Screenwriting : What's the best advice for re-writing your screenplay? by Jess Paul

I wouldn't do anything that drastic just yet. Try three things first. First, look for scenes that aren't vital. Remove them and see if the story still makes sense. Shorten all your descriptions and make sure you don't have duplicate information anywhere. If you do, remove all incidences after the first time the information is relayed. Last, enter scenes later, and get out sooner, get to the critical information in each scene sooner (dialogue too) and get out. Scenes should be snappy. Your screenplay will become more intense and fast paced when you cut the fat.

I use Final Draft and save a few copies of the same script.... that way, I can play around with a couple leaving the original as it was.... I find it helps when changing some things and being able to go back and compare with the original.

Although I think that reading too many screenwriting books is actually a detriment to any aspiring writer, when it comes to the rewrite process, I highly recommend getting a hard copy (as opposed to the e-book, so you can flip through) of Your Screenplay Sucks. I always browse through it before my first rewrite.

I agree with your agreeing with me, Kathryn, and I'll raise you by agreeing with your recommendation of Joey for coverage. :)

One of the many reasons we partnered with him. He's pure gold. Cares deeply about the writers who pitch and use his services.

I recently edited a 140-page script, trimming it down to about 110 pgs. What helped, though, was that I wasn't the one who wrote it so I wasn't "attached" to any particular scene or dialogue. It was easy to see and then cut the unnecessary. If it was my own script I was editing, I'd put it away for about 2 weeks then come back to it and re-read it. You'll see things in there you wondered how they even got there! Albert

First thing I suggest is stepping away from the script for 2-4 weeks so when you go back, it's with fresh eyes and you can be more discerning about your story. Everybody has their own rewriting process; I'm still finetuning mine but the following articles have helped me in thinking about what the rewrite process really means and how much work is involved. Writing is rewriting. http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2013/01/rewriting-part-1-set-it-aside.... (series of 8 articles) http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2012/08/screenwriting-article-how-to-re... http://johnaugust.com/2005/how-to-rewrite http://yourscreenplaysucks.wordpress.com/2013/08/10/leapfrog-the-boring-...

Thank you, EVERYONE for all your response. I'll be checking out all of that material soon (esp. Joey of The Happy Writers, was it?) It was great to hear the insight on your own experiences. To give a little more detail of where I am: this script has gone through many drafts, a fat-trim of about 10-20 pages (yes, that means it was once 180- grr!) and I've gone sometimes 2 months without looking at it. But, having reviewed it so many times, it's still hard for me to process what can go. My recent idea is printing out a list of only the scene titles with their page spans. It might help me see what scene takes up a lot of room in the script (pacing issues) and perhaps see the workload from producer or PA's point of view. Let me know what you guys think of this! Good idea? Waste of time?

Hey Jess...Just to lend a little more color to Joey. He has been running The Happy Writers for 2 years. The pitchfests we have been running (banners at the top of the page) are in partnership with him. He's a gem.

Scripts are written. Great scripts are rewritten.

I don't think you need to start from scratch. Just read the script. Then read it again, and delete all the unnecessary stuff... Those lines of description/dialogue that the you story can do without and still be your story. If that makes sense... Good luck.

sharing and discussions are great help since reading our own draft so objectively and editing it becomes difficult sometimes.

As a first time writer it's always a good idea to stay away from the epic movies, 90-110 pages is the best. A quick time I have for you would be just to start late in scenes. If the scene still makes sense eliminating half of the beginning, then delete it. Also, I notice that a lot of novice writers tend to use a lot of exposition, explaining their feelings in extreme detail and showing all character's entrances and exits. Remember it always hits home better when you SHOW don't TELL. The audience will appreciate it. Hope that helps you out in shortening it. And BRAVO it's always a wonderful accomplishment to finish a script. You're already a head of most writers.

Laura, you're right that rewriting is about more than just cutting unnecessary stuff... But when you have a 160 pages script, I think a good starting point is to get the script down to the 120 "standard" pages -or 110- and then work from there. At 160 pages this script probably have a lot of material that doesn't belong in the story and which the writer should get rid off without the story suffering... Then then whole project becomes easier to manage. But this is just one opinion. Cheers.

No sound on your You Tube.

Great opinions, everyone. Thanks so much for all the viewpoints!

@Eliza My reels on my website? Or Wrecked Radio? All sound works on my computer.

Three times is still not enough.:(

Jess is your script registered or copywrite yet? If so, I will read the first 25 pages (for free of course). You just have to promise not to get mad if you don't like my advice.

I've tried to re-write from scratch (when celtx trash canned my entire project) and the problem I have is, I remember scenes / characters and think the information is in the screenplay already so I leave it out on the re-write. It's frustrating to sit down to read it with my writing partner and find gaping holes.

