THE STEP OUTLINE OR SCENE LIST

1. THE STEP OUTLINE WILL ALLOW YOU TO WRITE YOUR SCRIPT
a. DON’T WRITE A TREATMENT UNTIL YOU FINISH YOUR SCRIPT

2. A STEP OUTLINE IS A MAP: YOUR HEROES JOURNEY
a. STICKS TO YOUR SPINE
i. OUTLINING IN ADVANCE MEANS LESS REWRITING
ii. YOU’LL CUT UNNECESSARY SCENES BEFORE YOU WRITE THEM
b. OUTLINES PREVENT WRITER’S BLOCK
i. YOU’LL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TO WRITE NEXT

3. YOU SHOULD COME UP WITH 30 TO 50 STEPS THAT REFLECT THE BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END OF THE FILM


4. A STEP IS
a. THE FOUNDATION FOR A SCENE
i. PLANNED SCENES ARE EASY TO WRITE
b. A BEAT A MOVEMENT UP OR DOWN IN HEROES FORTUNES
c. A TURNING POINT

5. GOOD STEPS ARE:
a. INTERESTING TO WATCH HAPPEN
b. MOVE THE STORY FORWARD
c. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPOSITION TO EMERGE
d. ARE PLAUSIBLE
e. FLOW FROM ONE SCENE TO THE OTHER

6. HOW TO WRITE A STEP
a. WHAT TO INCLUDE:
i. CHARACTER, CONFLICT, OUTCOME
b. WHAT TO EXCLUDE
i. EXPOSITION
ii. LOCATION
iii. FEELINGS
iv. DIALOGUE
v. DETAILS

7. WRITE A STEP IN A WAY TO THAT IMPLIES THE CONFLICT AND OUTCOME
i. VICTOR CONVINCES NATE AND JEN TO LET HIM SPEND THE NIGHT
ii. DAD FAILS TO CONVINCE NURSE TO LET HIM COME BACK FOR GRANPA’S BODY
iii. BUZZ CONVINCES THE CREW TO FIND WOODY


8. PHYSICAL ACTIONS CAN BE A STEP
a. HERO DISABLES GUARD
b. HERO CRACKS SAFE
c. BUZZ AND FRIENDS CROSS THE BUSY STREET
d. NEW BUZZ BEATS UP OLD BUZZ
e. DAD AND FAMILY PUSH START THE BUS

9. QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN WRITING A STEP
a. IS IT NECESSARY?
i. CAN IT BE CUT AND WE STILL UNDERTAND YOUR STORY
ii. DOES IT STICK TO YOUR SPINE?
b. DOES IT CHANGE THINGS?
c. DOES IT MOVE THE STORY FORWARD?
d. IS THERE CONFLICT?
e. AFTER EVERY STEP ASK: WHAT DOES MY HERO DO NEXT IN PURSUIT OF GOAL

10. FROM EXPOSITION TO CONFLICT: HOW TO FIX STEPS WITHOUT CONFLICT
a. AN EMOTION IS NOT A STEP
i. BARNABY IS HAPPY
ii. BARNABY FEELS SAD
b. EXPOSITORY INFORMATIION IS NOT A STEP
i. BARNABY IS BAD TEACHER
ii. BARNABY IS GOOD HUSBAND
c. DON’T LIST RESULTS
i. BARNABY IS UPSET
ii. BARNABY CRIES

11. CONFLICT MAKES YOU INVENT
a. MAKES YOU CREATE SPECIFIC SCENES YOU CAN WRITE
b. STEPS CAN BE CHANGED ONCE YOU START WRITING
c.
12. REUSE THINGS ALREADY IN THE SCRIPT
a. LOCATION
b. CHARACTERS
c. OBJECTS