Archives
Tweaking Does Not A Redraft Make
In keeping with the post in which I described my "hectic half year", I thought I would count how many drafts I have done on various projects since last July. I chose July 05 since I was doing a PGCE from September 04 until then and as any trainee teachers know, one is so snowed under with paperwork that writing a screenplay is little much to add to the burden (though I did actually write a first draft of The Retreat for Studio Schoque and two drafts of a ten minute short, The Design!).
I should mention that I'm not making this list to boast; rather, a lot of new writers contact me (and other readers, I'm sure) and insist they have redrafted a certain project and would I look at it? That's absolutely fine, it's my job - however, I'm often surprised by how little the drafts have actually changed. Sometimes scenes have been added or omitted, or a character cut; other times, dialogue is slightly shorter or different. Sometimes, an entire Act has a slightly different slant.
These things do not constitute a redraft; rather, these are what I call "tweaked drafts" (I'm sure it has a technical name, I just don't know what it is). Don't get me wrong; tweaking is good. Just this weekend, someone reading my redraft of Wish reccommended I change two characters' names as they are too similar. I'll probably do it too. However, that does not mean to say I have redrafted completely. I haven't.
First, there is what is known as the "page one rewrite". This is where you take the "seed of your story" and literally go back to basics with it - page 1, in fact. In other words, you write an entirely new screenplay. New writers seem particularly loath to do this, as if they have failed in some way. They haven't. In fact, in my eyes, to admit the current structure/character/arena/dialogue* (*delete as appropriate) takes not only courage, but maturity. It goes back to the notion I've discussed before on this blog - to appreciate others (like readers!) see the world differently and may not understand your plot, means one has far more likelihood of hitting that elusive "bull's eye". Good luck to you!
Second, there is what Syd Field calls the "mechanical draft". This is basically the script stage when one gets past the first draft and itsstream-of-consciousness and on to the ins and outs of what makes the plot work. Sometimes, a writer can get stuck in the mechanical stage so much that character and arena in particular are neglected. This draft needs work as audience empathy and suspense of disbelief needs addressing.
Third, there's what I call the structural draft. This is when characters are great fun, the arena jumps off the page and dialogue is snappy, but, for some reason, one of your Acts does not ring true or perhaps is missing altogether: the action gets "rucked up" like an ill-fitting carpet that is sure to trip you up when someone objective reads it. The same can be true of another coinage of mine, the WTF? draft. This is when you read a script, there is an obvious structure, readers may even really like it, but have no idea what the hell is going on, who is doing what to whom and why. Whilst this may seem unlikely, I've probably had more WTF? drafts than anything else. The important thing with these is to have the humility to recognise you can "go off on one" and address your communication (and therefore your plot line) accordingly.
Finally, there's what I call the King Lear draft. This is when a screenplay has two main storylines instead of a main plot and a sub plot. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Shakespeare, King Lear is even my favourite (it has a lot of heart), but at the end of the day, I think ol' William made some gross errors. Characters appeared and disappeared; Gloucester's plight attempted to take over from Lear's (whose play was this, anyway??), the ending was tied up nice and tight (a little like American Beauty! Ouch, controversy) and there was some hideously expositional dialogue in places ("Sir, you are old!" Well, durr).
So, now I have shared my thoughts on redrafting, I can show you the journey I've made in the last nine months with my own writing.
Remember: knowing what pitfalls you can fall into does not mean you won't fall into them... Rather, you will know how to dig your way out! Good luck writers!
CRY WOLF (Formerly WISH)
1 stream-of-consciousness draft (binned)
1 mechanical draft (from a page 1 rewrite)
1 mechanical draft/King Lear hybrid/WTF?
1 good draft "with problems" (apparently one character was too like Kirsten Dunst's in "Interview With a Vampire")
1 new draft with new character and new structure
TOTAL: 5 drafts
DIVINE RITES
2 Stream-of-consciousness drafts (both binned)
1 structural/WTF? hybrid draft (from a page 1 rewrite)
1 complete WTF? draft
1 page 1 rewrite
TOTAL: 5 drafts
NEAR TO DARKNESS
Starting with 1 King Lear Draft
1 mechanical draft "with problems" (one character's arc "not discernible enough")
1 new draft
TOTAL: 2 drafts (This year! Can't even remember how many I have actually written for this project)
GOODBYE DOLLY
1 structural draft "with problems" - (Act 2 missing, plus character arc "indiscernible" again)
1 new draft
TOTAL: 2 drafts
Ps. Notice I have not mentioned ANY of my drafts are FINISHED! A script is never finished in my book, not even when reels of film are on the cutting room floor...
bang2write at 14:07:00 o'clock BST Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
-
Nimboid,
I’ve never really thought about it, but I’ve had different types of drafts as well. I’ve never really tried to categorize them either, but here it goes:
Every Character Sounds the Same Draft
Something Needs to Happen Draft
Found Religion Draft
Shit the Rent’s Due Draft
I’m Hipper Than Thou Draft
Look What I Learned in the Weekend Seminar Draft
There Is No God Draft
People Love Me Draft
I’m Too Far to the Left Draft
Not Enough Commas Draft
What Would Mum Think Draft
Look I Took a Philosophy Course Draft
Screw the Actors Draft
Who Wrote This Piece of Crap Draft
Everyone Need a Grand Entrance Draft
Push the Envelope Draft
Thanks for making me stop for some self-reflection. I think most of those are variations of the WTF? draft.
good luck, girl -
Kitten's Leap (formerly Don't Turn Left) started out as a flashback in Kitten's Silence.
One more novel and a research tome to get through - then MAYBE I'll get round to the page 1 type re-write..
Shell :/ -
I'm a nimboid too and didn't know what a meme/tag was till I got one, so you aren't alone! I don't think it comes with any sort of curse otherwise I wouldn't have done it and certainly wouldn't have passed it on - I'm the sort of person who deliberately walks under ladders! As you're pregnant, I'm looking forward to reading what your 4 favourite dishes are - any bizarre cravings?
-
Ah, I get it. Just visited your URL. This is like a chain letter, right? Do I die if I don't do it?!? Let me know! ; )
28/03/06 10:20
Shell - remember! Bitesize chunks! Attempt Kitten A BIT AT A TIME and you may have some more luck finishing and not end up on Valium!
and finally, OSM - You definitely do sound as if you're in WTF? territory with ALL of those! You're in good company though! : )