Screenwriting : When to start writing? by Shubham Virgandham

Writing 5 to 6 pages every time you sit down to write is actually pretty good so don't chastise yourself because you're not writing 30. How many more drafts are needed? No one can answer that for you based on this post. Writing a screenplay is not completing a predetermined number of drafts, it's writing until it is complete. In other words, you keep writing new drafts until you think it's complete then you send it out for feedback to determine if others think it's complete as well. Some screenplays need only one draft while others may require 20 drafts or more. If you're unsure, post it here for feedback.

I am lucky if I can write one or two pages a day. When I started out it took me dozen rewrites before I felt my script was ready to be read by people in the business. I have written a lot of screenplays so now I can usually get by with two or three rewrites. I really don't really like rewiring all that much.

Do you need to be whipped in order to write? If you do....chances are that you are not a writer, and are merely a person who likes to talk or dream about being a writer. The world is full of such people. Which one are you?

I went and checked. I have 13 card decks for stories I have started. Some have gone as far as a few pages of script. The point is a great story idea may not be a great movie idea. Perhaps the reason you are not writing is because you can't find the movie. Drop these off to one side and keep generating ideas till one hits the movie nerve. Then you will not be able to stop yourself.

This is a huge question. And a really important one, mainly because we're taught (in film school, MFA programs, etc.) to "just do it." Just write--a good story will just write itself, characters will just write themselves. BULL. Stories don't, and characters don't. It might feel like it, but no. My point is work on development, not writing (the two are different things and actually don't have anything to do with one another--Craig's 13 card decks are a perfect example! Smart man.). Develop your story's structure, get a feel for the beginning, middle, end, use whatever guru system you like to find the big story beats... or just use your instincts and screw the gurus... whatever works. Just don't write until you "know" the story. A lot will change when you write anyway (or not), but at least you won't get lost in the story woods because you started writing before you were ready. There actually is a way to figure out what "ready" means, but I don't want to get into my biases, etc. about that :) There are lots of tools out there to help... main idea here is resist pages, until you feel you're ready. So, figure out what "ready" means for you. :) My 2 cents. Great question.

Thanks everyone but to answer Bill i don't need to be whipped in order to get myself to write.Also,I asked how many drafts you need because,one of my fav writers 'Biswapati Sarkar' said it is important that every script of yours at least reaches the fourth draft.You guys should check his work out by the way.I would recommend TVF Pitchers.It is a show in the top 250 shows of imdb.Currently it stands at 27.Though it is a indian show you can understand all the things.Subtitles are included.

Shubham: glad you don't need to be whipped in order to write. Echoing a bit what Jeff and Craig said, and your thoughts about overcoming laziness: if you have outlined your story well....writing it should be the easier part. Ratcheting up the conflicts...developing well-rounded characters in the planning and outlining....having a brilliant A and B story (and maybe a C story) that converge into the climax....all of that is done in the pre-writing - at least for me. In my opinion....the "laziness" occurs when writers fail to do that in the pre-writing, and can't answer those questions before they start writing. With regards to the number of drafts a script should have....my scripts got better and better with each draft. I would imagine that's how it would be for other writers, too. One re-write is devoted just to re-structuring narrative sentences and verbs. Another is devoted just to dialogue. Another is devoted just to voice/tone. Another is devoted just to structure. Another is devoted just to making sure each scene has conflict. Another is devoted to making sure each scene is visual. I separate my re-write tasks that way, because that's the best way that my brain operates. Others may do it all at once. Good luck and Happy Writing, Shubham!

Thanks bill.But to elaborate.I think writing is a boring job,atleast for me.Because i hail from a small town in India,I had to explain first to my friends how actually scripts are read for feedback,as i have no other 'expert' who can understand.But i feel collaborating with someone makes the job a bit more interesting as you can constantly bounce ideas of of each other.