Writing A Film Script Is A Thin Line Between Love And Hate

Coming up with a movie idea and writing a script treatment are what I like to call the honeymoon phase of screenwriting. You’re excited with the newness of the story you want to tell. That newness slowly begins to fade as you prepare to dig in to write. If you’re a newcomer to screenwriting it’s like your first marriage. How do I make it through this?

Formatting Your Script

First off your movie script should look like a real movie script. If you can afford screenwriting software get it before you put one word to paper. All the formatting is done for you freeing up your mind to focus on writing a script instead of dealing with formatting issues. I currently use Final Draft 7 and love it. If you’re going to run a marathon you would buy cool running shoes. Same thing with writing a script. Get cool screenwriting software because writing a script is a marathon. Moving on from formatting.

There Is No Right Or Wrong Way To Work On Your Script

I like to work alone without a writing partner. If you’re going solo writing your script, prepare yourself for a lot of late nights inside your own head. No one will be there to brainstorm with or motivate you. If you do not see yourself as the self-motivated type look into finding a writing partner to work with. It’s like a marriage, so make sure it’s the right person or you’ll drive each other crazy. Remember it’s thin line between love and hate when writing.

Some screenwriters like to schedule a block of time each day to work on their script. Some lock themselves in a room weeks on end. There’s no right or wrong way to work on a script in my opinion as long as you are making progress and are happy with what’s being written on the page.  

When I get into writing a script I can write 10 hours or more a day losing track of time. I don’t have a set writing schedule. I work hard when I feel the story flowing, pull back when I hit a block, and sometimes don’t touch the script for a few days. Your life situation will often dictate how you work on your script. I know writers that work on their scripts before going to work or after the kids have gone to bed. What you feel works best for you is the path to follow. Creativity can be found anywhere when you’re in the right frame of mind to write.

Hitting The Wall

Marathon runners sometimes experience fatigue where they feel like they can’t go any further. It’s called “hitting the wall.” Sometimes screenwriters experience “hitting the wall” on a mental level. The newness of the script has worn off. You’re feed up with your story, what you’ve written, and tired of looking at this script that never seems to be what you want it to be. Maybe you could have been more prepared before coming? Maybe there is something else you can do as a writer to save your relationship with your script? Or do you walk away?

Learn more about writing and making movies by picking up The First Movie is the Toughest: A Filmmaker’s Story Of How It Was Done available at Amazon.com