Admitting you need to rewrite your script should be obvious, but our admission at the deepest level that our story has problems is not a foregone conclusion to writers. I have often known I needed to do a rewrite, but inside my heart, I want to believe it is closer than it is. Is that truly embracing the rewrite? No.
Open yourself up to everything new, think of a blank white page, and focus on change. And before you move forward, here are seven things to do before you’re back at it.
Don’t Fix Everything
You got all your notes and your plans and every change you wanna make. It’s a lot. Well, don’t try and make all your problems disappear in one draft. You can rewrite again! There are too many beautifully mysterious things that happen in the creative act of writing. Focus on a few things you need to address and let the others wait. Your story will have a new list of needs after you’re done. Think of a few things to work on for now and go from there.
Be a Reader
Make sure you read your script a couple times before you get started again. I tend to forget what’s in there and every time I take the whole thing in I find new ways to build my story into something truly special. We often ask other people to read it and give notes. That’s a good thing. But we need to be intimate with what we have to improve our relationship with our next draft. And if you think you’ve read it, read it again. Today’s a new day.
The Perfect Scene
Some scenes have been worked out to the point where we don’t even look at them any more. They are so special. People have raved about them and we know they are the cornerstones of our future amazing script. Precious elements of our scripts should be reviewed. We might not change a thing, but it instills a professional and productive attitude of humility towards what’s on the page. I’m often shocked when I discover something is not as fantastic as I remember.
Question the Open
Opening your script demands an original, visual and clear introduction to your story which instantly engages the audience. This is a tall order, and you might believe you have met the challenge. In my experience, looking at the page one of my script can often alter and, most importantly, solve the issues that follow. Be nimble and honest with yourself by keeping everything on the table, always keeping in mind you don’t have to change a word, if you choose. You’re in charge.
The People in Your Story
Audiences emotionally connect to your story through the characters. The relationship between audience and character is richer and deeper if they have the time to develop the bond. Too many characters compromises this crucial dynamic. Can you combine a couple characters? Can you cut a character, even one that you love the most? As an exercise, determine who you would lose if you had to. Once you open that door, you might find again that less is truly more.
Take the Old Note
Remember the dumbest feedback you ever got on your script? What was the worst note you ever got in your life? Lose your pride and consider if the person was right. What’s the reason you received that comment? It might not matter at all, but the practice of staying open to all feedback keeps me most vulnerable to unfiltered inspiration. Keeping score on who gave me bad notes makes me write worse.
Remember Why
Always come back home with your story. Where did this begin for you? Where did you first think of the idea? The wonderful instant where that lightning strikes can keep the fire burning until you’re done. Keep it green. Remember why you loved this idea. Cherish why starting the script in the first place was cool. Maintaining the joy and opportunity for what you are making with your own hands will keep the road lit through the unknown times of revealing what the story was always meant to be, for in the end, it’s beautiful work, isn’t it?
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Good stuff. Sometimes I pick a day where I totally focus on only one aspect (formatting/ editing/ dialogue/ a character) and one only. It may take longer but I feel concentrating on the one item helps me.
Wonderful advice! Especially, to remember what prompted you to write your screenplay, in order to both cherish and elevate that precious inspiration.
I’ve entered 7 contes and have 6 sets of notes from them. I’ve placed in the top 20 in 2 of the competitions and done rather well in ranking for the rest so far ; but still no deal or cash prize… All of the notes from competition to competition are contradicting one another – So where to begin?
Thanks for this! Sometimes when I think of all the different notes I want to address and changes I want to make in my script, I get overwhelmed. You know, it really is no different than when I was in 6th grade math class. I would cover up all the problems on the page except the one I was working on. This helped me focus on the problem at hand and not get stressed out about the 25 others to come. Keep preaching friend. I appreciate it.
Very good advice, I’d like to focus on #6, “Take the old Note”. I once bought into a screenplay guild, sent in my draft, and received a phone call from one of the panel. He didn’t have much to say except for a price he would fix it. When asked what was wrong, all he could say is; “It’s not in the words that are expected.” I still don’t know what it means and what words did he want to change? I’ll probably never know…
In regards to submitting to agents, managers, production companies, studios, and talent, be sure to avoid even marketing a script before its ready. There’s no point in doing so because all too often, thanks to Murphy’s Law, if you market too early expecting rejection, someone may bite and request the script. And that script is likely not ready to send out… or at least not as ready as it should be.
My first thought is usually why the reader didn’t understand something that seems obvious (to me). I always start defensive just being honest, because I never submit any script before around 15 drafts. But then I transition to remembering that frankly most movies have rather obvious points made that I didn’t think needed to be there, but it makes them clear to everyone. I don’t mean that in a negative way, but it’s a lot to ask of readers to understand everything about the world of your story – even if you think it’s obvious. If it’s not in the script, it’s not obvious. There’s nothing wrong with adding a simple line that communicates what you *think* someone should know but they just don’t. As you get more feedback, it becomes obvious that your expertise doesn’t mean everyone knows what you know. If it’s not there, it doesn’t exist!