Good read. I've been doing re-writes on my first script for over the past year (seriously). I still do a bunch of little edits here and there. I have a stack of drafts in my closet and it's getting higher. Can't help but feel like I'm wasting my time though. What with all these remakes, sequels and book/comic based films Hollywood is dishing out. I feel like producers refuse to pay any attention to new talent with new (original) ideas. But, still, I don't plan on giving up right away. One can dream.

Great post. I think it's also good to have multiple scripts in the works so that you can walk away from them in between rewrites. I find that when I come back to it I'm seeing it with somewhat fresh eyes.

Just curious, do you ever return to a finished script years later to do a rewrite?

Josh

When you think you're finally done, walk away from your script for at least two weeks.

You need "away" time from your script, especially if you've been working on it for several months or longer.

When you come back to your script, you'll be bringing fresh eyes. It may be the greatest thing you've ever written. More than likely, you'll find several things to improve and at least a couple of typos.

Josh,

I'm tweaking two scripts that I thought was done with a few months ago. They're both in pretty good shape, but not Hollywood-ready.

Greg

@The Unknown Lyricist: I'm actually rather shocked I didn't post your advice as that's what I tell all my students after they finish the first draft: Put the script away for 2 weeks. As you say, it's a great way to develop some 'fresh' eyes. So good note and thanks for it.

@Josh Daws: I've never gone back to a script to rewrite it, but I do remember talking to a veteran film writer on the picket line at 20th Century Fox back in '88 who told me that he was so upset about how a director 'botched' the movie the writer had penned, the writer got a copy of the film print and re-edited for his own personal viewing pleasure. That was one bitter guy.

Hey, Scott! I just read your profile. You teach up in Chapel Hill. I actually live just two hours south of you, right here in Charlotte. Going for an Associate in Fine Arts degree at CPCC. Just thought I'd mention because I thought it was pretty neat. lol.

Oh! I also wanted to ask, in relation to your comment about the writer who had his story "blotched" by the director.
When you sold your script "K-9" (which came out the year I was born and actually remember watching!) how much was the script altered after it was sold? Do you feel they took your original idea and destroyed it or did you feel it was fair enough?
I only ask because I (kinda) know how it works--they buy it, make their own changes and (from what I've read) the writer doesn't get much say in the matter. And to me that just sucks. But I understand that's how it works and I don't plan on quitting for that reason.

I was ready to send out my action script to a producer but decided to first send it to my mentor. He liked everything except the first thirty pages -- There were four premises!

So I went back and wrote some notes to fix the first act before committing to Final draft. I've come up with an exciting sequence which should be part of the main thrust of the script and remove the stop --- start nature.

I'm glad I didn't send it to the producer. I think I was quite anxious -- so desperate to get it read that this anxiety overcame the faculty of intelligence.

After your article about being stuck in outline mode, I was itching to ask you this very question you've posted here: When do I know my script is done?

I've tried blind writing as an experiment and while it's liberating, it's a mess for me. I have to outline. Must. I've outlined pages and pages of material, going as far as 30 written pages single spaced and realizing the idea did not work. But, it's much better than the time I spent writing 93 pages of a script blind and realizing after that it wasn't right.

Thank you for this checklist on knowing when your script is done. I will apply it to everything I write from this point forward.

“How do you know when your script is ready? When the only choice is do another draft or blow your brains out.”
- Max Wong, producer

I think that sums it up for me.

@matisseman: That's going into an update! Classic!