Film 210: Week 5

Rewriting

In this lesson, you'll learn:

Why rewriting is essential to the creative process
How to create distance and gain perspective on your work
Ways to gather valuable feedback from various sources
A layered approach to revision: structure, scene, character, language, and technical elements
Common pitfalls to watch for in your scripts
How to develop your personal rewriting process

Let’s begin!

Why Rewriting Matters

First drafts are about discovery—getting ideas onto the page. Rewriting is about ensuring the story you want is communicated clearly. It's about:

Tying together the different elements of plot, theme, and character
Getting rid of dead weight, excess words, and fine-tuning what remains
Sharpening your writing to a fine point—no matter the genre
Taking writing that is good and making it great so you stand above other writers
Fine-tuning the story you want to tell and your unique voice
Eliminating plot holes, broken narrative logic, or misordered cause and effect.
Creating rhythm and momentum that pulls the reader through your script
That final slow simmer that makes your script perfect

Many writers avoid rewriting because it's challenging to critically examine their own work. But this is precisely where magic happens. Let's explore this transformative process.

Creating Distance

Before you can effectively evaluate your work, you need perspective. After completing a draft:

Step away from your work for at least a day (longer if possible)
Engage with different creative activities or projects
Return with fresh eyes and a more objective viewpoint

This distance allows you to see what's actually on the page rather than what you intended to write—a crucial distinction.

Practical Distancing Techniques

Beyond simply taking a break, consider these specific methods to gain a new perspective:

Format shifting: Convert your script to a different format or font to make it less familiar
Print and read: Physical paper creates a different relationship with the text than screens
Read it out loud: Force yourself to read every word and see what is actually on the page
Location change: Read your script in a completely different environment from where you wrote it
Backwards reading: Review sentences or scenes in reverse order to break the narrative flow
Cold reading: Ask someone to read sections aloud without rehearsal to hear how they interpret it
Timed breaks: Set specific durations between drafts based on the project's length

Self-Evaluation

Self-evaluation creates an interesting dichotomy: you need objective distance while still engaging emotionally with your work. After creating that initial distance, read your work wearing two hats:

As a critical reader:

Are there moments that drag or feel unnecessary?
Can you follow the story without confusion?
Is the structure sound, and does the pacing work?
Does everything on the page serve a purpose?

As an emotional audience:

Did you feel engaged throughout?
Did your emotional responses align with your intentions?
Were you moved at the moments designed to create impact?
Would you keep reading if this weren't your own work?

This balance of critical and emotional evaluation is difficult but essential. You need enough distance to see flaws clearly while maintaining enough connection to ensure the story resonates emotionally. The ability to navigate this dual perspective is a skill that develops with practice.

Gathering External Feedback

External Perspectives

Quality feedback provides insights you might miss on your own:

Paid professional editors who understand story mechanics and market expectations
Writing coaches who can guide your development process
First readers (trusted individuals, fans, or fellow writers)

As you gather feedback, aim to develop a reliable "brain trust"—a group of individuals whose opinions you trust and value. When requesting feedback, ask for honest, critical assessments—not just praise. Consider questions like:

"Which parts felt strongest to you, and which lost your interest?"
"Were there moments where you felt confused or disconnected?"
"Did the ending feel satisfying based on what came before?"

Remember, constructive criticism may sting initially, but will strengthen your work immeasurably. "Nice" or half-hearted feedback doesn't help you grow as a writer.

Technology Assistance

Modern tools can provide additional perspective:

Grammar and style checkers identify mechanical issues
Text-to-speech helps you hear awkward phrasing
AI writing assistants can offer alternative approaches

While these tools can be helpful, remember they're supplements to human judgment, not replacements. The final decisions must always be yours.

Layered Revision: A Practical Approach

Rather than trying to fix everything at once, it helps to approach revision in layers:

1. Structural Assessment (The Big Picture)

Begin by evaluating the overall architecture of your story:

Does the beginning effectively hook the reader?
Is there a clear progression that builds momentum?
Does the ending deliver on the promises made earlier?
Are there significant gaps or redundancies in the narrative?

Don't get caught in line-editing at this stage. Focus on the blueprint before worrying about the furnishings.

Once the structure feels solid, examine each scene:

Is every scene earning its place in the story?
Does each scene either advance the plot or deepen the character?
Are the transitions between scenes smooth and logical?
Is there a balance between action, dialogue, and reflection?

Be ruthless about cutting scenes that don't serve a clear purpose, no matter how beautifully written they might be.

