Rewrite Hell

Posted on October 24, 2006 | 7 Comments

I finished the first draft of my first screenplay. A great feeling.

And then, upon the advice of many experienced friends, I put it down to gain some distance. Before the rewrite.

It’s been three weeks. I put it down. [Well – I did change a few things.]

So what did I do in those three weeks? I read articles. Tons of articles on how to rewrite a screenplay.

And every article said something different. Surprise.

Start from scratch. No – follow this 18 step process. No – there are only 4 steps. No – find the problems and tune it like a car. No – fix those characters first. No – read the feedback. [This I shall do – I have at least 100 pages of good feedback.]

And then I read something –

Only make changes that will elevate your script to a new level.

Well, this is good advice.

And one more piece of good advice [thanks, Max] –

Make sure you save your old drafts.

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7 responses to “Rewrite Hell”

  1. Kitty | October 25, 2006 at 9:34 am |

    So glad you’ve joined the blogosphere. It’s a good place to go and write something else when you have put the script down and let it rest for a while.

  2. Michele | October 25, 2006 at 10:56 am |

    Thanks, Kitty.

    You’re right about that.

  3. Rochelle Smith | October 25, 2006 at 7:56 pm |

    Congratulations on your blog (wow — a blog AND “FADE OUT” — in the same year!

    Have fun!

    yours in writing,

    rochelle

  4. aj | October 26, 2006 at 2:36 am |

    Kitty’s right, it is a good place to ramble nothings.

    Nice theme choice for your blog by the way. Looks nifty.

  5. Michele | October 26, 2006 at 5:44 am |

    Thanks Roch and aj! I am having fun with it already!

  6. Chris | October 28, 2006 at 5:14 am |

    yay for FADE OUT. double yay for rewriting!

  7. Michele | October 28, 2006 at 9:23 am |

    Thanks, Chris.

    I’m not sure which is harder – the first draft or the rewrite!

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