How to write a script together as a family: tips, part 2 of 2

How to Write a Script Together as a Family, Part 2

If the idea of writing a script as a family intrigues you, consider looking at part 1 of this two-part series first. There you’ll find basic elements of a script and a simple way to get the younger members of your family involved in creating characters and crafting the plot and conflict.

In this post, we’ll expand upon plot development for your script, using an example from part one.

Returning to Two People and an Object

To outline a basic plot, think about how two people might want the same object—but for different reasons. In our example, John and Maria shared a cellphone—and, from that, we developed two different scenarios. In both of them, Maria is a nurse who needs the phone in case she gets called into work.

As for John, in one plot scenario, he needs the phone to check in with his sick mother. In another, he wants it for less positive reasons, calling someone to harass him.

Your family can now flesh out these characters and one or both of these plots in different ways to see what’s most compelling. With children, it can help to show how stories—including films, plays, books, and more —typically have three sections: beginning, middle, and end.

When writing, it can often help to write the ending first and then backtrack to what beginning and middle sections might make sense. For example, let’s say your family is writing a script where John uses the phone to be unkind to people, perhaps bullying them. Your family can decide whether this will be a redemption film—one where John will ultimately realize how the way he’s living is not the best way.

If so, then the beginning can consist of John being his worst self, taking the phone from Maria when she needs it most, and using it in ways that aren’t in line with Christian values. In the middle, the situation can and should worsen—but should also contain glimpses of what will cause John to turn around and become redeemed. Perhaps, for example, it can be that John’s sick mother is rushed to the hospital, where they’re short of nurses—and the hospital can’t get in touch with Maria, because John has taken their shared phone for nefarious purposes.

As you teach your children how to create characters, it can help to provide John with some touches of humanity, rather than portraying him as entirely evil—and it’s also important to make Maria a 3-D character, as well.

If your children enjoy drawing, they might start out by drawing pictures of what they envision the plot to be. Then, that can be transferred into an outline—and then a full-fledged script.

What will John and Maria be wearing? How will each of them speak?

It can help to watch and discuss films with your children and point out techniques that they can use in your family’s script.

If you missed Part 1 of this series, then you can go back and read it here.