20 Steps to Screenwriting Success #1
Download PDF
Screenwriting is a skilled trade, and a good screenplay must be molded and managed with craftsman hands. But so does a screenwriting career. It takes dedication, fortitude, and time – ten years to have overnight success - but if you’re willing to do the hard work to turn your ideas into completed screenplays as well as build a screenwriting career, follow this 20 step roadmap to screenwriting success:
Screenwriting is a skilled trade, and a good screenplay must be molded and managed with craftsman hands. But so does a screenwriting career. It takes dedication, fortitude, and time – ten years to have overnight success - but if you’re willing to do the hard work to turn your ideas into completed screenplays as well as build a screenwriting career, follow this 20 step roadmap to screenwriting success:
1.
Watch Tons of Movies:
Lots of them. Good, bad, old, new. All genres. Make it your quest to become exposed to all things film. It’s a badge of honor to earn film nerd status, because as we all know, “Nerds Rule the World.” The more movies you see, the easier it’ll be to identify plot points, sequences, and act breaks. You’ll even start watching the clock when viewing DVD’s at home, as you’ll be inundated with the desire to analyze, but you’ll know when you experienced something truly great when you stop thinking and just enjoy the ride.
20 Steps to Screenwriting Success #2
Lots of them. Good, bad, old, new. All genres. Make it your quest to become exposed to all things film. It’s a badge of honor to earn film nerd status, because as we all know, “Nerds Rule the World.” The more movies you see, the easier it’ll be to identify plot points, sequences, and act breaks. You’ll even start watching the clock when viewing DVD’s at home, as you’ll be inundated with the desire to analyze, but you’ll know when you experienced something truly great when you stop thinking and just enjoy the ride.
20 Steps to Screenwriting Success #2
2.
Read Tons of Screenplays:
As many as possible. This helps to understand screenplay form as well as see how the page translates to the screen. You get a sense of different screenwriting styles and voices, and most importantly you will be exposed to the application of clear, concise writing, while using creative brevity to maximize the visual medium. Learning how not to direct on the page and maximize white space is all part of it. Check out some websites that offer free downloadable screenplays, such as SimplyScripts or Daily Script.
As many as possible. This helps to understand screenplay form as well as see how the page translates to the screen. You get a sense of different screenwriting styles and voices, and most importantly you will be exposed to the application of clear, concise writing, while using creative brevity to maximize the visual medium. Learning how not to direct on the page and maximize white space is all part of it. Check out some websites that offer free downloadable screenplays, such as SimplyScripts or Daily Script.
3.
Have Lots of Ideas:
Lots of them! And make sure your ideas are fresh, original, and unique - because a plethora of great ideas is truly your ace in the hole. As soon as you finish writing one script, immediately begin another. Always be creating something new. Imagine: If you write one script a year, in a decade (and it does take that long to have overnight success), you have ten finished screenplays, and the chances of achieving success with ten spec scripts versus one is obvious. Fresh, original ideas truly are the lifeline of Hollywood.
Lots of them! And make sure your ideas are fresh, original, and unique - because a plethora of great ideas is truly your ace in the hole. As soon as you finish writing one script, immediately begin another. Always be creating something new. Imagine: If you write one script a year, in a decade (and it does take that long to have overnight success), you have ten finished screenplays, and the chances of achieving success with ten spec scripts versus one is obvious. Fresh, original ideas truly are the lifeline of Hollywood.
4.
Create a Writing Schedule:
Eat right and exercise: you’ll start liking what you see. Save your money and put 20% down: you won’t lose your house. And if you call yourself a screenwriter, you absolutely must follow suit. Schedule your writing because a writer’s schedule is the writer’s salvation. Make it a part of your daily routine, and stick to it like crazy glue. But be realistic about your own situation. Being a writer – paid or not – is absolutely a job, so treat it like one. Be accountable. Be responsible. Be on time. Show up and write - Everyday!
Eat right and exercise: you’ll start liking what you see. Save your money and put 20% down: you won’t lose your house. And if you call yourself a screenwriter, you absolutely must follow suit. Schedule your writing because a writer’s schedule is the writer’s salvation. Make it a part of your daily routine, and stick to it like crazy glue. But be realistic about your own situation. Being a writer – paid or not – is absolutely a job, so treat it like one. Be accountable. Be responsible. Be on time. Show up and write - Everyday!
5.
