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DRAFT ZERO

DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?

How do you know if you have enough narrative fuel to write a script?

Legacy Episode — Migrated from our original site. Will take time to tidy up!

⏱ 1h 36m
31 DEC 2023

Show Notes

In this episode, Chas, Stu and Mel attempt to answer a listener question:

“In your own pre-writing process, how do you know you have enough for a feature? And do you have a specific pre-writing method you’re going to?”

Thus we launch into a discussion on our writing processes and the varying usefulness of tools such as log lines, turning points, beat sheets, synopsis, treatments, and scene breakdowns. We also tackle the challenges encountered while developing an idea to first draft, such as balancing the pace of the story, developing distinct character voices, character choices, plot changes, pacing, and thematic clarity.

Is this backmatter? Or is it development tools? You decide! Hahaha.

Thanks so much to Chris Walker for his excellent editing on this episode!

Thanks to our Patrons, especially Lily, Alexandre, Malay, Casimir, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis and Khrob.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.


Chapters

  • 00:00:00 – Cold Open
  • 00:00:30 – Introduction: Falling Short
  • 00:02:38 – Our Development Processes
  • 00:33:06 – Developing from concept
  • 00:45:26 – Sponsor: Arc Studio Pro
  • 00:48:12 – Expanding your Idea
  • 01:15:29 – Long Short Documents
  • 01:27:22 – Consistent problems with first drafts
  • 01:34:28 – Many thanks to our Patreons!

More Draft Zero is brought to you by our awesome Patreons.

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We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.