End with the beginning in mind.

Writing is going well. Working on two projects simultaneously: a fantasy novel as well as a romantic comedy/fantasy screenplay for this year's Nicholl competition. I have deprioritized the fantasy novel for the moment, as it does not come with a deadline. It does, however make a handy (and productive!) procrastination tool when I don't feel like working on my screenplay.

For the screenplay, I'm starting with the ending. Endings are so important to a movie's success. Sure, you do have to have a great first ten pages to get the script represented or sold in the first place, but beginnings (for me at least) are much easier to write. Endings are not only a thousand times harder (for me), but they are the thing that makes the film either a box office success or dooms it to bounce briefly off theaters on its way to video. If the first 75% of your movie is great and the ending is blah, your movie will die fairly quickly due to lackluster word of mouth. If the first 75% of your movie is so-so (but good enough to keep people remotely interested) and the ending is great, you will actually get a surprising amount of good buzz, because those last 10-20 minutes are what people leave the theater talking and thinking about. It's best if the first 75% is good and the last 25% is GREAT, and that's what I'm shooting for.

I have now officially nailed down what happens in the climax of my screenplay, and I have to say, it's going to be a great deal of fun. Going to spend tomorrow perfecting it and then start laying the groundwork for everything that leads up to it.