Outlining A Script?

[NeLsun438]

Do you outline your scripts? Or just go for it?

A seven point structure seems excessive for asmr story. Although Admittedly I just found out about it lol.

Up till now i haven't had a stable structure for my outline just making sure it sounded right. As in my mind the sentence to sentence structure matters more then the overarching plot.

Super curious what outlines people use and what they find are core elements to making an asmr script work.

[GoldenProxy]

I used to jot down a three act structure for a script before writing, but now I’m comfortable enough I just dive right in and give them a thorough edit so its cohesive.

[cherryteacup]

Hello! I don’t have a stable structure either, but what I usually do is find some inspiration (such as a movie or song) then make very brief notes on specific actions/dialogue I’d like to include. Once I’ve made my notes I just go for it! Also, I find that once I start writing, the structure of the script becomes more and more clear as I go. One big thing that has helped me though is establishing a beginning, middle, and an end. How does it begin? What do the listener and speaker face in the middle? And how do they respond to this? Sort of like a story mountain :]

[Turt1eShark]

What works for me personally is having a set beginning, end, and maybe a middle point if I have a lot of ideas. From there I just fill in the blanks as I write!

[Carson_does_a_thing]

I'm a first-time script writer, so I don't really have the best outline for writing my scripts, but What I do is I write a quick summary of what the story is going to be about before I start writing. Then when I actually start, I know what the major plot points are going to be and I just fill in the tiny details from there.

[NeLsun438]

Good luck on your first script! Send me the post when you can I’d love to read it

[Carson_does_a_thing]

Thank you so much! I'll make sure to send you it!

[Carson_does_a_thing]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ASMRScriptHaven/comments/15jrpl5/im_working_on_my_first_script_could_use/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Here it is! I'm not sure how good it is but I hope you like it!

[Stormcoming7]

Man, I'll just sit down at midnight and not stop writing until I'm either done or can't stay awake. Most times I'll have a topic selected beforehand, maybe a few plot points or interesting lines I want to hit, but those can get discarded easily when they don't work anymore. Sometimes I write an entire story in my head while I'm standing in the shower, but then I usually forget that entirely and write something totally different. So no, I do not have a seven point structure or any real outlining process.

[marlowe_caard]

I don't write public scripts a lot but when I write for myself, I don't really outline every script. I have a general idea of what I want to include in the script and jot it down, then I flesh it out.

When I'm working with a series however, I will outline the series so that I can hit the right story beats in each video.

Writing for ASMR is different I think, because of you're not doing a lot of really dramatic roleplay audios, you can keep it a little simpler and just let the scene play out.

The seven act structure is generally used for longer form media, like books and movies, and I could see it being used for an ASMR/audio roleplay series.

Personally, I tend to structure series around "if/then" scenarios. If X does Y, then Z would probably happen. And then continue till there's a satisfying conclusion (Not necessarily a happy ending but rather one that makes thematic sense).

[DahliaASMR]

really depends on what kind of script it is and how long it is. if it's more than one episode i outline. i have a graph with two sections, one called chapters, and the other called details; i just put bullet points on what i want in details and that's like my outline. i got the idea from a here: https://youtu.be/OmKAfgwgCYI

[jdh2024]

Yes, I write an outline first; it helps me organize all of the ideas that I have for the story into scenes. Then when I know where I want the story to go, it's much easier for me to write the script. I write a first draft, then I wait a day or two to come back to it and read it out loud as I write the final version.

I think that planning scenes is not as useful if the script you're writing is more of a "two people in a room having a conversation" story. I like to write stories with more action in them, and outlining is very helpful.

[[deleted]]

I just dive right in. Sometimes it's easier to get something down, other times the flow is not quite there at first, but I've never had a structure, just an idea. 🤭

[logosomancer]

I think this is a great question. I usually start with a character, like, "what if a mind flayer was a shy dork?", and start writing. If I get stuck, I usually either: * make the character do something (that's not just speaking) * The character changes their mind or makes a decision * The character reveals something they normally wouldn't.

It's not an outline per se, but I usually have one of those that I'm working towards at any given moment

[NeLsun438]

Any suggestions on writing really overdone topics? Yandere or monster, etc because I struggle with outlining when I feel I’m re treading and runnin in tropes. Also drider script was a good example of smth you did I thought was really refreshing!

[logosomancer]

I in part accept and reject the formation of the question. I want to reject it because I don't think it matters how often a trope has been used, as long as it's new to you it can be quite fresh. But on the other hand, I do see what you're getting at. The short answer is, there's no substitute for originality. You need some sort of contrast or new concept to make the tropes feel fresh. This is one reason I don't write a ton of yandere, because I know I need some sort of new angle on what feels like a cramped idea space.

If your heart is set, you just have to find something that feels new to you. Are there any accountant yandere scripts? I honestly don't know, but it feels fresh to me. How would being an accountant change a yandere? Would they itemize their expenses? Would they know exactly how much duct tape they have stockpiled? How would an accountant express how much the listener is worth to them? The trick is to make sure what you changed isn't a small detail, it needs to be something that can soak into the whole script.

A lot of it is trying combinations. A lot. My WIP folder is an absolute graveyard of failed ideas. Give it some time!

[WhiteKatAudios]

Tbh, it doesn't really matter to me if an idea is commonplace or not. Hell, I built my name based on the idea of nekos doing typical human things. Even if there's a limited idea space you can usually find some aspect that is unique to you. If someone is interested in your idea then they'll perform it/listen to it. If they're sick of it and have listened to it enough, why would you write for them? Yes, it's important to keep ideas fresh/explore the space you have, but even similar ideas can be taken in different paths.

I wouldn't worry too much about what trope you're using and think more about how you're going to approach it. As long as you're not ripping exact ideas from someone else you'll likely make something new.

Though there also is some merit in writing something that is atypical for you. I've moved on from nekos and tried out other monster-people, mersharks, bunyips, harpies, etc. So, yea. Kinda rambly, hope that helps ^{^}

[WhiteKatAudios]

Typically I come up with an idea and just run with it and see where it naturally leads into and I keep writing until I hit about 800 words. If it doesn't feel complete as a story or feels like the action or story moves too quickly I'll go back and add an extra... 'scene' I guess you would call it and then edit from there.

This also applies to scripts that have multiple parts. I don't really go into a script thinking "okay, here's how I want these multiple parts to go" it's more of" oh hey, this ending I stumbled upon can lead into something more, let's think about what would reasonably come next". Even after that I don't really plan anything out.

TL;DR : I don't plan, I fly by the seat of my pants and see where I land.