(Alyn on Screenwriting) If you think you remember what you wrote yesterday, you’re wrong. If you think you remember the mood you were in and the attitude you had toward writing that last scene, you’re wrong. Every day is a new day and every day you sit down to write you are a new you. It’sbasic human nature. You need to recapture the person who’s writing again, before you continue. You need to be the you who was there writing when you left off. The easiest way to achieve that is by re–reading. Every day as you sit down to begin writing again, re–read what you wrote the day before. Or back up two days and re–read from there. Re–read it a few times, or a dozen if you have to. This act of reviewing the past day’s work will usually get you back to where you were. And, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. It may seem funny to think of yourself as being someone or somewhere else, but as the world intrudes it takes some of you with it, and some days, you can be a whole world away. That’s not the best way to write a script. You need to be in the work the same way every day. The ability to do that, to get back to where you were, is what sets great writers apart from just average ones. (From my book "The Script")
Screenwriting : Review Before You write... by Alyn Darnay
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So true. As writers we have to constantly re-evaluate our work. But we forget exactly what we wrote, and as your comment states, we have changed a little.
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Well said.
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It's become habit. I suppose because I took the extra step and brought others into the creative process for my last script, I got in the habit of self editing. But maintaining the balance between review, and regret for my creative process took time. I had to allow things to drift in and out of my scripts like flotsam on the ocean. Though being my own worst critic, I also find that I know my work best. Balance... perspective... and patience. Not every day is a writing day... and every idea has merrit.
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The sad thing is, I'll re read what I wrote, and when I'm done, I'm convinced I've done enough work for the day...
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Interesting take on things. I might be a bit different and definitely not saying you don't have good points or are wrong. When I'm not writing I'm in the mind of my characters a lot, however when I sit down to write all that leaves and I'm just writing but then I re-read what you posted and that's kind of the same thing. LOL! Seriously though re-reading is great and a neccesity just don't do it so much you can't or don't progress. At least that's what I think. Michael L. Burris "I want to believe nothing is pointless"