HOW TO REWRITE YOUR SCREENPLAY

So you finished the first draft of your screenplay - congrats! This is a great accomplishment, and you should be proud of yourself. But now, the journey continues as you move on to phase two of your writing journey: the rewrite. In this article, we are talking all about the rewrite process and sharing three tips on how to prep for your rewrite.

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​HOW TO REWRITE YOUR SCREENPLAY

Starting on the journey of rewriting your screenplay can be a daunting process, especially as a new screenwriter. But as the saying goes, writing is rewriting! If your goal is to be a professional screenwriter, then getting familiar with rewrites is imperative. If working with a producer, studio, or network, they will almost always have notes, and it’s your job to deliver and execute. Knowing your rewrite process and how to approach a rewrite is a much-needed tool in your toolbox. Below are three tips for how you can approach rewriting your screenplay.

​3 TIPS FOR REWRITING YOUR SCREENPLAY

1. ​Have an open mind. As creatives, and especially screenwriters, we can sometimes get caught up in the simple fact that we completed a project that we do not see the need to make any changes. But sometimes, change can be for the better. Take a week away from your story, then return and reread with an open mind making notes for yourself along the way. Ask yourself: Does my inciting incident occur within the first 15 or so pages? Does my protagonist have a clear goal? Is my protagonist actively seeking the goal? Start to explore the idea of change and ways that you can strengthen your screenplay.
2. ​Come up with a game plan. If you have no plan, you have no vision. When sitting down to rewrite your screenplay, having a plan and executing that plan is key to having a successful rewrite process. This may mean returning to the outline after you’ve reread your screenplay and found story holes and other areas of development.Start the rewrite work here. Make the necessary changes to the structure of the beats and follow the cause and effect of those changes in your outline before returning to the page. If you want to add a big reveal at the end of Act 2, how can you place breadcrumbs of this moment in Act 1 in the outline?This will help align your current story with the new vision for your screenplay. Reworking your outline is a very important step when tackling your rewrite.
3. Speak with an expert. Sometimes we are standing in our own way. That’s why it’s important to get an outside opinion. Speaking with an expert can allow you to get out of your own head, come up with a plan, and set you on your way to rewriting your screenplay. An expert can also offer insight on problems and solutions that you might not be seeing in your screenplay. The Professional Pen is here at your service with a multitude of services for any part of your screenwriting journey.
   

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READY TO IMPROVE YOUR SCREENPLAY?

Check out our Development Notes service to get personalized feedback from one of our Story Experts and take your screenplay to the next level!

Happy Writing!

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author

Khadija Roane is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the illustrious Howard University where she received her BFA in Theatre Arts. Khadija then graduated from UCLA's MFA Producers program where she interned in film and television development at MACRO, Vertigo Films, Gamechanger Films, and Pamplona Productions before working as a Scripted TV Assistant at WME. She has placed in the Pittsburgh Shorts Screenwriting Competition and the Atlanta Film Festival, and received the Barbara Boyle Promising Producer Award. Khadija lives in Los Angeles where she is an independent filmmaker and a Story Expert at The Professional Pen.