Find the Magic Within:
There are stories in all of us, and the old adage "write what you know" is always a good place to begin. It only makes sense to steal from your own experiences. But it’s also just as important to “write what you love.” You have to get to where you’re inspired, because the real magic originates from inside. And if the spark isn’t ignited from within, there will be no fire in your script – no passion. And the best way to conjure up the passion and maintain that magic is to focus on who you are creatively and be true to yourself.
There are stories in all of us, and the old adage "write what you know" is always a good place to begin. It only makes sense to steal from your own experiences. But it’s also just as important to “write what you love.” You have to get to where you’re inspired, because the real magic originates from inside. And if the spark isn’t ignited from within, there will be no fire in your script – no passion. And the best way to conjure up the passion and maintain that magic is to focus on who you are creatively and be true to yourself.
6.
Create Unforgettable Characters:
A story is only as good as the characters within them, so you better create some damn memorable, flawed, outstanding characters. When developing characters (protagonist, supporting roles, archetypes, etc.), using a Character Questionnaire and Character Exercises is a good place to start. The moment you begin to imagine character relationships - how your character deals with his parents, his siblings, his coworkers, and all that - you start to explore the world of your story, and suddenly the whole story begins to emerge.
A story is only as good as the characters within them, so you better create some damn memorable, flawed, outstanding characters. When developing characters (protagonist, supporting roles, archetypes, etc.), using a Character Questionnaire and Character Exercises is a good place to start. The moment you begin to imagine character relationships - how your character deals with his parents, his siblings, his coworkers, and all that - you start to explore the world of your story, and suddenly the whole story begins to emerge.
7.
Develop Engaging Stories:
A good story is about an interesting character, who wants something badly, and is having trouble getting it. (Character + Want) x Obstacles = Story. But there’s a lot more to the final execution of that story than just the broad strokes of an equation. A Story Questionnaire can be a great asset, because even if you’re telling a story we’ve heard before, you must create and develop an original Location (world of the story), Population (protagonist’s objective, polarity, character arc), and Situation (plausibility, rising action, obstacles).
A good story is about an interesting character, who wants something badly, and is having trouble getting it. (Character + Want) x Obstacles = Story. But there’s a lot more to the final execution of that story than just the broad strokes of an equation. A Story Questionnaire can be a great asset, because even if you’re telling a story we’ve heard before, you must create and develop an original Location (world of the story), Population (protagonist’s objective, polarity, character arc), and Situation (plausibility, rising action, obstacles).
8.
Know the Theme:
Even with the most fantastic characters in the most amazing situations, if there is no point to the story, there is little point in writing the screenplay. Why? Why? Why tell the story? The central theme of your story is the foundation of everything and the most important motivating factor for writing the script. And since theme and conflict are crucially linked, it is through an exploration of your central character that will guide you into that conflict because theme is always rooted in the protagonist’s primary goal.
Even with the most fantastic characters in the most amazing situations, if there is no point to the story, there is little point in writing the screenplay. Why? Why? Why tell the story? The central theme of your story is the foundation of everything and the most important motivating factor for writing the script. And since theme and conflict are crucially linked, it is through an exploration of your central character that will guide you into that conflict because theme is always rooted in the protagonist’s primary goal.
9.
Outline Before Writing:
Give a carpenter a truckload of tools and a bunch of wood; he'll build something. But hand him structural blueprints as well, and the end result will be amazing. Screenwriters work the same way, and the outline is your blueprint. It gets you thinking and keeps you focused. The most basic outline must include these five core elements: the protagonist and his/her goal, (2) the supporting cast and what they each want, (3) the beginning and the end, (4) the five major plot points, and (5) the basic order of events.
10. Utilize a Structure:
Give a carpenter a truckload of tools and a bunch of wood; he'll build something. But hand him structural blueprints as well, and the end result will be amazing. Screenwriters work the same way, and the outline is your blueprint. It gets you thinking and keeps you focused. The most basic outline must include these five core elements: the protagonist and his/her goal, (2) the supporting cast and what they each want, (3) the beginning and the end, (4) the five major plot points, and (5) the basic order of events.
10. Utilize a Structure:
A screenplay in three acts is your framework. These act
divisions, often literally taking place in
different worlds - physically and/or figuratively - can work independently of
each other, yet when connected, they build a solid whole. And structuring these
acts with sequences (self-contained portions of the entire story, usually about
10 to 15 pages in length, that have their own tension) can be a huge benefit.
Using the Eight
Sequence approach is not an absolute formula to
building your script, but it is a great place to start....
0 comments:
Post a Comment