3. Character Consistency

Characters are the heart of your story:

Do your characters' actions align with their established personalities?
Is each character's voice distinct and consistent?
Are character motivations clear and believable?
Do characters evolve in meaningful ways throughout the story?

Create a document tracking each character's journey to ensure consistency throughout revisions.

With structure and character aligned, focus on language:

Replace vague descriptions with specific, evocative details
Cut unnecessary words and eliminate repetition
Vary sentence structure and paragraph length for better rhythm
Read dialogue aloud to ensure it sounds natural

This is where you polish your prose, making every word count.

5. Technical Cleanup

Finally, address the technical elements:

Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Ensure consistent formatting
Verify any factual claims or references
Follow proper style guide requirements

This final polish ensures nothing distracts from your story.

Screenplay-Specific Revision Techniques

While general revision principles apply to all writing, screenplays have unique considerations:

Visual Language Check

In screenplay revision, pay special attention to:

Visual storytelling: Can everything be seen or heard on screen?
Economy of words: Screenplays favour brevity—cut any description that runs over 3-4 lines
White space: Dense blocks of text are intimidating to readers and suggest overwritten scenes
Action vs. description: Ensure you're showing activity, not just describing static scenes

Format-Focused Passes

Consider doing dedicated passes, just checking:

Scene headings: Are they consistent and formatted correctly?
Parentheticals: Have you overused them or included unfilmable directions?
Page count: Is your script within industry expectations for your genre?
Transitions: Have you avoided camera directions except when necessary?

Dialogue Isolation

Try this exercise to spot dialogue problems:

Read only the dialogue aloud without any action or description
Note if all characters sound the same
Check for on-the-nose dialogue that lacks subtext
Look for dialogue that could be replaced with visual action

Common Pitfalls to Watch For

Before submitting your work, check for these common issues:

Stylistic Problems

Directing the camera: Focus on what happens, not how to film it
Telling rather than showing: Demonstrate emotions through actions rather than stating them
Overused parentheticals: Let dialogue speak for itself when possible
Copyright issues: Avoid name brands, songs, or other protected material
Excessive detail: If it doesn't move the story forward, cut it

Technical Mistakes

Spelling conventions: Verify terms like "Okay" (not "Ok"), "Yeah" (not "ya")
Punctuation usage: Know when to use ellipses (...) versus em dashes (—)
Number formatting: Most numbers should be spelled out
Verb forms: Use active rather than passive voice where possible
Proper titles: Capitalize "Mom" or "Dad" when used as a name

Ineffective Writing Habits

Crutch words: Watch for overused terms like "just," "very," or "basically"
Action indicators: Avoid phrases like "begins to" or "starts to"—actions should simply happen
Excessive description: 3-4 lines maximum for dialogue or action blocks
Unclear time/distance: Prefer visual representations over specific measurements
Redundant information: If you've shown it, you don't need to tell it too

The Path to Completion

My writing partner and I have developed an approach to rewriting that works for us:

Start with a strong base. Take the time to build a solid outline.
Get the story on paper. Stick to the plan. Don't spend time rewriting during the first draft.
Take a rest. Create distance from your work.
Reread it. Fix what makes you cringe, spelling and grammar, things that make you stumble.
Take time off again. Give yourself renewed perspective.
Reread it again. You may know its weaknesses. Get it closer to good or great. Also, make sure you enjoy it.
Keep taking time off and reading it until it flows.
Hand it to readers. Readers of the story. Editors (that you pay) will call out all of its problems.
Never have an ego. Listen to those who want the best version of your story.
Take all the notes and fix all of them.
Reread it again and correct mistakes. Every edit is a fracture point.
Reread it again or give it to others.
Sell it to the world.

While rewriting, I don't separate different aspects like plot, punctuation, and character—I read through the entire piece and fix issues as I encounter them, which helps me feel the emotional flow of the story.

This process has grown and changed over time, and we expect it will continue to do so as we gain more experience.

Similarly, use this lesson as a starting point to find your own path. Try different techniques, keep what works, and discard what doesn't.

Your willingness to rewrite—to critically examine and refine your work—ultimately separates produced screenwriters from aspiring ones.

The best writers aren't necessarily the most talented; they're the ones who commit to the process of transformation.

Key Takeaways

Create distance from your work before evaluation to gain a fresh perspective
Seek diverse feedback from trusted readers, professionals, and appropriate tools
Use a layered approach to revision: structure, scene, character, language, and technical elements
Identify and fix common pitfalls in style, technique, and writing habits
Develop your own rewriting process that may involve multiple drafts