Screenwriting : When Planning Takes Over Writing by Bartosz Koliński

Bartosz Koliński

When Planning Takes Over Writing

Hi everyone. Today I want to tell you about something hilarious about my work.

So, at the beginning of the projects I always have some plans for the first step. But almost every time I get so excited about the idea that I spend my time planning like four seasons in one evening, instead of writing.

I found this quite funny and, at some point, organized.

Do you guys have similar situations?

Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Bartosz Koliński. I spend hours and days outlining a feature script or TV series. I like it because if I have a detailed outline, it's easier for me to write and rewrite the script.

Bartosz Koliński

Hi Maurice Vaughan. I also like planning. I just can't write if there's a blank spot in the plot plan. That sometimes makes me spend weeks daydreaming about my plot ideas and I like that.

Maurice Vaughan

I'm the same way, Bartosz Koliński. I still leave room for things to change in the script though.

Bartosz Koliński

Maurice Vaughan. Well, I personally prefer to have most things decided, but there are some things that I leave open. Most of my ideas have a beginning and an end, but only those which are most important for the plot. The rest remain open because there is room for possible changes. For example, sometimes I like to change the entire personality of a character to make them more engaging.

Jim Cushinery

100%!

Matthew Thompson

I’m a little unique. I write without a plan or a structure. I have too much ADHD going on. I formulate a general idea, just start writing, and somehow it just magically comes together and I don’t even know how. The downfall to this though… 1) when I’m in the zone I hyper fixate and will not stop. I can write a full feature in a week. 2) if I’m not hyper fixating, I can’t write. I’m too easily distracted. Once I lose interest in the slightest I stall. (current situation).

I have a full feature almost wrote and I’m missing a much needed scene in the middle. Sometimes I write backwards. I wrote the whole first act, then I wrote the middle climax ending scene, After that I started writing backwards to match the climax. Then I stalled because the whole movie is based over one day. I have one location and all the jokes and characters and scenes were starting to feel repetitive and it’ll be boring.

Jim Cushinery

Matthew Thompson you are not alone with the ADHD. In my case, I keep multiple Final Draft files open and bounce between them as needed. Then I’ll hear a sound outside, or the phone will ring, or I’ll remember I left wet laundry in the washer, or a girl I had a crush on in my childhood will pop into my head and I’m compelled to hunter her down on social media, or I’ll pick up a guitar and write a verse for an unfinished song, or…

CJ Walley

I once completely rebuilt a toilet while supposed to be writing.

Michael Dzurak

A few months ago, I made a pitch deck for a previous project while I was on my self-alotted time to be doing a redrafting of another.

Juliana Philippi

Bartosz Koliński Soooooo yeah........when I force something to happen, my heart is cut off from ANY true connection with that story, and I end up doing some of the following: laundry, watching a movie when I am supposed to be writing, eat, make myself feel bad about not writing, which makes it so much worse. Thus, I have completely given into the soft, intuitive approach, of being an artist. Writing is art, acting is art, and when I view my days as an artist, since I am free flowing, structures appear, but the right ones, that I trust, and then, well...the rest is found on the page ; )

Libby Wright

Very relatable!

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