So I've spent months on my story, only to not be able to solve a story problem. Without going into great detail about my story it's a matter of one part of it makes it hard to buy and believability. I'm thinking in terms of realistic for the audience for my context. For now it's convoluted.
I did have someone tell me to look at my characters, maybe flip them, try seeing each one from their perspective. So after doing that I ended up having an epiphany and saw one way to change it with another character being the protagonist. It gave me a new way for my idea, but it also means starting over from scratch, sort of. But it may not take me months because I've already have some of the story.
Anyway, has anyone else ever been through this? What did you do? How did you solve it?
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Man that's gotta be tough to go through!! I always believe you can get away with one completely nonsensical thing in a script, if the rest of the script is strong. But if it's foundational, then that might not work.
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My screenplay project for my year at the AFI ended up getting optioned after I graduated and what should have been a job I could do in less than 8 weeks became a hellish affair that ultimately ended up with me not only having put 18 months into rewrites that were idiotic but, left me and my then 2 small boys homeless.
That was in 1993. I have spent the last 10 years rewriting that script ( destroyed the original ). But, after what feels like an eternity, I finally ended up with a script that while it retains much of its original flavor, has an ending that I think works much better overall.
So yeah. It can be a bit of a buzz kill to start over. But, just think of what you're likely to discover now that you're looking at things differently.
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Chris, it happens to all of us. In the middle of writing, we find something which doesn't make sense as it did when we first thought about it. When that happens, you must do a combination of both what your gut says plus if your audience will accept it. It's a bit complicated but that's where we come in as writers, to make those decisions because only you know what's in your vision and what shape you want your story to take place. Rewrites and multiple drafts also solve this problem. When you get stuck like this, pause the writing, go on a walk, put some thought process behind it, take it a day or two and you will for sure come back with better thinking ability. Just my thought! Hope it helps.
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Well it's really more than just one part. It's my main story line that isn't working and I just can't solve. It's true there are things we could probably get by if written well, but I want at least believable. It just doesn't work but I found a way by using the other character just have to tell the story a but different
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Elaine Haygood Quite a learning experience for you. And that's true what I discovered was better than my original idea too.
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Palvinder Jagait It had a lot to do with my protagonist and something in my story that needed thrown out. It took another set of eyes and more seasoned to show me that it's ok, there's still a story look at your other characters that may fit better.
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Jeelan Syed Writing is for sure rewriting. And, yes going to take a few days off and get back to it
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Yep. I have often discovered a better character to tell the story as a POV character.
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I had a cowboy story that was being told be the sheriff. I then realised everything was actually being seen from the deputy’s POV. He was a better proxy for the audience.
These changes can make a huge impact.
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Main goal is: simple story - complex characters...but not everyone can write, say "Glengarry Glen Ross", so my advice is stick to the simplest concept filmable / likable by many - horror. End even there make things simpler - take a road trip gone wrong kinda trope...
...you'll say "been done million times"...I'll say "exactly!"... you do know what I mean? :)
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Kiril Maksimoski good advice. Simple story/complex characters
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Enjoy the process ' cause real development Hell with a movie/tv corporation is worse.
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In the past I did more research on the world & the jobs characters had. It was intense over some weeks but eventually the puzzle yielded as viable & unique plot points that suspended disbelief screamed out at me. If actions of characters don’t make sense or scenes skip a logical beat flashbacks may bridge any story asyndeton. Particularly in non linear questions are raised which is okay if audience are satisfied with outcome, wow didn’t see that coming but looking back makes perfect sense. Scenes coming from left field, coincidence or act of God Eg antagonist just gives up obviously need be cut but changing whole story may not always be necessary. Going back to page 1 and laying seeds to prepare for a later ambiguous scene or character dialogue that would seem hokey acting might just work.
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When I get stuck. I read what I have and see how it flows, and how the beats are coming together, and do I need to add more structure to my story to make it move. As far as starting over with page one after a draft has been completed, done it.
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This just happened to me yesterday, actually. Sometimes you just need to change the character. Sometimes your hero just doesn't have the stakes someone else has, and there's not much to do about it.
One way I try to tackle it to see if it really works: I write an outline to see that the epiphany has some legs to stand on. If it does and it looks better than the original, I rewrite. If it doesn't look better, I try to find a way to fit it in, or go back earlier in the story and see where I can lift the original story.
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When I get stuck, I walk away from my computer and go for a run. About 15 minutes in, it's like the floodgates open and the ideas/solutions come so fast I need to stop to write them down. I was curious about this and found out that exercise increases levels of serotonin, and dopamine which increases creativity.
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I haven't been through that, Christopher J. Bounds, but I'm about to rewrite an old script. It'll probably be a page-one rewrite, but the script will be 10 times better and cheaper to make. I'm sure the extra work you have to do will be worth it.
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I've absolutely been through this. I have an old script that I've started rewriting a couple of times, but I never get through with it. I have a specific event, and while my character completely justifies it, I've always worried it wasn't something readers could relate to. I think I've come up with a way to fix that, but I'm not sure how much I like it, because it adds a much more serious tone to the movie than I'd originally wanted. I plan to spend a little more time seeing what I can come up with before committing to the idea.
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Many times! Its a very good thing that you can look at your work and see it from this perspective. When reviewing a project that has a creative problem its important to "stress test" any solution to see if it still works in the context of the rest of the project. Sometimes it does mean that a lot of work needs doing but its worth it if it makes the project better.
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Thank you all. It's good to know I'm not alone on this.
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You're welcome, Christopher J. Bounds. Let us know how the rewrite goes.
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Christopher J. Bounds just a question off the top of my head, before I disappear up the proverbial wooden hill. Ignore it if it’s a total curve ball: believability? I’m just wondering if the story is in the right genre? Is there a clash between the events you are writing and what is expected (tropes, beats) for various genres?
Nuff said, pillow land beckons…zzzz
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You are way ahead of your game! I have been working of my ideas for years now...I have butterflies in my stomach more and more each day, but I know there is no turning back..I have to move on no matter how I feel. If I may share, .It is my very first documentary story of an 18 year old fresh graduate from HS when the WWII broke out. I am on fire like you, but there is no reason to stop on what you have started. I am on the 10th Review of my Trailer, and asked three young from 28-29 Movie lovers to evaluate mine. So far..I already have learned from the feedbacks this morning. Just like you, I will keep on working with my loyal and patient creative partner who guides me from the start, and focusing what needs to be improved. Wish you all the best Christopher!
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@Geoff Hall I'll explain in a message
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@Leonor LeRu Thank you for sharing that. I hope you get things worked out and finish.