My approach, in some way, is more similar to Justin Kremer's who FINDS his theme between the characters and the story. That's how the very (VERY) talented Spanish screenwriter Jorge Guerricaechevarria (Day of the Beast, The Community, Cell 211) told me once that he works through it. Of course I need to work the theme BEFORE to outline. It is, like, "what I want to say with the script", create the characters with that glue and focus on the themes and subthemes in every scene. But it is not a commitment at the very beginning. I'm totally open to change it in order to perfection it. And somewhere between the outline and script version 3 the themes becomes CLEAR, and the moment I see it is like the white bear, I cannot stop thinking about it every time I write. Then it becomes STONE: no more movements, or everything falls down. That's why version 4 is the first version I show to the world. Is not very systematical, well, It is NOT a system at all. It Is organic. And it works for me.

Carlos, I'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy tomorrow's post which features a BUNCH of writers who fall into the same type of approach: Discovering theme along the way. Each has a slight variation, but the general touchstone is it is an organic process. Thanks for your comment. Always interesting to me to see how writers write!

This is my process. I usually start with a character. Than a little plot. Than theme. Than Alcohol. Think about the theme again. Self doubt. More alcohol. Change theme. Change character. Move on to over the counter drugs. Change theme again. Change characters. Move on to huffing illegal substances. Completely abandon project for a "better" idea. Repeat process. Attend therapy.

Ha! Good take, D. I suspect this is a process many writers fall prey to. Hence the importance of the one writing rule I believe in which is about the first draft: Get the damn thing done!

Totally agree! This is EXACTLY what I was telling my writing partner to do! Just get the damn thing done while I'm in Hawaii.

D, you've got your bases covered, my man. Mai Tais in Maui. Partner knocking out your first draft. Now THAT'S how to write!

My partner and I bring different strengths to the table which I think is key. He's really good at characters, structure, theme, dialogue, pacing, description, beginnings, endings, second acts. But what he lacks is writing a really good title page. That's where I come in.

D, I see a possible future here for you: A blog called The Lazy Screenwriter. Hell, you could become a 'guru' as I'm sure there are thousands out there waiting to learn how to be lazy AND a successful screenwriter!