I hate the 60s. Not the decade. The page numbers...That stretch of the script that comes right after the midpoint break. That's where I hit the wall.The first 25's a piece of cake, everything's fresh and fun and I'm in love with the idea. And I can coast from about 70 onwards with a murky FADE OUT in sight but man, right now it's like a slowmo sequence.
Time to apply some serious Ass On Chair to get me through draft one.
4 comments:
I tracked back from your comment on my blog (http://www.gointothestory.com/) and found your blog. Great site! And I hear you about P. 60. I think you're exactly right that most people can find their way through the script's set-up (Act One), first 30 pages or so. Then they've probably got enough ideas and energy to get through the next 15, 20, maybe even 30 pages, but if they hit the midpoint and (A) don't know the ending or (B) know the ending but don't know how they're going to get there through the rest of Act Two, P. 60 is where they hit the proverbial wall.
That's why I always encourage my students to work up an outline in the prep-writing phase. In general, I find people spend way too little time brainstorming plot elements, developing character, and doing the hard work necessary to 'construct' the story before typing FADE IN.
Enough of my sermon! Basically I just wanted to congratulate you on your blog and your writing. Love that conversation you overheard the other day. You should definitely save that for a script.
Nice 'meeting' you and hope to keep up the dialogue!
Scott Myers
Thanks Scott. I love Go Into The Story!
I actually do outline thoroughly but what I find is that the energy that gets you to do the work flags at the midpoint. I'm no longer just excited to be writing something new (which is what the first 30 is about for me) nor am I coasting on the fact that this script is almost over.
However I'm proud to say I'm now in the 70s and things are looking up.
See you around the interwebs. ;-)
Just wanted to say "Good luck!" and I'm cheering for you to get out of the 60s.
P.S. Have been reading your blog in snatches over the past coupla weeks, just have not had time to comment before now. I really like it here! I saw "Three Hole Punched" as a link on someone's site and went, "What an utterly cool name for a blog. Gotta check that one out!"
Hi Milli,
Welcome and thanks for saying howdy.
Just checked out Fear of Writing. Lots of useful, inspiring stuff.
Re my script, I'm over the page 60 hump but the writing's still a little more sporadic than I'd like. But I'm gonna get there. FADE OUT in sight!
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