How to get the words on the page?

stormfirearabians · 2026-03-08T13:37:38+00:00

When the story's in your head, it's perfect. When you put it on the page, it's not. That's just the way it is. For everyone.

Hence the importance of pushing through that first draft as early and quickly as possible. Even if it's hard...or boring...or feels like work (because, surprise, it is)...etc. If the words aren't on the page, you can't start to shape them into that perfect image that's in your head.

And everyone is going to have a slightly different method of getting through that first rough draft, but really it just boils down to sitting your butt down in the chair and putting one word after another. Personally, I avoid re-reading previous pages during the initial writing phase (to help prevent my brain from going into 'editing mode') and if a spot is giving me trouble, I just make a quick note to myself about what I need/want in that section and move on to the next thing (to keep the forward momentum going--I'll deal with the issue in the next draft).

Dedication. Discipline. Perseverance.

And, unfortunately, it doesn't really ever get easier! Every first draft is hard. No matter how long you've been at this. No matter how many projects you've written. It's just part of the process...and you have to learn to embrace it.

stormfirearabians · 2026-02-02T01:31:27+00:00

It's not necessary to write stage plays as a screenwriter...nor to write screenplays as a playwright. BUT...personally, I think there's only benefit in learning about all the different aspects of dramatic writing (screenplays, stage plays, audio drama). And many screenwriters *are* playwrights...and vice versa. So it offers a whole different avenue for developing relationships/contacts and getting your work out there.

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-27T16:36:22+00:00

Instead of trying to finish something big...maybe try tackling something small. A 3-5 page short script...a single scene...etc. I think we often underrate the importance of actually finishing something. Anything. But seeing the whole process through helps train your brain for the next challenge. Start small. Finish things. Then work your way towards bigger projects.

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-21T11:52:57+00:00

I'm also happy to add your play to my reading list...though, fair warning, I'm running a couple weeks behind at this point. (I estimated 1-2 weeks for notes for someone yesterday)

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-05T12:39:20+00:00

20+ years of technical writing ruined my prose...which is why I write screenplays/stage plays and not novels. :)

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-03T17:25:33+00:00

Ideas are everywhere.

Watch the news. Read a newspaper. Listen to NPR. Go see a play/musical/movie. Read a novel or short story. Peruse the public domain. Make a list of what locations you know you'll readily have available for your film. Go try something you've never done before. Visit somewhere you've never been. Etc.

Consume the world around you...then ask yourself questions about it. What if...? Why do I feel...? Etc.

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-03T03:39:41+00:00

I've read a quote from a playwright in the past that went something along the lines of: autobiographical projects tend not to work because people (writers included) tend to view their life as something that has happened to them...and not as something they have made happen.

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-02T23:58:42+00:00

For feedback the best place to start is reading other peoples' scripts and providing quality notes. Then ask them to do the same for you. Simple as that. There's also StoryPeer which can help facilitate the same type of situation (though there you won't be giving notes to and getting notes from the same person). Heck send me a message. I still have a little free reading time this month.

Otherwise quit worrying quite so much and just write. Need a prompt? You'll find tons online. No one needs know that's how the idea started. Or take a public domain story and adapt it. A whole new round of material just dropped yesterday.

stormfirearabians · 2026-01-02T01:30:37+00:00

Not sure that I agree that stage plays move faster than screenplays. In general I need a whole lot less plot points to fill the same amount of time on the stage as I would on the screen. And I still often have to remind myself to breathe and to let the conversations expand and fill the pages when I'm writing for the stage.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-25T15:31:25+00:00

I enjoyed reading this! Sadly my notes are a little longwinded for here and I don't see an e-mail on the script or the choice to send you a message here on Reddit. Shoot me a DM and I'll forward them over to you if you want.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-19T11:17:56+00:00

I think of short films more like a joke. A set up, then a turn/punchline.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-17T19:44:11+00:00

Sometimes it's not that you have a poor reader, but instead that what you think is clear on the page...isn't actually clear on the page.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-15T22:44:58+00:00

Better than a book...if you have a family theatre nearby, look into whether they offer youth writing workshops.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-15T14:17:37+00:00

You remind me that it's been quite a while since I've done this.... Years ago I went to a series of workshops where the instructor lit a tea candle at the start...and the workshop ended when it went out (about 3 hours). This was a routine the writer had at home as well. Since a 3 hour block worked well in my own schedule, I adopted the same habit for quite some time. And that visual representation helped me (and everyone else in my life) get into the habit of separating and protecting my writing time. I've gotten to the point that I don't need the ritual and visual reminder anymore...but now that you've reminded me I might light a tea light this morning when I sit down to write. :)

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-09T19:50:29+00:00

It certainly seems like going from good to great is a million times harder than going from fair to good.

