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Well, I'll wake up one day, have the entire movie come to me in a single flash, scramble to a notebook in order to write down everything I remember before it all goes away. I'll write down about .03% of it. Then, it'll go in the drawer for about four years and I slowly rebuild all the pieces from that one moment. In the meantime, I'll compose a music file for that potential script (sometimes, it's one song, other times it could be as many as 150) which I will listen to on a loop until the script is done.
I don't tend to plan out that much. I often write a basic outline, just listing each scene, then I write. I find that things work out better when I figure out the characters' personalities more before writing, so I think I am going to start making sure I do that before beginning.
I definitely have an amateur approach. I get an idea, stew it in my head for a bit and then just start...leave it unfinished for months, pick it up and write a bit more...hate it, leave it alone for a bit, and start a new idea. Go back to the first idea and re-read what I have so far...do a bit of tinkering and continue writing...get bored, start a new script...and so on lol. I have ideas chugging round my head now that will never see the light of day, scripts in numerous states all over and some finished in desperate need of a re-write. I never plan out scripts or characters which is probably my downfall. The worst part is I have some ideas that I think will be really good but lack motivation to finish them. I really am a lazy bastard lol. I need a firework up my arse to get writing again.
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
I get an idea, stew it in my head for a bit and then just start...leave it unfinished for months, pick it up and write a bit more...hate it, leave it alone for a bit...
This is where you go wrong. Every script I write there is a 'hate it' moment. I always find that if I write through that stage then I fall in love with the script again. I used to like running long distances, and writing a script is a little like that, because during the run you will definitely have to run through stitch and even back ache, and there will be a moment that you ask yourself why you're even bothering.
Recognise the hate for what it is, it's just a moment during the run where you question the point in it, and a moment you need to run through. Unless an opportunity arises where you need to write something else, then you should always finish. Remember why you started it in the first place.
Your approach certainly isn't amateur. It's just your approach. That's my opinion, anyway.
Funny how we all have such different approaches, but what works for one, doesn't always work for another.
I plan things out in my head long before I write a single word. That includes characters, sets, scenes, action...pretty much everything except dialogue.
Then, I write, and I edit as I go, so my first draft, is really pretty much the completed script, although I do have 1 early script that has gone through several drafts, but those changes were mostly due to my not really knowing what I was doing the first time.
But, as others have mentioned, sometimes things change, based on what has taken place, and that can actually be the ending I had planned. Sometimes, things get added, including characters, other times, things get deleted, like whole scenes that just don't prove to be necessary.
I've recently been writing with another writer and that is an entirely different process, but equally, if not more satisfying, as 2 brains are usually better than 1, and my pee brain ain't all that big to began with.
Happy New year to you all. Have fun, but be safe.
I'm the same way. Before I write a single word I've turned the story over in my head 100s of times. I may not have everything exact but I know the major themes, beats, characters, and direction to go in. That way I still have freedom when writing to explore a little but also know where I'm going.
I may also write up the most general of 2-3 page synopses as a kind of more permanent road map.
Sadly, I've been spending so much time blogging I haven't really had the time to work on the two scripts I have ready to go in my head at the moment. It's frustrating. I'm writing, but not screenwriting like I want to.
Sadly, I've been spending so much time blogging I haven't really had the time to work on the two scripts I have ready to go in my head at the moment. It's frustrating. I'm writing, but not screenwriting like I want to.
I can't blame blogging or really anything, but I too have 3 "completed" scripts in my head that never have hit the page. Actually, I "started" 1 of them and got about 8 pages done, then life got in the way.
Will they ever see the light of day? You never now, but I sure hope so.
I hear that. I got about 30 pages into one of them but that's nothing. I keep accumulating projects with the end result being I have less and less time for each as I juggle.
Am currently on a second draft of a long-ish short. About 27 pages. So I can tell you this about my process. First, I wrote the damn thing. Took six days. I exported it to PDF file and sent it to myself. Now I can read it on my phone, which I did. From that vantage point I can get a good feel of the pacing as well as spot obvious typos. I'll take down a few notes regarding a line or two I might want to word differently. I also sent it to three people to get their initial feedback on it. So far one has responded with some helpful tips.
This morning I rewrote the first six pages. I keep the PDF version alongside the copy I'm actually rewriting, but often find I forget about the PDF file once I get into the rewrite. I make my changes, and as I've heard it put -- I "kill my children." Morbid I know. It's tough to cut some things but ultimately for the better. I add a new scene, something I think is relevant.
And that's where I am so far. This piece being longer, I feel the need to give it more attention.
I'll come up with a rough idea or scenario that interests me and then i'll go to work on the characters that will function in that idea.
i NEVER plan out the plot. just something to kick start my characters enough to let them take me where they want to go.
good characters will write the story for you. i see no need to force a predetermined destination when they'll always give you the right one - you just have to listen to them.
as you can imagine this method of operation requires a lot of rewrites and fine tuning. but is far more rewarding and interesting for me because i discover my best ideas as I go. and not knowing exactly how the story will end makes writing it that much more interesting for me.
i NEVER plan out the plot. just something to kick start my characters enough to let them take me where they want to go.
good characters will write the story for you. i see no need to force a predetermined destination when they'll always give you the right one - you just have to listen to them.
I agree with this. I'm currently writing a feature and have no clue how it will end. I'm just hoping the characters will work that out for me...and if they don't, I'll have a damn strong word with them lol
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
I'm in the same boat. Been jotting down scenes to write for a feature but I know that at some point I have write this shit out lol. It's more about forcing yourself than anything else.
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
I'm going to add 'inspiration' to mine. Having read Toby's script over the weekend it inspired me to get back to it and today I banged out 15 pages. Just hope I can keep it going and finish the first draft.
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
I'm going to add 'inspiration' to mine. Having read Toby's script over the weekend it inspired me to get back to it and today I banged out 15 pages. Just hope I can keep it going and finish the first draft.
Fucking A, man! That is awesome news. You have no idea how cool it is to hear that you're ramblings have inspired someone else to start writing again