5 answers
Cheeky
Student
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Questions
Asked
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What steps do I take for scriptwriting?
Honestly so far I managed to get a script written and I'm on 2nd draft/polish. But I'm lost... What next? How do I know If it's complete? If I met all the curriculum. (P.S. Self-study student overhere).
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5 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Oh, you're in the second draft stage? That’s like being in the middle of an epic road trip—you’re not there yet, but you’re making good progress. My sister is too going onwards with her own drafts so here is what I can say.
First, give yourself a high-five for getting this far! Now, for the next step, start by reading through your script out loud. This is where the magic happens. You’ll catch awkward dialogue, pacing issues, and even plot holes that are just chilling there, waiting to be noticed. It’s like giving your script a voice check.
Then, consider feedback from others. This doesn’t mean every single person’s opinion, but find a few trusted people who get your vibe and can give constructive advice. Take it with a pinch of salt, but don’t ignore anything that feels important. Think of it like giving your script a mini makeover.
Now, to know if it’s complete—ask yourself: Does it make sense? Does it have a clear beginning, middle, and end? Do your characters evolve or get what they want by the end? And most importantly, does it feel satisfying? If you’ve hit those marks, you’re on the right track. Also ensure your characters personalities stay the way it should.
As for curriculum or structure, make sure you’ve followed the general script format (correct font, margins, etc.), and double-check that your pacing is on point—no one likes a slow scene or a rushed climax.
If it’s feeling tight and you've checked all the boxes, it’s time to start polishing the dialogue and tightening the plot holes. The hardest part is over—you're almost there! Keep tweaking, and remember that even the pros go through tons of drafts before they call it "done." You've got this, cheeky, all the best ! ✨
First, give yourself a high-five for getting this far! Now, for the next step, start by reading through your script out loud. This is where the magic happens. You’ll catch awkward dialogue, pacing issues, and even plot holes that are just chilling there, waiting to be noticed. It’s like giving your script a voice check.
Then, consider feedback from others. This doesn’t mean every single person’s opinion, but find a few trusted people who get your vibe and can give constructive advice. Take it with a pinch of salt, but don’t ignore anything that feels important. Think of it like giving your script a mini makeover.
Now, to know if it’s complete—ask yourself: Does it make sense? Does it have a clear beginning, middle, and end? Do your characters evolve or get what they want by the end? And most importantly, does it feel satisfying? If you’ve hit those marks, you’re on the right track. Also ensure your characters personalities stay the way it should.
As for curriculum or structure, make sure you’ve followed the general script format (correct font, margins, etc.), and double-check that your pacing is on point—no one likes a slow scene or a rushed climax.
If it’s feeling tight and you've checked all the boxes, it’s time to start polishing the dialogue and tightening the plot holes. The hardest part is over—you're almost there! Keep tweaking, and remember that even the pros go through tons of drafts before they call it "done." You've got this, cheeky, all the best ! ✨
Khairat Bello
Copywriter and content writer
5
Answers
Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
Updated
Khairat’s Answer
Hey, you're doing amazing! Writing a script is a huge achievement, and you're already on your second draft, which is awesome! It shows you’re putting in the work, and that's the most important part. Every writer, even the pros, go through this process of refining and improving. So, you're on the right track!
Now, let’s talk about what comes next to help you finish strong.
Finish the Second Draft: You’ve already done the first draft, which is awesome! In your second draft, make sure everything is clearer—check that the dialogue flows, and the story makes sense. Tighten up any scenes that feel slow or weak.
Check Structure: Every good script has a basic structure. This is usually a beginning (setup), a middle (conflict), and an end (resolution). Make sure your story follows this pattern. A lot of scripts follow the "three-act structure," where Act 1 introduces the story, Act 2 is where the conflict happens, and Act 3 wraps everything up.
Character Development: Ask yourself, “Do my characters change by the end of the story?” Good characters should evolve throughout the script, whether they learn something or face a challenge.
Dialogue and Subtext: Review the dialogue. Is it natural? Does it reveal something about the characters or move the story forward? Make sure characters don't just talk for the sake of talking—every line should serve a purpose.
Pacing and Timing: Look at the overall flow. Does the story move at the right speed? Is there enough tension or action to keep the audience engaged, but not too much so it feels rushed?
