Writing method/process

what's your hold up? are you're making too much out of it? just start writing. put your fingers to the keyboard and start typing. you got to learn by doing.

read, read, read scripts. then you'll see what a screenplay should look like.

I wake up, have a cup of coffee, check my email, check the forum, open a script in progress and type away, read a script, type some more, check the forum, eat, send out a query or two, email some people, type away, research or work on a new outline/synopsis, check the forum, call a producer I am doing work for, eat, go to sleep. Repeat.

In between, I feed the kids, play with them, go to the park or pool, read to them, feed them some more, put them to bed.

I try to work every day, except Sun, at least 5 hours each day on actively writing, researching or marketing myself and my work.

Any specific questions?

Sometimes an idea will hit me and I'll just sit down and type FADE IN: and go from there.

Sometimes I'll scribble an outline, or a partial, knowing I'll come back and fill in more detail later.

Sometimes I'll write the story first, as prose, and if that works I'll adapt it.

Sometimes I'll read a screenplay or a book or watch a film instead.

Sometimes I just stare into space for hours and drool.

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

Once I'm done with the outline, SHORT character bio's, treatment-my story written out in about four pages, write scenes on index cards, tape said index cards to the wall, stare at said index cards for a very long time, unlike Dp, I try not to drool.

Not that drooling is bad.

Arrrange said index cards, stare some more, then I usually begin the writing process. I used to start from the beginning and try to work my way to the end, but now I found it easier to just pick a scene and start writing. I wait until kids are in bed, which is about 9:00, I sit down in front of the computer, or more often than not I sit at the table with paper and pen, and I write until I can't drink anymore coffee or I pass out, which ever one comes first.

Steph

I usually spend a long, long time (months, sometimes) going over my story in my head before writing anything. Doesn't sound too difficult, but try doing that with anywhere from 3-5 or more stories at a time lol

I do show up at my PC every day to write, though. Whether it's just a "FADE IN" or 50 pages, I show up with the intention to write every day. I think that's a good place to start.

I come up with ideas in my head and jot them down in my notebook. I mull over them in my head for hours, days, weeks. Then, when I know that I have the story somewhat set in my head...


I sit my a$$ down in front of the keyboard and write.

Simple as that.

Blank said:

I'm concerned about the complexity of a screenplay in relation to the writing process.. am I making sense?
You have all these themes, tones, characters ect. and it's all working towards a goal. How do you keep track of this as you're sitting and writing?
And further more, what is considered "writing" anyway? I guess I'm confused about so called "sitting and writing" and what this encompasses.
Hopefully I've made my view clearer.

Click to expand...

I think what you're asking is how we keep focus on the goal as we are writing. Everyone is different. You do what is easiest for you. Some people keep the stories in their head, they know what they want and how they want it and just type it until it's done. Others make an outline, sketching out the scenes of their story briefly, then tape it to their foreheads (or maybe its their computer), and use it as a guidleline as they write. I use index cards, each index card has a scene, the goal of the scene, and maybe a few discriptions and a few lines of dialogue. The index cards keep me focused on the pieces of the puzzle rather than the whole picture, which can be intimidating to a new writer like me.

Hope it helps.
Steph

Blank you have to really understand your characters and the goals in the movie of each character.

Blank, what have you tried so far? Have you brainstormed and scribbled down story ideas? Come up with a character list? Written a treatment?

Take a peek at http://www.scriptsales.com and click on Examples, look at the Treatment and Step Outline pages, they're just short samples but they might give you some idea of where to kick off your story.

For some real bad examples see my web page link below (only if you're tired of living). I usually kick off by writing a short synopsis, then I expand this to maybe a 10+ page treatment which I use to write the screenplay. Check out the entry for "Infestation" which includes the original treatment. I scribbled the short synopsis and played about with a logline (got feedback on this) then wrote the longer treatment, then wrote the screenplay based on the treatment.

Everyone has their own methods and preferences. Try 'em out and see which suits you best.

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

Blank said:

And further more, what is considered "writing" anyway?

Click to expand...

