Summary: 6 Essential Questions for Screenwriting

This is a summary of If You Can’t Answer These 6 Questions You Don’t Have A Story - Glenn Gers.

A story doesn’t necessarily have a single main character.

A story is about how a character trying to achieve something runs into other characters who either help or harm their intention.

They’re trying to get somewhere until they run into something.

Every character thinks they’re the main character of the story. They’re trying to do something.

It is more interesting if something gets in the way, i.e. when there are obstacles. And if it is something important.

The obstacles they have to overcome don’t need to be external, it can be internal. The obstacles don’t have to physical.

Think in scenes.

Writing is a process of questions.

6 Questions

• Who is it about?
• What do they want?
• Why can’t they get it?
• What do they do about it?
• Why doesn’t it work?
• How does it end? (what do they finally do?)

After that keep asking clarifying questions.

The writing process is yours. There is no better of worse process. If it works for you it is the right way for you.

Writing in short bursts might be better then grinding away for some. You might undo your good work, if you keep going over it.

It also depends on what time you have available outside your obligations.

Try different things and see what it works for you.

In real world there is rarely an ‘ah moment’, it may take time to realize what works. At times 1 step forward 2 steps back. Doing something is important.