Just curious about how some of you start off a new writing project. Features -- do you outline, scene by scene, note cards. The whole bit. Do you interview your characters or do you discover them as you go? What's your process and...

Is it the same process as when you're writing shorts?

Steve

This is probably one of my favourite topics to discuss with other writers. I find it absolutely fascinating hearing how other people create what it is they create.

Personally, I start with some kind of general set-up/premise which I feel I could build an interesting plot around. From this, I then create the character whose story this will be -- namely trying to identify the character's goals, then subsequent ways in which the character's personality will hinder them from achieving their goal (normally the character's flaw, which allows me to create some kind of arc). From this, I then further develop both the premise and supporting characters which will further fuel the conflict fire and drive the narrative of the script. I then identify my two act breaks, as well as the midpoint and the end, and any other important scenes/plot pieces. I roughly outline (not individual scenes, more like a few paragraphs of text) what happens in each act, and then I start writing. I don't plan every scene out at the state. However, before I start writing each scene, I make sure I know four things: 1) Whose scene is it? 2) What are they trying to achieve? 3) What is stopping them from achieving this? 4) What happens if I decide against including this scene, i.e., is the scene necessary? I feel this helps me ensure that the scenes I am writing actually warrant being included.

Whilst I have some kind of structure planned before I start writing, I am not a slave to this. Things always change as I get to know my characters. What I have planned as the second act break becomes the midpoint, the end completely changes once I identify the theme of the story, etc.

For example, the idea I started with in the latest script I have finished was simply "A father's world falls apart during his daughter's wedding." From this, I created a story about a former policeman (so a Protestant) in Belfast, Northern Ireland being threatened by an anonymous wedding guest on the day of his daughter's wedding. The threat specifies that he needs to "Accept his sins." So I made the protag this prideful motherfucker, who refuses to accept the past. Therefore, he's not going to do what the threat specifies. I further complicated things by having the protag's daughter be marrying the nephew of a former IRA commander. That way, a large number of the wedding guests could be potential suspects, further complicating things for our protag. Then, instead of accepting his sins, like the threat demands, he goes on this warpath, illegally detaining and interrogating the suspects himself...much like the police did back in the 1970s/80s.

What does your process look like, Steve?

Probably a nontraditional approach - but for me:

I write a rough log line first. Not the concise brief one - more of one if I was pitching myself - "hey - this is the story you should write". For example - before writing "The Object o My Infection" - I had the rough log line of - What if a female CDC research assistance used her access to bio medical hazards to gain revenge on an abusive boyfriend..." The subsequent log line and script were a bit different - but the point is I had to write a pitch to myself that was a compelling enough reason to write.

Second - I rough draft the character (or in some cases - caricature). I have a tough time writing plot points and scenes until I have a sense of who I am writing them for. Now - I do not do the detail write ups that some gurus recommend - instead I cheat. I just pick the most similar character to a celebrity or an actor in a particular movie. e.g., this character is like Kevin Spacey in Swimming With Sharks, this character is like Richard Gere in Officer and a Gentleman, this character is like Donald Trump, etc. I will add or subtract traits from that initial portrait of course - but starting out with a character I can see helps.

Third - I outline the very high points of the story. Where am I opening? What will be the first challenge? Who is going to lose what and win what? etc.

Then I just start writing - no detailed outline - and try to quickly smash out as many pages as possible - not paying attention to much of anything.

After first draft - I do a very detailed outline of what I have written right down to the day and hour things took place - the page they took place on - etc. That helps me re-organiize the story in a logical fashion and helps me see holes and pacing issues.

Anyway - don't know if the above violates any sacred rules - but that is my approach.

Personally...

I write all my ideas down and keep them in Evenote so I can access them from any device.

For Shorts, I just start and see where they take me, no planning and the characters are organic. If the go off track I leave them for a while and go back when the muse has resolved the issue for me.

For Features, I've not got a system I stick to... my first I used index cards, then went completely off piste, second I used cards and stuck to them, 3rd, 4th and 5th have all been done with just a vague plan in my head.

Characters, I start with a view of how the are going to be and what their key traits and motivations are... the rest eveloves as I write the script. I do have some character development software but I've never got round to using it

My method seems to be okay for me, but each to their own.

Anthony

I started last March. I've written 7 features since. One is not fully done.

I usually sit down and just go. But I take notes 1-2 days in a physical notepad before I do. Short sentences. But they tell me what I was thinking at the moment. Usually when I get an idea, more the half the movie comes pouring in. For some reason I always get stuck a bit at around the 3/4 of the story. But I sit down and write it out rough, then I refine.

Quoted from Demento I started last March. I've written 7 features since. One is not fully done.