It bugs my wife to no end when she peeks in and asks "whatcha doing," and I reply with a mild "I'm typing." She crosses her arms and stamps her foot. "No! You are writing."

You see, I write in my head, I type with my fingers.

Writing a script is like sculpting in clay.

You visualize a subject. Thinking/coming up with an idea, characters, basic plot..

You sketch it first before sculpting. This is outlining.

Next, you decide the specifics and figure out how much clay you'll need, what tools, etc... This is the research and outlining stage.

Finally, you plop the clay down and begin creating. You sit down and type.

I keep things organized by making sure I did the other steps (either on paper or in my head) to it's fullest.

The better you plan any project (in most things in life) the easier and better it becomes.

Some writers put character sketches, graphs, pictures of locations, index cards with scene briefs on a pegboard and plan it all out, like a detective investigating a murder case, some writers do it all in their head. I prefer the later, but that is from years of practice. I will print out reports from time to time and see where the beats lay and adjust accordingly as I compose.

Yes. compose. I treat a script like a symphony. I use rhythm and repeating melodies to create music on paper with the story. Sounds like bull, but I do think of story in the same way as I think of music.

I do occasionally make a time line on graph paper and keep it next to the computer so I know the framework.

Again, do whatever you are comfortable with in keeping your self organized and focused.

Hell!! I know a writer who keeps a picture of Cindy Crawford naked above his computer as a reminder of what he may some day get if his scripts are real good. Yeah right!

"Writing a script is like sculpting in clay. "

Interesting way of putting it. I like to think of it as like building a bookshelf.
Perferrably with three shelves. The diagram is your outline, the screws are the scenes that connect the shelves (major plot points), The base is your begining, the piece that holds it up, the top-the ending that completes it.

If put together correctly, you have yourself a sturdy bookshelf, with three perfectly fit shelves, a firm base, and an ending that tops it all. Of course if it wobbles you'll have to tighten some screws. If it leans, you might have to consider strengthening your shelves. If it falls apart, well then...you have bigger problems.

Steph

Do you have an idea for a story yet? I think U need that first. Are u beyond that and know your chars. and who they are and know the beginning, end, first plot point, and climax? Tell us where U R at on this so we can better help.

I was lucky to start out in workshop, where we were guided thru the process from day 1. We had to do exercises that were relevant to the story we were creating and other exercises to expand writing skills, that weren't relevant to the particular project-these helped me learn too.

I still do this, where I go to a different workshop today and also there's a lot of books on the topic, which contain instruction, depending on which area you want to work on. Went for a coffee and goodie stop and ended up with a copy of "Screenwriting 4 Dummies". Well I'm no Dummie, but I liked the way the book loaded up on so much "foundation building info" and worded it in such a simple way. One thing I found unique about it, was the mind expanding exercises to get me into a screen writing mentality. One exercise listed a metaphor and suggested I find 8 scenarios to stick it in. I realize I need to expand my horizons, my thinking, viewing and hearing processes.

Have to agree with you. It's nice when there's some posts about the mechanics of writing a good script.

Jennifer

Blank If you have no previous storytelling experience do not expect your first or 2nd script to be any good no matter how many times you rewrite it. I thought my best scripts would be my first one or 2 because I poured my heart and soul into them.

I like Joe's analogy of a sculpture but out of STONE. Think about this. If your new to sculpting and you make a deep mistake you can not REVERSE it. As a newbie you can write a script and find out it doesn't work. Sometimes you have to trash the whole story or do a complete rewrite. So just keep that in mind and realize that you will get better every script.... don't even expect to start getting the hang of it till script 3 or maybe even 4 or 5... and even then you will have to do a minor rewrite or a few polishes afterwards.

Some people still don't get it by script 6, either.

I think Joe's clay analogy is most fitting. Stone doesn't work, because oftentimes rewrites take the story in a totally different direction. It's still the same mass, but has been radically reshaped. For stone, once it's done it's done. Clay is quite malleable.

However, if you find your entire story is crap and can't be saved, then it's simply time to get a new hunk of clay.

Or, seriously consider the possibility that you have no talent for sculpting.

