| These questions will help you solve any scene problem without going completely insane in the process. In a lot of ways, screenwriting is simply problem solving. The writer sets out with a goal. Get the hero from start to finish. Write a compelling story. |   |
But that goal can only be achieved if the writer first answers a complex web of questions, each one related to the next.
More often than not, writers don’t get stuck on the answers to these questions. They get stuck because they aren’t asking the right questions in the first place.
This series of five questions will help you get at the root of the problems you’re having with your script.
They’re simple and straightforward, but they’ll help you solve even the most challenging screenwriting problems.
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More often than not, writers don’t get stuck on the answers to these questions. They get stuck because they aren’t asking the right questions in the first place.
This series of five questions will help you get at the root of the problems you’re having with your script.
They’re simple and straightforward, but they’ll help you solve even the most challenging screenwriting problems.
[CLICK TO CONTINUE...]
1) Why does this scene matter?
You have to force yourself to be honest here. Remember: Every scene needs to advance both plot and character, with very few exceptions.
So be honest when you’re answering this question. You’d be surprised how often you solve a big scene problem because the scene isn’t needed in the first place.
Scenes without purpose are difficult to write. They’re confusing and they slow the entire process down. If you’re struggling, chances are that’s why.
But if the scene in question has a clear and obvious purpose, continue to question number two…
So be honest when you’re answering this question. You’d be surprised how often you solve a big scene problem because the scene isn’t needed in the first place.
Scenes without purpose are difficult to write. They’re confusing and they slow the entire process down. If you’re struggling, chances are that’s why.
But if the scene in question has a clear and obvious purpose, continue to question number two…
2) What do I know?
This is one of the most helpful questions Chelsea and I ask when we’re trying to solve a scene problem. We lay out all of the simple facts in the script or scene at hand. By doing so, we kind of clear the room for creative thought and problem solving.
I take the same approach when I have to clean a messy room in the house. I gather everything up off the floor and toss it on the bed and suddenly the room looks much cleaner, and I can focus on the real cleaning that has to be done.
Don’t worry if you don’t know much. Sometimes the answer to this question could be as simple as “We have to raise the stakes and complicate the relationship between the hero and the love interest.”
And don’t be afraid to revise your answer to this question as you dig deeper into your script. Flexibility is essential in screenwriting!
I take the same approach when I have to clean a messy room in the house. I gather everything up off the floor and toss it on the bed and suddenly the room looks much cleaner, and I can focus on the real cleaning that has to be done.
Don’t worry if you don’t know much. Sometimes the answer to this question could be as simple as “We have to raise the stakes and complicate the relationship between the hero and the love interest.”
And don’t be afraid to revise your answer to this question as you dig deeper into your script. Flexibility is essential in screenwriting!
3) Where am I going?
If you run into problems with a scene or sequence, try starting at the end. If you know where you want to end up, you just might be able to reverse engineer your way to that point.
If you have an outline, this would be a great time to refer to it. If not, that’s okay too. But you need to know where your scene is headed. Once you figure that out, write your way there, and revise as needed.
If you have an outline, this would be a great time to refer to it. If not, that’s okay too. But you need to know where your scene is headed. Once you figure that out, write your way there, and revise as needed.
4) Am I forcing it?
All screenwriters have this problem. Sometimes we get too caught up in our own cleverness, to the detriment of the script we’re working on.
So before you go any further, make sure that the scene you’re writing is what would naturally happen in the world you’ve created.
So before you go any further, make sure that the scene you’re writing is what would naturally happen in the world you’ve created.
Ask Yourself: Is this a logical choice for the hero to be making? Is this the correct next step in the journey? Or are you forcing in a great set piece idea, despite the fact that this isn’t the time for it?
5) What's the scene turn?
If you’ve answered all the questions above, but you’re still struggling to make your scene sing, take a look at the structure of the scene itself.
Great scenes twist and turn, just like great screenplays.
Writers get particularly hung up on ‘confidant scenes.’ You know, those ‘catch-up’ scenes where the hero talks to his best friend about what their next step is.
It can be difficult to make those scenes dynamic. It can be hard to find the turn and it can be hard to make these scenes matter to the story.
But here’s a tip that is usually pretty helpful: Don’t let the hero start the scene with their mind made up. The friend should help them come to a decision, or sway them to make a different decision.
That way the scene matters and it has a purpose. It lets the audience see what your hero is thinking, it deepens the relationship with the friend, and it moves the story.
Great scenes twist and turn, just like great screenplays.
Writers get particularly hung up on ‘confidant scenes.’ You know, those ‘catch-up’ scenes where the hero talks to his best friend about what their next step is.
It can be difficult to make those scenes dynamic. It can be hard to find the turn and it can be hard to make these scenes matter to the story.
But here’s a tip that is usually pretty helpful: Don’t let the hero start the scene with their mind made up. The friend should help them come to a decision, or sway them to make a different decision.
That way the scene matters and it has a purpose. It lets the audience see what your hero is thinking, it deepens the relationship with the friend, and it moves the story.
What Now
Next time you run into a problem with one of your scenes, ask these five questions. If you answer honestly, and think critically about each question, you’ll come away which a much clearer perspective on what you need to do to write the best scene possible.
What questions do you ask to solve tricky screenwriting problems? Comment below with more!
What questions do you ask to solve tricky screenwriting problems? Comment below with more!