Screenwriting : Writing the First Draft! by Shawn Speake

Creating a spec script for the PAGE Awards. I'm still in the outlining phase nearing the start of the first draft

Am doing a full rewrite of a script I wrote for a competition and am 3/4 of the way through the first "re"draft, I suppose you'd call it.. Good luck with the 10 week class. Sounds intense. :)

Thanks guys! It is intense. I've got homework due tomorrow night! Keep me posted on you. We'll exchange drafts!

I am in my research/outline/treatment phase and plan to start writing the first draft of my new assignment in about 2-3 weeks.

Write and Rewrite and rewrite, that's writing,. Right?

Why!

Are you under the influence, Marco? What exactly are you trying to say with your posts?

Hey Danny! I'd love to exchange scripts with you! Talk about motivation! What do you say? I'm up for a ten week challenge with The Man!

Writing 1st draft pf novel 10 and editing (10th draft) of screenplay 5. Never enough time in a day.

Once again Lisa, you contribute absolutely nothing to the thread. You spew poison… Pathetic.

Please refrain from commenting on my posts, Lisa. You are no longer welcome on my page.

That's what's up, Dan. Congrats. Is this one of your scripts?

Shawn, I hope that's a friendly joke between yourself and Lisa, otherwise that attitude won't take you very far.

C.D. - I have no idea who Lisa is. And her comment has nothing to do with the post. Per her usual -- it's hate in disguise. You obviously don't follow my posts or you would know what kind of man I am. My attitude is nothing less than awesome.

You speak like a wrestler (no insult intended). You're right, I don't follow your posts and I don't follow Lisa's; what I did do though is click on a "trending" thread and see you appear to attack another Stage 32 member. Based on that, how would you say you come across?

No insult intended… Thanks for attacking me in a friendly way, CD… I'd say you're mistaken.

"You need to take a walk down Know You Role Boulevard, because I am awesome." It really wasn't an insult - your remark just struck me as the kind of thing that The Rock (or someone similar) would say. Have a nice day.

Now… can we get back to first drafts, please? I don't see any content on your profile, CD. When are you doing a first draft?

Thanks for moving along - it was entirely my fault in making an untimely comment. To be honest, the 10-week course idea intrigued me, since I work completely differently: I get an idea, let it ferment and if I think it's good enough, I just keep it in the back of my mind, letting it build up, and I read whatever I don't know to make it all more plausible. Once that's done and I have a rough idea of the plot and characters, I concentrate on getting it all in order. It's only then that I start to write anything (note: other writers commit their plans to paper as a physical outline, but it's fundamentally the same thing). Sure, sometimes the creative process could use a kick-start, wherein I'd write so much and then go back to the back to mulling it all over, but once a draft's done, it's pretty much the story I wanted to tell, so I don't rewrite much, just keep making adjustments until it's good to go. That doesn't mean that I haven't written stinkers. And rather than give them page 1 rewrites, I'll just chuck them in a drawer (whether or not I'll go back to some of those ideas remains to be seen, but characters, devices and whatnot can always be lifted and placed in other work). All in all though, I normally knock out a script in 1-4 weeks, once all components are in place and I've adequate time.

No worries, CD. I'm just not here for a personal attack from anyone. No matter how they disguise it… 1-4 weeks is a great pace! … I hear you about your approach. It's very similar to mine. That's why I decided to have a pro help me with a kick-start!

I've been thinking about taking this class, just need to save up :P Is it with Scott or Tom? Had a chance to meet Scott briefly at Austin; so nice and generous with his time. Looking forward to the tips :)

The class is with Scott, and I'll gladly keep you posted. Marketing sheets are due tonight. My assignment is already posted on my page if you'd like an example -- under APARICIO.

Monique, I'm so jealous you went to Austin!!! You'll have to tell me more about that sometime!

Aparicio - me likey this idea! My latest script also deals with the subjectivity of reality, and reality versus delusion/hallucination. (Read the synopsis for Aparicio. Is this what you meant by marketing sheet?) And I highly HIGHLY recommend Austin!! Already bought my badge for this year's festival. Stage 32 arranged a meetup and got to meet a few Stage 32 folks. Hopefully, you can make it this year :)

Thanks for the love! Yes. My marketing sheets include the logline, query, and synopsis… I'm wowed out about Austin! What's the price?

You should say hello to Eve Morton. We met in Austin and she's also from Denver (altho looks like she hasn't logged in for a while). (wish we could tag people...) http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/shop/badges/

Thank you! I'm on it.

So, 10 weeks to get a new first draft done? Hmm... editing movie, revising almost everything I've ever written along with other people's projects, possibly try to sneak a short film in there somewhere... I'll give it a shot anyway! Probably around the five week mark at the rate my laptop is being prepared, but nothing motivates me like time constraints. Give's me something to compare notes with others to.

That's what's up, Shane! … If you guys don't already know, Shane Wheeler is one of the best story consultants I've come across on STAGE32. Shane is a super storyteller. He's on "the team" and he's an all-star on the squad! Be on the lookout for him in 2015!