I have written six completed screenplays. Two of which has received some notice. One has finished well in competition and the other has been well reviewed. However, after countless rewrites I've hit a point where I can't look at these two scripts anymore. This has forced me to start new projects just to keep myself writing. Now I'm in a position where I'm completely overwhelmed. Now does one continue to keep writing into an oblivion? Or does one focus solely on rewrites with the stories he/she's been the most successful with?
Screenwriting : Dealing with multiple projects... by Mark William Chambers
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Don’t continuously rewrite because it will never end if you do. When you reach a stage where you are happy with your draft, move on to another project while trying to promote your completed one. If you receive feedback indicating it needs to change then do so, but it sounds like you’ve already passed that stage. Your rate of progression and learning will slow if you just concentrate on what you have already completed but by moving on to your next project your writing will improve at a better rate. Maybe your completed scripts are good but there’s just no market for them right now. If you’ve exhausted the avenues to promote them then put them aside and move on.
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Write new stuff. The average pro writer wrote 9 screenplays before making a cent. I was average.
Thanks Pierre! This is completely true, the more you write the better you get. I've also noticed as I take on new projects the stories I've written prior are being fixed subconsciously. So I can always go back and tie in important subplots or add a little more character development. However, that's my problem, I never think it's actually finished. Thank you for your input. I enjoy starting something fresh and new. It's the rewrites that kill ya, but yet inevitable.
Thanks William! I will take that into consideration.
But William when you say nine drafts, how many rewrites are we talking on each one? Can't you get a great story by say the third script? A few rewrites there, do six more fresh first drafts, then come back to it because it was the most well liked?
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That 9 scripts that were rewritten a few times (they didn't ask how many drafts, so I don't know the average on that... but not 9 first drafts - nobody thinks it's done after the first draft). But every new story has different problems so that you learn new things, and it seems the average professional writer wrote 9 different feature scripts before making any money. I know I probably did an average of 3 drafts on each of my 9 scripts (some more, some less... some many more). Because 9 is an average, some people probably broke in after writing 1... which screwed up everyone else!
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I agree with Wiiliam, start new stuff. I just finished rewrite 5 or so of my latest and I am so sick of it. I have officially set it aside for now while I work on a tv pilot and the script my boyfriend and I are doing together.
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William and Pierre are so right! I used to get caught in the same trap. Kept working on one script over and over past the first draft. Let it go. Move on to the next one. You may find by working on a new script it could help you see fixes to make in the one you set aside a few weeks ago. The more scripts you write, the easier it can be to go back and polish up the ones you felt needed work.
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Good advices here... I personally don't rewrite a script unless I have received a request to do so (for a possible development), or because I've received the coverage that I've paid for and/or something like a year has passed since the last time I've touched it. Working hard on your outline, and taking time off, is a good thing to prevent a few rewrites. But I do feel for you, there's nothing worse than a rewrite on a script you can't stand anymore. It usually goes away with time.
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I'm in the same boat. I'm writing 10 screenplays, and will be writing 20 more. but that's not the precarious piece of this perplexing problem. I side write a series of books, at the same time. But I see that doing this really interferes with the fire that I can put into completing the screenplay. So I will have to finish with the book series for now and focus, focus, focus on finishing all 30 screenplays. I want to produce it myself or find producers that won't curb, water down, or dilute my vision. What help me was just abandoning writing all together, for a week. I immersed myself in classical music and watching movies I never seen before. This helps me get clarity and focus. Just take a writing break.
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Thanks for the sound advice everyone.
Until u sell a screenplay for real $$$, the scripts are worthless. thats my 2cents.
I wouldn't go as far as calling them worthless. From a financial standpoint yes, but the invaluable learning experience you gain from writing for a long steady period of time is invaluable. People who are only in it for the money are doomed to fail.
Huh? People write for money. that's being a professional
Thanks Dan. I appreciate your input.
Dan, that's what I call "staying power" - you have to hang in there and keep going! What you did was creating and building your "script library." I'm sure that during this time (building your script library) you didn't quit your day job under the illusion that you're going to sell your first screenplay! LOL OK. This is the back story (of your screenwriting career) - how it all started, you slogged it out (for years). Now give us ACT TWO and ACT THREE -the climax?!