Apply Essential Screenplay Tips To Write An Original Masterpiece

By Author: Juan Johnson
Total Articles: 36

Screenwriting requires tons of talent, creativity, patience, attention to detail, empathy and complex writing skills, which demand a significant amount of time to reach perfection. Every single writer has his/her own style, a unique perception of reality and an original manner of putting thoughts, feelings, facts and emotions on paper. However, there are a few unspoken rules that could be interpreted as basic keys to screenwriting, guaranteeing excellent results for any writer hoping to refine his/her screenwriting technique.
Analyze the context of your writing and explore your own "W" factors
Most beginning screenplay writers tend to disregard the whole context of their own writing. Undoubtedly, the when and the where are extremely important elements that should always be properly analyzed in order to come up with a truly unique idea. What were you doing when you first got a glimpse of what might be the center element in your screenplay? When did this happen? At night, while you were dreaming? Perhaps in the garden, while you were pouring yourself another glass of red wine? Gather and analyze all the details that might be related to your creative idea; this will help you count on a priceless source of information while also discovering what has inspired you in the first place. Know your muse and your unique context to gain unlimited access to valuable information that you could easily integrate in your screenplay.
Read it out loud
Your thoughts might look great on paper, but do they also sound delightful? This is one of the main challenges encountered by writers who are struggling to create a beautiful screenplay: some of their dialogues might seem inspiring and original at first, but once they manage to read them out loud they realize that lines just don't go well together and fail to transmit those powerful emotions that usually guarantee the success of a good screenplay. To avoid such discouraging results, write a fragment and then read it aloud. Or better yet, ask your friends to complete this assignment and videotape their performance to be able to analyze the final result more objectively.
Put your jokes to the test
Assuming that you are trying hard to write a comic screenplay, it is advisable to test your sense of humor. Are your jokes truly original, memorable and most importantly, good enough to make your spectators laugh their heart out, for more than just a few seconds? Again, gather a group of (honest) friends who won't hesitate to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of your script and see whether your original black humor is a creative must-have, or a major no-no which should be eliminated from your screenplay as soon as possible.
Read, read and then read some more to select the right theme for your screenplay
If you want to be original at all costs, you should start by being fully aware of the fact that, unfortunately, everything has been done before. Instead of wasting a lot of time trying to identify a revolutionary concept, try to spend it wisely, by reading a lot. Books covering your favorite subject are a tremendous source of inspiration. This doesn't mean that you can copy other people's work. Feel free to analyze their style and come up with a unique approach based on your own thoughts, feelings and emotions related to the central theme that you're trying to describe in your screenplay.
Misspellings are a major deal breaker
It goes without saying that misspellings and grammar errors are never acceptable. If you are lucky enough, your screenplay will end up in the hands of an agent who will never be interested in collaborating with an amateur writer who doesn't have the courtesy to check his/her spelling.

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