Let’s write, right?
Greetings and salutations, y’all!
First off, let me just start off by saying thank you! If you have read the previous posts and are now moving onto this one, all I can say is thank you. You are the reason I am doing this. Although I spend most of my time writing screenplays and copy, it means the world to be able to give back to others who aspire to create a life where they get to write every single day.
So, without further adieu, let’s begin.
Now that we’ve found our inspiration and discovered our “Why?” it’s time to finally start writing.
BUT, probably not in the way you might expect.
Although some writers might swear by their method of “just writing,” I would encourage you to fight that urge. As someone who used to be immensely against brainstorming and outlining, I have found that the more work you put into planning your script, the easier it will be to write AND the faster it will come together.
With that said, you might be a little curious as to what outlining a script entails. You’re probably thinking “If I’ve never written a script, how will I know how to format it?” Well, similar to our last exercise, the best thing you can do to create a fail-proof outline is to begin by asking yourself a lot of questions. Regardless of format or genre, some of the most pivotal questions to ask yourself are:
Who does this story follow? Why?
What does your character need to accomplish? Why?
Whose perspective is this story being told from? Why?
When/where does it take place? Why?
What is the main character’s perspective on the world/situation/environment we find them in? Why?
What are some of the accepted elements within this story? Why?
What are the highest and lowest points in this story? Why?
What do you want the audience to walk away with? Why?
There are many more questions to be asked and answered when developing a script, but did you see the pattern I was really trying to drive home?
For every question answered about a script, you should always be able to ask the guaranteed follow up question, “WHY?” I know I sound like broken record, but trust me when I say you will never regret the time you put into answer this question.
Once you can answer some of these general questions, it’s time to move your story into a more structured outline.
In order to do this, I would encourage you to check out Film Courage’s video and Open Screenplay’s post on screenplay structure. Although there isn’t one singular “right way” to outline your script, I believe these resources could give you a great foundation and starting point.
I hope this post has helped you gain some clarity on how to approach the first few steps of writing a screenplay. Just remember… The largest part of an iceberg is the part no one can see, and just like a screenplay — most of your time will be spent working on aspects of your script that no one will ever know.
Remember to keep your eyes on the prize (aka your why), and trust the process. You got this!!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
LK
Chase dreams. Spread hope. Celebrate life.