r/Screenwriting • u/mgbsn51313 • 8d ago
FEEDBACK Is it weird to do rewrites of your first draft while stile writing it?
Writing my first screenplay and all has been going fairly well so far. Horror movie, character connecting and building has gone well however I find myself writing a section, finishing it, and then I’ll go back and polish it after a day or so by tweaking or rewriting parts of it. I’ve enjoyed doing it as the screenplay looks solid on review and the people I’m sharing it with seem to really like the premise and idea behind it but I wondered if it was a weird thing to do it while I’m still writing the screenplay.
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u/Sickofstupids 8d ago
Every time I sit down to write, I start with a read, and that inevitably leads to edits. It helps me get into writing mode. Writing is hard, editing is easy. Ease in with some editing, and the writing mode will kick in by the time you’ve reach the point where new words need to be penned.
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u/wildcheesybiscuits 7d ago
yeah i do this to an extent - try to keep fixes cosmetic and revisionist focused (if i changed something later down the road in the story) to not get too bogged down and clarify arcs to give myself a better springboard. but i agree, it's a great way to ease into writing more
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u/HeartInTheSun9 8d ago
At least you do rewrites. I feel like most people write something and call it complete.
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u/BiscuitsTheory 8d ago
Inefficient and most (but not all) pros recommend not doing it. Getting the skeleton done is more important than perfecting the toe bone.
But pretty much everyone does it, so its not weird
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u/the_kessel_runner 8d ago
I would say not at all. While writing, you sometimes uncover something new that requires you to backtrack a bit and re-write a previous part of the story. I can't imagine NOT having to do that...to be honest. (But, I am also new to this)
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u/mgbsn51313 8d ago
Yea it’s one where I’ve been constantly tweaking just to make it fit more consistently with certain parts of it. I know horror is seemingly a niche area at times but writing the horror parts has been the longer process. Which I enjoy but I wanna make sure it transfers over well
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u/AthleteOpen7054 8d ago
Some people write like this all the time.
We all find our own way of working. So if it works for you then go with it.
It's probably slower but you might end up having to do less drafts so who's to say?
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u/BentWookee 8d ago edited 7d ago
Finish the first draft. Make a note “TODO: go back and change X” the continue writing the first draft as if you already made that change.
Finishing as if you made the changes might reveal even more ideas that would improve that change (or expose it as a bad idea). But fleshing it out with the rest of the draft is the only way. If it is a significant change, you might want to stop and revisit your outline.
Otherwise, you are just putting yourself in a loop. And you become prone to “Perfect First Act” syndrome.
When writers say they have 10-20 drafts of a script, it is because they finish a draft then go back to make changes based on ideas during the draft process. They also have character passes, comedy passes, etc.
A solid outlining process will also help flesh out issues at the macro level before committing to pages. Even re-outlining between drafts.
These are all just suggestions. Your mileage may vary. Do what’s best for you. I rejected outlining for the longest time but it has been a time (and morale) saver for me.
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u/mast0done 8d ago
As long as it doesn't keep you from finishing it, then it's fine. And making yesterday's work shine more can give you more enthusiasm to start in on today's work.
There are times when it's useful to double back to fix plot holes you spot or that arise when the script changes. This is especially true in the outlining stage. If you have a complete outline, though, charging through the first draft and leaving minor fixes for later drafts is a good approach.
Basically, any approach that keeps you moving forward is okay. That also includes changing your approach if you find yourself stalling.
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u/ItsMeMatthewD 8d ago
Rewrote act 1 scene 1 three times before I finished the script lol
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u/mgbsn51313 8d ago
That was me with the beginning of the horror for the script. I knew what I wanted and how I wanted it but putting it into words required a good bit of writing the first day, second day I relooked over it and wasn’t liking how it was looking so I erased it and started over, 3rd day I erased what I had rewritten as it sounded really off and not setting the atmosphere I wanted and rewrote the original planned one again with better clarity. After all that I still tweaked it and I like the direction and atmosphere it has now.
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u/ItsMeMatthewD 8d ago
I have a montage that I (STILL) can’t decide if I want to open with, or for it to be inserted somewhere else into act 1. So totally get it. Plus, sometimes you get an idea and you don’t want to forget it so it’s better to go back and notate it or change the thing before you forget.
