I'm just wondering how each one of you guys start writing a script? How does the idea start and develop? what helps you to develop it? and when you develop it, do you write notes on pieces of paper? A digital recorder? Do you talk to yourself all day and drive people crazy? Also, what dirves someone to become a writer in the first place?

got ideas popping out of my head continously,

actually images, visual images

then well, I just start writing, and the words just appear, just like that.

can't explain exactly how it goes

rpedro, don't you start with an outline? or you wirte as you go?

for my shorts, I just write as I go.

which is a pain, and that explains why my writing is so miserable.

for the features, well I write as I go, but also think of some scenes...
I need to learn how to plan more! And prepare a better outline. But I'm working on that for the features.

There are some great screenwriting books out there, would help you in the planning process, you should invest in that, if you think you need it.

For me, it usually springs off of one main idea, the rest is just trying to piece a story around it.

I usually take notes, and combine ideas that fit. Once I feel I have enough notes to create enough scenesa to fill a full length then I begin writing it.

I'm always usually between ideas and scripts, as I usually get bored when I just focus on one, unless I can get it done very quickly.

I usually write as I go. sometimes, if I reallly want to get a scene done that is in say the middle of the script, I'll just write it and fill in the rest later.

The very first draft can be technicaly considered an outline, as it is just the sequence of scenes put together unpolished. The submitted draft is the one that I've gone back and filled in the details and polished it up.

I think I write, because without art and creation, I wouldn't know what else to do. Writing is really only one of the very few things I enjoy doing. And fantasy is better than reality in my opinion. Without writing, life would be extremely boring.

Usually I begin writing and if I don't like it, I stop (but that is just starting to write whatever comes to mind). When I usually come up with a good idea, I continue to think about it until it gets stuck in my head. And if I think of something really good, I write it down on paper so I don't forget to use it.

Sean

My reason for becoming a writer was after watching a movie called Othello (the 1995 version) in my English class. Kenneith Bragangh(can't spell his last name well, sorry) played Iago and Lawerence Fishbourn played Othello. At that moment, I was simply captured by their portrayal of the book version and the flow of the story. That's when I decided to become a writer.

I like to listen to music as I write. The ideas either hit me or I develop it out of experience or what happens around the world. I follow my inspirations at times and other times, I just don't in order to it develop more. I use my mind alot and oddly enough can't jot down notes. I like to experience absolute freedom in my writings and offer these stories I write a chance in deciding how it proceedes. This is my way of expressing my story idea.

Gabriel    

I get an idea in my head, write it down and leave it for awhile.

After I come back to the ideas, I think to myself "Is this something that I and others would be entertained by?" if the answer is yes, 9 times out of 10 I will write it. Selling and Hollywood be damned.

I have so many "ideas" that I am never going to write I could probably just give them away to others who could do something with them. I mean a lot because after five years or so writing books (For myself) and finally arriving at the screenwriting phase my "writing" book is jam packed with partial books/scripts, treatments, snipets of something that could have been and so on.

i have 3 ways of doing it. one is i'll just sit down and just start freewriting a screenplay with the hope maybe i;ll crash into something awesome - i can come back to later and use as an outline/first draft...

another way is i'll come up with an idea... map out the story/plot points - then i'll create the characters...and interweave their stories with the plot...

or i'll do the reverse,create a group of interesting characters,and build a story around that.

most of the time i'm all over the place juggling 4 projects at once cause i cant stay focused on 1 thing. its pretty much organized chaos when i write


do you guys write your screenplays in chronological order?? or do you skip around to scenes that are easiest to write or that you feel inspired to work on?

* do you guys write your screenplays in chronological order?? or do you skip around to scenes that are easiest to write or that you feel inspired to work on? *

I do that! I pick scenes that inspires me, situation I have imagined while outlining the script idea and I start with them.

Usually, the basic idea pops into my while I'm watching a movie (good or bad) or while I'm driving my car or listening to someone I don't want to listen to.  Once the seed is planted, I let it develop on it's own.  

Sometimes it develops quickly (a la A Druid's Guide to the Northeast).  Sometimes, it takes years (a la The Burnout) started with a series of stories I started in 1977.

Once I have the complete story in my head, I start writing it.


Phil

Ideas come in the craziest ways.

the entire script for "Love Bites" simply came from me wanting to use garlic butter sparay as a weapon against vampires in a vampire movie.  The rest was planned around that everytime i walked my dog or tried to fall asleep.  When I thought I had the whole plot figured out, I organized everything in a notebook.  I worked on detailed character developments, possible jokes and quotes that should be said, how each character was introduced, and things of that nature.  Than I just wrote it up.

Quoted from dogglebe ...while I'm driving my car Phil

You drive a car in New York?  Damn you really are crazy.

Usually, I come up with a general idea in my head, and fill in bits and pieces throughout until I actually start writing.  The "in my head" phase usually goes all over the place.  I'll conceive scenes here and there, and then put them in some kind of order once I start writing.

More often than not, I'll come up with an end before I come up with a beginning.

Quoted from Shelton You drive a car in New York?  Damn you really are crazy.

So, what's your point, biotch?

I actually came up with the concept to Price Check on Film Noir while waiting on line at 99 cent store.  I was waiting at the register when I thought I heard someone say, "Price check on film noir."  That's where that came from.

Everyone should read this script.  Just click on it.  You'll be glad you did.


Phil