ You are automatically coming from a different place than other writers."

The blog, started in January, boasts roughly 1,000 views a month. Smith adds at least two new posts weekly. In addition to helping other writers, Smith believes the project is giving him a leg up on the competition. The site is starting to circulate among other filmmakers and has helped him gain professional connections, Smith said.

"It's like anything else," he said. "The more you post, the more you want to post, and the more you get back in return."

Smith, a Florida native, spent five years working in Los Angeles as a young man.

"I went there when I was 21, and I thought I was going to be the next Steven Spielberg," he said. "It was fun and frustrating ï½ you can be so close to making it and still be so far away."

Since moving to the Cedar Valley in 2003, Smith has been pleasantly surprised by the number of opportunities he's had to continue working in the film industry. Earlier this year, he was contacted to scout locations for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, "Whip It!," due out next year. The production company ultimately decided to film in Michigan, but Smith says he believes more crews will be coming to Iowa in the coming years because of tax incentives.

In addition to his day job, Smith also is in the process of writing two new screenplays in conjunction with other local writers. One is a comedy set in an assisted living facility. The other chronicles a murder in a small town.

"On my blog, I write that Oliver Stone wrote something like 12 screenplays before he got one made," Smith said. "It's a process, and it's not an easy one, but I hope 'Screenwriting from Iowa' will make the experience a little easier for other writers out there."

Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.