Hey Wayne- it's not copyrighted at this time. It's so far from it's final draft that I wasn't sure I could (not completely sure how WGA registration/copyright process works, to be honest). Otherwise, I'd be happy for any critiques and am very open to advice for changes. My favorite advice so far (without looking into further reading material) is from @Tiffy Diamonds, to start scenes later, or in other words, cut some entrances and exits. It made me realize that it's something relevant to my own writing that I never noticed before. It'll be the next thing I focus on for the next edit.

@Lanny Helton Oh, believe me, this script has definitely been through more than three draft edits and will be through many more, I'm positive.

I would not suggest a re-write from scratch. That, in my humble opinion, is ridiculous. Let the script sit for awhile, work on another project, and then go back through it from start to finish. You may have ideas as to what can be cut (and saved for something else) by then. Ask your friends for a read. Get contest feedback and see if it helps; but don't make changes unless (1) you see the need to; (2) you get the same feedback from multiple independent reliable sources: or (3) you must make the change to keep a deal (that you want) going. Also, I suggest considering break ing the story into two or more parts, and using the parts for sequels.

Go at it like a masochist, you have to want to make the changes and that desire will often be born out of critical self-reflection, feedback or personal development. Save a copy you're happy with and allow yourself to play around with the story, characters and scenes without any pressure that it should be an evolution. Do dramatic things like try to cut every scene down to just one page, change all your dialogue to sarcastic exposition, change a characters gender or change the weather in every scene. Certainly read books and make a checklist based around the points you agree with. Rewriting means different things to different people and there are no hard fast rules about what works and what doesn't. But most of all try to make sure you enjoy it and the changes come from your own motivation.

I think, no need to write all over again, after a while when you read your script, you yourself will tend to edit and change something, the process goes on and on. the only important thing is to know where to stop this process and put 'the end'. the experiments should not disturb the natural flow of the script. the best thing is to compare your story with your script and you will know the unnecessary content.

Why haven't you posted any loglines on your profile?

Srirang had some good advice above.

Get the book by Syd Field called The Screenwriter's Workbook. You can acquire it through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or whoever. Read through it once and highlight, and the second time you read through it, walk yourself through the process. It does seem time-consuming but not as consuming as working your butt off and having nothing to show. Filmmaking is a serious business, and your competition will be serious and not on tip-toes. You gotta go in slinging that hammer and knowing where to hit to be a success.

And when you're done with Syd, you need to read Blake Snyder's "Save the Cat" - http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/07/hollywood_and_blak...

Storytelling is trapped inside the hero's journey and doesn't know how to find its way out.

There are many ways to rewrite; too many ways... To begin with, I do not recommend starting from scratch -if you don't want to. You can go about it in some many ways that I cannot enumerate them, but my main advice is this: Find the MAIN STORY LINE. Some call this the "A" story (the one about the MAIN CHARACTER and HIS/HER GOAL, which usually is to defeat the ANTAGONIST -whatever shape or form it may have). Okay, you found the main story line? Second thing you do is read your script -page by page, scene by scene. Find: 1) The scenes that move the main story line/main plot forward (save those). 2) Find other scenes that develop character (save those too), but be mindful that some of those "character-developing scenes" might have to go. Don't keep them just because you've fallen in love with them. (REMEMBER this recommendation by a vary famous writer: sometimes you have to KILL YOUR DARLINGS). So those scenes you like so much? They may have to go if they do not SERVE THE STORY. The best thing is to find all scenes that do DOUBLE DUTY, as they say. That is: Develop Character AND Advance the Plot. 3) Also, you need to have some subplots too -one or two? I don't know. Again, you must keep subplot scenes -think "B", "C" stories. And again, also in these "B" and "C" stories, it's the scenes that develop character and advance the plot in their respective stories. There are so many ways to approach a rewrite, but I think doing the above will go a log way in helping you to clear the clutter. DID I SAY THAT ONCE YOU FIND THOSE SCENES YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THE REST? Yes, you need to throw away everything that doesn't belong in the Main Story Line and the one or two - or three- subplot story lines you've chosen to develop. AND, you can always review your action and description. Trim the fat. Make them tighter. In this area, what you're supposed to remember is that you should not be describing thing that are not related to the plot somehow... For example, if you're describing a car your MC uses to escape from the Antagonist, you don't really need to get into the make and model of the car, or how fuel efficient it is - if it's not important to the story. AND you don't need to describe actions that are not relevant to the story. I don't know if this makes sense to you - I can be a little verbose. :-) Etc. etc. etc. I hope this helps. Send me a message if you have any other questions or need help. Keep writing! P

I have just been informed that the best strategy for screenwriting is to re-invent the wheel. I can't add anything to that.

All the tips are wonderful! I just get a pdf copy... read thru it and make my changes from there... then go back to the original script and make changes. for me, it's a little easier when I can physically thumb thru the pages because I can see the entire script without running the risk of cutting something important. sometimes the scrolling up and down and then remembering what you cut, where you cut it can get a little challenging. That's my little method. It may be expensive, but to me it's my birds eye view.