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Writing is about making choices. When we begin, the choices center on big things. What story do I want to tell? Who are the characters? The protagonist and antagonist? How will I structure the material?
The irony is that sometimes these big choices present themselves in the form of a germ of an idea. A fleeting image. Something someone said. A news story. An experience or ordeal you experienced. That's when the initial inspiration occurs.
To blossom into a full-blown screenplay, however, the germ must be nurtured. We exercise imagination and begin making more detailed choices.
As we proceed into writing, the choices narrow in focus. What scene do you put next in your beat outline? What happens when your main character faces an obstacle to achieving his or her goal? How does the character change over the course of the story?
As we begin writing the script, we're making choices all the time. Does a character answer a question sarcastically or with complete earnestness? While in the "passion hot" writing mode, we're likely not even aware of such choices. Our goal is to allow story and characters to take on a life of their own. We seek the flow that reflects total absorption in the task at hand.
But as we revise, we become cognizant of the decisions we made. And this is when we ask ourselves: was it the right choice? Is there a better choice? Why is the second act bogging down and how do I fix it? Now we're back to making very conscious decisions.
This interplay between the subconscious and the conscious mind; between the creative and critical self, typifies the writing process. Experience tells the writer when to go with the flow and when to exercise a critical eye. First drafts are almost always in need of cutting-because they represent the product of the "passion hot" phase.
Ultimately, when we arrive at the polishing stage, the choices focus on small, yet important details: is this the right word for this character to speak? What if I cut this sentence?
Good writing requires a balance between the creative and the critical. Both influence the choices we make.
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