Writing the Second Screenplay

Wednesday 10/28/09 time 4:12 PM

A long, long, time ago I ran a half marathon. I ran a half marathon to prove to myself that impossible things are possible. You see, at the time, I was starting to feel that my dream of being a screenwriter was nuts. Crazy. Impossible. And so, I trained. And one cold, rainy day in November, I ran the Seattle Half Marathon. I got a medal and one of those tin foil blankets. I felt awesomely super-human, because frankly, I'm no runner.

Now the good news is that I proved to myself that the impossible is possible. And the impossible did happen screenplay-wise. But the bad news is that I didn't run again for six months.

So why am I telling you all this?

Lots of people achieve the impossible. They write a first draft original screenplay. It's a monumental task. For all the people who say they are "working on a screenplay" only a fraction ever cross the finish line to write FADE OUT.

But the effort of that first draft, the commitment, the time away from friends and interests and TV has been almost too much. And so, the first-time screenwriter takes a break. And the break turns into months and pretty soon it's years. Before you know it, the screenplay books are in a box at the garage sale. Sigh...

Mark and I know this. We know it's hard to keep working. That's why we cooked up some Advance Classes. Because we hope people will continue to write. And we know that we can get you hooked so that when you're driving in your car, or walking your dog you'll actually be thinking about how the bank robbers could use art supplies to bust open the safe. Isn't that the GREATEST feeling? Nobody knows that you're cracking a scene. It'll be our little secret.

A few weeks ago we had our first workshop. We loved it. Former students, many of whom admitted they hadn't really stayed "in shape" for another big race, laced up and got going on brilliant new ideas for screenplays. One screenwriter told us: "I feel inspired! Mark and Mary's class was just the injection of creativity I needed." Mark and I are thrilled!

November 21st we'll have another workshop. This one is about perfecting the Step Outline. Again, our past students know that if they wrestle that bad-boy to the ground; if they make their idea work structurally. If the hero is active, if the world is interesting, if the laws of the genre are followed, they will have the blueprint they need to get through the first draft.

I like to think of it as an expedition. If you bring the right stuff, pack your backpack right; then it's just one foot after the other through that first draft. That's why the Step Outline is so very important. Step by step...

Tips for Global Creative Screenwriters

Friday 10/9/09 time 11:57 AM

Last year I needed to do some research on "giftedness". It turns out there's different kinds of giftedness. Like there's the person who does calculus at five. We'd all agree she's gifted, right?

But then there's the person who can take a moment and turn it into an epic story. Or someone who spends all day wondering the "why" of something. Are these people gifted? Or just odd? Society seems to be split on this one!

But experts call these folks GLOBAL CREATIVES.

Screenwriting classes are full of Global Creatives.

Global Creatives sign up for screenwriting classes because they have lots of amazing ideas. They've usually read piles of books on screenwriting. They've started a screenplay or two. But they've never finished.

When it comes to teaching screenwriting, I consider myself more of an Outward Bound guide than anything else. My job is to get people through the ropes course. To help them find the will and tenacity to keep going so that they won't fail.

Here's the thing: One of the qualities associated with being brilliant and creative (like so many screenwriting students I have known) is that you often have (maybe just a little bit of) ADD. As a result, Global Creatives need to work at not getting distracted. 

If you're a Global Creative and/or a screenwriting student, I have some tips for you:

1. Get off the internet. Really. Go somewhere that doesn't have wifi. The web will take anywhere you want to go, except for that magical place where you write FADE OUT on your screenplay.

2. Leave your script at the front of your screen when you take breaks or stop writing for the day. This way, when you return to your computer guess what you see first? Oh yeah! Your screenplay!

3. While you're in the middle of writing your screenplay, you will get a better idea. Trust me, you'll believe this idea is so wonderful that you MUST stop writing what you're working on now, and immediately begin the new thing. THIS IS A MIRAGE. Keep working on the first script. I know it's hard. Keep going. 

I have more tips, but I'm not going to tell them to you today. Why? Because you're brilliant, you're creative, and you really need to get back to your screenplay!