Anyone else start writing without any prep at all?

Usaully I start out my script with a page or two of rambling thoughts. Through that I squeeze out the concept, characters, major turning points. After that I start mapping out everything. I have to have a goal in mind to begin writing a script.

Just plain writing though is different. Give me a blank screen and I can write forever. That is until my kids wake up.

Steph

I also write with absolutely nothing in mind. I sit at the computer, and just start writing. I usually begin with some dialogue, and I build ideas from the ground up. That seems to be the only way I am able to write scripts. Who needs structure and a story? Just let words flow.

My way.

Ideas and stories kind of mill around inside my head. I think about them, I know I have an idea forming, but it's not really structured yet or complete.

Then suddenly I know the opening scene and several scenes after it and I know how I want it to end.
I always have a beginning and the end. It's just a matter of filling in the blank space between.

I'll sit down and write out my idea and I'll keep going until the well runs dry.
Then I'll briefly jot down notes for the next scene that I had thought of. Kind of where I need to go next.
Then I read back over it the next day, edit and trim it up. Usually this re-inspires me and I take off again.

In the down time I do character pages, story plot lines, theme quests, a broad range of "exercises" to keep my mind thinking about the story.
When ever I hit a snag I go back to these exercises and try to locate the problem. After a bit I'll discover the issue and off we go again.

Sometimes I use index cards to summarize my scenes but this often feels too slow. I've got the scene in my head and so I just write it out.

Sometimes I've written spontaneously and sometimes I've outlined first. It's been my personal experience that the latter produces a more solid script that doesn't need to be pulled to pieces and rewritten from scratch. I can see whether the story works before I type 110 pages.

Harold Robbins, a natural novel writer whom I admire, said he just sat down and typed without any kind of preparation, and the pages magically appeared. I tried to emulate his technique for years and ended up with wads of toilet paper.

There is no right or wrong way, there's only what works for you.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.

I usually spend considerably more time in the prep stage than actually writing the first draft. I have to have as much of the story planned out and arranged as possible before I write "FADE IN". Beginning, Inciting incident, plot points, Ending, subplots, turning points, etc.. Some would argue that this curbs creativity, I would argue that it doesn't. Once you have a framework in place, you are free to go wherever you want in the script.

Fin! said:

My first screenplay has been years in the making.

Click to expand...

You probably over thought it.

There is a fine balance between research, planning and letting creativity take control. I feel you need to know al the very least the who, what, where, when and how before starting the script.

BTW. "Years" is the first sign that the script is not gonna be good. Even writing part time (an hour or less a day), you should have a first draft in less than three months.

I'm sorry but i can't write without some kind of outline time or thought process. For me to just sit down and start writing would turn into a huge mess. I've tried and ended up with 50 pages of nothing happening. There was no plot. Just random events tied together.

I do this quite often. None of the scripts I've started right out of the blue were ever completed, and most stalled around page fifteen.

The first script I wrote, I co-wrote and it was an adaption from my first novel. The second one I am working on now, was requested and it was an out of the blue. They said write a thriller. So I am writing a thriller. I started with an idea of the opening the two main characters and the fact that one goes missing. Within two days I had 22 pages written and a rough outline of events. 4 days later I am on page 67 with progress moving smoothly. This script I will have completely written and edited in less than 2 weeks.

Is this normal?? I don't know, but this is a heck of a lot easier and faster than writing two 400 page novels in a year.

*shrug* I guess run with what works.

Sara