Writing A Screenplay | The Athletic Nerd

A Screenwriter’s Holiday Isn’t Really A Holiday At All Is It?

August 3rd, 2010 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Screenwriting - (0 Comments)

Everyone needs a holiday from time to time.

We all need a break from the day to day grind and relax. A well deserved vacation is one of the best ways to increase productivity.

It’s different for screenwriters.

We take our work with us no matter where we are.

There doesn’t have to be a computer or iPhone nearby. All we need is our imagination and progress on our latest project can be made.

We’re always working.

It’s somewhat ironic that most screenwriters who have full time jobs take vacations and bring their notes with them.

The reason is because writing a screenplay isn’t really work. It’s fun. We have to write.

After all, what would happen if an incredible scene erupted in your brain and you had no way to write it down? If you love to write screenplays this type of occurrence should cause panic attacks until you find a napkin and a pen.

It’s for that reason we keep our work close at all times.

Deep breath. You won’t forget that line of dialogue now.

I know when I’m planning a few days away from my career in television I make sure to have my latest screenplay handy. I keep an outline or two for my next projects are close by as well.

I mentioned everyone needs a break from the day to day grind but I don’t find screenwriting to be a weight on my daily routine.

It’s an escape.

“Find a job you love, never work a day in your life.”

I’m heading on a small vacation soon. This post came to me when I began thinking about the impending 6 hour bus ride I’ll be taking. My first thought was to organize my new feature screenplay and gather my notes. What can I say? I love to write!

Everyone loves a vacation and the aspiring screenwriter is no exception. We all take breaks.

But screenwriting is just too much fun to leave behind.

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Screenwriting, eBooks, Final Cut, Photoshop & Super Mario Galaxy 2

What do Screenwriting, eBooks, Final Cut, Photoshop & Super Mario Galaxy 2 have in common?

That’s how I spent my afternoons over the last few weeks.

It seems like a lot and it got me thinking:

Is it better to split my time and work on multiple projects or focus only on one?

Where do you stand?

Each morning, I wake up more and more determined to reach the ambitious goals I’ve set for myself. Every day before work I have about 4 hours or so to work on various projects and I like to think I’ve been productive.

Personally, I like having different types of projects on the go. I like the variety. I still focus and prioritize but it’s nice to take a break and work on something else too.

For example:

I’m still hammering away at my latest feature screenplay. It’s been getting in the way of some exciting new ideas for far too long and it’s time to finish the story.

I don’t mean to suggest that I just want to get it over with. I simply operate under the theory that you shouldn’t start a new project before you finish the old one.

Before you accuse me of being a hypocrite rest assured I only have one feature screenplay in the scripting stage. I can’t bring myself to start a new one without wrapping this one up.

I can’t wait to print it out.

The idea has been in my head for nearly 5 years now and I’m extremely happy it’s almost done.

So what are these other projects?

I’ve been working on a top secret eBook that consists of 32 chapters and a February-March target to release.

Can I pull off one chapter a week? Do the math. Probably not but I’m definitely going to try.

There is still a lot of work to be done to meet that deadline. This week, I finally moved passed the intro and broke some ground on the first few chapters. A lot of it will come together quickly as I’ve already finished the design and overall style of each page. It’s just a matter of filling in the details.

Next up on the daily to-do list involves 17 West’s latest short film, Final Cut Pro and me!

It’s been over two months since we wrapped shooting on The Climb and editing is well under way. It’s an exciting project because for the first time I’ll be handling most of the post production process myself.

Hopefully it turns out.

Forgive the pun but editing is a nice change of pace in my daily routine. Even though my television career revolves around editing, it’s still nice to slow things down and cut a film instead of faster paced sports highlights.

Next…

I love Photoshop!

It’s a great way to let your brain relax while still being creative. While I love messing around with the program, I also had a few assignments to finish. First on my list is a poster for The Climb as well as a top secret web series I’ve been developing for a while now.

I like to design posters for screenplays I’m working on. It’s a good way to really hammer out a tone for the film.

It also gives me a chance to think about the story before writing begins. I firmly believe that Photoshop as a hobby has helped my writing immensely.

