Writing a 100-page screenplay in 30 days is no joke. It’s challenging, but it can be done with discipline and persistence. It’s easier said than done. If you want to make money writing films, you’ll need at least five scripts under your belt to present to producers. In the early stages, a faster writer is often preferred over a skilled one.
Completing a screenplay in 30 days from scratch would position you as one of the faster writers out there.
Here are five ways to achieve it:
Choose a Story Familiar to You
Start with something you know or have experienced. Don’t dive into complex topics right away. Take a simple story—even if it’s been told a million times—and tell it in your own voice. Add your unique perspective to it. This will help you stay committed to the idea in the long run, making it less likely that you'll give up when things get tough.Write a 10-Page Story
Before diving into the screenplay, make sure you fully understand the story. If you jump straight into writing the screenplay, you risk getting stuck at the midpoint. A screenplay requires both intuition and a solid plan. Use the story draft to experiment, discover what the story is really about, and understand the ending. Once you know where you're headed, the rest will fall into place. Knowing the ending makes everything easier. There’s nothing worse than writing a killer setup and then getting stuck at the midpoint. It’s demotivating and you will waste days trying to fix it. Write the entire story as an outline, and by the end, you’ll have a clear skeleton of the film in front of you.Start Jotting Down Scene Ideas Until You Have Enough
Once you have the outline, start writing the scenes. At this stage, focus only on what happens in each scene and which characters are involved. Think deeply and write every scene you can think of in progression. There will be gaps, but don’t stress about them now. Just focus on listing the scenes. For inspiration, check out this article I wrote on Céline Sciamma’s outlining process for inspiration.Start Writing the Screenplay
Now that you have the outline and know which scenes to write, begin expanding each one. Keep in mind what each scene needs to accomplish, and start the scene as far as possible from where it’s supposed to end. Make it challenging for the characters to get from A to B, if that’s what the scene requires. Audiences come to the theatre to watch characters overcome adversity and find ways to succeed.
During the weekdays, aim to write for six hours a day. You can break this into three two-hour slots or two three-hour slots, with a goal of completing 10 pages per day. On weekends, push yourself with a 12-hour marathon, using three four-hour slots.Be Realistic
Some days, you won’t be able to write 10 pages. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Focus on doing the work. There will be days when writing feels easy, and you can make up for lost time by writing more. If you start feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, take a break. But remind yourself that you still have to finish the screenplay. Keep a journal on the side to jot down your thoughts—it will help clear your mind. Go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, or read to train your mind. Take a cold shower, and then get back to writing.Once Finished, Don’t Look at It for the Next 10 Days
Don’t stop until you’ve finished. Keep going until you’ve written the last word. Once done, save the draft, close your laptop, and resist the urge to look at it for the next 10 days. You’ll be tempted, but don’t give in. You need distance to gain objectivity, and these 10 days will give you that. Forget you even wrote anything. Editing starts after this break, and it’s the most enjoyable part of the process—but more on that later.
Celebrate your achievement. Writing a screenplay is one of the toughest jobs out there, and you’ve completed it. Treat yourself to an ice-cream sundae!