Screenwriting : Script Passes by Alexander Mangion

It depends where you feel ready to submit it. If you don't mind having one of us on here to read your script and give you feedback- by all means. Or you could pay for coverage and get it that way- good luck local my friend.

Alexander Mangion There's no fixed number, but as a general pattern, a few drafts focused purely on story/structure, then a pass dedicated to character voice and dialogue, then at least one for tightening pacing and trimming anything that doesn't earn its place, and a final polish for formatting/typos before it goes out. Beyond that, getting outside eyes on it, even one or two trusted readers often catches things you've gone blind to after so many passes yourself.

How do you personally know when a script has gone from "good" to actually "ready" is it a gut feeling, outside feedback, or something more concrete like a checklist?

A script typically goes through three to five distinct passes (or major revisions) before it is truly ready to send out to industry professionals.

This is more guaged on how you feel YOU are ready. One industry standard pass could be enough but, a second for personal assurance could also be enough. There is no set number. You do what you feel is necessary for your own works. - Mark

Hey, @Alexander. I rewrite a script a lot of times. I break up the rewrite into categories (A Story, B Story, Subplot(s), character arc, etc.). It's easier for me that way instead of rewriting everything at once.

It always depends on the writer and the project.

As many as it takes.

I always aim for at least 10 ... that way I've shaped and refined it to a point where it's good. If I'm obsessed, it'll be more... just depends how I connect to it.

That depends on how you write. Some persons have long lists with details and plots before they start writing. So the story is in practice written before it is turned into a screenplay. In such cases it may be ready after relatively little rewriting. Others are like me, start writing with just a rudimentary idea. I typically rewrite every scene about 10 times before I am satisfied. And my document with deleted scenes is longer than the finished screenplay.

If there’s a magic number, nobody sent me the memo lol! Soul Mated went through several rounds of polishing, and I heard a few “passes” along the way before receiving a Double Recommend for the script and me as the writer. What helped was noticing which notes kept coming back and taking time to work through them. Otherwise, I could happily keep moving commas until retirement :)

That's a great question. The answer is not as simple... do it until it's DONE! Like a recipe that you know is as good as it's going to get and if you keep messing with it you'll likely ruin the flavor :)

Thank you all :-) Good to know alot of passes is what gets us closer to perfection. I hope to have my project produced someday.

liLibby Wright Yeah. I feel my script can always go through one last sweep. Than another. Than another. Oh well. Onwards & upwards

Vomit draft. Polish. Get notes. 2nd draft. More notes. 3rd draft. If you're a pro. The project's never done and you will always get notes regardless of if you think you need them or not. But you should submit to stuff when you feel ready and comfortable with what you've written. Then take the feedback you get as a data point.

Alexander, your point about always finding one more sweep makes me wonder if each pass needs a stopping rule: name the problem before rewriting, then check whether that problem is actually fixed. Changing a scene's motivation is different from swapping words around. Are your latest passes still changing the story, or mostly polishing sentences?

A script should typically go through 3 to 5 major structural drafts and an uncounted number of targeted passes before it is ready to be sent out to industry professionals.