Hi Mr. Scott, every time I feel bad about I lack "FILM SCHOOL" education,... I remember GITS, as whatever I learnt about screenwriting that is from GITS... THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS. I've missed my time table of GOYOQ, but still I am trying to finish my script somehow. I am only in the beginning stage of my script development, ie I know my LOGLINE. I’ve been brainstorming for a while to get the flow of the story (the STORY OUTLINE). I mean what happens from start to end, with act breaks. As I am not sure of what characters I have (for example : My protagonist is a 12 year old boy. I still have in mind, can he be much younger like 8/10 years?...Why not the protagonist be a Girl? I wanted one of the parents to be the Nemisis… is it the Father or the Mother?,) With all these doubts I’ve been writing some scenes and plots, to move the story forward. (Not being particular about the ‘Gender’.. but taking them as arbitrary characters). My idea is to finish this basic STORY LINE and then, start building up the Characters and develop the Characterization. Now I still doubt that, is this a right approach or is there much easier or effective way ??? THANK YOU.

This is crazy how helpful this is. Really good stuff Scott, as always. I'm a journalism grad. There are lots of parallels to writing a good journalism story and writing a good screenplay. One thing one of my professors told me that I'll never forget is that 90 percent of your finished product will occur before you've even written anything. Your research, brainstorming, etc., should take up almost all of your time. Then, once you have everything figured out, get it on the page. I can't tell you how accurate and helpful this has been for me not only in journalism but with every kind of writing I do. The best part about it: You can't go wrong. If you follow this principle, you're not gonna fail. Your writing abilities and creativity may be what pushes you to cross the finish line, but your brainstorming and research is what runs the race!

Hey Scott, I want to ask you. I heard you mention somewhere else that typically a professional screenwriter might get up to 10 weeks from the pitch being accepted to turning in a first draft. Is that true? If so, how do you suggest dividing up that time? Also, for a full-time screenwriter, what are the best ways to 'live life'?

Sabina, deal vary, but every writing assignment I've had was a 10 week period to deliver a first draft. That can stretch out because technically that date extends from the point where you sign a contract. And contracts can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to get turned around, sometimes even more. That said, the studios don't tend to think like that, rather once they sign off on your story, that's THEIR start date. As to how to structure your time? How about 2 weeks prep, 6 weeks draft, 2 weeks edit? Re live life: Read books. Visit museums. Volunteer to teach screenwriting to high schoolers. Watch foreign films. Spend time with your family. Meditate. Travel. Screen documentaries. Learn another language. Other suggestions?

[…] too. A kind of practical blueprint you can follow until your first Oscar appears. Try this link, http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2013/11/part-1-if-you-are-a-beginning-screenwriter.html its not a guarantee of success, just a nod and a wink to a burly bouncer, who may let you slip in […]

Hi mate, This series is so amazingly helpful I cannot even begin to tell you! Thanks so much for sharing these insights and the steps that get you to that elusive step for so many of us..actually having a script in our hands! I am only just beginning to understand the script-writing realm (I have write shorts but not features) and it is fraught with uncertainty and my natural instinct is rather not attempt it but just have it going around in my head. But I agree that once you have finished a script it is an amazing feeling of accomplishment (until someone reads it and calls it rubbish..but that's a whole different chapter I reckon!). I just need to be brave and take the plunge in 2015. You feel like you are stepping off a cliff but really there is a ledge underneath (that you cannot see) and that initial emotion when you take the plunge is scary but strangely exciting at the same time. Thank you for sharing this because it definitely helps me gain confidence in just letting go and typing and see where I end up at..