For me, E.C. Henry, there are several distict steps in writing a screenplay. Recently I've been engrossed in what I call "final pass line editing." This is the last step in writing a script, and by far the most tedious.
So what is "final pass line editing?" Well-p that's the stage in script's developement where you go over and over the script you've written line by line and look for ways you can improve the read of your script.
Things you look for when doing a final pass line edit of a script:
- Typos
- Succulent sentences
- Consistency
- Pacing
- Final check for proper screenplay formatting
Typos. Check the spelling of words. Mabye trade out word and go for some slang to add some spice. One good place to go for slang is here.
Succulent sentences. This is where you go over and over, then over and over again to test each sentence of your script so make sure you're using as few words as necessary, YET still have vivid descriptions that captivate the mind of the reader. Remember any one paragraph of description SHOULD be 5 lines or less. Writing good paragrahs of description is the hardest part of screenwring. Slug lines, transitions, and even dialog pale in comparison. How you write paragraphs of description is where your money is made. And is by far the most challenging part of screenwriting once you've mastered the basics.
Writing succulent sentences in paragraphs of descrition begins with the subject of the shot, ie what the camera will be filming during this segment, then what follows is the action that should take place in that segment.
Consistancy. This means several diffrent things to me. First off their is character consistancy; making sure the reader of your script can tell who the characters are, and that they don't change names without that being properly handled in the script. Also their is slug line consistancy; making sure the same locations are writen the same each time you go back to them in a script. It is very easy to slightly alter a scene description that is sprinkled in several differnent spots in a script. You want to avoid that.
Pacing. Using the length of sentences and word selection to build towards solicting the desired feeling from a reader when they read your script. In comedy ofter this takes the form of cutting down your dialog, and removing unneccary explainations. When re-wrting I TRY to remember that the reader is no dummy; he or she has a brain and can put two and two togethter. All you have to do is lead them in the right way, then trust that a normal human being can interprit what you've written.
Final check for proper formatting. Check master scene slug lines. Pare them down if you can. A lot of the time additonal qualifiers can be done on the first line of description following a master scene call-out. Also try to eliminate unnessary transitions.
For me the art of the final pass rewrite is a total grind. It's a lot of work. I can EASILY spent 4-6 hours line editing in one sitting. It is very engrossing. And. Is. A lot. Of. Work. Anyone who tells you and differently is full of shit. I remember at a writing seminar one published author said that was her favorite part of writing. But now after having done this on 16 scripts, I shake my head at that. Sure, it's a relief that have ac complete draft of a story you've written before you, but editing is a lot of work. Sure final pass line editing is necessary, and it may be the place where your readers marvel over what you've written -- but it's a grind. It's a lot of hard work. I work so hard at this phase that by the time I'm done, I'm totally burned-out. And after final pass line editing I need a 1-2 week break from wrtiting just to recover. As when I write I pour my whole heart and soul into it. I'm very passionate about delivering the highest form of art I can. You may not like what I've written, or found errors or whatever, but that doesn't mean I didn't give it my all. I did. I work very hard at putting out the best story possible.
Well-p. Last Monday, I completed my latest round of mastering the art of the final pass re-write and mailed out my latest completed spec. script entitled, "Puppies? Puppies?! Puppies!!!" to my guy in L.A. Can't wait to hear what he's got to say about it. Here's what my CD cover art for "Puppies? Puppies?! Puppies!!!"
What do you think?
Sorry for not posting more. My goal is to do 2 posts a week. One small one -- sometime during the week: Monday-Thursday, and one larger, content based post on Saturday or Sunday. These last couple of weeks I've really been working my ass off trying to wrap up "Puppies" while at the same time putting in 12-14 hours a day at the day job. Yikes! I know. Most nights I come home totally shot. But that's life, I guess. At least I have a job...
Creatively what's next for yours truely is plotting out a new dark, urban drama. It's my follow-up to the "Judas Project." My goal is to have that ready to show to my guy in mid-September when I go to the 2011 Screenwrting Expo. I'm also going to work on carding up a couple other stories in my mind that I want to write screenplays for.
AND before the Expo rolls arround I also want to have pitches ready for all the scripts I'm trying to sell. Do a new promo board, AND design some new E.C. Henry: the screenwriter; promotional tee shirts. So yeah, over the next 2 1/2 months I'm going to be a busy boy. But when I get to L.A. I can't wait to party. Look me up. I'll have a lot money on hand, and I'll be ready to buy drinks and come into the aquintence of some of L.A. prettiest girls...
The next content based post I'm going to write will be entitled; "The Art of Pitching -- Now Shit me some Gold Bricks!"
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