Ever get an idea that just won’t let go? How do you guys decide which ideas to chase and which to leave behind lol ?
Screenwriting : How Do You Know When a Story Idea is ‘The One? by Chase Cysco
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I pick the idea I'm most excited about, Chase Cysco. A lot of times it's also the most commercial idea. Sometimes I pick an idea because of the budget. Like if I want to write a micro-budget script, I'll pick the idea that'd be cheap to make.
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This is an interesting question. I learned from David Lynch that the ideas that matter are the ones that stick in your mind. When an idea arises and persists in my mind, I write it down, maybe a concept, a logline, or one or more scenes. From there, the idea may fall dormant, another may emerge, or a story may develop. I believe you don't choose an idea; it kind of chooses you. If it persists and grows, then it's about cultivating and letting it flourish. I don't think there's an exact way to develop it, but it's the writer's intellectual work to nurture this idea so that it stops resonating within you. I learned a lot from reading the book "Catching the Big Fish" and watching interviews with David Lynch.
https://youtu.be/S2RFMCmfRmc?si=uKA-7p7ITNBJs95Q
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Books are always more universal because they are a solo adventure like painting. Screenplays need a team to produce it into a finished movie and usually need a boat load of money. Write as many books as you can. People would be better off if they read more anyway.
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When something hits you so deeply, psychologically, personally, that it takes over your life.
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I chase them all!
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If the idea won't let you go then that's likely the idea to pursue. I'm reminded of something I read that Francis Ford Coppola said in an interview. His best ideas always earned the most visceral responses. More people either loved or hated it, fewer were meh about it.
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Write the one that grabs you the hardest!
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Maurice Vaughan true ! like if your on a budget your not going to write a transformer’s idea lol
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Luciano Mello That’s a great way to put it—an idea chooses you. I love the idea of nurturing it until it stops resonating, almost like it demands to be told. I’ve heard about Catching the Big Fish but never got around to reading it—gonna see if its on amazon
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Philip David Lee That’s a great point—books give you full creative control, while screenplays rely on so many moving parts (and a lot of $$$). Definitely makes me think about writing more books. Do you know where I can produce a hardcover?
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Stefano Pavone i agree ! i cant stop thinking about my story in my head and how it will look on screen and also make people feel
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Mark Deuce your on your pokemon go shyttttt lol
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Eric Christopherson That makes a lot of sense—if an idea sticks with you, it’s probably worth chasing. I love that Coppola insight too; the best stories always seem to spark strong reactions. Do you have a project where you’ve noticed that kind of response?
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Howard Koor agree !! i notice when i write stuff for people and help ghost write i dont get as motivated ! it feels like work and then i just get turned off