Professionals are teachable. They do not lock into patterns and habits and methods. We need to always look to see where we fall short, and we must remind ourselves over and over what served us in the past. After two decades of writing scripts, I have now come to a place where I feel like I might be able to improve in every way, that my own practices can be completely challenged and perhaps discarded. What if what we know isn’t helping us? Have you ever read something you wrote a week later and felt it suddenly was awful?
We change, yet we don’t focus on how much we do change. My life keeps going but I insist on writing the same way.
How can this stand?
Read the work of your peers
Maybe you’ve read the scripts nominated for the Oscars. Maybe you’ve read Chinatown. But do you read the work of your fellows? How often do you give notes? I became a professional when I started to teach. Some people disparage teaching because it suggests a lack of skill. Helping others with their script made me an adult screenwriter. I learned how to talk about
How long has it been since you focused on someone else’s story?
Own it All
I wish I had all the time back I spend blaming other people for my writing career. Being a victim of Hollywood. Ranting about how unfair something was. How the notes were awful and the producers don’t know what they’re doing. If I could be given back even ten percent of it, I could write the greatest movie ever written. It has not been written. Who will write it? It won’t be someone complaining about outside forces. It will be the writer who takes responsibility for their own story. How clear it is. How funny it is. How honest it is. I want to act like I’m in control of what I create but I react like others control what I write. Writing is my cause, my own lie, my fault. I’m to blame and that’s my only power and its the greatest power of all.
Let’s not forget.
Don’t Start a New Script
I want to start a new script. I want to start a new script so bad. I have the greatest idea and I’m a different writer now and I want to take what I know and start this new idea. Yet this is going
Use the time on finishing the story you already believe is finished.
Honor your help
What if we treated every word of feedback like we needed it to survive? I wonder where I would be if I had respected all criticism. I always believed a reader when they loved my script. I completely believed everything they said. But I have, in some way, disrespected any feedback I don’t like. I might openly defend my script. I might stew about it all by myself after politely thanking my reader for their comments. I wonder what kind of writer I would be if I actually listened to everything. I do not believe there are any mistakes with what people say about my work. I am lazy about my attitude toward readers. I never think about my reactions. I want to change how I treat my
Write through the corner
I get scared if I let my characters do what they want to do. If they speak and act honestly, I fear they will take my story into a completely different direction and this will cause a “setback.” I might have to write way more than I ever wanted to. I don’t
Do you know what writers do when they get backed into a corner? They write. They imagine. They sweat. They grind. If you want to stay where you are, undo your imagination and play it safe. If you want what you’ve always wanted as a writer, fear no story.
You’re the writer. You can solve everything with everything you already have in your mind and your hands.
Win the Marathon
If you want to write the last script standing, you have to outlast them all. It’s not a race, it’s not a competition, but I need to rewrite past everything I’ve ever written. I have to beat them all. What is the place I have never written? Can I go further than ever before?
I don’t know about you, but I will win the marathon. I will outlast everything. My script will be unlike anything I’ve ever created. And it will be my best ever. I commit to this and challenge you to make this choice for yourself, to best your best and always, always, write your finest next.
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How’d you get so smart?
Well written… I’m gonna use some of these.
Great!
Haha!
I do believe I’ve followed all six suggestions in this article, and am very close to completing a draft that’s ready for a professional Reader. I’m also workshopping with two writers groups prior to that. What are the top 3 reliable Reader services available for someone like me? Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Ed Ondatje
Thank you for always telling it like it is with advice that is actually usable. I have been a Bluecat subscriber for 9 years, been in the semis and quarters a few times, but the thing I love the most about Bluecat (you, Gordy)– is you champion other writers and give practical insights. Thank you for all you do for us. We appreciate it and you!
Made my day!
Thank you for sharing, teaching, and inspiring us!
You’re welcome!
That was awesome ! Yes! Agree 100 percent!!
Thanks!
awesome!
Very nice insights! I am pushing myself to finish my screenplay…it is encouraging to read you!
I wrote a script that went to 260 pages. I listened to the advice I got from readers, from a competition that gave feedback and from Loglines, and shortened the script down to 173 pages. Among the good advice I got were these comments:
Set in the Roman empire, Yeshua Ben Yosef & His Time is an historical epic which follows the story of Yeshua Ben Yosef and his religious journey. The story explores numerous aspects of the time including slavery, religion and self-sacrifice all through the eyes of Yeshua, who claims to be the messiah.
A modern retelling of Jewish religious beliefs, this is a brave and bold story with a lot to offer. In tone and theme, the script remains consistent and engaging as it keeps faithful to its source materials and gives modern audiences a story they may not be familiar with. With numerous moments of tension and levity, the script carries itself to a satisfying and unapologetic resolution.
and
This script is well researched with extremely descriptive writing, and structured well with a surprising end that many people know is coming, but remains surprising. There are moments of the script that play with time, which are great. Overall, the script is a very interesting read and meticulously done.
Unfortunately, most competitions will not take scripts of this length, though a surprising number of films are being made that are 3 hours long. Considering the subject matter that demands a longer script, what is a scriptwriter to do?
It’s up to you. You can approach the industry with the script at its current length or look to shape the story into a shorter script. These are only two options of many. Kill your darlings.
Thanks for the advice, I need lots of writer friends.
Is it ok to have your own writing style, and can you insert the type of music your character is listening to in a script.
Example
Jonny is booming to (Bon Jovi) while driving?
I remember when you came to Australia and spoke to us. That inspired me!
Thank you!!
“What if we treated every word of feedback like we needed it to survive?”
How do you react if the feedback is contradictory ?
All good philosophic points.
For some scenes, particularly serious interpersonal ones, I do put my characters in a situation and/or setting, and just watch and listen to them, writing down everything as swiftly [sloppy copy] as I can and see where they takes them [me].
Sure I go back and redirect them to my intended essence, but doing that often helps me refine their profile attributes, etc.
On occasion it has changed my entire approach or other major elements when it strikes gold or diamonds. (Remember, that’s what happened to the ending of Casablanca.)
Such great succinct points, thank you. Just received the analysis for my fifth script and I am excited to follow up on the points raised. When you wander in the forest, it is sometimes encouraging when someone points out the beauty of the trees.
Thank you for these profound paradoxical perspectives– you are if I may be so bold, the Buddha of scripts
A writer can write their whole life and still not know everything they need to know about writing. No matter the genre, no matter the plot. There is always more to learn. I appreciated what you said, and agree. But I find writing never fails to draw me back into story, a challenge, a magic carpet ride into imagination, a homesickness, a longing for something only expressed in words. No other field impresses me the way this does. And for that I am thankful…