Lets go back to that web series…

Final Draft makes a second appearance in my daily routine as somehow, I managed to write the first two chapters of a new horror story I’m calling AFTER.

I’m having a blast with the new characters and setting up cliffhangers between each chapter.

I’ve always wanted to write a series of short scripts to see how I can pace the different episodes and develop characters over time. It’s a pretty exciting experiment.

I’ll have more on that series soon.

What else?

I also make time to eat, watch movies and play the odd video game.

Currently, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is dominating my spare time. I can’t get enough of that game. It’s incredible.

I think it’s vital to give your brain a rest every once in a while. It’s a tough lesson I learned long ago after I burnt myself out one too many times.

Sports. Video games. Outdoors. Trips.

General life type stuff should never come second.

The Important Question

The beauty of this routine is that my deadlines are self imposed so I really can take my time with each. I love working on these projects. (I haven’t even mentioned working on this blog!)

It’s important to keep an eye on the finish line and find a good balance so you are constantly making progress.

But I still wonder if it would be better to drop everything and focus on one project.

Do you focus on one project or pick away at a few?

Personally, I think it depends on the person.

I like to switch things up to keep my mind working. So far, the system has worked pretty well.

We will find out soon enough if this momentum I’ve generated pays off!

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Screenplay Development… On A Greyhound Bus

July 5th, 2010 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Screenwriting - (0 Comments)

I’ve been taking a lot of Greyhound Bus rides lately.

The journey from Toronto to London usually takes about 2 hours or so. When I go home to Sudbury I have about 5 glorious hours aboard the bus.

I say glorious because I’ve learned over the last few months that the bus is a great place to work.

I spent my last journey going over emails that Producer Eric sent me about a new and exciting story he wants me to write.

After going over his notes I decided it was time to try a new approach to Screenplay Development.

Eric has always given my screenplays a fair shot. It’s up to me to come up with stories that would inspire him enough to direct. Thankfully, I’ve succeeded several times already and a few more are coming soon. (Big updates on that in a few months)

This time, I decided to take the notes he has given me and write the story that he wants. Like a writer-for-hire.

So I fired him off an email and told him I wanted the job. I then went over his notes again and started thinking about all the ways I can pull it off while still adding my own surprises here and there.

The result is a development process that will ultimately lead to a screenplay that we produced together. It’s officially my next short screenplay project and I have to say, I’m pretty excited about the idea.

The next hour or so was spent writing down ideas for different scenes and notes on the main character. I haven’t thought of a name yet but I can tell you he is about to go through one hell of an ordeal. It’s going to be a blast to write.

The moral of the story?

This was all made possible by the friendly people at Greyhound and their reasonably priced bus rides.

PS: If only the guy next to me would stop staring at my iPhone.

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Screenwriting: The Return Of An Old Idea

April 28th, 2010 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Screenwriting - (1 Comments)

Screenwriters often have a stable of ideas they’re considering for their next project. Many of these ideas end up being forgotten over time.

But every so often, old ideas can resurface in a big, big way.

Only a small percentage of the movie ideas a screenwriter has becomes a full fledged screenplay. It takes a big commitment to take the time it requires to develop and write a great story.

Truthfully, a lot of ideas aren’t ready to be turned into polished scripts right away.

So what happens to these ideas?

Many writers have notebooks or hard drives full of partially developed ideas. Some people write them down on napkins or scraps of paper and collect them in shoe boxes. Some tell their friends so they’ve at least spoken the idea out loud in case they forget. Some people just remember.

XTRA | Screenwriting Stuff I Carry Around Every Day

Do you collect story ideas?

I use notebooks for the most part but my iPhone chips in every now and then. By constantly writing down cool concepts and story ideas, I feel like I’m always working on something new. It adds up to a variety of unused ideas you can turn to whenever writer’s block strikes.

I’ve got a stock pile of old ideas that I’ll probably never write but that doesn’t mean they are dead. I keep them just in case a moment of inspiration hits. A moment when you think of something you haven’t thought of before. A new way to approach a script.

I call it a hook.

The Hook

I usually come up with concepts first. I like to have a clear idea of the type of story I want to tell or a cool character I want to write about. Sometimes many elements are in place but a story still lacks an engine that makes me believe it could become a good movie. I.E: The Hook.