You've written 7 features in 9 months?  Damn, bro...unreal!!!

Quoted from Dreamscale You've written 7 features in 9 months?  Damn, bro...unreal!!!

In almost 2 years

An idea forms in my head and I go from there.  No prior planning.  I come up with characters during the writing phase, if I need a cop to investigate all of a sudden, cue Detective What's His/Her Face.

If it's getting boring, I throw something into it that's random.  A car chase.  A fight, etc.

I let my imagination run wild... for the first draft.  Leave it for a few months.  Then I pick the script apart piece by piece, bin a whole bunch of useless crap, like exposition and useless characters, then rework the frame until it's sturdy, add more weight to it and pad it out.

I repeat the process over and over again until everything works and I have a solid script.

Hell, I just uploaded a script that's the 14th draft of a story I came up with nearly a decade ago, and it's still not there.  It's about 70% complete in its current form and it'll probably take me another 4-5 drafts to get it to where it needs to be.

That's how I write.  The only thing in my scripts that is a constant is "FADE IN:".

My first feature, written before I knew I even needed some sort of process, came from a single scene. I had a basic outline in my head, and just kinda made it up as I went. You know what? Didn't turn out too bad. My second feature I used notecards and outlined just about every scene, so I had a blueprint to work with. Was one of the easiest scripts I wrote and didn't take long at all really. That was a couple years ago.

A new one I started on I planned out as well, but the notes I used were stored in my software. This one's been more difficult to get a handle on. I basically mapped out beats, using one sentence notes about where the story should go. This doesn't seem to be working right now.

Shorts are never really mapped out. I usually get the idea, let it simmer until the story starts to play out in my head, beginning to end. Then I write. Though I suggest you have an ending before you write. It makes filling in the rest that much easier. Nothing is worse than a story that doesn't know where it wants to go.

Steve

My system is Do&Redo - I don't write outlines or character sheets, I have a vague idea and start writing. With the characters' profiles in mind I think about how they would react to the situations I throw them into as I go. The first draft is mostly lousy that way, but once it is done, it's much easier to refine and edit it until it works.

Quoted from SAC Do you interview your characters...

No, but I'm gonna start doing that. To be honest, I've never heard of that technique at all and it's probably used often by others. Better late than never I guess. Great suggestion!

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.

Quoted from oJOHNNYoNUTSo No, but I'm gonna start doing that. To be honest, I've never heard of that technique at all and it's probably used often by others. Better late than never I guess. Great suggestion!

I came across the interview thing online, I think. It actually gives you a whole list of questions to ask -- fav color, occupation, etc. I suppose you can add others that you may find relevant. Tried it once myself but I think I scrapped it. I found that doing that kind of locked me in as to exactly who this person is instead of letting the character develop in a more organic way. But I think it does help in regards to things like a talent or skill this character might have that may come into play at some point in the script.

Characters develop on their own, trying to force a character into a particular mould could be counter-productive.

Early morning hangover idea hits me...

Think about the conflict...

Write the logline. Rewrite the logline. Rewrite it again.

Write

Re-write

Rinse and repeat.

Do it all over again.

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.

Quoted from alffy 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.

Quoted from Dreamscale 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.

Quoted from DustinBowcot 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.

Half my problem is commitment.  I have too many good ideas...but most of them are just that, 'ideas'.

Quoted from CameronD 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.

Steve

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.

Quoted from Penoyer79 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

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.

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.

Quoted from alffy 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  

Story summary, then the script.

Then I polish that shit until it shines

I find this topic to be very interesting. I admit before I begin to write anything that I have a pretty solid idea of the characters what they're going to say what they're going to do and every major action point already planned out.

For example, when I wrote evil Genesis, I had all the characters names and I had every major plot point and how many pages each plot point was to take up. That way I knew roughly how long that the screenplay would be, and whether or not I needed to add to it or take it back a bit if there was too much plot. After all nobody wants a screenplay of more than 120 pages.

The reason why they tell you to interview your characters is pretty simple actually. You're supposed to know every single thing about them. You're supposed to not only know their highest and lowest points, but you're actually supposed to know every single thing about their lives even if there is no chance that they appear in the story, ever will appear in any story, ever will appear in any series. The reason for this is simple. It helps form who they are. Every time they make a decision that does or doesn't work it affects who they are later in life.

Even something as simple as what is your favorite color can offer insight into that character. For example if the person's favorite color is black it is perhaps conceivable that that person likes goth or vampire stuff. Or perhaps they are going through a dark moment in their lives and can identify with the darkness.

As a writer, it is important to know every aspect of every nook and cranny of your world. After all, you're God, and if you don't have the answers then who will? Too often people will just sit down and write without really understanding or knowing what the characters are all about.