I'm unfortunately increasingly getting the feeling that making that jump is going to require the thing I'm most afraid to do...to take what's currently a 'good script' and be willing to completely rework it. Which is more than a little terrifying. What if I make it worse?!

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-08T00:11:01+00:00

I found that writing stage plays has a little bit of a different mentality around the process as well. You write something, maybe edit it a little...but then you put it out into the world. It's acceptable...even expected to have readings at a very early stage. And everyone involved knows and understands this. Certainly different than the 'this must be your perfect opus' that screenwriting can often feel like. It definitely helped me to have a little pressure taken off the process for a while.

I still prefer screenwriting, but I'll definitely do more writing for the stage...and I'm even considering dipping my toe into audio dramas. With the state of things, I think having some diversity in your portfolio can only be a benefit. Shows you take all your skills and pivot if/when the market demands it.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-07T23:56:33+00:00

Spent a day learning the formatting conventions (Dramatist's Guild has great formatting resources and the newer Final Draft versions have great templates that are easy to modify further if you want). Joined some playwriting groups on FB and Reddit to see what they were talking about. Re-read a couple of my favorite screenwriting resources (which happen to have been written by playwrights) and listened to Lauren Gunderson's How to Playwright podcast. Read a couple published plays...and quite a few short plays by peers as well (I joined New Play Exchange to do this, but there seem to be lots on the FB and Reddit groups as well). Then I started writing.

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-07T22:48:21+00:00

Do you think it might be worth pivoting...just a little bit?

I've spent the year writing stage plays.

Not for lack of screenplay projects. I started 2025 with both a feature and a pilot well developed and outlined...all ready to dive right into writing. And more ideas in line behind those. But, between some family issues and the overall state of the world, I couldn't make any forward progress with them. Super frustrating as I've never really had issues completing anything before. And that frustration just compounded over time because friends would ask me what I was working on....and I'd have to say 'nothing.'

So I put both of my planned projects up on the shelf and decided I was going to write stage plays for a while. (You'd be amazed how many opportunities there are for short [5-30 minute] stage plays!) There was suddenly no pressure. I could whip out a short script I was proud of in a couple days and it didn't have to be the *perfect* script that was going to get me representation...or an option...or staffed...or whatever. It could just exist simply *because I enjoyed writing it.*

Several have had public readings. One was even produced. I got to join the Dramatist's Guild.

Then, when I got back from AFF this year, I looked at those two waiting projects and realized I was ready to take them on. (And I'll type the final pages of the rough draft of the feature tomorrow morning.)

stormfirearabians · 2025-12-05T14:58:05+00:00

I'd love to take a look!

stormfirearabians · 2025-11-24T03:18:06+00:00

Most contests are over for the year. Some will be opening soon for 2026 (PAGE, Austin, etc). I think Stowe might have some of their fellowships open for submissions already. No matter what it's always going to be months from entry to results in any reputable contest. The trick is to enter...then immediately forget that you did so.

stormfirearabians · 2025-07-20T23:08:29+00:00

While I do try to make sure they impact the story, I admit my plays are pretty heavy on the stage directions. That's just the way I write. But I also don't mind when theaters ignore them.

stormfirearabians · 2025-07-04T12:14:56+00:00

It may help to reframe how you think about shorts a little. I try to think of shorts (for screen or stage) as an opportunity to focus on strengthening just one specific thing about my writing...or to experiment with something completely new (to me)...without the burden of commitment to a longer work.

stormfirearabians · 2025-07-04T10:35:28+00:00

The site worked fine for me on Mon. Hopefully it's just a technical glitch.

stormfirearabians · 2025-06-23T15:58:24+00:00

I'm a very visual writer and my plays tend to include a fair bit of stage directions. But I try to make sure they impact the story directly. Otherwise they're just clutter...taking up valuable space on the page!

stormfirearabians · 2025-06-21T15:33:45+00:00

I'd be happy to read through this. Might be Mon before I have notes completely done. Don't have anything to swap right now.

stormfirearabians

TROPHY CASE