This is my first post here but I've spent the last couple of days looking through the unproduced scripts and comments, and I've found it really useful to look at other peoples work and compare it with my own. So far I've written three shorts (and some bits and pieces), and recently I've decided to attempt my first feature. (I'm a 20 year old film student btw)

I've been developing ideas over the last couple of months, and I've come up with what I thinks pretty solid plot, however I'm worried that its too complex for my own good (interweaving plots, 'epic' story, lots of characters etc). I start writing, spend a good few hours on it, and I only progress by a page or so. It's almost like I'm putting too much effort into trying to make it perfect, and its definitely not easy to write. Its just not flowing like some of the shorts I've written in the past and I'm finding it really draining. Its a story that I really want to pursue, but I'm thinking of putting it on hold until I become more skilled as a writer.

My question really is what would be a good start for me? Should I look at writing something more simple in terms of plot, and build myself up to more heavy stuff? I'm thinking that a simple plot, but focusing on the characters and dialogue is the direction I should go in.  

Any comments, tips or anything will be appreciated!

Cheers

My advice is to not limit yourself, but just write. Don't "not" write "the great epic story" because you think you don't have the skill. That's the only way you're going to get the skill is by doing it.

The work you do on this complex story that you have growing inside you right now might not come to fruition for another 20 years.... during which time, you are going to want to write a lot of different material.

At the same time, don't forget the power of "kiss" and don't underestimate that wonderful beauty of simplicity.

Sandra

Hi Mike and welcome here.

Here's my way to work. Don't try to make it perfect right away. Write your story as you feel it. Call it the very first draft. Then, come back on it, thicken the plot, your characters (feed everyone of them to make them unique) and take your time. A feature can take  a whole year of your life. I myself wrote an epic story and spent two whole years on it.

Try to concise your dialogs. I mean, if something can be shown on screen don't evoke it in dialogs. Reduce them the most than you can.

Here are my first own tips. Of course, everyone has his own way to work.

Michel 8)

Quoted from mike902018 My question really is what would be a good start for me? Should I look at writing something more simple in terms of plot, and build myself up to more heavy stuff? I'm thinking that a simple plot, but focusing on the characters and dialogue is the direction I should go in.

Choose something you'll finish.  It might not be the greatest screenplay in the world but it will be done and if it's done it can be improved.  Or you can just move onto your next one. If you're having trouble finishing a feature then I would suggest trying some shorts first to get the hang of finishing things - you'll also learn lots in the process.

Write what you want to write.  If you get stuck on one part, work around it.


Phil

Hi Mike, and a warm welcome to you. I'm pretty new here too. My advice if you're getting stuck with the "bigger" story is to alternate. Writing something simpler i.e. the "short" at the same time as working on the feature might actually help to free you up a bit.

Oh, an idea to hopefully give you some confidence and get some feedback might be to post part of your script in the "My Work in Progress" section.

Libby

Pick up a side project... Write on it when you feel the walls closing in on your "main" project. Just because you pick up a new project doesn't mean your old one won't get finished... It also doesn't mean your new project will be junk, either.

I write 3 and 4 scripts at a time sometimes...

My advise... Write what you know, learn what you don't. Anyone can write a script. Not everyone can write a good one... You don't write good scripts by being uneducated about the source material, either.  

Also, if you're script is serious... try your hand at some Comedy for your side project. The contrast will work wonders when you set down with your main project again.

Another note I'd like to toss out to you is this :  A lot of writers think having 3 or 4 or even 5 and 6 subplots within their movie makes it "EPIC"... It doesn't. The best movies in the world are very straight forward and usually revolve or involve 1 major plot.  

Let's look at 3 Horror/thriller/si-fi writers. The best ever, in my opinion... Stephan King, Ray Bradbury and Rod Serling... Every story they ever told had one single plot. Very easy to follow and very to the point. It usually always involved 1 item/person/thing that drove each plot point further.

So, your writing doesn't always have to change the world, sit it on its ear or spin everyone's heads off with branching plots.  Sometimes the simplest idea is often the best and most effective.

Mike,  
As a fellow newby, welcome. I have only been on this site for a couple of days. I also (like you) have many questions about writing a complex screenplay. You are doing fine. It's OK to feel overwhelmed by your first major undertaking. Hell, I just uploaded my first ever screenplay to this site a few days ago. It's called Crossroads. Don't know if they will post it or not, but it was a water shed moment simply finishing it. My approach is far more foolish and in light of all of the professionals here, more stupid but it worked for me doing my first work. Get to page 10. Stop. Then get drunk and read it. When sober, start again. But after page 10, don't stop. Write like you were covering your own story on death row. Fast and hard. Then lay it down, walk away and get drunk again. Visit it in a day or two and you will see your own brilliance in some of the words like flecks of gold in a river pan and it will inspire you to go in and do the retouch. Trust me it will. My first screenplay took 3 weeks. Read it if they post it and see if i'm right or just an insane prospecter. All in all best of luck and remember, if the world loves it, GREAT, if not, love it alone.

