I didn't know where to put this so I figured I'd put it here and if it's in the wrong place it can be moved.

I just finished my first screenplay as many of you know but it turns out it's in need of a major re-write. It was probably only a couple of weeks ago that I finished it and I really don't have the time right now to dive back into it. It's something that it's in my mind and I've been taking brief notes on how to fix it up but I don't think I've spent long enough away from the project to look at it objectively or have the time that would be needed (due to school) for such an extensive project.

So, here's the thing. Since I started writing I hate not doing it. While I wait to have the time to get a re-write going I want to adapt a novel.
"Invisible Monsters" by Chuck Palahniuk
In your guys opinions is it bad to be working on something else in between drafts? I feel lke I should be chiseling away at 'Trail Of Ashes' in little pieces but at the same time I think it'd need to be re-written in longer periods when I really have the time to work the story out and devote hours at a time to re-working the scenes, characters and general plot progression. If I adapt a novel I feel like I'd be able to do it at a slower pace whenever I have the free time and it would also take my mind away from my current story so I can come back and notice more things.

Do you think it's a good idea to do something else? should I just wait it out and not write anything for now or should I re-write my current script in small pieces instead of the novel? I'm new to this whole screenwriting thing and it'd be interesting to know what works best for most people so I can try it out

From the wise sayings of Bert.  When you finish a screenplay you should put it away for 2 weeks and not even think about it.  I can totally relate with what you're going through right now because I was the same way a few years back.  You're thinking too much, that's your main problem.  I've seen this with some of my friends and other writers who are new to the whole thing.  You just gotta relax, man.

Personally, in my opinion, I'd drop your scripts right now and not think about it for 2 weeks.  Just let it go.  When you get back to it you'll understand more of what you need to do and ideas will come more clearly.  It makes a huge difference when you just let your mind flow freely from idea to idea and then start writing when you feel you're able to rather than forcing yourself to think.  

So yeah, that's just my 2 cents.

How about just doing some preliminary research for the book adaptation in the meantime? That way, you can work on another project without getting too engaged in it before going back to rewrites on your current one.

It's almost impossible for me to stop thinking about a script after I've written it but I think I'm going to try this. I'm close to finishing my fourth script (third not counting the One Week thing) so I think I'll put it aside after it's finished and work on my older scripts for two weeks. Personally, I don't think it's the greatest idea. I always know what I want to improve and how to improve it but it couldn't hurt to try.

Quoted from sfpunk So, here's the thing. Since I started writing I hate not doing it. While I wait to have the time to get a re-write going I want to adapt a novel. "Invisible Monsters" by Chuck Palahniuk

What a coincidence! I'm in the process of adapting the same novel. I find it quite  a challenging book to adapt but there are so many different ways to approach adapting it. It's nice to see that other people believe it would make a script. Good luck with you're  adaptation.

As for writing, you may get sidetracked if you start a new idea. Possilby plan your next project put many times when I come up with an new idea my old project seems unoriginal and like it never worked. If I'm doing two projects at once many times I develop "Favorites" and I stop working on one. I don't recommend it even if you're rewriting it. You'll become less interested as a result. This is just me though. I'm still relatively new to the whole "screenwriting" thing.

yeah, I was actually reading it last night and it will be a hard novel to adapt with the way that the scenes jump around but it also has a very good plot that would be awesome for a movie. If I ever get around to it it'd be interesting to see how we both get along with it.

as for the old idea seeming not as good anymore I know what you mean. Since I got my reviews I have been disheartened. I mean no one said it's bad and it needs to go through a re-write just like 99.99999% percent of the scripts out but it's just hard work focusing and having the time to do so.

hey,
do you have a title for your future project already?
i think that you wrote under your post sounds really interesting and theres a potential in it...
or maybe you wrote something by now?

hows work with the adaptation?

cheers