For example, I was watching this Japanese cartoon once and in it the creatures who lived under the water had firepower. Naturally I chuckled because water creatures should have water powers and not fire based powers. That comes from not fully understanding your own characters.

Another example could be that this kid on the road to becoming a gangster had lost both his parents and execution style deaths. So if later on you write that your character executes somebody you better have a good reason why they would do that because unless there a sociopath or psychopath, there would probably not kill somebody in that way.

I hope that helps and if I can answer any other questions feel free to pick my brain. After all, writing is so much more than beginning typing. There is so much planning that must go into a story no matter how you achieve that story, it essentially becomes a living breathing entity.

Good luck,
Dan

Hey Dan, good to see you're back again!

On Topic: I've tried writing with an outline multiple times, but I always drifted away from it so much in the end, that I thought it was a waste of time. I start with a rough idea of a story and the main protagonist(s). For my TV scripts I try to think of a big opening scene / teaser and continue on from there. Usually I end up too long, so in order to fit it into 50-55 pages, I work over it and cut out anything I feel isn't really necessary.

I'm currently working on a new TV pilot script, I tried with the outline approach again, not sure how it'll end up this time.

Thanks CJ - I found it an interesting read

Hi guys, I'm new here, though I've lurked for a bit and really enjoyed reading your discourse.

I have a big ol' magnetic board in my garage, and I cut up tons of 3x5 pieces of cardboard, covered them with dry erase paper, stuck a magnet on the back of them and use them as magnetic index cards. Therefor I can write up a bunch of scenes and place them here and there, wherever I want. I have a big dry erase board beside it that I write down themes, character ideas, fun quotes, complications, timelines, whatever.

But first, I come up with an idea that really gets me.

After blasting music and scribbling tons of scenes on my magnet and dry erase boards, I'll get on the computer and start organizing them, starting by writing a logline outline, where each scene gets one line. I'll develop those scenes further before writing a mega outline, where I detail these elements: location, character, synopsis, conflict,  fun ideas, and pitfalls.

Then I'll write the first draft, realize I got everything wrong, complain to my wife that I should quit, hurl myself outside in a fluff, she'll run after me with a brilliant idea, and then I'll realize "oh yeah, I married a writer, I should just lean on her to fix these problems and I wouldn't hate myself." Then I'll go back inside and fall in love with the story again.

Currently working on finishing my first screenplay in years.

The first guide I read regarding story structure was the M.H. storymaster one (don't know if it's OK to link the website).

Long story short it goes like this:
Story setup>opportunity>new situation>turning point/plot twist>point of no return>aftermath

So I write those scenes first, then I fill up the rest. This has worked pretty well for two of my features, not so good for the other two.

Regarding the latter, sometimes I struggle to 'create/discover' one or more of those elements. As a result various things in those scripts feel a bit forced.. even to me.  This is why I guess, I have to write even more, or just find a better guide lol.

No particular set way.

Idea creation: I have a huge list of different ways of creating stories and I sometimes just sit and write lists of dozens of ideas that would make interesting films.

Brainstorming. From just bashing down everything I think of, or even parts of scenes in a text file in Dropbox, to using a software package to plot things: it depends on the project. Simple horror stories I find the linear Contour useful, deeper stories I often use Dramatica Pro. I've found that no software package, or book, on their own is definitive, but used together and with one's own knowledge they can become greater than the sum of their parts.

Over time I've also created my own little system based on all the books and software I've read and I've collated it all together in Scrivener. So I've got quite a comprehensive template to work from when I sit down to plot a story. From character creation, to all the available genres, to all the different plot structures so far invented.

The Cork board is quite good on there. There's a system for using a Cork board to plot everything out, even as far as thematic points, called something like Plotting Blockbuster Stories that's good for really epic pieces I'm planning.

I tend to plot things out in their entirety, then try to write the individual scenes non linearly using the pomodoro technique... You set a timer and just write as fast as you can without stopping. I do roughly 1 page in 5 minutes

However, my best work is often when I simply write without planning, but I can't rely on that.

I use a host of different packages to write from the obvious like Final Draft, Fade In and Celtx to my now preferred method of Distraction Free writing with Focuswriter, Ghostwriter, Worst Draft, Draft, Monkeywriter and others, using Fountain which allows me to write anywhere on anything and have a master file that can be sent to any screenwriting package with little risk of corruption or incompatibility issues.

Writing is also still sometimes on paper, in a coffee shop. There's still a lot to be said for the direct connection between mind and page.

