How do you begin the process of developing a script that captures the essence of the story and characters?

My answer may be lengthy, but it's worth reading.

When developing a script, I always start by understanding where the story is heading—how does it end, and what’s the journey to get there? The length of the script matters, too. A 30-second commercial needs to be direct and punchy, while a 10-minute feature story allows more time for depth and character development.

I begin by researching everything I can about the topic. I check out competitor videos to see what’s been done and find areas where I can add something unique. I also dive into blogs, forums, and tools like “People Also Ask” to figure out what the audience is curious about. This helps me understand their needs and shape the story around what they actually want to know.

From there, I start thinking about the characters. What do they want? What are their challenges? The obstacles they face should not only drive the plot forward but also transform them along the way. Each character’s journey reflects the story’s theme, and I make sure they stay true to the message.

Once I have all the information, I begin crafting the script. The goal is to create something that speaks to the audience’s desires and emotions while keeping the story moving toward its final point. I focus on making sure the script feels engaging, unique, and leaves a lasting impact.

Answer:

My first step in developing a script is research—it’s everything. I start by checking out competitor videos to see what’s already been covered. I analyze their content, note what works, and more importantly, figure out what I can add to make the script more engaging and unique.

Next, I dive into blogs to gather insights and fresh perspectives on the topic. Then I turn to tools like "People Also Ask" to understand what viewers are curious about and actively searching for online. This step is crucial because it helps me shape the script around the audience's actual questions and interests.

Once I’ve gathered all the insights and double-checked every fact and stat, I get down to writing. This process ensures the script not only captures the essence of the story but also delivers exactly what the audience wants to see—plus a little extra they didn’t expect.

I write a lot for games these days, so I often have a relatively specific genre (e.g. horror RPG, romance Visual Novel, etc.) in mind when I get started. I write the characters (and the world itself) around the feel the game is going for. Sometimes, of course, I add in a few surprising figures to make them stand out. 

As for exactly how my process starts, though, it's usually with a writing sprint or two to really explore the world I'm creating in. By the end of those I tend to know the direction I'm taking things in. If not, well - rinse and repeat!

It always begins with digging into what the story is trying to say; what is it about really?! The characters need to reflect the truth of the writer's intent, and be developed with that in mind. They drive the story, but they're also reflections of the story. I start with their desires, wants and needs, then find obstacles to put in the way. If it's a movie script, each of those obstacles will change the characters in some way. 

Even then, characters can behave in surprising, unpredictable, ways. I'm quite an instinctive writer - I've been doing this a long time - and get emotionally invested in their journey. There's a craft to screenwriting that can be quite formulaic and mechanical. I remain aware of the 'rules', but I find it's most important to lock into the emotion, excitement, or journey of the characters and allow yourself to be surprised.

I always start with identifying where the story is ultimately is going ...i.e, how does it end...and then how much time I have to get there. Writing a script for a 30 second commercial will require a different approach than writing a 10 minute feature story.

I always start with these questions before I begin:

- Who are the characters involved and what are their separate goals?

- What is the setting and how does that affect the story?

- What is the theme or moral of the story?

- How does it end?

Once I have my answers to those four, I start writing. Some writers like to outline or create a treatment beforehand, but I find that my best ideas come to me in the midst of writing so I let my creative flow guide me. 

For me, I begin with the an idea, or kernel centered on a very specific "truth" I want to convey. This central idea then becomes the premise from which I develop the plot and central characters (e.g. Protagonist and Antagonist).