Here Are David Lynch's Simple Tips for Writing Screenplays

David Lynch is such a fun filmmaker. I feel like he's super open with his process but also talks in a way where there's no definition, adjusting what he thinks based on how he thinks it would help the people listening. When it came to screenwriting, Lynch didn't hold back. He used practical skills that anyone can emulate to work on their ideas. 

Lynch is the mind behind movies like Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and the Twin Peaks saga. His advice is awesome and I'm so happy to share it here. 

Check out this video from FRAME INTO FOCUS and let's talk after the break. 

Like I said at the top, this is all actionable stuff for you to do. Lynch starts with some really tangible ways to get your ideas on the page.

Try to make the words say what the idea is and use common sense when you write them down. Get the ideas down for you first, then focus on the audience later. You just need to understand your goal. Create the skeleton to see the form, then fill it in later. 

When it comes to outlining, Lynch said:

"I met Frank Daniels at the American Film Institute who was Dean of the School Center for advanced film studies and he taught a way to do it. You get yourself a pack of 3x5 cards and you write a scene on each card and when you have 70 scenes you have a feature film. So on each card, you write the heading of the scene and then the next card, the second scene, the third scene, so you have 70 cards each with the name of the scene. Then you flesh out each of the cards and walk away. You’ve got a script."

I really like this idea of writing down 70 scenes. Start from the beginning and imagine what happens. Getting to 70 can seem daunting, but if you just spend time making lists and doing those cards, I bet you get there faster than you think. 

Have you tried any of this? Let me know how it works out in the comments. 

Source: FRAME INTO FOCUS