Screenwriting : November Write Club Goal by Cyrus Sales

I love these goals, Cyrus Sales! I’m so excited for you to be at the beginning of this new chapter. I have no doubt that you’re going to figure it out. My best advice is to sit down and start typing out the first idea that pops into your head. Don’t overthink it. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t convince yourself that it isn’t good enough. Just get it out on paper and then move onto the next idea. Type out a few different concepts for what your first social media video script can be about. Then walk away for a few hours or the night and come back to it the next day. The idea that you’re most excited about after some rest, is the one you should keep working on and playing with first. The other ideas may be great videos to come back to down the line.

Just get through that first draft Cyrus Sales! Don't go back and revise what you already have, just keep moving forward and create an entire draft, beginning middle and end, even if it's very, very rough. Then you can go back and fine tune that draft!

We're glad to have you in the Screenwriting Lounge, Cyrus Sales! That's great that you're writing your first script! I think I remember the first script I wrote. It might've been my second script though. It was like an ancient Greek version of Power Rangers. It was really bad, but I learned from writing it.

My piece of advice is to outline your script first. It might make writing the script easier. Some writers prefer to jump right into the script without outlining though. I'm rooting you on to reach your goal!

Cyrus Sales don’t do it Cyrus. It will lead to a life of misery away from your writing desk and like a god creating worlds whilst you are at it! ;-) It may drive you mad. If you can handle that dichotomy, then yeah, go for it.

Just try a little free-style writing at first and see what pops on the page and then follow that thread.

Hi Cyrus Sales!! I found using my cell phone voice recorder the best and easiest way to get that first idea out into the universe (speak it into existence). The best advice I got was from my actress friend. She said, "Read stories or novellas," because ideas come from other ideas. The brain has an analytical side and a creative side. (I'm betting you're more analytical) just by your post. That's why it feels so overwhelming (is it a good idea? Am I writing it correctly? I can't think of what comes next?) We've all faced this at one time or another! Next, decide what genre it will be. Pseudo-documentary? Drama? Comedic? will it be situational events? A tragic story?

I found it best to create a situation from a simple scenario! Like so...

BEGINNING: A man walks to the store. Simple right? Now give him trauma:

An angry, grieving man walks to the store. Now let's give him a situation.

Suddenly, A car skids to a stop, and 4 men jump out with knives and guns!

MID-POINT: Now let's give him a cliffhanger: The grieving man dispatches three of the men, but before the 4th man dies he tells him where they kidnapped his daughter and that she will die in 16 mins.

ENDING: Now let's give him an awesome finale: The man breaks into the store, and finds his daughter tied up in a frozen meat locker with only minutes before she freezes to death. Now you can flesh out the story because you have a Beginning, midpoint and a finale!

Hello, Cyrus Sales! Nice to meet you! Undertaking a different chapter than what we are used to can be daunting indeed. Fortunately, you have the Stage 32 community to rally around you. November is a long month, and you can get a lot of writing done during it, but more importantly, November Write Club can instill some great habits and practices in your future writing. I have some great writing tools if you would like them. Email me at mezes73@sbcglobal.net

Cyrus Sales Embrace originality and don't just do things because everyone else does. Re social media, if you need someone to help you navigate this space, hit me up in the DMs.

Cyrus Sales Are you a pat of any animation groups? That's a good way of starting out in storytelling.

If you're not coming to this with stories to tell, maybe you should consider something else.

Ashley Renee Smith this is great advice! I do think I've master the art of overthinking (working on that) lol This also seems like a great beginner step. I tend to jump straight into the deep in with feeling like I have to write a full script, this is very much the ambitious side of me. With writing down the concept I feel like it's going to take a lot of the pressure off and make the experience more enjoyable. I'm going to use this advice as my night time exercise tonight (just jump right?) Thank you, I look forward to sharing the concepts and which one I ultimately end up going with.

Nick Phillips thank you, I feel like this is a great next step to what Ashley mentioned about getting the concept out. A building block on where to go next, I think this would help with eliminating analysis paralysis.

Maurice Vaughan I chuckled, I wasn't expecting you to say your script was bad. Took me by surprise lol. I will say though, as someone who grew up and went as a Power Ranger for Halloween (more often than I'd like to admit), the ancient Greek version of Power Rangers sounds interesting. With outlining the script, would you recommend this as a step in between Nick and Ashley? How do you outline your scripts?

Geoff Hall I think you may be right, this journey seems too treacherous. A life of misery and sorrow, what if ... what if I do go mad?? :)

I wouldn't mind doing more free handwriting. I feel like this is something that can be worked into my routine. A little break from the craziness of the day and a more productive way to spend my free time when I do take a break. Little ways at refining my skills. Thank you!

