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Home > Drama > HSC Course > Individual Project > Scriptwriting > Checkpoints, tips, pitfalls

YOUR TIMELINE

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Term 4 –	begin to collect ideas read other plays research scriptwriting draft up story lines prepare a few scenes
Term 1 –	Week 3 – have outline of final story Week 10 – have drafted up most of final play
Term 2 –	Week 1 – 4 get some actors to workshop various scenes Week 5 – 10 rewrite of scenes and continued editing
Term 3 –	Week 2 – presentation of moved reading to an audience of small scene Week 2 – 7 final preparation of script, final edit, printing of two copies and submission.

So you have the plan and your writing the play but WHAT ELSE CAN GO WRONG!

• No time to workshop because you haven’t left enough time. It is still worth getting someone to read it out loud to you. The spoken word is very different to the written word.
• Printer going wrong and running out of ink. Really try to have an extra cartridge when you are doing something as important as this.
• Losing script on computer – BACKUP onto a disc. It is important to keep an up to date copy

Tips for a successful project

• Collect lots of ideas – they can always jointogether
• Write the outline of the plot first so you have a structure to work to
• Write the scenes as they come into your mind even if they are out of order
• Read and see lots of plays
• Research your topic so that you have lots of information to draw on
• Start as early as you can and keep writing as often as you can
• Spend time developing profiles for your characters so that they are believable
• Write in your logbook continually
• Get other people to read or worshop your work

CHECKPOINTS - a checklist during the project.

• Have I kept consistently to a particular style?
• Do my characters suit they style of my play?
• Have I considered that this action has to occur on a stage and not on film?
• Have I read the dialogue out loud to hear what it sounds like?
• Have I given a scene, some scenes or even the whole play to actors for workshopping
• Have I included a detailed character list at the beginning of the play?
• Have I made the stage directions clear so that the reader will know what is happening on the stage?
• Have I included a diagram or description of the stage for the play?
• Have I checked the length of the script?
• Have I used the correct layout for a script?
• Have I included my 300-word rationale?
• Have I typed the script on A4 size paper in Times New Roman 12 point with double spacing?