Here are my top tips if you want to write scripts for a living:
Supplement the Visual: This is a huge issue for most new scriptwriters. There’s really nothing worse than watching a video where the narrator describes what you are seeing on the screen as you see it. If this is your idea of a script, why bother making a video? It’s not adding anything. You’d be better off skipping the time and expense of a Director of Photography (DP) and writing a blog instead. (If you doubt that, watch any number of YouTube videos that employ this method and you’ll see how condescending and irritating it can be, not to mention redundant. Of course, this problem is not limited to the amateurs. I find it often in cable programming too.) Write to supplement what your audience is seeing. For example, if you’re showing a caracal on the screen, don’t describe what the cat looks like, your audience can see that for themselves. Instead, say where the cat is from and mention its ability to leap nearly 10 vertical feet from the ground. Even if the cat jumps in the footage, the exact height of that jump won’t be obvious to the viewer. The point of a script is to offer information that cannot be gleaned from looking at the footage. Add details to the narration and use the footage to illustrate or emphasize your points.
Write for the Ear: You have to let proper grammar go in some cases. Narration is about how it sounds. Yes, it should be grammatical in essence, but you have to be able to let go of your obsession with not ending a sentence in a preposition and other constraints that would make your narration sound stiff and formal. Writing for the ear requires a sense of rhythm, cadence, and flow. Keep the viewer in mind and read whatever you write out loud to make sure it sounds right. Sounding right is more important than being right.
Watch Your Transitions: This is part of creating a good flow in the script. If your transitions are abrupt, your script will feel chunky. You should write in a way that leads the viewer from one idea to another in a logical and seamless way, unless you are employing a list format. Think of transitions like taking a hike. You wouldn’t want someone to take you down one trail and then tell you to leap to another without a bridge, log, or series of stones to step on. You need a clear way to go from one trail of thought to another.
Have a Through-Line: You have to know what you are trying to say from beginning to end. This means having a clear intent and structure in mind before you begin. These should be developed during the treatment phase of your scriptwriting. Let your objective keep you on track. This will help you create those transitions and maintain a good flow from one section to another. This will also help you stay on track when your story starts to digress. The through-line is the main point you are trying to make in the script.
Think in Bites: Scripts are about ideas and information, but also about presenting them in a way that’s accessible. This means small bites of information at a time. Don’t do an info-dump on your audience or you’ll lose them. You have to craft a story that lets them discover the subject much as you did during your research phase. Little bits at a time that link to create an overall story or point.
Pacing Matters: Let the story unfold naturally. Don’t rush it, but don’t let it lag either. Keep your time frame in mind and craft your script accordingly. Remember that for one hour of broadcast time, you need about 40-minutes of finished film. Your script has to be timed perfectly to allow for the narration, interviews, and space for visual transitions and music. You don’t want wall-to-wall words. There must be room for a piece to breathe.
Match the Mood/Tone/Pitch of the Subject: This is about style. You need to use a different tone for an historical project than you do for a wildlife one. Each type of story requires a different feel. The best way to learn the difference is to watch a variety of videos/documentaries/television shows while paying close attention to the scripting and narration.
Story is King: There is nothing more important than story. It’s the point of any video, no matter what the subject, length or purpose. Whether it’s a training video or a documentary-style television show, you need a story that holds the piece together. Sometimes this takes a bit of creativity to find, but it’s always there. If you can’t find the story, you haven’t done enough research or haven’t tapped into your imagination enough. Step back and think about the project from a different perspective.
Stories Need Emotion: Don’t just rely on facts and figures. Tap into your audience’s emotions. If you want to inspire, move, motivate, educate, or entertain them, you need to make them feel.
Look for Holes: It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the through-line you miss the details. Step back from your script and look for holes. I admit this is one of my pet peeves. I hate when I’m watching a show and the narrator says something like, “This is the second most popular…” without telling me what the most popular thing is. I also don’t like when I watch something for an hour or two and am left with a ton of questions and loose ends. If you are going to write scripts, be sure to fill those holes so you don’t drive people like me insane.