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I'm sort of joking here, but it's almost as hard to come up with a good, brief description of your screenplay's premise as it is to write the script.
You know how it works: you get your idea for your new screenplay, then you write it and rewrite it a couple of times, then you're ready to send it out into the world. But with your cover letter to an agent/manager/producer/whoever you need to give them a synopsis or basic premise.
Based on the vast majority of the screenwriters I know, now the work really begins.
Usually people say too much. They give too many details. They give the names of too many characters. Ironically, most people don't say too little. The trick is to start out by saying a lot. Write out the whole plot. Allow yourself to do no more than a 1 page, single spaced plot description.
Then work backwards and tart cutting.
I used to be a copywriter at an ad agency. Mainly print ads. I had to come up with a catchy headline and maybe three blocks of copy. I'd write a bunch of headlines, knowing that most were bad. But I figured I could mix and match. Cut and paste. Inspiration would lead to inspiration.
I'd finally get it down to 3 good headlines. Then I'd do the same with my copy. Go over it a few times. Always trimming and streamlining. Once I settled on what I felt was the strongest copy I'd merge it with the 3 headlines. Then I'd continue the same process until I got the best headline with the best copy and I'd turn it in.
If you have trouble with coming up with a brief premise of your finished script, try this process. I use it even today.
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