How many writers write their screenplay in one sweep without going back over to include something that came to mind? I jot down the note inclusion on a sheet of paper to insert it after the first draft is done, if it makes sense to add it in?
I used to do it, but soon realized that my story would veer off the main outline I had done and it got very confusing to continue writing. Now I write from beginning to end without any interruptions.
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I don't say within the few pages you're working on but say twenty or so pages behind. Because whatever you change up above, can change everything down below, so to speak. You can always copy and paste your idea to where your inclusion will be and try it out on another blank screenplay program. What are your choices when it comes to that?
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I used to have notes throughout denoted with //
Now I'm more confident I just write through the first draft and have a 'notes' section at the bottom of my Word doc. If you're confident with your story, which you sound like you are if you know when you're getting off topic, then just keep going the way you're going.
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I try to write without going back and editing, Claude Gagne, but I always edit my scripts as I go. I like editing as I go better because I'm thinking of new ideas and figuring out things on the spot.
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It doesn't matter what page I'm on, Claude Gagne. I could be near the end of a script and go back to edit the first page.
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I never do that. I do dot points and other things until it all solidifies in my brain. Then I will start putting it in writerduet
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To be honest, I have had several complicated experiences making most of the scripts that I have written turn out the way I want them to be without having to go back and make any more changes before I regret, and it took me years to finally figure out how scripts should be done in the first place, all probably because I don't write scripts as much as I'm supposed to. I have redrafted most of them several times because of something that I had in mind that seemed more preferably ideal than what I would've thought in the past that I felt it to be tiresome to polish up my scripts anymore. I'd like to be the one to think that completing the writing of a script from start to finish in one shot would be the best way to make the most out of that specific portion of my writing ability that I possess, but that's just not realistically possible, isn't it? After all, there are drafts for a reason, and no script ever made ever makes it with just a first draft alone. If only I could stop making my work look too perfect when I'm supposed to have a lot more planned for the future!
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Me before I start my first draft, I outline the entire plot from start to the end, I don't need to go back in what I have written to change the flow, I only go back dramatic errors, dialogues and may be eliminating possible do away scenes.
Once I fill, I don't have the entire story flow, I simply document the idea into my ideas collection book and look at another whose entire flow is complete in my head and outlined.
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I'm big on outlining before opening final draft. The outline gives me a roadmap of where I'm going, but new ideas inevitably come up along the way. I recommend checking out this great webinar on how to best outline your feature: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Outlining-Your-Feature-Screenplay
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Some problems when it came to consistency. Both with scripts and book outlines. I even had to backtrack with one of my novellas because I kept getting the names wrong.
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I'm outlining for the first time and it's okay, but I usually write by the seat of my pants, and it's more fun. I enjoy the discovery of writing "blind." Stephen King said he doesn't like knowing a story's end until he gets there, which I whole heartedly agree with. And I don't do drafts. I write the first page and get it as good as I can before I write the second page. An exec recently asked me how many drafts I did on a script I have listed on Stage32, and the question threw me, because I had never before considered it, so I blurted out four to him for some reason. Afterwards I realized that my answer wasn't accurate. I had essentially written it in one draft, but it also depends on how one defines drafts.
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Claude, I'm like Hakim and Nick in that I feel more comfortable outlining a story before I actually turn it into a screenplay.
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Hi, I go straight into final draft and write. If I outline then I outline three feature scripts at the same time or else I progresstinate.
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This is a great post, Claude, it lets us see there are so many ways to approach writing a script. We can learn from others' ideas and be reminded that whatever works for us is good too.
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It's like making bread. The bread dough that is. The more you do it the better you get at it. I had to quit making sticky-icky-buns because the gooey stuff is corn syrup. Bad stuff!. Love what you do is my motto.