Compose a Fresh Tale: Prepare, Commence Writing!
Writing a script can be a daunting task, often leading to procrastination. However, understanding the difference between necessary preparation and procrastination is crucial in moving forward.
The Dangers of Over-Preparation
Over-focusing on the backstory can prevent progress and may be a sign of procrastination. Fear disguised as not being ready can hinder the writing process. Research and prep work can sometimes be a smokescreen for the dread of writing new words. Believing they can figure it all out in advance is a common reason for stalling.
These behaviours can be a form of procrastination, masking as preparation but ultimately leading to indefinite delay. The key differential is whether your actions bring you closer to completing your script or simply keep you stuck in cycles of avoidance.
Identifying Procrastination
To differentiate between procrastination and needing more preparation, you can assess your mindset and behaviours. If your hesitation is fuelled by fear ("I’m not ready yet," "It’s not perfect yet") rather than a specific gap in knowledge or readiness, it is likely procrastination driven by emotional barriers rather than genuine need for preparation.
Setting small, concrete writing goals rather than open-ended preparation tasks can help you produce something imperfect but forward-moving. Reflecting honestly on whether your preparation activities are truly advancing your script or just postponing discomfort is also essential.
Overcoming Procrastination
Recognizing that full readiness rarely exists—starting imperfectly and iterating is often more productive than waiting for a perfect moment or perfect draft. Feeling overly invested or responsible for getting it "right" can cause stalling. The fear of making mistakes, having to start over, or creating something that isn't good enough can also cause stalling.
However, expecting to rewrite is important, as no one who is serious about the craft of screenwriting expects to nail it on the first pass. Writing before you're ready can feel like diving into a cold pool on a chilly day, but sometimes faster is better.
Embracing the Writing Process
Thinking of outlining, world-building, structuring, and plotting as an iterative, interactive, integrated process with actual scene writing can help get writing started. Recognizing that settling into your voice or tone for the story happens through the actual writing of it can help overcome the fear of starting. Some writers believe they can, will, or have to solve all their story problems in the preparatory stage. However, much of the story is discovered through the actual writing of it.
In practice, committing to working through a draft can be terrifying on some level. But it's important to remember that only the individual can truly discern whether they are procrastinating or advancing their work. The key is to identify the signs of procrastination and take steps to overcome it, allowing the writing process to flourish.
- The truth is, over-emphasis on the script's plot, Character's backstory, or elaborate scene descriptions can hinder progress and be a sign of procrastination.
- In the world of scriptwriting, the fear of not being prepared can be disguised as a need for more dialogue and plot development, thereby hindering the writing process.
- A sign of over-preparation is using research and homework as a barrier to confront the dread of crafting new words and scenes.
- Believing that the entire plot needs to be figured out before even starting to write is a common reason for procrastination and stalling during the scriptwriting process.
- Overcoming procrastination requires acknowledging that full readiness seldom exists, and imperfect drafts can be revised and refined over time, making it more productive to start writing now.
- Understanding that the film's perfect draft might not materialize right away is essential for career growth in screenwriting, as every writer knows that rewriting is an integral part of the process.
- Adopting the mindset that outlining, building a world, structuring, and crafting a plot are interconnected aspects that evolve alongside actual scene writing can help break the fear of starting.
- Embracing the education-and-self-development, career-development, and home-and-garden lifestyle aspects that come with the writing journey can help mitigate the emotional barriers that often lead to procrastination.
