“Get the damn thing done!”

In my view, there is only one rule when it comes to writing a first draft and that is this:

Get the damn thing done!

You have to start somewhere. And one of the most fundamental values of having a first draft in hand is it gives you something on which you can work. Your story is no longer vapor, rather it is a tangible object you can print out and feel in your hands… but only when you get to FADE OUT.

Moreover if the adage “writing is rewriting” is true — and it is — then it is imperative to get to that rewriting part of the process. You do that by knocking out that first draft.

Do not expect perfection… because your first draft is going to be flawed no matter what.

Indeed if you embrace the spirit of a first draft — Get the damn thing done! — that should free you up to pound it out.

You’ve done the hard work of finding as much of the story as you can during prep. Now it’s all about putting words down, scene by scene, page by page, from FADE IN to FADE OUT.

Nothing. Else. Matters.

So when it comes to this first draft you are writing, remember the Golden Rule of Screenwriting:

Get the damn thing done!

“The Quest” has entered Week 15! And so did Go On Your Own Quest, an opportunity for anyone to follow the structure of “The Quest” to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write a first draft [Pages — 10 weeks]. It’s a 24-week immersion in the screenwriting process and you can do it here — for free!

Today and every Monday through Friday for the next 10 weeks, I’ll use this slot to post something inspirational as GOYOQ participants pound out their first drafts.

For background on “Go Into The Story: The Quest,” go here and here.

For all the previous weeks of Go On Your Own Quest posts, go here.

Join the GOYOQ Forums, a free online hub where you and other Quest participants can go to support each other and share your stories. Go here.