Hello all!
Feels like I've been away from this blog for a long time. Sorry about that. BUT I did just finish my 28th spec. script; the raunchy romantic comedy that completes the So Go Back & Get Her franchise with So Go Back & Get Him.
So Go Back & Get Her - 2020
Kathy Smith Conquers Duboose High School - 2021
So Go Back & Get Him - 2022
WGAw and U.S. Copyright protection is done. So Go Back and Get Him is ready to show -- in Lit Expression .
E.C Henry hath completed another script -- sound the bugle!
This post, however is about a tenant of screenwriting that I strongly believe in. That's being "writing long". Writing long means when you a writer puts out a first draft it has a page count that's much higher that that excepted norms. Some people might see that as a bad sign. I, however, think first drafts should be long. I say this because as you edit, usually you want to be parsing out flat sections and coming up with more evocative sentences.
When you write a story, you: as the writer; are always thinking about the ending. How long's it going to be till I get there? How big is my page count? Is this in an acceptable range? When you harbor secret fears like that, there is a temptation to set a mental, page count threshold point where you consider yourself "done". After all these scripts I've written I face that temptation all them time. In doing this so long you know the ins and outs of writing, and grueling the editing process can be. It takes a lot of tenacity and inner fortitude to fight past this area of human weakness and fight to put out the best art you're capable of doing.
Hey, I'll be the first to admit. I have my limits too. You can only look at the same thing for so long before it becomes a grind.
BUT if you write long you're actually helping your art become the best it can be. Why? Because you'r expanding the possibility of what could exist, and allowing the choice to be made for what good and should stay, and what's flat and bloated; and should be cut.
Taste will always factor into whether or not a story ends up being "good" or "bad" when critiqued by others. If a writer has bad taste, it's not going to matter how long they write. A bad writer can't distinguish between what's got some life to it, and when they're pounding a square box in a round hole.
There's gotta be something good in there, somewhere!
I've cut a lot of material when I edit. I think that's normal for making movies too, as I've watched lots of DVDs that had the extras that were cut and didn't make it into the theatrical release.
Don't be afraid to write long, then edit back for a stronger story.
That's the moral of this post.
So what's next for ol' E.C. Henry?
Well-p, I'm going back to Thars, baby! Time to finish the book series and subsequent screenplay adaptations. Also have my eye on writing a coming-of-age ANIMATED script. Need to do a little marketing of my script too. Going to update and send in to Custom Ink a couple designs for promo shirts, as the last time I did this was like 5 years ago. Time for new ones. Will probably re-up with Scribophile and try to connect with novelist there too. I let my premium membership lapse as I was knee deep in Gravesite Crows, then The Beautiful Kingdom, then So Go Back & Get Him. There's also a local "International House of Storytellers" an exit away from where I work so I need to check that out. The people at the Lamplight Theater never got back with me so I'm starting to think nothing will come of that. Oh, well; at least I tried! It's real hard to connect with your fellow creatives as we're all out there chasing our dreams.
So, I'm still here. Will try to improve my visibility and post more on this site. Just realize I have a day job, and family obligations which compete for my time.