Hi everyone! I’m new to screenwriting and have just started writing my first scripts. I know I’m making mistakes here and there, but I really want to learn how to improve.
What do you suggest I focus on to make my scripts look and read more professionally?
Also, do you think reading screenwriting blogs would be helpful at this stage?
I’d really appreciate any advice or feedback — and I’d also love to connect with others who are learning or writing too!
Thanks so much in advance!
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I am very new as well so take my advice with a grain of salt but I would try to track down scripts of movies or shows you love and have influenced your approach to writing. You won't mimic them but you will assimilate technique and style and approaches that will elevate your own unique perspective. A lot of people will encourage you to write every day and that is probably the best approach - I actually don't do that because I really like to think thru scenes, visualize them and create alternate approaches for a few days and let things just sort of 'simmer' mentally until my mind puts it together in a way that really excites me. I actually probably only write 2 times a week but tend to think about what I am going to write most waking hours haha.
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Regarding the look of a screenplay, just use screenwriting software; it will do the formatting for you.
Reading screenwriting blogs can help, but take what they say with a grain of salt rather than gospel. Every writer has their own approach, and their own experiences; what works for one may not work for another, and one's experience will not be the same for others.
Also, find yourself a writing group if you can, one that provides constructive feedback in a respectful manner. Read their scripts and let them read yours.
Hope this helps.
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Glad to read some of your work. Asked for an add.
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Hi, Karen Ray! I definitely think reading Screenwriting Blogs will help (www.stage32.com/blog/tags/screenwriting-25).
And I suggest checking out the Screenwriting Education on here (www.stage32.com/education/search?term=Screenwriting).
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Tell your local group with no-budget filmmakers that you are willing to help them next time they are filming. You will learn a lot by seeing what happens when a script is filmed. I have myself produced 22 hours of no-budget films, including 3 TV-movies.
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I am new at screenwriting too! I love to be in nature when I write. I make sure that I have applications that help me to keep notes and keep track of characters, my favorites are story planner and story plotter. You can go back and say, oh that’s what I wanted to do with that character. Story planner lets you add characters pictures! I love looking at pictures for my characters that I am writing about right now. I am a visual learner. I hope this helps! I homeschool my son too, so I love to hear about the characters in his books too.
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Karen Ray What really helped me was taking classes at a local college. I got feedback in real time, read other screenplays, saw what worked and what didn't, and had fun.
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what I always do when I’m writing is feel the words make them alive a part of who you are and how you want to make the person reading/ watching feel
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I learnt by reading award winning scripts, Godfather, Cat on a Hot Tin roof etc. This was unbelievable in assisting me. Enjoy
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Me, I learned that the only way I can get better at screenwriting is by writing more and then having someone who's a lot better than me at it critique my work and then I try again and the next draft you make it better.
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Hi Karen Ray . Read lots of screenplays, old and new. This really helped me when I started. There are lots available online.
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Watch a few favorite movies several times, including reading the scripts then analyze/think about the format/structure/characters/arcs/plants/dialogue/transitions etc.
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Lots of good ideas shared...
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PS - Make sure the scripts you read are formatted ones, not transcriptions of movie dialogue, the latter are useless for your purpose.
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Read the screenplays of movies that you love. Actually, print them. Then immerse yourself in reading them several times and markup anything that is intriguing, questionable. etc. Perhaps get a writing partner.