Index Cards: Part One

You know you do it, Rouge Wavers – you get addicted to thinking up Cool Moments for your script. When you describe what you’re working on to someone else, you excitedly tell them about the scene where you have dreamt up a special effect or particularly dramatic moment in which your character, suspended upside down, has a tear roll down (up) into his eye as he lets out his last, sad breath. Just as the giant spiders attack.

And you know what, Wavers – that’s a great moment. But it’s just a moment, not a whole scene and depending where you are in outlining or otherwise writing your script, this Cool Moment might be more useful waiting its turn while you finish solving some of the tougher issues with your script.

In a recent discussion of outlining using the 12 Sequence method, Rouge Waver thekhalif (IF that's his real name!) noted that he uses something like the 12 sequences but breaks his outline down even further, into smaller and smaller components.

There are many ways to approach organizing ideas, beats and information about your script. Some writers literally write a 60 beat beat-sheet. The Wave-inatrix prefers to organize ten-pages sequences but she also slices honeydew melon with a butter knife and hasn’t shaved her legs in – woops – WTMI.

The point being that some writers like to collect and organize Cool Moments or even specific beats ahead of time and out-of-order and others like to beat out the macro sequences and then let the Cool Moments emerge as the pages are being written. Ideally, writers should leave the process open to interpretation.

But the trick, Wavers, is not to let your method of staying organized become your worst enemy. Writers need to produce product in order to be competitive. Writers who get stuck in the miasma of dreaming up Cool Moments wind up in a self-defeating pattern and don't churn out finished scripts as often as they could.

But Cool Moment addicts need our love and understanding. And they need to first admit they have a problem.

Scripts are blueprints for movies, a visual medium, so we screenwriters are always picturing movie moments if not living them – or trying to, with mixed results. Your script should be packed with great moments – as long as those moments are in terrific scenes in compelling sequences in a powerful act of an entertaining script.

I cannot express how many times I am working with a writer on a specific issue with their script and they interrupt with like, this cool visual that will go in that spot! FOCUS PEOPLE! That cool visual does not help solve your logic issue or premise question. That cool visual does not give your character a powerful arc.

Here’s what you do to stay focused. Buy a pack of index cards and keep them with you. Every time you think of a great moment or cool visual – write it down. Perhaps even jot down the act you think that moment belongs in, or the scene it is otherwise connected to. Have fun with it, keep a whole stack of great ideas for your script.

But be careful, Cool Moments offer instant gratification. But a script full of Cool Moments does not a great script make. The underpinnings need to be there and that is the work that leaves us staring a blank screen and wishing we were dead some days.

Focusing on moments or visuals while ignoring larger issues like narrative and character arc will mark you as an amateur; eager to get to dessert when you haven’t finished your vegetables. Ensuring that you have a solid premise, making sure your structure is tight and that your characters are well-developed is job one.

If you are a Cool Moment Addict, that’s more than okay, that’s – well – cool. You are going to be the next Quentin Tarrantino or Wes Anderson. But you can’t get there if you aren’t also willing to do the Less Cool stuff. Go buy yourself a pack of index cards and fill those suckers up with great stuff. Then put a rubberband around the deck and get back to work.

Index Cards: Part Two coming to the Rouge Wave when the Wave-inatrix is darn good and ready.

If you enjoyed this post, follow me on Twitter or subscribe via RSS.