Your brainstorming idea is interesting. I guess I do something similar when I’m in idea-generating mode, though I tend to be a little more rigid, structure freak that I am.

And yeah, I’ve lurked on your blog (gotta update my links). Sorry for getting you hooked.

The problem with this Treatment is that it’s not one I can flesh out a whole narrative with, I’m essentially selling a setting and a mood. I know you’re going to say “You don’t have a story do you?” There is a story but the point of this treatment is for me to get some dev money I can go and research this topic that is based on some true events. So it’s a “selling treatment”, have you had any tips with this sort of situation?

Regarding your outlining/writing detailed treatments. I never actually write a treatment before I dive into writing a screenplay, what I do start with is actually about 6 notebooks per script, which are essentially midway between a writing diary and a very long outline. This seems to work for me. I find starting off the day writing what I’m feeling or thinking about into a notebook helps me flesh out and think a lot more than using the treatment method. You up for trying out a different method?

By the way check out my blog, I’m blogging and I blame you for it.

K — you know what? I actually love treatments. After I figure out the opening, the ending, the major story beats and the act breaks, it’s always fun to start sketching things out. The thing always seems so full of potential. Unfortunately, after I write, say, “Bob steals the alien death ray and accidentally nukes Manhattan” in the treatment, then I have to figure out HOW Bob does it. And as I start making choices and locking things down, then I start wondering if this is the right path for my story. The potential goes away as the story becomes what it becomes. And usually after a certain point, what it becomes is just a giant disappointment for me. The lesson in all of this is that I probably need to write more detailed treatments and outlines from the get-go, but what can I say, I’m a slow learner…

Goodluck with it, I’m struggling with treatments. Don’t you hate treatments!?

The Obscure

Good luck!