Screenwriting 101: Before You Write
Over the last several years, I've had the opportunity to see a lot of screenplays written by newer writers. As many seasoned screenwriters know, it's usually easy to spot a new screenwriter. Their formatting isn't correct, their story isn't developed well enough, their characters aren't wholesome and distinct, and their dialogue is weak and choppy.
When I opened Creative Theory Studios, I didn't want it to just be a studio with production-ready sets that other filmmakers could use. I also wanted to write my own stories, and ultimately help other beginning screenwriters write their own stories. I was a teacher for 19 years, so it's kind of in my blood to educate others and help them. If you follow Creative Theory Studios on Instagram, you've probably seen a lot of posts about screenwriting. It's a passion. So I wanted to write a post that offered tips for those who are starting on this endeavor known as screenwriting.
Screenwriting Is an Art
Before you do anything, understand that this process of writing a screenplay is an art. And with any art, you're not going to master it on the first attempt. You should study the art. Read books on writing screenplays. Notice that last statement is plural…books. Don't just read Save the Cat and feel like you know it all. I promise you, you don't. Read several books, because each one offers something meaningful.
Another way to study the art is to read other screenplays. pick your favorite movies, especially those in the genre your story idea is in, and read those screenplays. Teach yourself everything you can, not just about the format either. Look at how characters are developed and described. Look at how settings are described, what details are used to get the reader to visualize it. Learn how to pace the story correctly. Analyze the dialogue and how minimal words maximize meaning.
A third way to study screenwriting is to attend group studies. Facebook has a million screenwriting groups. Chances are there is one in your area. And if there's not, start one. I'd be willing to bet that you aren't the only one. Reading what others have written is a great way to share ideas, writing styles, dialogue choices, and so on. It's also a great way to evaluate yourself. You'll have those, "oh this person is way more advanced than me," and, "oh this guy's writing sucks," moments. Obviously you want to keep those thoughts to yourself. But it also gives you an easy way to pick a good writer's brain about things. Ask questions like, "Why did you want that scene to go this way?" or "Where did you learn to write that kind of dialogue?"
Formulating Your Story
Once you have a good sense of the art of screenwriting, it's time to start mapping out your screenplay. Notice I didn't say writing your screenplay. Please do NOT just open a Word document and start typing. Again, it's an art. Respect the art. You'll want to start organizing your story. There are several ways to do this.
When I first started writing screenplays, I used to map it on paper and note cards. One paper, I would write a quick scene description that I'll call the Event - the most important aspect of that scene. "Johnny shoots Sal in the back behind the restaurant." Something quick and important. Then on the note card, I went into more depth, usually a paragraph, that gave a quick synopsis of the Event. Then I'd move to another Event.
Most of the time I went in sequence, because that's how my brain usually works, but I didn't always do this. Sometimes when I thought of any Event I needed to have, I just focused on getting it on the note card, knowing I'll figure out where is fits later.
Since each Event equated to a scene in my script, I knew I needed to have at least 70 Events to start out with. I usually tried to have 80 Events, but 70 was the bottom amount. If I didn't get to 70, I didn't feel I had enough to make a screenplay. One time I was stuck on 42 Events, so I shelved it. I probably need to pull that back out and look at it again.
Over the last 5-6 years, I've modernized this process. I no longer use paper and note cards. Instead, I do it all on the computer. There are several apps and programs that allow the same to be done. Trello is a great app to use for planning. You can insert photos and text from the web, YouTube clips, and more. It also has great collaboration abilities if you are co-writing with someone. However, I use the Beat Board tool in Final Draft, the screenwriting software I use, which we'll discuss in the second part of this post series. It literally works just like note cards, and I can move those cards around just like physical note cards. Writers are creatures of habit, so if I stumble across a newer way to do an old habit, I'm going to use it.
There are of course many other ways to map your screenplay. The important part is that this process isn’t ignored. This is where all the holes in your plot get filled, questions get answered, and problems get solved. And when you have finished this part, it is finally time to write that script.
