Judy and I have quickly found a routine that works efficiently where we read a chunk, discuss changes at length, spitball new ideas, plan and re-structure, then Judy writes.

As Judy is such a terrific writer, this is usually the fastest part. But it does give me the  chance to do a few chores before the script bounces back to me for my read-through,  check and occasional rewrite,  all while Judy does a her chores. Then we move on.

So far, so VERY good.

We spend most of the day spit balling, chatting and laughing at ideas and gags we are dreaming up. And yet we are still cranking through ten pages a day. If we keep this up we will be done on this draft by the end of next week, or maybe the beginning of the following week.

What’s making it so easy is this…

We have done LOTS of prep work over the last few months, including making detailed notes on ideas from everyone who has read past drafts.

We are quite gung ho and not at all precious about the past writing on the page. This is fuelled by the inclusion of two entirely new characters and the removal of two older characters. It was a tough decision, but it is just want was needed to focus the story clearly into the age demographic we are targeting. The new characters are VERY entertaining and simply make demands on the script as soon as they appear. It’s such a joy to write them.

I am still amazed at how I can look at stuff I wrote ages ago and edit it down even more – stuff like this…

Changing… ‘Jenny is putting the washing on the clothes line when Jim walks up the pathway’ 

To this… ‘Jenny hangs the washing. Jim approaches.’

It may seem like small changes, but it’s more ‘active’ in the description AND crucially, shorter. Much shorter. The cumulative effect on the script, and therefore the reader, is that the ‘read’ feels faster, snappier, punchier. It even increases dynamics and tension.

Can’t wait for tomorrow and another ten pages.

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author
www.livingspirit.com
mail@livingspirit.com