Archive for the ‘screenplay outline’ tag

Why And How To Outline

Successful screenwriters understand the power and necessity of creating an outline prior to writing “Fade In”.  New writers often overlook this critical step in the screenwriting process believing the “story will take them where it’s meant to go” or the characters “will reveal themselves and their dilemmas” once they begin writing.

Can a writer create a successful screenplay without outlining first?  Of course, it can be done.  But not many do it – and I don’t recommend it.  It benefits you, and more importantly your script, if you know the story’s final destination before writing page one.  An outline will help you create a strong structure and keep you on-course while writing the first draft.  That doesn’t mean that your outline is engraved in stone – ideas usually continue to develop well into the writing process, resulting in the addition of scenes, characters, and subplots that didn’t exist in the original outline.

Most screenwriting software programs offer outlining options – Movie Magic Screenwriter, Final Draft, Movie Outline, and Contour among them – but for a basic, down-and-dirty outline, word processing software (such as MS Word) will do.

Outlines vary in length from two pages to more than 50 (most average between six to twelve pages.)  The outline is a mapping tool to guide you, so include as much or as little detail as you need to create the first draft.  Click on the “Twins” movie icon to view a sample screenplay outline.

Using Scene Cards as a Mapping Tool

Scene cards are a great way to visualize your script before writing it.  Many screenwriters swear by this technique.  It’s pretty much an outline – but on index cards.

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF SCENE CARDS
Scene cards are an organizational tool to guide you in creating the best possible scenes and storyline for your screenplay.  To get the most use out of your scene cards they should answer the following questions:

* Does the scene location work for the story?

* Does the scene have action?

* Does the scene have conflict?

* Does the scene advance the dramatic arc of the story?

* Does the scene fit into a sequence?

* Does the scene include the necessary characters?

Placed together on The Board, your scene cards will also help you:

* Quickly pinpoint, and “see”, where your major elements are “falling” in your screenplay.

* Determine where more scenes are required and less are needed (is Act II too “light” with scenes and Act III too “heavy”?)

* See where storylines are intercepting, character arcs are “hitting”, and the effectiveness of your setup and payoff placement.

WHAT’S INCLUDED ON THE SCENE CARDS

* The scene slugline (INT. CAFÉ – DAY)

* Characters who appear in the scene

* The significant event or action that occurs in the scene

* The basic conflicts of the scene (who is in conflict, what does that person want at the beginning of the scene, what is the outcome at the end of the scene.)

Personally, I also like to note the the intended emotional impact the scene has on the audience (fear, curiosity, laughter) and the major elements (Inciting Incident, Climax, MidPoint, etc.) on the cards where those specific events occur.

Some writers choose to color-code their scene cards denoting everything from story points that convey theme, represent character arcs and B and C story lines, and highlight recurring symbols.

Include whichever elements will make it easier for you to visualize and write your script.

If you want to try this method, here’s what you need to do:

1. Get yourself a bunch of index cards, push-pins, some narrow masking tape, markers, and an extra large corkboard.

2. Hang your corkboard on the wall and use the masking tape to divide the corkboard into four equal rows.  The four rows are: (1) Act I, (2) First Half of Act II, (3) Second Half of Act II, (4) Act III.

3. Use the index cards to write out each scene of your script, using as much or as little information listed above to suit your specific writing needs. (Some software programs, such as Movie Magic Screenwriter, have a built-in scene card function you can use to create your index cards).

4. Place the index cards in the appropriate place on the corkboard.

5. Stand back and take in your masterpiece!

Screenplay Structure: How To Create Your Story Blueprint

STRUCTURE IS FORM
The structure of your screenplay is the foundation.  It supports the plot, theme, premise, characters, and all the crucial elements: beats, scenes, and sequences.  Without structure, your story would collapse.  Most screenwriters use a variation of the classic three-act structure, with specific structural elements within each act, to layout a script.

Creating a structural “blueprint” will help guide you through the outline process and eventually, with writing the complete screenplay.  You create your story blueprint by noting each event (or plot point) of your story that fits into the structural elements.  When you understand which plot point makes up each structural element (the Inciting Incident, the MidPoint, the Climax, etc.), you have poured the foundation for the structure of your screenplay. Now you can build on that foundation – writing the outline and creating the beats, scenes, and sequences of the script.

I have written a brief, mini-eBook, “Screenplay Structure: How to Create Your Story Blueprint”, to help you with this very-important step in the screenwriting process.  Just click on the book cover to download a free PDF copy and get started!

STAY-TUNED: In my next post I will explore the Plot-Driven, Theme-Driven, and Character-Driven Script.