I have this dilemma going on in the back of my head. I have always been failing to continue my story because of these 2 reasons:
1. Are elegant, stylish and innovative action lines required while writing? I mean, should you go deep into the details explaining each and everything in the scene because I don't think I am too strong in this particular area.
2. I always have this feeling of getting bored of my story and after a point I feel like, this story has already been told.
Do every screenwriters go through these problems or is it only me?
Kindly give me all the inputs you can because I am not a pro but trying to become one.
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No, no deep details. But you do want to try to evoke the look and mood, just sparsely.
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Don't go too deep on details, it will bog down your story and, frankly, bore your reader. White space is your friend. And if you are bored with your story, then you definitely shouldn't be writing it. However, every story has already been told, nothing is completely "original". You should feel passionate about your work and that should show in your writing and in your pitch.
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Hey, I totally feel you. I get bored of most of my ideas after spending a lot of time on them. I don't know if it's because they're bad or just because I'm not patient, or maybe both. I would advise you to leave your story aside for the moment and write another one. Maybe it wasn't THE one :)
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Also, don't read the "shooting script". These are rewrites of the original script, created to include lighting cues, extensive descriptions of set and makeup, etc ... One clue that you're reading a shooting script is numbered scenes. Projects don't start with the shooting script, they start with the screenwriter's script.
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2. Have you asked yourself why it's boring? If a story being told before was the gate between writing and publishing, then there would be a lot less to read out there.
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A draft? Just write the damn thing: lot's of time for rewrites later. 'most every story you can think of has already been told - just show me your version. If it bores you (how do think it's gonna play to a audience?), re-think it - why did it interest you in the first place? Where's your passion?
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Hey Anantha.
Since there has been some really good feedback in the comments, I thought I'd also throw in some advice based on what I've learnt over the years.
When writing action lines, keep them short and sweet. The trick is to use them to show the reader what's important.
Also, for a first draft, I'd say don't focus on writing the perfect action lines just yet. When you rewrite your script, you can sharpen them up.
Like some of the other members suggested, search online for scripts of well-known movies that have a similar tone/genre to your story. Read and study them to get a feel for how other writers would tackle their action lines.
As for your second question...
If you feel like your story has already been told, don't feel disheartened about that. Look at it this way: sure, the story you want to tell has been told, but it hasn't been told by you. Use that to your advantage. Each and every person has their own unique voice. Use yours to tell that same story in your own unique way.
Also, if your story feels boring or sluggish, try this:
Write down your story scene by scene from start to finish. Then, read through those scenes over and over and take out the scenes that feel slow or boring. Throw away the ones that aren't critical to the core of your story, and rework and rewrite the ones that are to make them propel your story forward.
Hope that helps, Anantha! Happy writing!
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There are only seven stories that could ever be told. Are you telling them originally?
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Write your "vomit pass" where you get everything out of your head. So what if you have typos, run-on sentences, too much description, and the scenes run long. Then get a hammer and chisel and cut away.