I had given the first 26 pages of my screenplay to someone who writes professionally at his University. He writes for various publications and is very experienced, is in his 70's. Basically he told me that the writing I did past page 1 - sucked. It's in the first draft and I'm just trying to get things down on paper to put in a logical sequence. He has already suggested an entire re-write. Someone else who has knowledge of how a screenplay works has suggested that I just ignore the other person and keep going. Knowledge of how scenery and the visuals work into the story are a big part of it. I've written 23 more pages and am just plugging forward. What do you think? I mean, I like to keep my options open and maybe the first part is a bit drawn out. But something to fix later. Is it better to get the whole thing done then pick apart the areas that need it? Or is it best sometimes to start over and take it a new direction?
Screenwriting : Pulling out hair.. (can't you tell?) by Rick Winslow
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I always suggest that in a first (rough) draft a writer must turn off the inner critic and give himself permission to fail. Just get it down and refine it later. As the saying goes: "I don't have vision, I have revision." I also suggest never showing anything to anybody until it's finished. And even then, be careful about soliciting opinions - because the last thing an artist needs is to hear opinions on how to change a mallard into a pony, if you know what I mean.
rewrite, after rewrite is normal practice. Even if you're Shakespeare..
Have you outlined the story? Do you know, pretty well, what's going to happen, and when? Without a map , you soon get lost. Tempting as it is to rush straight into writing pages, experience has taught me that you have to have the thing pretty well worked out on paper before you type FADE IN. Good luck.
Oh yes. It's really well outlined. Since this is based on a true story, that's the easy part. My wife has written a lot of the story from a woman's persepctive. How the girl would have felt and acted. I'm also thinking and brainstorming with others about how we might twist it a little, or add some content. I'm really not getting discouraged (much anymore) as I have this wonderful group of Stage 32'ers behind me giving me a push. The route from point 'A' to 'B' is not always a straight line, it's a maze. But I'm determined to get there.
Just restating what's already been said: Mistake to give someone an incomplete draft, particularly the first one. Just ignore it, burn through the entire thing, then sit down and go through it to find the elements you'll want to fix for the next draft. If you want to get feedback, do it once you've got everything down on paper at least once. If you stop to get feedback and edit every ten pages, you'll never finish any draft.
Just continue writing. Even if you've written down a detailed outline, you still never know where the story's gonna go while you're writing the script. Start rewriting only when you've finished. When you start editing while you're writing, you'll either never finish the script or you'll finish the script but it'll take longer than expected. Take note of what the notes were but ignore them until you've finished the script. And also, never give your first draft to anyone for feedback. First drafts are rarely good and will always be torn to pieces by critics. Good luck with rest of the script!
All great points and you're telling me what I should know anyway! I can see it. I will burn through to the end and then go over it. I know there are some points I need to fix but will put that behind me until it's done. A roadblock created by someone else is not needed at this point. I can get those later on, but at least the premise and draft will be done. Anything else will be an improvement. Appreciate all the feedback I'm getting from folks here. Keep it coming! I bet there'll be a credit in the film for all your good expertise!
It's enough to deal with the inner critic/ editor, you do not need another "road block" when you've only begun your journey. Good luck!
Thank you! I believe!! Up to page 71 and writing daily.
People may or may not be good or bad writers but so may writers are not film-makers, As a producer I look for a great overall idea, The last picyure I did I used the overall idea of the writer but changed every word. Is your idea good? Most important!!!