The first step in creating a script - be it a commission or otherwise - is making a brief itinerary of the script's directions. These are notes from the customer, or guidance I set for myself during my process. At this stage I try to keep this concise, dangling a few threads for myself to pull on later. Sometimes I do have an idea I absolutely want to follow and will outline from the get go.

You might note that I use minutes here in this example. In a lot of cases one hundred words equals one minute of dialogue. Of course this is influenced by the style of the narration, how much drama or foley you would like added, that sort of thing.

I also leave the title open as well. I've never been good with them, and I find them intimidating. Plus once it's down it feels like the trajectory is set in stone, sorta. I'll write down ideas as I work through the process.

Think of a hamburger (or veggie if you'd rather). These are the seeds of the bun, if you will.

The next step of the process is to establish the characters and setting, and provide a brief of the situation. Using bits and pieces from the directions I'm working with I'll start writing a general outline of what needs to be done, and in what order. These tend to be vague at first, but through this step I begin to get an idea for the arc I wish to write.

The number of words and length of time to hit these beats can vary. Some factors for this include the complexity of the script, the length of the script, or preference of either the customer or myself if left to my discretion. However, it usually amounts to 15-ish% percent of the total script length, in my experience.

This is the top bun of said burger.

Here we're starting to lay the tracks to the climax of the script. In scripts such as this I like to reaffirm circumstances while questioning new ones, while using humour to pull the plot along and attenuate the tugs of tension. I also do my best to take the dangling threads from earlier in the script and think of where and how best to tie them down. That helps me to determine the laying of these tracks. In this example you'll see that in the 300 - 500 word section I've written a rough draft for a situation where the requested phrase may be used.

This is usually where my notes are more detailed. Looking forward I'll write whatever ideas, punchlines, and conclusions I think will fit and feel satisfying. Then I look backwards and make adjustments to previous steps to accommodate for what I plan to write later. Afterward I like to review this step again for continuity. Oftentimes a lot of eraser dust and tears litter the page; some of my best jokes are put down in this step before they have a chance to walk.

The toppings and most importantly cheese of the burger. The highlight for some, I relish this stage of the process~

In longer scripts I would break this down into two steps, however I find that that can make a shorter script sound too choppy and formulaic. Instead I sort of take a loosey-goosey approach. Sometimes I'll write each plot beat on a sticky note, then rearrange them and add connective tissue until it looks roughly like what you see here. Prior to this I've a rough idea of how long each of these sections are going to be, but here is where I settle on some fluid delineations. There's no reason why some of these beats might not move around in the final draft, or even in my final performance of the piece. Improv's allowed if it's my own work~

Beyond ensuring that all of the desired beats are hit, I like to provide some kind of denouement and closure that leaves a happy, hopeful sort of tone. In this example that was specifically requested, and I wrote some hooks that allow for sequels, should that be desired down the road. (And yes I see the mistake of two listeners, sometimes writng by hand be like that.)

The two stages mashed together here would be the meat (or veg) of the script and the bottom bun. Unless otherwise specified I generally control the ratio there, and I'd like to think that I'm a good judge.

Once the script breakdown is complete I give it a once over for clarity and continuity, and to ensure that everything outlined in the direction is addressed. This is also where I'm usually scrambling to come up with a title, or at least anything that both gets the idea across and is funny. Sometimes it just doesn't work out, though.

These often don't fit on one page, unless I really condense my notes to the point where they are unreadable to anyone but me. That wouldn't do for a demonstration such as this, though, now would it? Sometimes these briefs can even cover two or three pages. Shorter pieces like this one are fun, but I appreciate any opportunity to spread my wings into more long form.

Also I have never used that burger analogy before. I have no idea where it came from. Lemme know if it works I guess???