Usually when I get notes on a first draft, they're all about a page one rewrite. This time I got notes about how to fix problems in the existing script, positive notes about how the whole things works as a whole but needs some tweaks with character relationships.
So for once, I did it right the first time.
I think moving slowly and rethinking my decisions paid off. Normally I rely on my first instinct for the scene. I see a character behaving a certain way, so that's how I write it. Sure, I'll adjust the scene a bit to make it stronger, but I usually don't consider erasing an entire day's worth of work and starting over. This time I did. If I woke up and realized the last 6 pages were crap, I deleted them outright and wrote a whole new scene.
It probably helps that this is quite possibly the most commercial thing I've ever written.
Anyway, I'm glad. I didn't write anything this past weekend, partly because I was obsessing over my new phone (I finally found out what the fuss over Angry Birds is all about) while watching episodes of Farscape, and partly because I wanted to sit with the notes a while. Usually as soon as I get notes I dive back in, but for this script I wanted to continue the slow, thoughtful method I've been using. Think first, then write.
So far so good.
Congrats on getting good notes!!! I think you are right about working slower. I am the queen of page one rewrites myself....
ReplyDeleteSo the birds in Angry birds were placeholders while folks making game figured out game mechanics. And the birds made everyone laugh. So they kept them. I gave game on phone to 5 yr old while getting eye checkup, monkey quickly picked up game and loved it. So fun, addictive, and all-ages friendly, they really nailed the game.
ReplyDeleteGetting tweak vs substantial change notes, so nice, requires celebration.