I just compiled a list of mantras and posted them on the Done Deal Pro forum. Thought you might be interested in it.As I noted the other day in this post, I'll be uploading and commenting on a writing mantra every now and then. We started the year with one of my favorites -- "Trust the process" -- and as you can see from Nicholas' list, there are those -- plus many more in my files.
Link to my original: http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/ showthread.php?t=52464
Most of these are mantras I have picked up from your blog, but I put them in a sort of order so that they read as steps. So, ahem...THE (8+) MANTRAS of SCREENWRITING
as compiled by 12916studiosI just thought I would bring this to your attention in case it is something you might be interesting in doing something with. I've yet to see any list of screenwriting mantras, so I thought I would just go ahead and make one.
- Ass in chair.
- See. Read. Write.
- Minimum words; maximum impact.
- Just get the damn thing done.
- The first draft of anything is sh*t.
- Writing is rewriting.
- Trust the process.
- Lather, rinse, repeat.
- Have no fear.
H/T to Nicholas for compiling and forwarding the list!
Posts
7 comments:
I would add "Believe"... or "Pray for a Miracle", at least
Scott, you introduced me to the notion of "the only way out is through." Can't tell you how much that has meant to my work in this past year.
And you know its just that simple.
I don't believe the first draft is crap. Two of my first drafts (differnet scripts) got "considers."
But don't tell anyone. That's why I force myself to rewrite until the dialog sounds good and the story flows from beginnign to end.
After all, it can't be "wrong." If you say what you want, it's always "right."
Some people would say that Kaufman's scripts aren't "good," but they say what he wants so people gravitate towards it.
BTW, I do believe the first draft of the outline may suck but the script should never suck - at least in terms of formatting and story logic.
One man's bad dialog is another's first language.
Im going to print this out in 30 POINT and stick it on my wall.
@popularculture - Totally PC: As noted, I'll be doing semi-regular writing mantra posts based on this list and many more I've got on file.
Sometimes, it's just something as simple and to the point as a saying that can bring everything into focus. Just this afternoon, as I was driving around, I heard a poet on an NPR show say, "Life is a beautiful struggle." And that just hit me as being so true. You can say that about writing as well. "Writing is a beautiful struggle." Sounds like another writing mantra.
A difficult pleasure.
Post a Comment