Feedback: It’s important to get feedback. Share the script with someone else—like a teacher, friend, or peer—and ask for their thoughts. They might notice things you missed.
Final Polish: Once you’ve addressed the feedback and made adjustments, read through the script one last time. Check for typos, grammar mistakes, and awkward phrasing.
Ask Yourself: Is the story clear? Do the characters feel real? Does the script make you feel something? If you can answer "yes" to these, you're probably close to being done!
Just remember, the process of writing a script never really feels “done” because there’s always room for improvement, but once you've followed these steps, you’ll know it's time to share your work and be proud of it!
Now, let’s talk about what comes next to help you finish strong.
Finish the Second Draft: You’ve already done the first draft, which is awesome! In your second draft, make sure everything is clearer—check that the dialogue flows, and the story makes sense. Tighten up any scenes that feel slow or weak.
Check Structure: Every good script has a basic structure. This is usually a beginning (setup), a middle (conflict), and an end (resolution). Make sure your story follows this pattern. A lot of scripts follow the "three-act structure," where Act 1 introduces the story, Act 2 is where the conflict happens, and Act 3 wraps everything up.
Character Development: Ask yourself, “Do my characters change by the end of the story?” Good characters should evolve throughout the script, whether they learn something or face a challenge.
Dialogue and Subtext: Review the dialogue. Is it natural? Does it reveal something about the characters or move the story forward? Make sure characters don't just talk for the sake of talking—every line should serve a purpose.
Pacing and Timing: Look at the overall flow. Does the story move at the right speed? Is there enough tension or action to keep the audience engaged, but not too much so it feels rushed?
Feedback: It’s important to get feedback. Share the script with someone else—like a teacher, friend, or peer—and ask for their thoughts. They might notice things you missed.
Final Polish: Once you’ve addressed the feedback and made adjustments, read through the script one last time. Check for typos, grammar mistakes, and awkward phrasing.
Ask Yourself: Is the story clear? Do the characters feel real? Does the script make you feel something? If you can answer "yes" to these, you're probably close to being done!
Just remember, the process of writing a script never really feels “done” because there’s always room for improvement, but once you've followed these steps, you’ll know it's time to share your work and be proud of it!
Punalur Chandrasekharan
Writing
2
Answers
Punalur, Kerala, India
Updated
Punalur’s Answer
Learn more
To polish a screenplay, focus on refining every aspect of your script, including story structure, character development, dialogue, pacing, and technical formatting, ensuring it is clear, engaging, and ready for professional eyes by making small, precise adjustments to elevate the overall quality of your writing.
Key aspects to focus on when polishing a screenplay:
Structure and Pacing:
Three-Act Structure: Double-check that your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end with well-defined turning points between acts.
Scene Analysis: Examine each scene individually to ensure they contribute meaningfully to the plot and character arcs, removing unnecessary scenes or tightening up overly long ones.
Plot Points: Make sure your inciting incident, mid-point turning point, and climax are impactful and propel the story forward.
Character Development:
Character Motivation: Ensure each character has clear, believable motivations and internal conflicts that drive their actions.
Dialogue: Refine dialogue to authentically reflect each character's voice, personality, and background.
Character Arc: Check that characters undergo a satisfying transformation or evolution throughout the narrative.
Dialogue:
Conciseness: Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, aiming for impactful dialogue that reveals character and moves the story forward.
Subtext: Consider the underlying meaning and emotional weight of each line to add depth to the dialogue.
Natural Rhythm: Read your dialogue aloud to ensure it sounds natural and flows well.
Technical Aspects:
Formatting: Double-check that your screenplay adheres to industry standard formatting guidelines (e.g., proper use of scene headings, action lines, character names, and dialogue).
Grammar and Spelling: Thoroughly proofread to correct any grammatical errors or typos.
Consistency: Ensure consistency in character names, locations, and other details throughout the script.
Polishing Process:
Read Aloud:
Read your script aloud to identify awkward phrasing, clunky dialogue, or pacing issues.
Get Feedback:
Share your screenplay with trusted readers or a writing group for constructive criticism and feedback.
Revisions:
Incorporate feedback, making necessary changes to improve your script.
Multiple Passes:
Go through your script multiple times, focusing on different aspects (e.g., character development in one pass, plot structure in another) to ensure a comprehensive polish.