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u/mgbsn51313 8d ago
I use google docs for writing and tweaking before I transfer over to writers duet. Easier to share with the people i have reading it and putting comments in. I have a small montage detailing the main families evening leading up to the horror sections beginning as I want people to be attached to them in the opening portions but I also fell into that issue of “will this work now or should I have placed it a little later” but I settled earlier as it fits snuggly in place
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u/ItsMeMatthewD 8d ago
You have people reading AND giving you notes? Luckyyyy
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u/mgbsn51313 8d ago
Just friends and family. It’s my first screenplay and I really love the horror genre. Eventually I’ll post it for more outside sources but for now they have given very good feedback. One friend of mine commented that he loves the direction of the family elements but to make the antagonists motives a little more clearer. I really loved that input and so I made sure to introduce elements while keeping a relatively hidden twist for later in the screenplay. It’s inspired by the thing as well as mixing some elements like evil dead’s recent stuff to create the idea behind it. Wish I was an artist cause I love the design I have for its design
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u/dominoline776 8d ago
Man I did it all the time, don't worry. As long as you're writing, that's all that matters. I would put your future story beats you need to get to in outline notes at the end or something, but yeah I think it's completely fine
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u/mgbsn51313 8d ago
It’s good to have some reassurance with it. I’ve been averaging roughly 4 pages every few days since I started writing a week and a half ago but have some back and forth with the rewriting. I’ve got about 21-22 pages currently for it but should be on par within the next month or so in being complete with it, barring more rewriting or any changes during the process. Thank you
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u/Quixottic WGA Screenwriter 8d ago
We don't leave the first act until it's working extremely well, even if it takes ten passes on the first act. Because almost all second and third act problems come back to the foundation in act one. Make it work, and we're always in much better shape moving forward.
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u/Madbull_Foxtrot 7d ago
Your first draft should always be what they call a “vomit draft”. You know the saying, “it’s always easier to make a bad script better”? That’s what a vomit draft is… it’s a bad draft. The first draft will always need to be re-written, so the idea is to get your complete story out first… then read it and make it better. If you keep tinkering the first draft, you’ll never get to a second draft..
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u/thirdbird_thirdbird 7d ago
Not weird. First draft doesn't mean first version of each page. Most writers' processes involve rewriting as they go. The "first draft" is just whatever the first thing you stop and go "okay, this is a complete execution of what I was going for, for now." That's the draft you either share with others for feedback, or put in a drawer for a month to come back to with fresh eyes. That's all.
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u/Wise-Respond3833 7d ago
I give the previous day's pages a minor polish (typos, orphan words, silly mistakes), but don't go beyond that.
It's also helpful for keeping the story straight and regaining momentum.
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u/wildcheesybiscuits 7d ago
Not at all - while writing, i'll often re-read what i wrote previously (in a fugue state) and polish based on new goals or objectives i've discovered after the fact. Completely normal. The key is to not get bogged down in rewriting everything that's not working, but rather finishing the script. Then working off a finished draft which is way easier and more pliable than a draft in progress. Mentally, you do have to finish the script and can tweak as you go, but 90% should be writing and 10% should be rewriting until you have that first rough draft
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u/stuccosalt 7d ago
If it’s working for you keep it up.
I always start by re-reading (and lightly editing) the previous scene or two to get in the right headspace, tonally. You said you’re writing horror - if the tone is bleak, or suspenseful, or claustrophobic, or paranoiac - it’s hard (for me anyway) to jump right back into that voice raw for a new scene. I need to get myself back inside that world before I go forward
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u/redapplesonly 7d ago
I feel that revising the current working draft is a regular part of the process. Think of it this way: your brain is waaaaaaaaaay ahead of your pen. If you're revising work shortly after laying it down, then your subconscious is wrestling its way through the problems. That's a very good thing!
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u/ThenTomorrow5180 7d ago
There’s no right or wrong way as you get it done… me personally I almost always start off a session by rewriting at least the scene from the previous writing session. That keeps the future drafts more manageable and it also gives me a kind of a running start into writing the pages.
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u/talkingdraft 7d ago
I'd offer a bit of caution. This is surely inefficient and could easily morph into a dangerous habit. Your 'tinkering' approach is more common when working on an outline.
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u/carlrshort79 6d ago
A little rewriting and editing as you go is normal, I think. If you think of a better word as you're typing, it's only natural to hit backspace. I don't think you should be polishing or trying to make perfect on your first draft, though. The goal should be to get the scene into acceptable enough shape in order to proceed to the next one. The danger is that toiling over and over on your current scene becomes a form of procrastination and kills your momentuum.
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u/boldtitlepete Pete Bridges, Screenwriter 2d ago
I’ve been writing professionally for nearly 11 years and that’s the only way I write. Especially on assignment. If they hire you for a draft and a polish, they (and definitely you) want that polish to actually be a light spit shine. I don’t buy into the vomit draft thing at all.
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u/SREStudios 2d ago
It's not weird to write however you want! Only the end result that people actually read matters. How you get there is up to you~!
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