Brill advice as ever - 'Don’t think about “what would happen,” think about “what do I want to see?”'. Outlining wise, I basically open a new script file in FD and just start writing in whatever format seems to fit, so it is basically a scriptment. I usually have to start with an ending in mind, and then its just a story dump. I go back over it a few times, adding and subtracting elements until I yell at myself to just start writing the script already. By that point I have a good base to launch the fun screenwriting from. One other thing I do is, after every outline/scriptment read, I list questions at the top of the doc which I'll then (hopefully) answer on the next sweep. I admit my ADD brain does take some persuading when it comes to switching from scriptment to script so I try to stick to a maximum number of scriptment drafts. Otherwise it'll turn in to War and Peace, and not in a good way.
This is a fantastic breakdown! (I’m currently mired in the idea-to-outline phase of a new book, and your approach feels like it might be the right blend of “fast” and “detailed enough” to get me moving again.) - thanks for sharing your process!
Love your description of the process. I’ve embraced the scriptment in the past year and found it helps me stay focused while also keeping the emotion in the storytelling in a way I find difficult with more traditional outlines. I also find writing out of order helps me a ton once those tent poles are in place.
Out of curiosity, are outlines often deliverables for paid feature jobs and if so, how do you handle those?
You're the man, Colby!! I mean, you absolutely obliterated what was my most recent and perhaps least inspired procrastination strategy ("wait for Colby's newsletter on outlining") by replying so quickly to my question... but I mean that as a MASSIVE COMPLIMENT! Feeling much better about diving into my outline/treatment now... and find it reassuring to know I'm not the only one grappling with this damned step. Thanks again!
I‘m gonna drop my insanely meticulous outline process here… it became necessary to outline like this as a TV movie writer because our turnaround times are insane and I need an extremely detailed outline to keep the wheels on the wagon. https://open.substack.com/pub/lsgreenwood/p/how-i-write-my-first-drafts-faster?r=502hzj&utm_medium=ios
Love it
Brill advice as ever - 'Don’t think about “what would happen,” think about “what do I want to see?”'. Outlining wise, I basically open a new script file in FD and just start writing in whatever format seems to fit, so it is basically a scriptment. I usually have to start with an ending in mind, and then its just a story dump. I go back over it a few times, adding and subtracting elements until I yell at myself to just start writing the script already. By that point I have a good base to launch the fun screenwriting from. One other thing I do is, after every outline/scriptment read, I list questions at the top of the doc which I'll then (hopefully) answer on the next sweep. I admit my ADD brain does take some persuading when it comes to switching from scriptment to script so I try to stick to a maximum number of scriptment drafts. Otherwise it'll turn in to War and Peace, and not in a good way.
This is a fantastic breakdown! (I’m currently mired in the idea-to-outline phase of a new book, and your approach feels like it might be the right blend of “fast” and “detailed enough” to get me moving again.) - thanks for sharing your process!
Love your description of the process. I’ve embraced the scriptment in the past year and found it helps me stay focused while also keeping the emotion in the storytelling in a way I find difficult with more traditional outlines. I also find writing out of order helps me a ton once those tent poles are in place.
Out of curiosity, are outlines often deliverables for paid feature jobs and if so, how do you handle those?
You're the man, Colby!! I mean, you absolutely obliterated what was my most recent and perhaps least inspired procrastination strategy ("wait for Colby's newsletter on outlining") by replying so quickly to my question... but I mean that as a MASSIVE COMPLIMENT! Feeling much better about diving into my outline/treatment now... and find it reassuring to know I'm not the only one grappling with this damned step. Thanks again!