Hey everyone. I just finished my first draft of a screenplay I have been working on for months and months. It's based of a short story I wrote a year ago. It is more then likely not very good, as a first timer's first draft, but I am happy with myself nonetheless!
Does anyone have any advice on what my next few steps should be? I would love to get some cruel to be kind feedback in order to create a much needed second draft.
Thank you !
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Congratulations! I'm sure it's great. Now comes the all tweaking and editing into 3rd drafts, 4th drafts, 5th drafts, 6th drafts...
Don't be shy to share your work with others here, or via CoverflyX, or via Reddit, or via Discord, or any place that'll be happy to evaluate it without charging you a hefty price. Get others' opinions, fix typos, answer continuity errors, etc, and soon enough you'll have a beautiful Final Draft ready to share with Hollywood.
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CoverflyX is always a pretty good option :)
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Nora O'Dea one fun challenge in the early stages I found was to immediately embark on writing a sequel,
continuing the thinking and writing process as if you were to envision the next film in the franchise and just write freely
to express your characters' continuing story,
it has a way of opening up material that may indeed be useful in reverting back to the main draft you've just completed ...
Congratulations and best wishes for creative and commercial success!
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I have fond memories of my first ever draft... I enjoyed writing it, it wasn't very good, but it was an important first step. The only advice I would offer, because it is something I have learned, is to have a break from your script, work on something else for a few weeks/a month then revisit your first draft with fresh eyes.
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Personally it helps me to just walk away from it for a while, maybe even write something else, then go back with a fresh mind. Hope you find something that works for you.
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Try submitting some of it for a table read and get some feedback? When you feel its ready maybe send it into some contests.
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The secret to writing is every draft you do it gets better, and you have probably already seen that from the original to the first draft. I am sure it is good.
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Get some friends and family together and read it out loud. Don’t be a reader yourself, instead listen to how the dialogue flows. If a non-pro has a hard time getting a line out then you know a spot that likely could be improved. Good luck.
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Thank you so much everyone! I'll take it on board, I have a few writer friends so I think I'll send it to them first, just to get another pair of eyes on it before I start editing again
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Put it in a draw and leave it for a while. Taika Waititi leaves his first drafts for a year or more but you can look at yours sooner. It is a good way of putting some distance between yourself and your work so when you look at it again you can be more objective.
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Hi Nora! We’re in the same boat! I finished my first draft and waited months before reopening it just because I needed to get into the mindset of editing and killing off my darlings before I could even consider getting back into the thick of it. That helped me out a lot so maybe it’ll help you too! If you need someone to read over your script I’m happy to provide a coverage and some notes if you want!
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People gave you great advice, Nora O'Dea. So, I'll just say congratulations on finishing the first draft! :D
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Congratulations and don't worry about it. The fact that you finished your first draft is great.
Just go with the flow and rewrite, eventually you'll get to a place where you feel that your screenplay is ready enough.
For me it's always around draft 8 to 10.
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Congrats! I just finished a first draft a little over a month ago and am letting it sit. I reach out to a few writer friends for constructive criticism and plan to do a 2nd draft soon as well as learn about Pitch Decks. I'm already mapping out another story idea. Keep going, Nora!
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Congratulations on finishing your first draft, David Horton!
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1.) There is a peer-to-peer free coverage exchange on coverfly you can use for feedback. You have to read other people's scripts to earn tokens and then you use the tokens to have people read your scripts. I like to use this before I pay for professional coverage, so that I can work out the more obvious kinks. * The nice thing about this is that if someone doesn't read or does a bad job there are systems in place so they are held accountable.
2.) Also if you join THE WRITER'S ROOM you can put your name in for the Coverage Report and have Stage 32 members read and give feedback on your work.
3.) Use a coverage service- Stage 32 offers this as well as other vendors. I use this once I feel my script is in a good spot- then the pro's tear it apart so I can start over, lol.
4.) Offer to exchange with people in your network- this works out sometimes, but you do occasionally read for people, but they don't return the favor, which can be frustrating.
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Congrats on finishing your first screenplay. Here is some advice from a self-taught hack. Have someone with more experience read your screenplay and give you some feedback. A first screenplay is usually a learning experience so once you are finished start your next one. After you finish a few go back and rewrite your first ones.
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Some great advice here. I agree with Kenneth. Get some friends together and do a reading - have someone read the stage directions too so all you have to do is listen to it. Table reads are so constructive in the rewriting process.
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Register yourself to a writers guild first and make sure your work is copyrighted AT ALL COSTS!!!
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I wouldn't do a table read now because this is only your first draft so it's not time yet. You have to go through a few drafts before you even think about doing a table read. Get your script to a place where you feel good then do a table read or have people read. Just keep writing. Read your script out loud and make some major edits.
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I second Kenneth and Sam, it's so beneficial to hear your words read out loud. Table readings always help me punch up my scripts.
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I recommend a reading as well. My first script has an ensemble as the cast and it was valuable in defining the characters' voices.
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First step, write. Second step, edit. Third step, let others read and give feedback. Fourth step, dry your tears from feedback. Fifth step, decide its "ready" or got back to step one.
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I need to visual and feel the emotions behind the words, reading out loud absolutely but put together a picture in your head and feel the emotions of the words your reading out loud thats the key.
From what I've learnt on Stage 32, first write the pitch, then the script If the pitch is good enough, it will attract studios and producers. Whatever, keep going through your script while waiting for a response to your pitch
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Congratulations and finishing one script - even as a draft - means you can write many more. Screenplays will get edited and rewritten many times. You are on the right path.