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Lately I've been thinking about what my strengths are as a writer. Inevitably, this eventually got me thinking about my weaknesses as well. It was a good moment of self-reflection, which is why I'm posting this.
Personally, I struggle with several things as a writer, but there's one thing in particular that rears its ugly head for me quite often: discipline and focus.
I've been writing for quite a while now, and though I've written dozens upon dozens of shorts, I've only ever written 4 full-length features, none of which I'm particularly proud of. I constantly dilly-dally and find ways to distract myself when I hit a stump, or I simply get a better idea that takes me away from my current one. By the time I return to it, the spark is gone or dimmed.
I've tried heavy outlining, basic outlining, auto-writing, vomit-drafting-and-changing-it-all-later... but I just cannot seem to find a consistent pattern that I can ease myself into for features.
Recently, I started a feature and got to 40 pages before I hit a wall. I figured writing a short would alleviate it. Then I wrote another short... and another. A couple more, and I will have written a feature script's worth of shorts! WHAT!?
That's by far my biggest struggle as a writer. The work I do put out there generally gets decent reception. I know I can do it, but actually crafting a good feature is consistently a challenge for me. I know a lot of writers who struggle with that, but I've yet to find a solution that works for me. I think I should've completed three times the features I've completed so far by now.
What are your personal greatest weakness as a writer?
I'm very much the same Julio. However, a few years ago, Breanne told me that she writes an outline for 45 scenes. Like bullet points. I tried it and it worked for me too. That's how I always write features now. My biggest weakness is that once I type FADE OUT: I don't want anything to do with that script again. I'm done with it. Which of course doesn't work since several re-writes will always be needed. If not for that, I can easily write six or so features every year.
Julio, sounds like your problem is to do with outlining. I would suggest not starting a first draft until you are completely satisfied with your outline. Spend as long as you need on that stage before moving on.
Now, even though I aim to do this every time, I will invariably get to a point in the draft stage where I feel what I've outlined doesn't work. Sometimes this can only be identified when you actually begin writing it. However, these obstacles are usually minor and can be fixed without giving up on the script entirely because the outline will have enough in it to see me through to a complete script. These finer points can then be ironed out during the rewrite stage.
If we say the 3 main stages of writing are outlining-writing-rewriting, stage 2 is a very quick (and most painful) process for me, that fucker is vomited in a 2 week period, no more. The majority of consideration and graft is done in stages 1 and 3 because I enjoy them the most. That is just my process but it goes some way to me not hitting a wall half way through a draft (which sounds so demoralising that far into the process) because I've done the prep work.
Laziness and procrastination are up there for me. Discipline is another one. 99 times out of 100 my scripts are too long. I too often put far more focus on what I want to see on screen rather than think about a general audience. Some will say that's a virtue but it can also be a curse.
Sean, write a dialogue-free script. Dialogue should underline the plot, not reveal it.
Actually sounds like a really good idea. Also sounds like a good idea to be able to put in dialogue in places where they seem necessary when rewrites come along. But I will try a dialogue free script first!
3-5 pages, no dialogue. You can add dialogue later to enhance/underline character and plot points.
Always try to find a visual solution for the information you want the viewer to know.
To that second part, I've heard that visuals can say a lot more than dialogue. I'll work on that and leave dialogue as a post-first draft afterthought. I probably should've made my Writers Tournament script dialogue free, or have barely any dialogue, but it is what it is!
I always seem to expect too much of the reader to fill in the details of my settings. Need to get better at describing the world without going overboard and getting too wordy.