Rachel McClard
@rachelmcclard.bsky.social
Queer 🌈 I write about identity, independence & survival w/ dynamic women challenging the status quo. Repped at AAO Ent & IAG
rachelmcclard.com/consultingservices
rachelmcclard.com/consultingservices
I've never written the ending scene 1st. I usually have an idea of where it's going. Or with my last project, I wrote the ending when I got to the midpoint, then changed the ending by the time I reached it (realizing I needed an additional beat for the payoff). I will try it in the future!
December 1, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I've never written the ending scene 1st. I usually have an idea of where it's going. Or with my last project, I wrote the ending when I got to the midpoint, then changed the ending by the time I reached it (realizing I needed an additional beat for the payoff). I will try it in the future!
YASSSS! You are so much further ahead than me! Well done :)
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
YASSSS! You are so much further ahead than me! Well done :)
Things I do when I'm having a hard time:
- Skip ahead to a part I know I can write if I get stuck on a challenging section
- Lay out my scene headers for future scenes & add in some description/dialogue
- Write my ending scene, or different versions of it & work backwards
AND YES, YOU GOT THIS!
- Skip ahead to a part I know I can write if I get stuck on a challenging section
- Lay out my scene headers for future scenes & add in some description/dialogue
- Write my ending scene, or different versions of it & work backwards
AND YES, YOU GOT THIS!
December 1, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Things I do when I'm having a hard time:
- Skip ahead to a part I know I can write if I get stuck on a challenging section
- Lay out my scene headers for future scenes & add in some description/dialogue
- Write my ending scene, or different versions of it & work backwards
AND YES, YOU GOT THIS!
- Skip ahead to a part I know I can write if I get stuck on a challenging section
- Lay out my scene headers for future scenes & add in some description/dialogue
- Write my ending scene, or different versions of it & work backwards
AND YES, YOU GOT THIS!
Awesome, so you have a 1st draft already and now will transcribe it and rewrite as you go. Totally doable! I know Dec is a busy month, but just a little each day and you can get there!
December 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Awesome, so you have a 1st draft already and now will transcribe it and rewrite as you go. Totally doable! I know Dec is a busy month, but just a little each day and you can get there!
Nice! Dust them off and get excited about them again!
December 1, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Nice! Dust them off and get excited about them again!
Yay Yay Yah!!!
December 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Yay Yay Yah!!!
That makes sense and is totally achievable!
December 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
That makes sense and is totally achievable!
So for December, are you doing another first draft of something new or working on a rewrite?
December 1, 2025 at 9:47 PM
So for December, are you doing another first draft of something new or working on a rewrite?
Whoo-hoo! 1 page in is better than no pages in! You got this!
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Whoo-hoo! 1 page in is better than no pages in! You got this!
3 1st drafts in a row is wild but also great!
December 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
3 1st drafts in a row is wild but also great!
Awesome, Eric! My project is a feature script. Since I worked originally on mine as a pitch, I converted the pitch to an outline and am working through that for the 1st draft. Are you working on TV, feature, both or something else? You got this!
December 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Awesome, Eric! My project is a feature script. Since I worked originally on mine as a pitch, I converted the pitch to an outline and am working through that for the 1st draft. Are you working on TV, feature, both or something else? You got this!
Because the story was completely my own, I have a full outline and treatment ready to write it on spec and started working on it last month. In Dec, I plan on finishing the 1st draft. #finishmyscriptdecember 🔥🔥🔥 #scriptsky
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Because the story was completely my own, I have a full outline and treatment ready to write it on spec and started working on it last month. In Dec, I plan on finishing the 1st draft. #finishmyscriptdecember 🔥🔥🔥 #scriptsky
Thanks and I’m glad this was helpful!
October 11, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Thanks and I’m glad this was helpful!
Brought to you by voice to text and my broken hand! #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Brought to you by voice to text and my broken hand! #scriptsky
9) i’ll probably rewrite the opening a couple of ways and practice a few different versions to see what flows best with the rest of the structured pitch. #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
9) i’ll probably rewrite the opening a couple of ways and practice a few different versions to see what flows best with the rest of the structured pitch. #scriptsky
8) i’ll practice for my wife, my reps, and maybe even my writers group! I won’t have it completely memorized, but I will try to be off as much as possible, so I’m not just staring and reading from a document. This is especially important for the opening few paragraphs! #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
8) i’ll practice for my wife, my reps, and maybe even my writers group! I won’t have it completely memorized, but I will try to be off as much as possible, so I’m not just staring and reading from a document. This is especially important for the opening few paragraphs! #scriptsky
7) once all of that is done I can go through and make small adjustments to the overall structure. That’s when I will start practicing out loud. Some phrasing is easier read than hearing it. And I don’t want to get tongue tied! #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
7) once all of that is done I can go through and make small adjustments to the overall structure. That’s when I will start practicing out loud. Some phrasing is easier read than hearing it. And I don’t want to get tongue tied! #scriptsky
6) I’ll then go through all of my big set pieces and see if I need more, add to them, or need to edit to make them stand out more. #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
6) I’ll then go through all of my big set pieces and see if I need more, add to them, or need to edit to make them stand out more. #scriptsky
5) only then will I write the log line. Then a paragraph or two summary on the theme and overview of the entire story. Next, I’ll take that bullet point outline and put that in paragraph form. #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
5) only then will I write the log line. Then a paragraph or two summary on the theme and overview of the entire story. Next, I’ll take that bullet point outline and put that in paragraph form. #scriptsky
4) bullet point out the plot from beginning to end. This will help get a bird’s eye view of the story. #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
4) bullet point out the plot from beginning to end. This will help get a bird’s eye view of the story. #scriptsky
3) figure out my characters next. If I figure out my characters, then I can start getting some ideas of where the plot will take us. #scriptsky
October 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
3) figure out my characters next. If I figure out my characters, then I can start getting some ideas of where the plot will take us. #scriptsky