DD Myles YOU ROCK! This was an amazing breakdown. I use my voice recording mainly when I have a music idea, never thought to use it for screenwriting. I would like to get back to reading more fiction stories. Normally, yes, I tend to lean more into my analytic side, although the creative side is itching to come alive.

Your breakdown truly helps with making this process more feasible and less daunting. Before it was "write a script," which is too broad. This is a simple and digestible process to follow. Going to use this once I get through the concept phase.

John Mezes everyone here has been amazing so far. November Writing Club came at the perfect time. Been doing research and getting a better understanding at terms, concepts, etc but would draw a blank every time I sat down. Which would eventually lead to frustration. I posted this thread and within the hour I've gotten great tips and found direction on which way to go. Thank you for sharing your contact info, I also sent a request to get connected.

My first attempt at screenwriting was 140 pages and made every mistake you can make as screenwriter. Then I went to a couple of seminars read several screenwriting books and screenplays that gave me the information to write properly. Then I used workshops and contests for feedback. The feedback inspired me to continue to write not just rewrite but write new stuff. I now have have a portfolio that I am proud of. Find a topic that means something to you. And that's step one.

Debbie Elicksen something I've been working to bring out more. My own authenticity and originally, I'll take this as confirmation to keep moving forward with that mindset. I sure will, thank you.

Anthony McBride yes. That's the plan. Outside of creating my own content for my personal social. Looking at creating more animation, would like to be able to come up with script ideas even if it's shorts on social.

Drongo Bum trust me I have ... plenty of times lol If I'm being honest and transparent I'm sure there will be moments this month where I will want to quit and consider doing something else. I'll think that I'm horrible and will question why I would pick such a foolish thing to do. I will compare, critique and criticize myself and between you, me and everyone else that reads this, the script is probably going to be bad and that's okay. I'm new, I'm here, I don't know everything but I have an army of stage 32 members eager to give advice, tips and encouragement. In this single thread I went from staring at a blank piece of paper to now being able to take action and that's something to cheer for. There's also several checkpoints throughout the week and month to get back rooted and find encouragement and guidance throughout this new journey.

Philip Naiman thank you for sharing your experience with me. 140 pages is an insane concept to me. I'm happy to see the first page, 139 more is... wow. That in itself is impressive (even if you did make every mistake possible, we live and learn right?.) I can only imagine what your time as a screenwriter has been like. Seminars, contest, a lot of ah-ha moments and I'm sure it's own share of challenges but you now have a portfolio you are proud of and can offer advice to someone who is more than likely going to break every rule this month.

Cyrus Sales you’ve got it, Cyrus. I find that when I’m not even thinking of settling down to do some serious writing, I may pick up my notebook and doodle for a while. It may have to do with a current project, or a thought may come to me and whilst I’m not sure what or who it’s for, I’ll start to write it down and see where it leads. For me, this has become all part of the process. May it work for you as well.

My two cents: persistence breeds possibility. Similar to Philip Naiman, my first draft of my 2nd ever script, Griffin Force, clocked in at 163 pages. Now after 2 years of rewrites and notes, it's at 119, meaning it can be possibly (and reasonably) floated around.

Cyrus Sales Ashley said, "My best advice is to sit down and start typing out the first idea that pops into your head. Don’t overthink it. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t convince yourself that it isn’t good enough. Just get it out on paper and then move onto the next idea." Yeah, that's basically what I do when I outline. I'm getting the idea out of my head onto the screen, then I rewrite the outline to figure out things in the story and think of new things. Here's a template for outlining feature scripts I came up with: www.stage32.com/profile/811418/Screenplay/Outline-Template-for-Feature-S...

Geoff Hall I'm going to work your advice into a noon time slot. Sit down to decompress and write. Whatever comes, comes. Again, thank you for the advice.

Michael Dzurak I applaud y'all for getting over 100+ pages for your scripts. I'll get there one day. As I learn more about the process of screenwriting I realize it isn't a sit down and BOOM script is done and ready to be sent off. It takes time and refining before it's ready to be shared with others.

Maurice Vaughan I checked out the link. I'm technically working right now but once I get done with the day I'm going to take the concept and use the template you shared for outlining. It's cool to see this process start to come together, especially after sitting on the sidelines confused for so long. All the advice from everyone has been extremely helpful.

Cyrus Sales you are welcome, Cyrus.

Cyrus Sales and please let us know how you get on with that practice, Cyrus. It’s good to start work without the pressure of having to write for a definitive project.