On Writing : Screenwriter - Creator of Rest In War (Historical/Drama/Series) by Amanda Alencar

Hi, Amanda Alencar. Great topic. I make really detailed outlines for my feature scripts, but I've experienced that ("That moment where your characters start making choices you didn’t expect? Or when your plot takes shape without you forcing it?"). Sometimes I just go with the flow when that happens.

Different things inspire me when I'm building stories. Life events, movies, shows, photos, music, the news, and videos.

You probably know Isaac Asimov. He said "I have the characters start acting and talking and I just take dictation'. That is what I do. Saves time! You can write a full feature in 2 weeks. And that is what you are doing. I can't figure out the other process at all. Each word or action generates the next. How can you preplan ANYTHING if you don't know what they will say or do until they do it?

Hi Amanda. I am most definitely a plotter rather than a pantser. Both ways are perfectly legitimate; it's all about what works for you. (Though if you're a pantser, you're more likely to need to do more rewriting.) Here if I can be of any support at any stage.

Hi Amanda, I guess it’s a bit of both for me. I definitely lean on outlining to keep track of where I am or if I feel I’m meandering.

Jon Shallit

Hi Jon, I love that quote from Asimov — and yes, I totally relate!

Sometimes I feel more like a vessel than a writer... as if the characters take over and I’m just watching everything unfold.

It’s fascinating how each creative mind works so differently — some need structure, others thrive in the chaos of intuition.

I guess the magic happens when we surrender to the story and let it lead the way.

Thank you so much for sharing this insight. It really resonates!

Phil Clarke

Hi Phil, thank you for your message! I admire writers who are able to build detailed plots from the start. it’s definitely a skill I’d love to develop more. I tend to start intuitively, but I’ve learned how structure can make all the difference later. I totally agree: there’s no single right way, just what works best for each of us. Thanks for offering your support. I might take you up on that sometime!

Ricki Holmes Hi Ricki! Thank you for sharing that I think finding that balance between structure and freedom is one of the most fascinating parts of writing.

Outlining definitely helps when we start to drift, but I love how sometimes the story still surprises us even with a clear map.

It’s inspiring to hear about your process!

Hi Amanda,

My first script was a blank page and an idea, 8 months later it was in a place where I was happy to share. I detail the heck out of my outlining, but also the characters that I had a detailed bio of suddenly start to breath and make choices of their own. I love this moment. The devil is in the detail, but I like to just say “hell” let’s go!

Aidan Robinson Hi Aidan!

I absolutely love how you described that moment when characters suddenly start to breathe on their own and surprise us. It’s truly magical, isn’t it?

I agree, the detail helps ground the story, but when intuition kicks in and leads the way... that’s when the writing really comes alive.

Thanks for sharing your process. it’s so inspiring!

Amanda Alencar it really is! Regardless if anything I write is ever eventually produced, I can see them play out in my imagination as I read them, for me, to be proud of something you’ve created means you’ve won already!

Aidan Robinson I couldn’t agree more with you.

As much as I dream of seeing my project on screen one day, I already feel so proud of what I’ve created and continue to create.

We are who we are regardless of outside recognition, and when we feel that deep sense of purpose and fulfillment from within, that’s the real sign we’re doing exactly what we’re meant to do.

Thank you for expressing it so beautifully!

Hey Amanda -

Yep, everything downloads for me. I know it's cool if I smirk or smile or belly laugh, or a tear falls or I feel a gut punch. My process is rather somatic. I do a lot of my writing when I'm not writing. I used to run to my laptop or phone app to get it down, but now I have things more under control and let the inspiration breathe and fill out before I start typing. Cheers

Tom

I have a 60 min feedback call for my screenplay scheduled for April 19. Are there any rules about having more than one person on the call with the reviewer?

I must admit that I mostly work as a producer - I started as a screenwriter - and am a deep believer in outlining before I, or a writer I'm working with, goes to script. Once the stakes for the characteres are ratcheted up to their fullest and story is laid bare with all character arcs and payoffs in site, I find the flow of dialogue and scene structure is released more easily. But everyone has their own process and getting to "Fade Out" is always the right way :)

Someone at writerhelpstage32.com should be able to answer your question, Rob Mc.

Tom Demar Hi Tom!

I really loved the way you described your process “somatic” is such a perfect word for it. I totally relate to writing even when we’re not actually writing — letting ideas simmer, emotions build, and then just flow when the time is right.

And yes, that feeling of a tear or a gut punch that’s when we know the story is alive.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Sam Sokolow Hi Sam!

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I really appreciate hearing this from someone with both screenwriting and producing experience. I agree that having the stakes and arcs clearly laid out can make the storytelling flow much smoother — it’s like giving the story a solid spine before letting it move.

And yes, no matter the path, reaching that Fade Out is the ultimate goal! Loved that line!

Good writing requires time and patience.

I this is the love and passion for writing, and for most of the writers, it's like this, everything just connects, and you even get inspiration from things and places you don't know.

Nice, the way you describe your process. Thanks for sharing your creative path. Mine varies depending on the project. I usually start with a scene to determine if it will be a short or feature film.Having experienced a war for several days before being rescued, many scary scenes hinted at a feature film. So that how I showed the big picture. Were you in a war?

