HOW I PLAN MY CONTENT (CREATIVE WORFLOW)

i tend to be a bit neurotic and because i take sooo much time, to plan and streamline my workflow. i like details and make a detailed step/checklist of every task i need to complete in order to complete a project.

this helps me track my progress and ultimately remain organized while in the midst of creation mode. as artists, our minds tend to be a bit chaotic and it's not fair of us to try to depend so strongly on our brain/memories for EVERYTHING when we have the ability to write things down and put them on paper.

so before i begin to embark on any endeavor, i like to strategize by brain-dumping. which is basically DUMPING everything out of your brain. everything you need to do, everything you want to do and get it all out so that you can prioritize what you need in order to achieve those things. this process typically begins after i have gotten the initial spark of inspiration and an idea worth planting and seeing through to fruition.

so once i have an idea that i am completely captivated by it my mind is racing a thousand miles a minute so in order to bring it down to earth and make it tangible i start with a brain dump.

i usually record myself speaking and thinking aloud. i detail everything that comes to mind about the project. i let myself be free in all the possibilities that this idea could be. this helps make it real because in the beginning there was only the word. once i’ve recorded for however long i need to, i put pen to paper. i do want to add that the brain dump process is a never-ending one. but the key is to remain organized so that you know where everything is, in the event that you need to revisit it.

the writing/outline process is where it becomes real. once you start writing it down you wanna organize and streamline it and bring it into a to-do list. this is the point where i listen back to my recording and write down the key takeaways.

i then create a step-by-step list of what i’ll need to do in order to bring this to fruition. this may seem tedious but i enjoy it because it really helps me physically see what it is that i need to do in order to make this thing happen.

so whether i am directing a film, writing a script, outlining a newsletter, designing a scarf… i do this process. it looks a little different every time because the specifics vary each time but this is the workflow.

now let’s take an in-depth look at one of my workflows so that you can see what it looks like for each individual project.

note: *you can use this process for any project that you are working on*

so when i write a script, there is a LOT that i need to do before i can actually sit down and do it. i need to organize my thoughts and allow myself the space to bring the story to life.

i know how it can be when you get an amazing idea, you want to just jump in and work and that is totally fine. it’s up to you and everyone’s process is different. i find when i don’t give myself enough time to prepare, i get lost somewhere in the middle of the story and it is sooooo easy to get lost in a screenplay. there’s something about being on page 65 and completely forgetting what happened 20 pages before. so to avoid this, i outline A LOT. so much that i know the story in my sleep. scene by scene, its necessary for me and helps me with my follow through.

there have been many a times that i have gotten overwhelmed and completely abandoned scripts because i couldn’t find a way to drive the story forward. leaving and coming back with fresh eyes is necessary sometime and sometime you may be gone for a few hours, a few days, a few weeks, a few months, a few years… its just depends on how long you need and the most important part about writing or any project you are working on is to give yourself grace and space. space to make mistakes and the grace to recover elegantly.

now, to get into the workflow.

1. have an idea and moment of genius inspiration

2. allow the inspiration to overcome you and engulf you.

3. think about it night and day. don’t sleep. become completely obsessed with this project.

4. take a moment to sit down and let it all out.

   1. brain-dump either via audio recording or writing it down.

      1. write down every single idea you have for the script in a single place (e.g., notebook, notes app, or audio recording)

5. allow yourself to be free. don’t worry about budget limitations or if anything is doable. don’t scale back. give yourself the freedom to allow your imagination to run wild. once you’re finished, begin the outline.

the outline/planning process is one of the most important processes, in my personal opinion. it just really streamlines the entire process and allows you to feel more organized.

1. WRITE.

once the outline is complete and you have a solid idea of what direction your story is going in, now you want to write. don’t worry too much about format during your first draft because all of that can be revised later, just tell your story and don’t overthink it. also don’t worry about if you’ll have the budget to do certain things, if you want a helicopter to fly into the empire state building, put it into the script, especially if it is an important element to the story because you can scale things down later.

in the case you are producing video content, i’d say the process is the same. the only difference is that instead of writing, you’d be executing your vision. gathering all the necessary props you’ll need, research, costumes, make-up etc. planning is the most important process of all creativity, when you plan you become more secure in your ideas and it also helps in the future for the times when you do just wanna jump right in when inspiration strikes. it’s easier because you’ll have all the experience of completing something from idea to execution and it will make those on the whim creations come to life more fluidly.