There Are Two Ways to Approach a Screenplay

Every writer has their process. It can change with experience or time or even based on the kind of thing you're writing, but what matters is finding what works and keeps the pages flowing.

According to novelist Elif Shafak, in a recent conversation with David Perell, there are specifically two ways to approach your large-scale writing project.

She’s talking about writing novels here, but that doesn’t mean the advice is null. We always like to look at simple ways to get better at screenwriting, so we were excited to check this advice out. You can too in the video below.

• YouTube www.youtube.com

Option 1: Plan It Out

The first approach is to write with a plan.

That means outlining. You map everything out. You build detailed character sheets. You know your plot beats, where they fall in your structure, understand exactly how your characters will behave, and maintain complete control over the material.

Some writers swear by this method, spending weeks on detailed outlines.

And this can be a great approach. There are many ways to outline and many ways to structure your stories. Having a plan means you don’t get lost.

Option 2: Follow Your Intuition

The second way is to rely on your intuition. You're a little “drunk” on the possibilities, as Shafak says. You take risks. You don't know what your protagonist will do five scenes from now. As a writer, you're lost inside the story rather than hovering above it, engineering each beat.

"For me to be able to feel that kind of confidence, I do a lot of learning beforehand," Shafak said. "So I read a lot. I research a lot, and I listen a lot."

This method can be fun, especially if you know your characters well. As you let them go in a scene, sometimes they say or do things that surprise you. They might take the story in a completely new, exciting direction.

Either Way, Do Your Research

Even if you prefer the intuitive approach, research provides the foundation to get lost in your story without miring yourself in confusing details or plot points.

You can't wander confidently through a forest if you don't trust that there's solid ground beneath your feet. Research is the path forward. It's what lets you take those intuitive leaps without worrying you've written something that makes no sense or feels inauthentic.

So what does research look like? Shafak says that writers need eclectic reading lists.

So, screenwriters, don't limit yourself to screenplay books or produced scripts. Read graphic novels. Pick up a newspaper. Take a free online course in a new topic. Whatever you learn goes into your toolbox so you can recall it later.

Dustin Lance Black's process demonstrates this beautifully. He spends months researching before writing a single scene, which allows him to write confidently.

Robert Eggers does the same thing, exploring historical periods and lexicons until ideas start spilling over onto the page.

The research phase shouldn't feel like homework. Feed your curiosity.

Don’t forget to get out in the world, too—that counts as research. Go to a coffee shop and listen to how people talk. You’re trying to understand human behavior, the ways people think, their cultural context, and the details that make a world feel lived-in.

Tony Gilroy has said that the quality of your writing is capped at your knowledge of human behavior. You can't write that well without observing, listening, and reading widely.

Whether you outline meticulously or write by instinct, research is the fuel for creativity. The more you know, the more freely you can explore your story.

Which approach do you like?