To polish a screenplay, focus on refining every aspect of your script, including story structure, character development, dialogue, pacing, and technical formatting, ensuring it is clear, engaging, and ready for professional eyes by making small, precise adjustments to elevate the overall quality of your writing.
Key aspects to focus on when polishing a screenplay:
Structure and Pacing:
Three-Act Structure: Double-check that your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end with well-defined turning points between acts.
Scene Analysis: Examine each scene individually to ensure they contribute meaningfully to the plot and character arcs, removing unnecessary scenes or tightening up overly long ones.
Plot Points: Make sure your inciting incident, mid-point turning point, and climax are impactful and propel the story forward.
Character Development:
Character Motivation: Ensure each character has clear, believable motivations and internal conflicts that drive their actions.
Dialogue: Refine dialogue to authentically reflect each character's voice, personality, and background.
Character Arc: Check that characters undergo a satisfying transformation or evolution throughout the narrative.
Dialogue:
Conciseness: Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, aiming for impactful dialogue that reveals character and moves the story forward.
Subtext: Consider the underlying meaning and emotional weight of each line to add depth to the dialogue.
Natural Rhythm: Read your dialogue aloud to ensure it sounds natural and flows well.
Technical Aspects:
Formatting: Double-check that your screenplay adheres to industry standard formatting guidelines (e.g., proper use of scene headings, action lines, character names, and dialogue).
Grammar and Spelling: Thoroughly proofread to correct any grammatical errors or typos.
Consistency: Ensure consistency in character names, locations, and other details throughout the script.
Polishing Process:
Read Aloud:
Read your script aloud to identify awkward phrasing, clunky dialogue, or pacing issues.
Get Feedback:
Share your screenplay with trusted readers or a writing group for constructive criticism and feedback.
Revisions:
Incorporate feedback, making necessary changes to improve your script.
Multiple Passes:
Go through your script multiple times, focusing on different aspects (e.g., character development in one pass, plot structure in another) to ensure a comprehensive polish.
Hm. I am doing all these, thank you but the issue is : how do I know of I am headed to the right direction. That I am answering the questions and covering the points correctly?
Caitlyn Johnston
Senior Technical Writer
53
Answers
Odin, IL
Updated
Caitlyn’s Answer
An industry standard for this is Stage32.com. They have a ton of resources for this including workshoping and selling your script.
Sign up with Stage32.com.
Caitlyn recommends the following next steps:
Jill Lucas
Screenwriter
5
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Jill’s Answer
Second draft/polish is great!
Believe it or not, a lot of scripts go through several drafts before being fully complete. On a television or movie set, scripts can even be revised right before filming if the director, actor, or even the writer themselves feels something could be better.
1. Re-read your script and look back at your beat sheet and outline. Consider if the scenes you've written really fit the storylines you're going for. Think if the ending of your script is a good closer that will leave audiences intrigued.
2. Share your script with someone for feedback. Usually, I share my scripts with my friends that are not in the screenwriting field to get an "audience" perspective. Reading scripts can somewhat feel like watching on the screen itself. Find some trustworthy people to read your story and get a good feel for it.
3. Make any final adjustments if needed. I really do think that feedback from others is the most important part of knowing whether your script is near complete or fully complete. Again, an audience POV is extremely helpful to the process and can help you move on to your next step.
4. Submit to screenwriting contests! Make connections! Soon enough, you'll get closer to pitching your project to a production company/network.
Believe it or not, a lot of scripts go through several drafts before being fully complete. On a television or movie set, scripts can even be revised right before filming if the director, actor, or even the writer themselves feels something could be better.
1. Re-read your script and look back at your beat sheet and outline. Consider if the scenes you've written really fit the storylines you're going for. Think if the ending of your script is a good closer that will leave audiences intrigued.
2. Share your script with someone for feedback. Usually, I share my scripts with my friends that are not in the screenwriting field to get an "audience" perspective. Reading scripts can somewhat feel like watching on the screen itself. Find some trustworthy people to read your story and get a good feel for it.
3. Make any final adjustments if needed. I really do think that feedback from others is the most important part of knowing whether your script is near complete or fully complete. Again, an audience POV is extremely helpful to the process and can help you move on to your next step.
4. Submit to screenwriting contests! Make connections! Soon enough, you'll get closer to pitching your project to a production company/network.