Research - Script Writing

 Hey everybody and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be outlining my script writing process and reflecting on how I can improve it.

The Script-writing Process

Step 1 - Brainstorming

First, I brainstorm. If I'm working in a team, I'll meet up with them (usually in our TV classroom if possible) and spend some time just thinking of ideas. If anything sticks out that we think we might use or implement, I take note of it. By the end of my brainstorming time, I usually have the necessary ideas to start outlining and building around the core concept of my story.

Step 2 - Outlining

Next, I write up an outline. This is usually one of the most important steps because it will determine how I construct the rest of my script. For this step, I use Dan Harmon's Story Circle to create a "skeleton" for my script. I use the story circle to organize it into the following levels.

1. You
• This is the establishment of the setting, protagonist, and overall diegesis. This serves as the exposition for the story.
2. Need
• This is where something out of the usual occurs. This step is what nudges the story forward, and is usually where something goes wrong.
3. Go
• This step is the actual beginning of the main plot, with the main character "crossing the threshold" and entering the conflict of the story. In a romantic drama, this might be where the protagonist becomes enamored with someone and can no longer deny it, choosing to finally pursue their love interest.
4. Search
• This step is the characters journey towards their goals, described as "the road of trials." In a romantic drama, this might be them trying to get closer to their love interest while progressively learning more about them.
5. Find
• This step is where the character finds something they were looking for, gaining knowledge or opportunity through or despite the conflict. In a romantic drama, this might be where they become closer to the person they have feelings for and realize that they might feel similarly.
6. Take
• In this step, the character gains something, usually the very thing they were looking for, but has to pay a steep price. In romantic dramas, this might mean finally getting to be with the person they love, but at the cost of becoming an outcast in their family or some kind of social pariah.
7. Return
• This step is the characters journey back to their usual conditions. In a romantic drama, this could be establishing their relationship with someone and finally becoming official.
8. Change
• This is the step where the characters journey winds down and comes to an end, with them slowly settling back into a "new normal." In a romantic drama, this is simply the characters' new lives with one another.

After writing this list, I simply fill in the details and plug in my story beats. It's important to keep in mind, though, that this is just a guide, not a strict rubric. Plenty of stories subvert the story circle or even loop it multiple times. So, I generally just use this as a helpful start so that I can get right into developing my story further.

Step 3 - Creating a Rough Draft

Now that my outline is complete and I have an established path for my story to take, I'll create a rough draft of my script. Usually I'll do this in something like Google Docs and then transfer it to KIT Scenarist later, but sometimes I'll just start in Scenarist right away. This is one of the simpler steps, because it's really just writing until my story is finished. This is honestly one of the easier steps, even if it's one of the more time consuming, because all the choices and preparation was already finished earlier.

Step 4 - Finalizing the Script

Once my rough draft is complete, I go back and proofread it. If I'm writing with someone else, we'll both go over it an check for plot-holes, inconsistencies, gaps in logic, and anything else that needs immediate attention. After that, I'll go back and fix all the grammar, spelling, and make sure that it's in proper script format. Scenarist does this automatically which is why I usually use it.

Reflection

Having my process written out like this is really useful because it basically acts like a checklist for me to run through during the scriptwriting process. When I begin script-writing, I'll use this blog post as a reference of what I have to do to make sure I complete every step. I can also share this with Tejal so that we're better in sync regarding our writing.

That's all for today's blog! Stay tuned and see you next time!