Tips for beginning screenwriters (or notes before your notes)

I’ll start this with an obligatory preface recognizing the million and one blogs, websites, books, and workshops that are out there for anyone wanting to get into screenwriting. The reason that they all exist is because there a million ways to write a screenplay. All of that can be helpful but they are also all a bit full of themselves and once you understand them, you’ll find your own way to write.

My second preface is that I’m in a program for screenwriting and am still learning myself.

This is simply a post that may help someone that wants to get a step up on their screenplay or concept before they get notes on their screenplay or concept. These are some some patterns I’ve picked up on while reading scripts of students that are new to screenwriting.

1. How well do you know your character? This is the single biggest thing that I’ve picked up on. When writing a feature film or a short, it’s important to know who the characters are. Characters will drive the story more than anything else and will help challenge you. Some people write pages on pages about their characters. Write what you need. Not everything that you come up with, if any, actually has to make it to the page, but it will show. If you have trouble getting started, start with a few facts, people, and goals for your character and work out from there.
2. How well do you know your world? It’s really an extention of the first note. It is the thing that will tell you what’s possible and what will happen in any given situation. This means knowing the environment, the rules that govern it, and how the characters fit into it. It can be helpful drawing maps, it can also be helpful having done more research. That doesn’t mean that you have to stick to what you find out in your research necessarily but it will help you.
3. This is a strict script note: Formatting is there for a reason. It has shorthands that those familar with it can read, such as how long is it, where is the scene taking place, what is needed in the scene, etc. When writing a script, it isn’t like writing a novel. Fancy words need not be added. It is meant to be instructions, not for pleasant reading. That said, the less camera direction the better. There are plenty of ways and words that can help direct the point of view without stating the shot type.
4. What is the film about? This has two meanings: What are you saying and what is happening? These are both important to know. It should be just as clear when you speak it as when it is read and it should come across. Eventually it should come to you, but it probably won’t be with the first draft. Once you know it, then you should be able to look at your script with an eye for revision to ensure it serves those ideas.
5. Get rid of the ambiguity. If you really must have it in the film, at least know the answer for yourself. When you do, you’ll write something that is stronger and more confident. The only time that ambiguity works is when the answer is that it doesn’t matter.
6. Be open to possibilities. This should go without saying, but other people think differently and can come up with other ideas and that is a good thing. This is the reason that you’re getting notes and asking for help. I myself am always too close to be able to see any flaws with what I’ve written immediately when I finish it. It may take weeks and months to truly be able to return to it with a fresh perspective. Others can help you work through that. Hear them out and listen to their advice.
7. Make sure something that happens. Slices of life stories still have something unique happening in them on that day that makes it different than the other days of those characters.

This is only a starting point to consider. If this is helpful, I’d love to hear it and thanks for reading.