Quoted from Baltis. I write 3 and 4 scripts at a time sometimes...

Are you related to Shiva?

Quoted from michel Are you related to Shiva?

Ha, nothing comes to mind... I'll check my family tree, though.  

As of right now I'm working on "Frost bite ------ STILL!!!" "Fast as you can" and a rewrite of my very first screenplay "Gruff" So, things are pretty full in the writing area. Frost bite is looking to be done anyday, though; thank the lord. I've had the hardest time with this script for some reason. I think it's my best work to date, tho... Truly a story that will keep anyone interested.

After my three above get completed I've got 3 more to work on with "4 blocks of fear" "colors of the cube" and "Whata' Drag"

Write in groups of 3 and you'll never be out of material...  

Hey Balt

don't forget it's Mike's thread. You can't help it, can you?

Wow, thanks for all your replies.

I like the idea of writing a side project, and I agree about the subplot thing. Originally the story did, and still does, have one main plot, but then along the way I got tempted to include some others - so I'll give that some thought and if I really need them.

To be honest I've been thinking of just working through it no matter what, and seeing what I end up with then improving it. Good or bad I'm sure I'll have learnt a lot from it. I'd definitely like post it here and get some feedback.

Ledbetter, interesting approach, often the best artists are the craziest!
  

Hi mike, just my two bobs worth: yeah, just get through it first, get it down on the page. then you can go over it. My first script i kept agonising over small details as i wrote- if i had of just written it as it came out, would've been quicker. Go for it man.

Mike, hello.  A fellow Brit, I see.  That's great!  I'm still fairly new here myself.

Think up a smaller story, mate.  That's what I did.  You gotta crawl before you walk.  If you love your epic, no matter how long you stay away from it, it will never leave you.  So put it to one side and write something else.  And trust me, you'll be surprised how many other great ideas will come.

To be fair, my Epic is still being written... Granted it started as one movie and is now 360 pages long.  In 2002 I sat down to write a movie "Coffin Canyon" which I also own the .com and many other ins and outs for, and I still haven't really finished it... Why? Because it is an Epic.

I knew the entire story couldn't be told in one script so I started writing a follow up and after that another one. But I never looked at them as 3 separate movies... Just one long one. That's how I wrote it. Now, of course, it would never fly at 360 pages -- We all know that, right?  So, I am in the process of breaking it down into 3 different movies. Making each segment a complete picture.

What I'm saying here is... Write your epic. Don't worry about length and plot points and 30-60-30 rules. Write the movie you want to write and when it's all said and done, cut what you don't need or save what you don't need for the first script and use it on your second one.

Quoted from mike902018 This is my first post here but I've spent the last couple of days looking through the unproduced scripts and comments, and I've found it really useful to look at other peoples work and compare it with my own. So far I've written three shorts (and some bits and pieces), and recently I've decided to attempt my first feature. (I'm a 20 year old film student btw) I've been developing ideas over the last couple of months, and I've come up with what I thinks pretty solid plot, however I'm worried that its too complex for my own good (interweaving plots, 'epic' story, lots of characters etc). I start writing, spend a good few hours on it, and I only progress by a page or so. It's almost like I'm putting too much effort into trying to make it perfect, and its definitely not easy to write. Its just not flowing like some of the shorts I've written in the past and I'm finding it really draining. Its a story that I really want to pursue, but I'm thinking of putting it on hold until I become more skilled as a writer. My question really is what would be a good start for me? Should I look at writing something more simple in terms of plot, and build myself up to more heavy stuff? I'm thinking that a simple plot, but focusing on the characters and dialogue is the direction I should go in.   Any comments, tips or anything will be appreciated! Cheers

1. Writing a feature is harder than writing a short. It's because what you are doing in each page ties in with stuff you are doing 60 pages down the line, so you'll find it harder to write a page of a feature than a page of a short. Usually, anyway.

2. Most stories are usually fairly simple at their heart, no matter how complicated. You could try writing out the story in a linear and simple fashion first as a reference and then gradually start to fit it into the structure of your screenplay.

3. I echo other people's sentiments. A script is only finished when you say so. The first draft can be terrible, but the end product can be fantatsic. Writing is re-writing as they say.

Either way, keep writing. If you finish the difficult script, you'll have the strength of charcater to write other ones in the future.

Again, thanks for all your replies. I'm taking any advice on board and I've also been cracking on with the script. I've found that when I get a 'mental block', the best thing to do is have a break then go back to it with a clear head. I have simplified some elements of the story too.

I'm going away for 3 months soon so I won't have much chance to work on it until I get back, but I'm definitely going to continue it after. I've decided to just write what I want to write, get it all down then see what I've got and change, edit, add, do whatever to improve it.