Rewriting – Jim Mercurio

Storytelling, Screenwriting

Tips for Writing and Rewriting Your Script

Writing Phase Tips

  1. Explore Characters and Plot:
    • Embrace discoveries about characters and plot twists.
    • Deeply explore backstories and create nuances.
    • Be open to changing the structure as new insights emerge.
  2. Commit to Expansion:
    • Write quickly and extensively, treating this phase as a form of glorified outlining.
    • Expect to cut a lot later; it’s easier to cut unpolished pages than polished ones.
    • Use this process to discover the story and characters.
  3. Gardening Approach:
    • Plant, sprinkle, and transplant story elements throughout the script.
    • Focus on expanding and fleshing out at every opportunity.

Rewriting Phase Tips

  1. Big Picture Perspective:
    • Start with a ten- to twelve-point outline or a two- to three-page summary of sequences.
    • Look for abrupt swings from expectation to surprise in the plot.
    • Consider how sequences turn both story and character, creating significant changes.
  2. Character and Structure Integration:
    • Always ask, “What would my character do next?”
    • Track the character’s internal state to align external events with their inner journey.
    • Use the character’s flaw to inform their actions and decisions.
  3. Dilemma and Resolution:
    • Pinpoint your protagonist’s dilemma early in the rewriting process.
    • Ensure scenes align with the character’s dilemma, clarifying conflicts and arcs.
    • Create a climax where the protagonist’s growth facilitates the resolution.

Detailed Scene and Sequence Tips

  1. Character Dynamics:
    • Introduce characters showing both their current state and potential growth.
    • Ensure interactions highlight their flaws and potential.
    • Use best friends or love interests to reveal deeper aspects of the protagonist’s character.
  2. Conflict and Dialogue:
    • Strengthen beats and conflict within each scene to maintain consistency.
    • Enhance character perspectives and confrontations to escalate tension.
    • Incorporate key lines that resonate with the overall conflict and character arcs.
  3. Thematic Consistency:
    • Distribute thematic touches throughout scenes to reinforce your message.
    • Use motifs, props, and symbols to clarify and deepen the theme.
    • Ensure recurring elements are strategically placed to build patterns and coherence.
  4. Visual and Pragmatic Elements:
    • Sculpt descriptions of recurring locations to avoid redundancy and maintain brevity.
    • Track the ripple effect of changes in one scene on subsequent scenes.
    • Use context to multitask descriptions, setting mood and tone while telling the story.

Tips for Rewriting and Polishing Your Script

1. Understand the Two Mind-Sets

  • Open Mode:
    • Right-brained, uncensored, and expansive.
    • Ideal for brainstorming and expanding your story.
    • Avoid backspace; let ideas flow without constraint.
  • Closed Mode:
    • Left-brained, focused, and analytical.
    • Perfect for refining and tightening your story.
    • Emphasize judgment, logic, and pruning.

2. Seamlessly Shift Between Modes

  • Recognize when to switch between open and closed modes during writing and rewriting.
  • Use open mode for big-picture thinking and expanding ideas.
  • Use closed mode for detailed polishing and solving specific problems.

3. Rewriting Scenes

  • Big-Picture Approach:
    • Consider the overall visual and conceptual elements of a scene.
    • Use visuals, setting, and concept to enhance scenes.
    • Explore subjective or expressionistic styles for deeper impact.
  • Small-Picture Approach:
    • Focus on the finer details within the boundaries of a scene.
    • Ensure clarity and brevity in action descriptions and dialogue.
    • Use precise word choices to convey specific actions and emotions.

4. Visuals and Setting

  • Transform dialogue-heavy scenes into visual storytelling.
  • Use charged locations with emotional significance.
  • Reuse locations or motifs to create a cohesive narrative.

5. Concept and Style

  • Introduce unique metaphors, throughlines, or gimmicks to enliven scenes.
  • Exploit the setting or scenario to create a fresh perspective.
  • Apply subjective perspectives to align the audience with the character’s emotional experience.

6. Dialogue and Character Voices

  • Conduct voice drafts focusing on individual characters’ nuances.
  • Ensure each character’s dialogue is distinct and recognizable.
  • Align word choices with characters’ psychological perspectives.

7. Polishing the Script

  • Less Is More:
    • Aim for brevity and clarity in action descriptions and dialogue.
    • Remove unnecessary words and lines to tighten the script.
    • Challenge yourself to eliminate redundancies and streamline scenes.
  • Delete Orphans:
    • Remove single words or short lines that extend paragraphs unnecessarily.
    • Strive for higher story density with fewer pages.

8. Finding the Perfect Words

  • Wrestle with word choices to find the most effective expressions.
  • Consider visual and conceptual elements in action descriptions.
  • Use specific verbs and nouns to enhance the storytelling.

9. Balancing Modes During Final Polish

  • Stay open to big-picture revisions even in the final stages.
  • Be persistent in the closed mode to refine every detail.
  • Trust your intuition and process to uncover the best solutions.

10. Embrace the Rewriting Process

  • Write passionately about stories you’re willing to rewrite extensively.
  • Celebrate small victories in finding better approaches or cutting unnecessary content.
  • Persevere in finding creative solutions for challenging scenes.

By applying these tips, you can navigate the rewriting process effectively, ensuring your script evolves into a well-polished, compelling narrative.

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