JaneEspenson.com

When I’m writing an outline for a script I’m going to write, I find that I’m actually writing a sketchy little version of the scene in my head as I go, just tryin’ it out, making sure that the scene is going to work, that there’s a point to having the scene. You can catch problems that way, because sometimes a scene looks like it’s going to work when it exists as a short description of a thing that happens, but it totally falls apart when you realize that your characters do not give a fig about that thing that just happened, and hence your scene evaporates.

If you come up with a couple lines or a joke or something for the scene, make note of it. It’ll help when it’s time to actually write the scene. If you really imagine each scene like this as you write the outline, you’ll be amazed at how fast the writing goes. You can literally write a scene in a few minutes if, when you start typing, you already have it roughed out in your head.

Those of you who still insist on writing without a real, typed outline that you’ve given to friends for input — you’re buying a lot of extra work. And that thing you value, that sense of “finding the story,” you can get that during this imagining stage, without wasting all the ink and time.

Outline! It’s bones for your script! You need those!

Lunch: Salad, cheese and a roll. And Doritos.