This stikes me as I read some of the questions here (and other boards) sometimes. It seems that way-too-many aspirant screenwriters don't read scripts.
Just reading some book like "Complete Idiots Guide to Screenwriting," or Screenwriting 101 will not make you a good screenwriter.
You have to read produced scripts.
Lots of them.
Let me repeat.
YOU HAVE TO READ LOTS OF PRODUCED SCRIPTS.
It's basic research.
Would one attempt to write the next great novel without ever reading any of the great/classic novels? Wait, don't answer that.
A person would be incredibly stupid to do that, but it happens all the time.
The same goes for screenplays. It seems (from the content of many basic questions I run across) that people just don't read scripts. They think they can read a book, ask the most basic of questions, post some pages, and then have someone answer everything they ask, correct all of their mistakes for them, and they can just sit back and become a better writer via osmosis.
You have to be willing to work.
"Here are the pages to my latest screenplay. It will be the best screenplay ever."
"It's not. You need to change this and this and this and that."
"How?"
"Well, by doing this and this and this and that."
"Oh. Well how do I do that?"
"Like this."
"Oh. But what about this and this?"
"Have you ever read a script in your life?"
"Well...no. But I have a really great idea and I bought this book and..."
Gimme a break.
That, to me, is extremely lazy. You can't expect to get good at basketball if you've never seen a game, let alone a good one.
Thus, you are doomed to failure if you don't start the process of learning to write scripts if you never read scripts.
You shouldn't even type the words "FADE IN:" for the first time ever until you've read at least 10 produced scripts.
At least.
The best way to learn, better than any book you can buy in the store, is by reading scripts. The best way to develop your own voice is by seeing how the pros express theirs. The best way to learn great format and the art of writing lean, tight narrative is to see how the pros do it.
If you're trying to write a sci-fi thriller, and you've never read Alien, then you shouldn't be writing sci-fi thrillers.
If you're trying to write action, and you've never read Lethal Weapon (or anything by Shane Black), then you shouldn't be writing action scripts.
If you're trying to write a great romance, and you've never read Casablanca, then...
You get the idea.
Find scripts in the genre of your story and read the great ones. It will answer virtually all of these basic questions that keep popping up on the boards.
Writing takes work. Specifically, it takes homework. If you're not willing to put the time into really studying and learning your craft, doing your own research, finding things out on your own, getting off your own butt and finding the answers to the most basic of questions rather than just asking endless questions on a messageboard regarding the most basic of techniques, then I suggest you give up now.
Becoming a good screenwriter takes work. You can't expect it to be spoonfed to you.
So, if you're reading this, no matter how long you've been writing, get off your butt and go read a script.
Learn from the best if you want to be the best.
Just reading some book like "Complete Idiots Guide to Screenwriting," or Screenwriting 101 will not make you a good screenwriter.
You have to read produced scripts.
Lots of them.
Let me repeat.
YOU HAVE TO READ LOTS OF PRODUCED SCRIPTS.
It's basic research.
Would one attempt to write the next great novel without ever reading any of the great/classic novels? Wait, don't answer that.
A person would be incredibly stupid to do that, but it happens all the time.
The same goes for screenplays. It seems (from the content of many basic questions I run across) that people just don't read scripts. They think they can read a book, ask the most basic of questions, post some pages, and then have someone answer everything they ask, correct all of their mistakes for them, and they can just sit back and become a better writer via osmosis.
You have to be willing to work.
"Here are the pages to my latest screenplay. It will be the best screenplay ever."
"It's not. You need to change this and this and this and that."
"How?"
"Well, by doing this and this and this and that."
"Oh. Well how do I do that?"
"Like this."
"Oh. But what about this and this?"
"Have you ever read a script in your life?"
"Well...no. But I have a really great idea and I bought this book and..."
Gimme a break.
That, to me, is extremely lazy. You can't expect to get good at basketball if you've never seen a game, let alone a good one.
Thus, you are doomed to failure if you don't start the process of learning to write scripts if you never read scripts.
You shouldn't even type the words "FADE IN:" for the first time ever until you've read at least 10 produced scripts.
At least.
The best way to learn, better than any book you can buy in the store, is by reading scripts. The best way to develop your own voice is by seeing how the pros express theirs. The best way to learn great format and the art of writing lean, tight narrative is to see how the pros do it.
If you're trying to write a sci-fi thriller, and you've never read Alien, then you shouldn't be writing sci-fi thrillers.
If you're trying to write action, and you've never read Lethal Weapon (or anything by Shane Black), then you shouldn't be writing action scripts.
If you're trying to write a great romance, and you've never read Casablanca, then...
You get the idea.
Find scripts in the genre of your story and read the great ones. It will answer virtually all of these basic questions that keep popping up on the boards.
Writing takes work. Specifically, it takes homework. If you're not willing to put the time into really studying and learning your craft, doing your own research, finding things out on your own, getting off your own butt and finding the answers to the most basic of questions rather than just asking endless questions on a messageboard regarding the most basic of techniques, then I suggest you give up now.
Becoming a good screenwriter takes work. You can't expect it to be spoonfed to you.
So, if you're reading this, no matter how long you've been writing, get off your butt and go read a script.
Learn from the best if you want to be the best.
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Well said!
Perhaps Gonnabe's and Aspiring's problem is you try to read too much at once. Try taking it just 5 pages at a time, take notes and whatever. Think of it as a class assignment and make a goal to finish reading one every month (or faster if you can manage) then rent the movie and watch it, and follow your notes and have the script so you can see how you did and if you can see how the elements worked out and such.
Just a thought.
