I've read stories of screenwriters who are only working on 1 or 2 scripts for years, keep polishing and proofreading while trying to sell the stories and make a big break in film industry. There are also insights from professionals & webinars that said it's better for writers to have several polished scripts in their pocket and keep writing and moving forward to the next script constantly.
I'm curious on what is the better way to do this from your POV. Is it better to keep working on a script over and over again until someone finally agrees to produce it/fund it/buy it? Or is it better to always moving forward to a new script with fresh idea and concept everytime, and if it is the better one, what is the perimeter on deciding whether a script is finally 'done with the polishing'?
I'm not talking about the rewrite possibility when there's finally an agreement on it, but more of a personal retouching when you feel the script is lacking and you tend to keep correcting & re-reading it constantly. How many times is enough and how many times is too much (and just basically stalling)?
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It has to be readable. Minimum of scene descriptions, tight dialogue. No misspellings, good grammar. Ready to be read. Then you can move on.
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Before I start I know what I am aiming to write. I keep reading and fixing until I have what I was aim to create.
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There's absolutely no hard fast answers. People will try to use averages, but they are just that, averages, and mean very little. It's entirely possible for a writer to break in with their first script while another has to wait decades. There was a woman who won Nicholl around fives ago with her first attempt. Then you have people like Gary Piazza who strived for three decades.
The amount of rewriting and polishing you need to do is subject to your skills and process. The more you go through the process of writing a story, the more intuitive it becomes, and thus the less you need to rewrite.
What you absolutely do need to be doing is learning the craft. That's where most screenwriters fall down. They're just winging it, asking for feedback from whomever, and then trying to please everyone with constant rewrites.
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Define pitching? If you got 0 track record or 0 reps, you are not pitching at studio lots or to salary execs at prod companies with studio deals.
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I think it's best to do both, Evita Prishila Anggawijaya. Keep working on a script until someone agrees to produce it/fund it/buy it and work on a new script/fresh idea at the same time. That way you have two incredible, polished scripts to pitch.
Usually when I do that (keep working on a script and working on a new script), most of the changes I make to the first script are small things since the script is already done. Sometimes I'll think of a scene to add, I'll think of a way to rewrite a scene so it'll be cheaper to film, etc.
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Evita Prishila Anggawijaya I recommend checking out CJ Walley's book. "Turn & Burn: The Scriptwriter's Guide to Writing Better Screenplays Faster (Writing Guides)" www.amazon.com/Turn-Burn-Scriptwriters-Writing-Screenplays/dp/1910515868
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Thanks so much for the shoutout on the book, Maurice Vaughan.
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To be honest, there has to be a time when you need to stop. Here’s a personal story of mine, i wrote a screenplay that received a 7 on the blacklst and was on a consider to optioned by Amazon, during Amazon studios. I decided to pay for some development coverage and wound up getting my notes back.
I fixed any and every issue. But then I began to think and question myself, “was it good enough to resubmit?” So I began to polish, and polish, and polish until the point I lost the passion for the story which now sits in an old hard drive.
Point, sometimes you need to know when to stop. So I strongly believe in jumping on a new project and finishing it up. Then jump back to the previous script with a fresh pair of eyes and see if you are satisfied with it.
And yes, I think it’s best to have multiple polished scripts for the, “what else do you have” scenario.”
You're welcome, @CJ Walley.
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Timing is everything. Tom Kapinos was pushing multiple projects unsuccessfully when his wife found his script for Californication in his desk which he'd forgotten about. She read it and convinced him that it was brilliant and he should be focused on just that. Coincidentally, David Duchovny was looking for exactly that kind of role.
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Evita Prishila Anggawijaya I agree with both Maurice Vaughan and CJ Walley - it's possible to do both. I'm working on my 4th screenplay in the span of one year and have gone back for rewrites. But in light of what was said, trust your gut. You will know when to stop. After that point, you'll receive feedback from others that you can take with a grain of salt because it doesn't fit your script. Do both - not from an anxious state but from a restful one. When a producer comes along, you'll likely have notes from him/her as well.
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Agreed you can do both. We had a screenplay we wrote fresh out of film school decades ago. Probably did 7+ drafts of it. Then a few years ago it was a winner at the Bahamas Intl. Film Festival and we got to spend a week in the Bahamas at their Writers Retreat. Meanwhile though, we wrote many other scripts, too. So again, do both! Good luck with all your creative projects.