The other day, I found a hook and an old idea came rushing back to the top of my development list.

I was riding the subway on my way to work thinking about an old story I abandoned a while back. As I left the station it hit me…

These types of moments are what a writer dreams of. A moment of clarity when everything comes together and you can see a story clearly… And you’re excited!

Writers everywhere chase that feeling every second of every day.

It’s an amazing rush.

It’s an addicting burst of creativity.

It’s the reason I love making up stories.

The breakthrough

The idea in question is a short I’ve been thinking about writing for years. This one is unlike anything I’ve ever attempted and so it simultaneously excites and scares me. Perfect.

The Hook I discovered really tied together all the elements that made the idea exciting to begin with. I still don’t know if it will be the next short I’ll write but I’m officially on board to find out where this story will take me.

Bringing back an old story can happen randomly but maybe the story was meant to lie dormant until my subway ride that day.

It’s an interesting thought isn’t it?

Does fate determine the stories we tell?

Pretty deep. Here is a picture of a blank screen and some clouds to illustrate my point.

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New Ideas vs Finishing Your Screenplay

March 4th, 2010 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Featured Posts | Screenwriting - (1 Comments)

What happens when you are writing a story you love and you come up with a new killer idea?

I’ve been writing a feature script for a few months now. It’s based on an idea I came up with nearly 5 years ago while I was in college.

When I began to seriously develop the screenplay in December, I was so excited to finally see the story on the page. Fast-forward a few months and I’m nearly 70 pages deep and I’m still loving it.

There’s nothing like a story you enjoy working on.

However…

I came up with a new idea a few weeks ago and I think it’s one of the coolest ideas I’ve ever come up with.

Until recently, I thought it would make an interesting movie but last week I had a breakthrough and the story exploded.

Allow me to tell you a personal story:

I’m at home watching television before heading to work. I’m thinking about this new story and some of the characters I want to be involved when it hits me… An idea that ties everything together. Suddenly, I jump out of my chair and run straight for my computer to write it all down. An hour or so later, I’ve got a short outline of the story and I’m beyond pumped about it. But…

Which one do I work on?

I find myself torn between a story I love and a new idea I’m excited about.

On the one hand, I’ve got a story I’ve been working on for years. It’s a story I can’t wait to finish and therefore, I want nothing more than to push towards the finish line.

On the other hand, should I sit on a new idea that I consider to be one of my best concepts? (It’s a unique take on the superhero genre by the way)

It occurred to me that maybe sitting on a story too long is the reason why I’m still working on my current screenplay. Do I risk delaying the project when it is constantly on my mind? Should you seize the moment when it smacks you me in the face?

Can I honestly abandon my current project for a while and risk losing interest completely? Will I lose interest in the new idea if I don’t pursue it?

It’s a tough call.

There is a positive in all of this though. As a writer, I’m used to ideas drying up from time to time. It happens to everyone. So being torn between two good ideas is a pretty great place to be.

The other advantage I have is my current script is nearly completed and most of the details are worked out.

What to do?

Clearly I’m excited about my new story. I’m also just as excited to finally finish a journey I started 5 years ago.

So, I’ll be using the new story as a reward for completing my screenplay. Having another script to look forward to is an inspiring way to help drive you towards your writing goals.

Either way, I’ve got a lot of development and screenwriting in my future.

I’m pretty happy about that.

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A Screenwriter’s Holiday Isn’t Really A Holiday At All Is It?

Everyone needs a holiday from time to time.

It’s different for screenwriters.

It’s an escape.

Screenwriting, eBooks, Final Cut, Photoshop & Super Mario Galaxy 2

Is it better to split my time and work on multiple projects or focus only on one?

Where do you stand?

So what are these other projects?

What else?

The Important Question

Do you focus on one project or pick away at a few?

Screenplay Development… On A Greyhound Bus

Screenwriting: The Return Of An Old Idea

Do you collect story ideas?

The Hook

The breakthrough

Does fate determine the stories we tell?

New Ideas vs Finishing Your Screenplay

What happens when you are writing a story you love and you come up with a new killer idea?

Which one do I work on?

I find myself torn between a story I love and a new idea I’m excited about.

It’s a tough call.

What to do?

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