Scripts are never finished. They’re abandoned.

That is a common phrase around Hollywood, and it can apply to other things like completing a film, a TV episode, or any other creative venture. Usually, though, with films and TV shows, there’s a producer or an executive to take it away and make sure that it makes its release/air date.  I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve seen plenty of examples where directors have had to give up on shots that they’re not entirely happy with because it’s the producer has told him or her that it’s time to let it go and move on to the next one.

But when you’re a writer working on your own script, you’re always going to see something that needs to be fixed. There will always be something that you feel you can do that will make it better.

But will it make it better?

Not necessarily. I have been working with a client on the same script for over a year, and I’ve read no less than 7 drafts of the script. The chnages that he’s making at this point are miniscule and cosmetic. Once you get down to that level, it’s time to stop. Otherwise you run the risk of overwriting the script. What’s more, by the time you get that deep into it, it’s hard to know what’s working and what isn’t because you’ve been looking at it for so long.

What you really need to think about as a writer is, is the story working? Do the characters resonate? Will an executive or a producer read this script and say, “I want to make this!”?

Executives aren’t looking for “Casablanca”. They’d be happy to have it, don’t get me wrong, but noodling a script to try and get it to be an Academy Award winner is self-defeating. Executives and producers want to read scripts that are clean, tell a good story, and have characters that stars will be interested in playing. They’re not looking for a perfect script.

Like an artist who pushes a painting too far, writers far too often are guilty of the same crime.

Now, please don’t get me wrong. I am not trying to encourage anyone to cut corners or to give up on something before it’s ready. What I’m trying to say is this:

Recognize when your script is ready.

Because if you can’t recognize that, You’ll overdo your script, just like you can overdo your dinner, and it will be ruined. For that reason, don’t be afraid to abandon your script when it’s ready.

A fresh pair of eyes, like those from a professional reader can help you recognize what exactly is going on with your script. A professional reader can recognize when a script is at that point and let you know what’s working and what really needs to be fixed.

Check out the link below to see if any of our services could help you improve your script.

http://monumentscripts.com/service/screenplay-coverage/