My Scriptwriting Plus

December the sixteenth – How Do I Write My Outlines

How Do I Write My Outlines

Some writers say that it’s a waste of time to write an Outline for a script because no one will probably see it except for the writer. I disagree with that for a couple of reasons. One reason is that it helps me to write my Treatment then my script. The second reason is that even though no one else will see it some in the industry may want to see them.

Unlike Treatments that do have a specific way of writing them, Outlines don’t. There is no right or wrong way to write them. It’s all up to the individual writer. Since they are basically for the writer most of the time, they can be written any way that you want to write them. There are probably several million ways they can be written. Each writer has their own ways of doing them. Like Treatments that are all about the same, each one is slightly different.

The way that I write my Outlines is the same way that I write my Treatments. Only in not so much detail. Instead of each scene for the main characters, I write them for the Act. The only exception is that whoever starts off the Act also ends it. So, instead of one paragraph, they have two. One at the beginning of the Act and one at the end of it. The other three paragraphs are for the other characters.

Just like the Treatments, I write my Outlines according to the number of Acts. For movies, there are eight Acts plus a Teaser Act and a Tag Act. With my Episodic Outlines, there are only four Acts plus the Teaser Act and the Tag Act. Within those Acts, there are five paragraphs that are indented. The first, third, and fifth ones are five lines long while the second and fourth ones are four lines long. Both the Teaser and Tag Acts are three lines long.

I know that there is no uniformity when it comes to scripting paragraphs, but I like there to be one when it comes to my Outlines and Treatments. That’s just the way that I write them. When it comes to the scripts themselves, I write them according to the Standard Scriptwriting Format.

Have I totally confused you yet? I’m not surprised. It’s a little bit confusing to me too, and I’m writing it. I’m not very good at explaining myself with Blog entries like this one. It will be a lot easier to understand once I Create them. Which I’m not sure when I am going to be doing that. I’m thinking about doing them after I finish the Treatments. I may wait until I finish the scripts. Then again, I may Create them as I go alone. What do you think? How do you do it?

My Scriptwriting Plus  [E] #2162356 This Blog isn't just for my scriptwriting Projects. It's also for my other activities. by PureSciFi

The Daily One Scene Contest  [E] #2162318 Another contest that isn't a Short Story or Poetry one. It's another scriptwriting one. by PureSciFi

My Monthly Scriptwriting Newsletter  [E] #2162447 This is where I'm going to be posting my Newsletter. To read them you must join us. by PureSciFi

Scriptwriters Welcome  [E] #2162345 A discussion group for scriptwriters. Only it's not just for scriptwriters, though. by PureSciFi

The Monthly Script Writing Contest  [E] #2144083 Not just another monthly contest. Instead of Short Stories or Poetry, it's about Scripts. by PureSciFi

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What you are about to read (see) is true. Nothing needed to be changed. After all, this has already been translated into a language that we all know and understand - English (German, French, Italian, Russian etc.).