May 2, 2023

Unless they're submitting a short story for possible publication requiring a specific word-count, I don't believe authors have a particular number of words or pages they're attempting to churn out in the end.

Yes, there are some helpful guidelines. Short chapters are better than long, drawn-out ones, for instance. If a novelist's prerogative be to unfold their tale with fifty 5-page chapters, then so be it. On the other hand, rare is the screenwriter who sets out to compose a 240-page script (a 4-hour movie). Unless, of course, that's what they've been contracted to do.

I've mentioned before that one thing I like about screenwriting is the tight structural requirements (see Chasing Words, Volume 6.8, November 2022). I like going in knowing I've a goal of 120 pages, and X should happen at page 30, Y at 45, Z at 90, etc. Like composing a symphony in the Classical Era, before those Romantics came along and started structuring their pieces all willy-nilly and what-not. (I'm not knocking the Romantic Era, just [over-]illustrating my point [which I'm known to do].)

Keeping tabs on page-count, scene numbers and acts is subsequently very useful in tracking progress. That said, I've reached the halfway mark - page 60; midway through Act Two - of my screenplay, Rite.   

Gordon Gravley

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