Writing is like sex. The more you do it, the better you'll get at it.
first time, its awkward, almost painful. Soon, you develop your own technique.
you even learn to enjoy the process.

Read a few books, talk to a few people, look at a few movies, read a few scripts. Then test the techniques out in your own project. Study from the best, and the worst, theres always something you can learn. Hang around here some, and see what the others are doing.

But the biggest mistake I think anyone can make, in learning any new skill, is to expect too much, and think theyre going to perfect the craft in record time.
Take it slow, learn at your own pace, and learn to enjoy the process.
Experience in anything just comes with time and effort.
So start writing. Post your work here and youll get some quality feedback, that will only help you. Soon youll set your own groove as to what works best for you.

Hope it helps. Ive tried to keep it a g-rating Joe.

I haveto admit though that if you don't feel PASSIONATE about your first script, give up writing now. I see a lot of people claiming to be screenwriters when I think they like the idea of SAYING they are a screenwriter as some sort of romantic idea more then doing it. If you still have PASSION after you complete your 4th or 5th script then your doing better then 99 percent of "screenwriters".

Without passion your wasting your time even if you are a good writer. Just my opinion....

And, without talent, you're wasting yout time, even if you have passion.

What are ways to know if you have talent or not Opti?

Isn't screenwriting a acquired skill? Isn't that why people read scripts to get better at the language of conveying the story?

Other people read your scripts. If the overwhelming consensus is that your scripts suck, after you've been at it for a while, then you probably don't have the talent for it.

If intelligent, one can easily learn the mechanics of formatting and structure for scripts and master them over time. However, if one does not have a true talent for storytelling which is, in essence, the heart of fiction-writing and includes both the ability to conceive of a fresh, interesting story and also the ability to tell it effectively, then one is doomed to failure.

Even the writer who only gets rewrite jobs has to have some talent for improving the story and not just the spelling.

Talent's existence is binary; you either have it or you don't. If you have it, even just a little, you can build upon it. But, if you have none, no amount of practice will ever give it to you.

Screenwriting (and, writing in general), as evidenced by the majority of the posts on screenwriting internet message boards, is flypaper for the talentless, especially the talentless who refuse to realize that they are talentless. Therefore, for 99% of aspiring screenwriters, writing scripts is an exercise in failure.

What a depressing post Opti.

I think its better to see it as a hobby first and foremost(and an oppotunity for money or fame 2nd) that way you can at least enjoy what you do whether or not you succeed in the end and you have some feeling of accomplishment.

I think its better to see it as a hobby first and foremost(and an oppotunity for money or fame 2nd) that way you can at least enjoy what you do whether or not you succeed in the end and you have some feeling of accomplishment.

You can still strive for money and fame and still enjoy what you're doing. If you look at it as only a hobby (not that there is anything wrong with that) there isn't any goal in it. What do you do with a script you just write because you like to write? Put it on you shelf for a rainy day? Keep it locked up in safe? I write scripts because I want to share with the world what is going on inside of my head, I want other people to see the stories I see. There would be no satisfaction or feeling of accomplishment for me to write just for a hobby. I enjoy the fact that I am doing what I love and that someday I may get paid for doing just that.

"What are ways to know if you have talent or not Opti?

Isn't screenwriting a acquired skill? Isn't that why people read scripts to get better at the language of conveying the story?"

People are born with talent, talent is a gift. Like Opti said, you either have it or you don't. If you do have it, you would know it. Not only from within yourself, but from others around you. If someone is playing a piano on the stage, it's going to be evident wether or not that someone has talent by the sound of the music. Same with writing. Bad writing sticks out like hitting the wrong key over and over again. Screenwriting is only PART an acquired skill. Anyone can learn how to write a screenplay, no one can teach you how to write it. Writing is a talent, no matter what it is you are writing. Sure you can get better as you write more scripts, but initially there has to be some inkling of talent.

Steph

I do agree that if you do it soley for hobby though your work will suffer since you don't expect anyone to see it.

With whom are you agreeing? Steph didn't say that and neither did I.