We talk about a lot of things on here, loglines, outlines, treatments, acts, midpoints, etc...
But it all starts with the idea. If you pick the wrong idea the rest doesn't really matter honestly.
Keep this in mind as you plot your rise to the top of the screenwriting world.
-- A great idea is one you can explain in one sentence
-- A better idea is one you can explain with just the title
-- The best idea to pick is one that YOU can write better than anyone. This is key.
A great idea is one thing, but if you have a great idea for a thriller, but you write comedy -- it may not be the right idea for YOU. Or even if same genre -- you may have ten ideas -- think they are all worthy -- but you know deep down that 1 or 2 of them are the ones that you really want to write. The others just sound good on paper when you pitch them.
John August I recall saying if you are choosing which idea to pick -- go with the one with the best ending.
I always pitch my friends first and of course reps if you have them. But pitch anyone.
I think a good idea would be to take some top ideas and write out a 2-4 beat sheet/outline to make sure you do have enough story for 90 pages. Do you have an act 2 engine like "find a cure" "save grandma's house" "get my bike back."
Also to me the best ideas are the ones you can't get out of your head. Stay with you.
So before you go down too far the rabbit hole -- make sure you brought the right rabbit with you. And that you went down the right hole to start with.
But it all starts with the idea. If you pick the wrong idea the rest doesn't really matter honestly.
Keep this in mind as you plot your rise to the top of the screenwriting world.
-- A great idea is one you can explain in one sentence
-- A better idea is one you can explain with just the title
-- The best idea to pick is one that YOU can write better than anyone. This is key.
A great idea is one thing, but if you have a great idea for a thriller, but you write comedy -- it may not be the right idea for YOU. Or even if same genre -- you may have ten ideas -- think they are all worthy -- but you know deep down that 1 or 2 of them are the ones that you really want to write. The others just sound good on paper when you pitch them.
John August I recall saying if you are choosing which idea to pick -- go with the one with the best ending.
I always pitch my friends first and of course reps if you have them. But pitch anyone.
I think a good idea would be to take some top ideas and write out a 2-4 beat sheet/outline to make sure you do have enough story for 90 pages. Do you have an act 2 engine like "find a cure" "save grandma's house" "get my bike back."
Also to me the best ideas are the ones you can't get out of your head. Stay with you.
So before you go down too far the rabbit hole -- make sure you brought the right rabbit with you. And that you went down the right hole to start with.
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