Biggest weaknesses:

1. Hitting a point where something is wrong and being unable to fix it. Even when I can analyse exactly what's wrong with it.
2. Getting trapped in a cycle of never ending possibilities, resulting in constantly changing parts of the story, then having to change another bit, then getting to the 60th draft and there's 60 different stories in one and my brain is unable to get any of them straight.
3. Motivation.

Step one. I need a new project. So I structure my premise as so...a character easily summed up in some way, ie. the daughter of a sailor, a college student, a martial artist, is thrown into a conflict uniquely suitable to him/her.

Step two is my craft homework. I look at the premise line and extract goals, desire lines, themes, conflicts etc. I think of questions, what are the inherent holes, how can I fix them, are there rising stakes, an opponent. I carefully consider my genres suitable for the idea. I consider the dominant genre and secondary genre. I create foundational beat sheets based on John Truby's twenty two steps. My characters goal, wants, needs, and internal weakness are decided. I expand out an over-arching plot to hang on the desire line from the twenty two beats. I like writing it as a flow chart where the boxes indicate plot points. This takes dedication and time because I have to carefully think out every step. I don't want any holes or inconsistencies embedded in my story's foundation that will be difficult to fix later on.

Than I put it aside. Take a break. Let that foundation soak into my mind. And from that, my mind becomes so expanded, that the first draft floods out of me. I vomit out every idea. EVERY IDEA and sub-idea within that one. Nothing's out of the question. With no restraint or thought. I find that I can get two hundred pages in one or two weeks. So long as I have that outline to extract ideas from.

Than I take a break. I get back to the first draft and this is were I edit. I look at the draft and I cut everything that's un-necessary. I widdle it down to the tightest structure possible. I look at beat sheets and write the page count between each beat. If one of the numbers looks off, that usually means something more needs to be cut. One I get that tight structure, I get back to editing. By now, if I've done my homework right, I've found that every major mistake can be fixed with subtle and small rewrites that don't impact the size and shape of the story if I've done my outlining properly. This is where ENDLESS re-edits happen. I look at individual scenes and make sure they're executed properly. With good conflict, tight shape. Dramatic action. Density of beats. I might do more cutting, re-arrange scenes and than do small re-writes to glue them together. I often do scene outlines to create a skeleton with keeping my beat sheet beside me. This is a fantastic way to see flaws in your story that are hidden under the surface.

Often times this will also involve going to a scratchpad and writing down questions and holes and motivations that might need more explaining or expanding. And when I've gotten to the point where this list keeps on growing, and I'm running in circles fixing problems only to find new ones, I set it aside...

...and do a from scratch re-write. This always creates a HUGE leap in quality and all the major problems go away. And this is where writing becomes more enjoyable for me, because by now, I've spent so much time in this world and characters that they come alive to me. The tedious clinical connection I have with my material is gone, and I now care and love and understand my characters as people and not a list of beats and facts. Now that the story works I can move on to dialogue. With the characters voice in my head it's easier now that I postponed it. Because your first priority is structure. You gotta solve that huge five dimensional rubix cube than work on dialogue. So I write the dialogue. I use a recorder and act it out to make sure it works.

Than I put it aside, take another break, and than from than on, it's months of more rewrites and edits and banging my head against the wall. The great thing is that the more rewrites you do, the less grand and sweeping the changes are, and eventually you get to laser in on the cadence and rhythm and tone and flow of the writing.

And it's around this time where I have to get this out to my writer's group. I know that no matter how much work you do you can't write the perfect script. So I close my eyes and take outside criticism, I look at the notes, take them in, read and consider changes. I take a break, look at it with clean eyes, than I go back and back for for more rounds.

Than I make a promise, once I've hit a certain number of drafts. I'm done. I grit my teeth, accept that perfection is not possible and it's as good as it's going to get move on to a new project. Looking forward to new worlds and characters to fall in love with. Even if it doesn't work out, I can always count on achieving that.

Keep in mind, this is how I like doing it and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who isn't as crazy as me.

I'm working on my first feature. I haven't outlined it. I'm just writing it as it comes. I'm doing it in sloppy format, and depending on my mood I'll either go back and fix things or I'll continue on with the story.  On the top of every page I've written 'ELICIT EMOTION'. A good in your face reminder.

Figure out the main plot points and write to fill in the gaps between them.

I just write.

When it comes to the script, I also just write. But research is huge if it's a subject I don't know inside out. And I find that the longer a concept has been knocking about in my head, the better it comes out when I write it.

But as for physically planning out the story / outlining etc ... To me that's all the work and none of the fun. It makes me bored of the story before I've even written it. I had to do it once but when I came to write the actual script, I put the outline in the bin. And wrote something much better.

Oh, yes... research is king. I hate outlining and I'm terrible at it. My outlines all look like shit, but, thankfully, my writing is good - at least, so I'm told.