The Screenwriting Process: Brainstorming & Scrap Piles

Writing is a PROCESS, a thing you do over and over, hopefully better and better each time.
Learning to get confident and comfortable with the PROCESS is how you end up with better work.
So here are two simple things you can do to improve your process.
This channel is here to help you learn to write for screens - ANY kind of screens, from Hollywood tentpole to streaming series to DIY indie.
Want to know more about me? Want to work with me, one-on-one? Script reading and consulting, project and process consulting: go to WRITINGFORSCREENS.COM.
Credits Motion Graphics: Xander Brennan, xanbrennan.com
Credits Music: musicfornothin...
Additional Music:
www.bensound.c...
www.freesound....

[@AnyDayNow360]

"Brainstorming is not just free association with random thoughts. The technical term for that is: procrastination" GOLD!

[@MiguelSilva-li4qc]

"Thinking in a very loose, creative way about a specific question." That's very important! Last year I created a brainstorming routine, but all it did was generate more ideas instead of working on the ones I already had. Excelent video as always!

[@writingforscreens]

Well, at least you were being creative and productive and adding to your Scrap Pile :) Thanks!

[@bizzy423]

Always many thanks for your good advice!

[@emilyeshraghi8197]

SO many gems in this video! Thank you, Glenn!

[@writingforscreens]

So glad it's helpful!

[@leosearlehawkins2819]

I've often wondered why we don't see more scripts written by birds and squirrels ... a real aha moment! 🤣

[@writingforscreens]

Art, biology, natural history: we are a full-service channel.

[@leosearlehawkins2819]

@@writingforscreens 😲

[@hawksnestvision]

thank you thank you thank you Glenn! i appreciate all the time & expertise you share with us.

[@writingforscreens]

I'm so glad to know it's useful! That's the best reward for me.

[@AaronReece]

This works, period. I’ve been jammed up for months on a script for a documentary short. I sat down with a pen and paper and asked myself, “What type of story is this?” Two and a half pages later and I have several new promising outlooks on the topic.

[@writingforscreens]

I'm SO glad to read this comment! Thank you!!

[@jinchoung]

nice. these videos speak powerfully to my particular writing hang ups and pathologies! thanks as always.

[@writingforscreens]

Haha - I think that these hang ups and pathologies are MUCH more common and shared than we know! That's why I'm trying to teach out of my experience, because I think maybe there's a lot that doesn't get discussed because everyone thinks "oh that's just me." But maybe it's the job, the game, the work itself - and it's okay to struggle with it!

[@Donna07]

Thanks so much Glenn! I love your reasoning around birds & squirrels;) And Process & Method - really appreciate your advice Glenn!

[@writingforscreens]

Yep!! Thank you!!

[@Ristaulo]

Thank you for ALL your valuable advice!

[@writingforscreens]

You're very welcome, thank you for the comment!

[@mikehess4494]

Thank you.

[@carmeng202]

GREAT video!!!

[@jakiyahcabell]

i love this video!!!!!

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you - yay! That's so great to hear :)

[@jakiyahcabell]

@@writingforscreens noooo thank you! :)

[@maisey2363]

I saw the darnedest thing today. A bird and a squirrel sitting on a power cable arguing over a script

[@writingforscreens]

🤣

[@MyDominiqueB]

Thanks for this clear and concise vidéo on brainstorming : your key ideas about narrowing the span of the brainstorming with a precise question, writing everything down , and practising brainstroming as a skill are quite enlightening. I'm studying all the videos of your channel -like one who would take a full course in writing, your videos are such a great ressource - so thanks again for sharing your work and piece of advise. Eager to go further with my next lesson in writing 😉.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you so much for your comments, it is wonderful to hear that the lessons are helpful!

[@MCAP887]

Can I ask for a tutorial in sequence treatment?

[@writingforscreens]

I'm not sure that "sequence treatment? is. Can you tell me a bit more about it? It may be something I have discussed but under another name.

[@MCAP887]

@@writingforscreensits film treament in other words, its like writting the scenes within act1 to final act, like writing a script but no camera shots and dialouges. What im having a hard time about doing it is my readability or how to make my story of each scene attractive to the reader since im only good with urban english not formal english.

[@writingforscreens]

@@MCAP887 Ah! got it. I think one solution for writers whose first language is not English is to add a step in your process in which you have someone skilled with English read through it and note awkward words and phrases. I admire and applaud your ability to write ANYTHING in a second language! Most English-speaking writers (me included!) cannot write in any other language. Regarding Treatments, I don't have much advice. I discussed them in one of my livestreams - my main point being: unless a producer or teacher requires writing a treatment, don't do it. Treatments serve producers, but do almost nothing to help writers write the script. Here's the link - the discussion of treatments is at about the 29-minute mark: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iojbo2mfhquqnK8

[@MCAP887]

@@writingforscreens thanks for the advice i always thought that formal english skills can help make my film treatment "add more eye candy," to the reader so i can figure if im being "too informative," on my visual description of each scene. But if i may though I would like you to be a judge of my film treatment if you got the time.

[@writingforscreens]

@@MCAP887 I'm so sorry, but I have been pretty overloaded with getting my videos and livestreams made, and am not taking on any script consulting work for the summer. But I can tell you that your approach and attitude are going in the right direction! Keep writing, keep learning, keep exploring.

[@alexindi]

I've been looking everywhere for when you address the types of documents you've got when you're writing (outline, notes, etc..)-- does anyone know what video this it thanks!!

[@writingforscreens]

It's this one: How To Organize A Project (Livestream Class) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4SraJx8jbKbo68. I hope it's helpful.