Finished your first draft? 6 things to do next!
Screenwriting matters: You've just finished your first draft. The moment may leave you elated, anxious, eager, worn out ... After your writing marathon, what now?
1. Party time!
Who’s kidding who - everybody has ideas. Everybody says “that would make a great movie” and just a tiny few of the world’s population will ever actually muster up the discipline and stamina to get to that magical FADE OUT moment. You’ve done it! You’ve finished a screenplay - it may be amazing, it may be crap, it doesn’t matter! You are on the move, your journey as a screenwriter is actually happening. This is the moment to treat yourself, get yourself a present, get laid, get drunk, buy yourself a Wolverine statue - do some of that, all of that or none of that but pick something - you definitely deserve it.
2. Do not touch it!
For the next two weeks, you will not look at it. You will not think about it. You will completely avoid all the things that might tune your brain into that story. The best way to do this goes hand in hand with #1 for me - I treat myself. I treat myself to stories - I watch a ton of movies, I read books, I gobble up articles - all the stuff I’ve had to neglect for a while. Not only will all of that activity keep me away from my first draft, it also fuels my writer soul - shows me what’s out there, gives me fresh ideas. And “do not touch it” also means notes. If any thoughts enter your mind - don’t bother. You’re still too close to it - your notes aren’t even remotely useful. Forest for the trees and all that.
3. Hello old friend!
It’s two weeks later. You’ve left it, you’ve not touched it, you’ve not shown it to anyone. It’s still there, safe, waiting for you. Now read it - and read it in one go. It’s a movie you’re reading so don’t take breaks - sit through it as your audience would. Done? OK, then what did you feel? No details, please! Just write down notes about the sense you had, where did you feel strongly, who grabbed you the most, where did you get goose bumps? Done? Now read it again, go deep, details, notes, notes and more notes.
4. Still get goose bumps? Show it!
You notice that I haven’t mentioned anything about rewriting yet. That’s because it’s too soon. You’re not a hermit, you’re not alone. There are people in this world - let them help you! BUT - all you have in your hand is a first draft so don’t even think about showing it to professionals yet (agents, managers, directors, producers, even actor friends) - all off limits for now. Face it - if you show them your first draft burst of joy - they’ll think less of you, it has a direct impact on the career you may or may not have some day. When I say “show it” with regard to the first draft, I mean trusted friends outside the business. That’s your partner, your best friend, your neighbor, the guy at the grocery store - it doesn’t matter. Just let them read it and don’t bug them with “please give me written notes.” All you want from them is their sense - same as you did for yourself. What did they feel? What did they like? What stood out? What did they not get? What did they hate? There’s no right or wrong in their answers - do not argue your intentions - your readers are right, regardless of what their feedback is, it’s worth thinking about.
5. Yes, writing is rewriting!
Don’t you hate that? I do. But hey, it’s a fact - I’ve been at it for more than twenty years and boy is it ever true. Sometimes you get lucky - it’ll be three or four drafts until they go into production. And sometimes it’s ten drafts and then you get fired... ya never know. But I digress - back to your next draft. You’ve now taken 2-3 weeks of time to do everything BUT focus on your undoubtedly brilliant first draft, right? Right!? OK then, now use every bit of feedback and rewrite the damn thing. Do what it takes - even if it means killing most of your darlings. That’s where the amateur and the professional part ways - the amateur will have the hardest of times to let go of something - the pro will just copy it into another folder and think “Cool, something for another story.” The amateur lingers and despairs, the pro gets on with it. It’s called screenwriting, not screenlingering. Wanna be a writer? Write.
6. Friends will be friends, if...
...you don’t abuse them. That’s why, when you think about showing your script to professionals you personally know, be aware of that very fact. They are pros, they see scripts on a daily basis - the impression you make here can make connections for life - and it can also burn bridges. You want them to think of yourself as a professional, too. Which is why, to these guys, you’ll show them not your first but your third draft. Once you’ve done the above twice over, once you’ve polished and formatted and spell-checked a thousand times. And you’ll do yourself a massive favor if you hand them something with a page count of 105 or less. Their feedback may be positive, it may also be devastating. But they’ll remember you’ve done the work, that you’ve not wasted their time. Again, take all on board and get back to rewriting!
Bonus tip
Whenever I get “difficult” feedback with any of the later drafts I hate it as much as the next guy. What I do in these cases is take a week off. 7 days. 7 days of not looking at the script, not looking at the notes, trying not to think about it at all. After 7 days I’ll still hate the notes but I’ve detached myself enough to professionally get on with it. Works like a charm.
