Every aspiring writer has doubts. A creative person—especially a talented one—is often their own worst critic. But let’s face it: until your script is finished, nobody cares. No producer. No agent. No studio executive in Hollywood is losing sleep over your unfinished script.
They don’t care, and that’s a good thing. It means you’re free to explore, experiment, and fail without consequences.
The First Draft Is Your Kingdom—Rule It Wisely
Writing your first draft is like ruling your own kingdom.
You are the king. No intruders – No notes. No feedback. No one else is in control—just you.
But being a king isn’t just about wearing the crown. A kingdom—or a castle—must be built, brick by brick. Your first draft is the foundation of your castle. But unlike a real castle, a script can be rebuilt, reshaped, and improved as many times as needed.
And that’s the best part.
Why Writers Get Stuck
When we’re working on our scripts, we have unlimited freedom. Do whatever you want. Experiment. So, why do we still freeze up? Why do we hesitate and get scared? Why do so many writers give up on their first drafts?
Too many writers treat their first draft like a finished screenplay. They think it should be great, brilliant. A masterpiece, at the very least. That’s the problem.
That’s why they freeze. That’s why they take feedback personally and get frustrated when the script doesn’t turn out perfect. That’s why, when they finally see the flaws, they get discouraged––and some even quit.
Instead, start thinking of your script in drafts. Stop treating it like a perfect, carved-in-stone screenplay. Think of it as something moldable. A script is a living thing—it can be rearranged, restructured, improved, over and over again.
A Bad First Draft Is Better Than a Perfect Unwritten Script
It sounds obvious, but it needs to be said. Because at least a bad draft exists. You can’t rewrite, pitch, or sell a blank page.
Again. Think of it like building a castle:
·Your first draft is the foundation.
·Your rewrites add the towers, the walls, the grand hall.
· And one day, you’ll reach the final step—placing the “FADE OUT” flag on the highest tower.
No One Will Care About Your Script—Until You Do
As I said in the beginning, Hollywood doesn’t care about your script. But you should. Because one day, you will show it to the world. That’s the goal. And if you don’t take it seriously, why should anyone else?
Therefore, let’s keep building our kingdoms, and we’ll take care of how the world will perceive it later.
I have more to discuss about writing a first draft of a screenplay in my upcoming book, First Draft Survival Guide: The Practical Steps from a Working Screenwriter, which will be out in March 2025.
They don’t care, and that’s a good thing. It means you’re free to explore, experiment, and fail without consequences.
The First Draft Is Your Kingdom—Rule It Wisely
Writing your first draft is like ruling your own kingdom.
You are the king. No intruders – No notes. No feedback. No one else is in control—just you.
But being a king isn’t just about wearing the crown. A kingdom—or a castle—must be built, brick by brick. Your first draft is the foundation of your castle. But unlike a real castle, a script can be rebuilt, reshaped, and improved as many times as needed.
And that’s the best part.
Why Writers Get Stuck
When we’re working on our scripts, we have unlimited freedom. Do whatever you want. Experiment. So, why do we still freeze up? Why do we hesitate and get scared? Why do so many writers give up on their first drafts?
Too many writers treat their first draft like a finished screenplay. They think it should be great, brilliant. A masterpiece, at the very least. That’s the problem.
That’s why they freeze. That’s why they take feedback personally and get frustrated when the script doesn’t turn out perfect. That’s why, when they finally see the flaws, they get discouraged––and some even quit.
Instead, start thinking of your script in drafts. Stop treating it like a perfect, carved-in-stone screenplay. Think of it as something moldable. A script is a living thing—it can be rearranged, restructured, improved, over and over again.
A Bad First Draft Is Better Than a Perfect Unwritten Script
It sounds obvious, but it needs to be said. Because at least a bad draft exists. You can’t rewrite, pitch, or sell a blank page.
Again. Think of it like building a castle:
·Your first draft is the foundation.
·Your rewrites add the towers, the walls, the grand hall.
· And one day, you’ll reach the final step—placing the “FADE OUT” flag on the highest tower.
No One Will Care About Your Script—Until You Do
As I said in the beginning, Hollywood doesn’t care about your script. But you should. Because one day, you will show it to the world. That’s the goal. And if you don’t take it seriously, why should anyone else?
Therefore, let’s keep building our kingdoms, and we’ll take care of how the world will perceive it later.
I have more to discuss about writing a first draft of a screenplay in my upcoming book, First Draft Survival Guide: The Practical Steps from a Working Screenwriter, which will be out in March 2025.