In this article on screenwriter John August’s blog he writes about how much time you could expect to get if you are asked to write a screenplay.
Twelve weeks is a common agreement. But he adds that the company probably will see progress just after a few weeks.
He writes “In my experience, the most successful screenwriters are the ones who are able to accurately estimate how much time they’ll need. That’s part of the craft, just like a cabinetmaker promising a delivery date.”
If you are an experienced writer you should be able to write on demand and know what time it takes, like any craftsman. That sounds reasonable.
I guess it is a good idea to get into those shoes early.
What if I’m used to write when it pleases me in my own tempo and ends up with a script that gets sold if I do some rewriting within the next two weeks? Then it is to late to find out how to write when needed.
I think I have had speed in my writing, but I have been writing on this script for six months now. That is a little over 24 weeks, twice the time mentioned.
On the other hand, if I hadn’t had a day job, I would probably be able to write twice as fast. Or?
4 comments:
If you take it to mean that he has sold the treatment already - so already knows the story arks, beats etc. There is no reason why he shouldn't hit a target like that - and you, if you were a full time writer.
I wrote my first feature in a week. But then had to polish and polish etc. But I was able to do that because I had a week off work with no distractions and already knew the story inside out.
Someone once told me that John Hughes (Pretty In Pink - http://www.riverblue.com/hughes/bio.html) was so good that he delivered 4 film scripts in a week! for his teen comedies. But I have found no info to back up that claim. lol
But 6 months is great for someone with a day job, career, children and a life!
Thank you for your encouragement.
I guess that the article does not reveal the whole story. How much is already done of research and structure? How many times will the result be rewritten?
I read that Philip K Dick wrote with a huge tempo too, but he was high on something less suitable. :-)
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