CHAPTER 15
Editing and Rewriting
261
Getting a New Perspective
Once you’ve written a first draft of a script, if it’s at all possible, put it away for about a week
or for a few days at the very least. You’ve become so involved with the world in the script
that by the time you’ve finished, it’s impossible to look at it objectively. Everything is in your
head, so youknow what you’re talking about. It may not be nearly so clear to a reader who
does not automatically know all the details of the world you’ve created. Then do something
else. Start a new script. Take a vacation. Go for a walk in the woods. Get the world of your
script out of your head. It was your baby. It was an obsession!
When you come back to the script, you can look at it much more objectively. You’ve
already forgotten a few of the details. You can better see what you’ve left out, what doesn’t
make sense. You’re more open to seeing its flaws.
Read it through once. If you’re not sure if something is quite right, then it’s not.
Make notes as you find problems. Buy some small sticky notepads to flag specific spots
in your script, and make enough of a notation that you’ll remember what was wrong
there.
Use the checklist in this chapter to diagnose your script. If your script is a short
one, then use your own judgment about how much structure is needed. Don’t cut
yourself too much slack; be open to your own criticism. But don’t be too tough either. Pat
yourself on the back when you see just how clever you were! Rewriting is a part of the
process. Every script needs it. The fact is that rewriting is much easier than writing that first
draft.
If you have someone that you can trust to give you honest feedback, that’s great!
Other people can see the flaws much easier than you can. You need someone who’s
supportive. It’s better if they know how to write as well. This is why small writing groups
are helpful, but evaluate the advice you’re given honestly. A lot of advice from people who
don’t know writing structure or what you’re trying to do can be discouraging and won’t help
much.