Don't Wait, Start Writing: My Screenwriting Steps

As a writer, my screenwriting process starts with an idea. Whenever an idea strikes me, I jot it down in my iPhone notes. This helps me keep track of all my ideas and revisit them later. Once I have a few ideas written down, I start to think about the characters that could fit into those ideas. For me, the character is the driving force behind the story, so it's important to have a clear vision of who they are before diving into the story. I try to create a character with a unique backstory, personality, and goals that will make them compelling to the audience.

One of the tools I use in my writing is the Dan Harmon Story Circle. Dan Harmon is a TV writer best known for his work on "Rick and Morty." The Story Circle is an 8-step process that helps me form my story into an outline. It starts with "You" and ends with "Change." Each step in between helps me structure the story in a way that's both compelling and meaningful. For instance, the "Need" step helps me establish what the character wants, while the "Search" step helps me create tension and conflict by putting obstacles in their path.

When it comes to actually writing the story, I focus on completion rather than perfection. I know that the first draft is just the start, and there will be many opportunities to revise and refine the story. The most important thing is to take action and get the story out of my head and onto paper. Once it's complete, I can take a step back and see where I need to make edits to make the story more functional. I try to look at the story from the audience's perspective and make sure that it's clear, engaging, and emotionally resonant. Remember, an idea is just an idea until you take action on it!