Brainstorming in Screenwriting: Step-by-Step Worksheet - pdf download
Brainstorming in Screenwriting: Step-by-Step Worksheet
STEP 1: DEFINE THE RAW IDEA
What is your core concept?
Example: A very inspirational story that makes people believe in themselves. Reference: Diana Nyad.
Write your raw idea here:
✅ What is the emotional theme? (e.g., perseverance, self-belief, second chances)
✅ What is the target audience?
STEP 2: ASSIGN TEAM ROLES (Optional for Group Work)
✅ Writer 1 – The Dreamer: Focuses on emotional, high-concept, big-picture ideas
✅ Writer 2 – The Realist: Focuses on practical story structure and grounded logic
✅ Writer 3 – The Challenger: Focuses on pushing boundaries and asking "what if" questions
(Adjust for solo work: play all roles or ask trusted friends to step in.)
Write your team roles:
STEP 3: FREE ASSOCIATION SESSION
Set a timer for 15–20 minutes. Write down all ideas rapidly without filtering.
✅ Wild plot twists
✅ Unexpected characters
✅ Visual scenes or moments
✅ Potential conflicts
✅ Emotional payoffs
Write your free association ideas here:
STEP 4: ASK "WHAT IF" QUESTIONS
Use What if...? to challenge your initial idea. List at least 5 surprising questions.
✅ What if the character fails publicly?
✅ What if their biggest supporter becomes their biggest obstacle?
✅ What if the story is told in reverse?
✅ What if the character’s goal changes halfway?
Write your "What if" questions:
STEP 5: BUILD EMOTIONAL HOOKS
Answer these key emotional questions:
✅ What is the protagonist’s deepest fear?
✅ What is their core desire?
✅ Who or what stands in their way?
✅ Why should the audience care?
STEP 6: VISUAL AND THEMATIC MOOD BOARD
Collect:
✅ Photos, paintings, or film stills that match the tone
✅ Scenes from inspirational movies
✅ Music playlists that evoke the mood
Use a physical pinboard, Milanote, Notion, or a Google Doc to organize your visuals.
STEP 7: OUTLINE KEY STORY BEATS
Fill in the essential story moments:
✅ Opening Image (the status quo):
✅ Inciting Incident (what disrupts the status quo):
✅ First Major Obstacle:
✅ Turning Point:
✅ Climax:
✅ Resolution:
STEP 8: IDEA REVIEW AND ORGANIZATION
✅ Color-code ideas: Characters, Plot, Visuals, Themes
✅ Highlight the most exciting ideas
✅ Archive the less relevant ones — don’t delete, you might return to them later
Tools: Notebook, Whiteboard, Milanote, Notion, Trello
STEP 9: NEXT STEPS
✅ Assign tasks (for a team) or schedule solo writing sessions
✅ Set deadlines for developing characters, researching settings, or exploring structure
✅ Plan the next brainstorming session
Write your action items:
BRAINSTORMING REMINDERS
✅ There are no bad ideas in brainstorming
✅ Focus on generating, not perfecting
✅ Follow the energy — what excites you?
✅ Trust the messy process — clarity comes later