Susan Joyce Hello, Susan! Thank you for sharing your experiences. Your personal story of being in a war is truly powerful.

I have never been in an armed conflict myself, but my inspiration comes from a deep fascination with human behavior, emotions, and choices in extreme situations. I’m intrigued by how these experiences affect people on an emotional and psychological level, and I believe it’s important to highlight these human complexities in storytelling. Thank you for your question, and I appreciate the opportunity to exchange these ideas.

Beautifully said, Amanda. I know exactly what you mean- that magic of discovering your story as if it already exists and you’re just uncovering it piece by piece. Some of my favorite creative moments have come from letting characters surprise me. It’s like they take the pen out of my hand and run with it. I’m so glad you shared this; it’s a reminder that fulfillment in writing doesn’t have to wait for production or publication. The act of creating itself is powerful. Looking forward to hearing more about what you’re working on!

Ashley Renee Smith Hi Ashley,

Thank you so much for your beautiful words I’m genuinely touched. That feeling you described, of characters taking the pen and running with it, is so real and magical. It’s comforting to know others experience this too. I couldn’t agree more: the act of creating itself is already a gift. I’m truly grateful for this connection and can’t wait to hear more about your work as well!

If you ever feel curious, I recently added the pilot of my series to my logline on my Stage32 profile. I’d be honored to hear your thoughts whenever you have a moment!

Amanda thanks for sharing your current writing method and opening up a lively dialogue with the others here.

It seems to me that you are highlighting an intuitive approach versus a more structured, analytical approach and while I can appreciate both methods, I really enjoy how you describe your more intuitive approach and your feeling of “doing exactly what (you) were meant to do in life”. It’s important to nurture that connection. I’ve only written two screenplays and the first was a historical biographical (more structured) and the second (more recent) was much more intuitive and at times ‘flowing with it’. So I guess I/we use both methods of creativity, perhaps even more interchangeably then I/we understand. I suggest keeping a journal for those times when you feel that special connectedness to your work as a way to record those little nuggets of inspiration.

For me, Amanda Alencar there have been different ways that a story has presented itself but overall, your description of being a "vessel" as opposed to a writer fits best. The most recent piece came to me in a dream. The one before that, an affection for cows, space battles and spy thrillers. There's a vast difference in how they arrive. But the reason I like your vessel analogy is because I've always felt that I am not the creator of the story, but only a steward of them. And when everything is quiet and my mind is still...or when I turn to my piano and play, things fall into place. And you are on the right track.

Thomas Gardiner Hi Thomas, thank you so much for your thoughtful response! I really appreciate the way you articulated both creative approaches structure and intuition and how they can coexist or shift depending on the project. It’s fascinating to hear about your journey across those two screenplays, and I love what you said about “flowing with it.” That sense of connection and instinct often leads us to the most honest writing, doesn’t it?

And yes, keeping a journal for those little nuggets of inspiration is a beautiful idea thank you for that tip! I might just start doing that.

Looking forward to learning more about your work as well!

Leonardo Ramirez Wow, Leonardo, what a beautiful reflection thank you so much for sharing that with me. I truly loved your perspective of being a steward of the story rather than its creator. That resonates deeply with how I experience writing too. It’s amazing how creativity flows in those quiet moments, or through music I find that so magical.

And I must say, your inspiration sources sound so wonderfully unique from space battles to cows! I'd love to know more about your projects sometime.

Thanks again for your generous words they really uplifted me today.

You are very welcome Amanda Alencar. All the best in all you do. I saw your logline and I love the story. Can't wait to see it come to life.

Amanda Alencar Anytime. Until then, happy writing.

Amanda Alencar Yes! That is exactly how it works for me :) It's very magical.

I write for usually just a joke, then I discover, it could be a good story, and I have to expand it to make it something for tv or movie. Not the best way to write books. From there I try and come to an open and a close.. and then try and come up with things that happen in between, laying out the scenes so far.. the open usually changes.. as well as come to more characters. If u have an open and end.. you have a story, then the missing middle shows a lot easier. I did a different process in Marathon. That one kinda wrote itself.. for direction of.. cause it follows an actual path the runner had to take, and has its own history u have to follow.. so I laid out a map and put different points he would have to be at and timed out where the sun would’ve been, based on a average time the running segments might take..then the middle between those is trying to come up with an assortment of added things happening. I think an outline of scenes works really well, and leaves you seeing questions like how’d it go from here to here, and let’s you add scenes more easily (on computer) or just putting a note between scenes to add content too. The most fulfilling writing is when a joke or sketch, you wrote for someone hits and the whole audience laughs and laughs. That’s what got me into writing.

Amanda Alencar I am new to writing stories.

I have written poetry since the age 10.

Recently published my first book and I would have to say what inspired me to write was wanting to get my story out there to help others who may have had similar lifestyle that I grew up in.

I want to inspire people so badly one day! I also feel writing down my thoughts is so therapeutic.

I would love support and feedback from everyone!

Like you I am a Pantzer. My writing comes to life when the character is born and I inhabit its being. It lives and I follow, never knowing where, like this comment, it will go until I reach the final word.