Have you ever had a bad case of script euphoria? What is script euphoria, anyway?
Script Euphoria is a colloquial term for the rush of satisfaction felt by a screenwriter after completing a draft. It’s hormonal, akin to the shift in perspective about the world that occurs between the conclusion of sexual intercourse and reaching for the cigarette to savor the moment. In short, it is to be experienced, not trusted.
Here are our three quick takeaways about script euphoria.
1. Enjoy it. Do relish the script euphoria that you’ve earned by crunching together hard work and the best ideas you’ve got into a draft that says, “The End” after 110 pages. Take yourself out to dinner. Dream about the biggest celebrities who’ll be dying to play the leading roles in your film…and try to discern whether or not they are worthy of the roles. Imagine yourself sharing a laugh with Orson Welles (or whichever ghostly filmmaker you choose) about third act twists while drinking margaritas. Drink said margarita. In short, let your imagination run wild and your body take a break.
2. Don’t send your script to anyone. Wait at least 24 hours – and preferably 72 – before sending your script to anyone, no matter how amazing you feel about the draft you’ve just completed. Really, don’t send it.
3. If you can’t help yourself, send it only to a trusted internal team. If you are going to allow the script euphoria to take over and send the script out despite rationally knowing that’s not the correct idea, at least send it to your most trusted friend or producing partner, not an industry acquaintance you’ve been itching to impress.
To check out a humorous video on this subject, please check out the screenwriting section of our members-only Patreon page. In the hot take you’ll see, Hunter relates his experience being an insomniac and how it contributed to his vulnerability to script euphoria after completing a draft of his new feature screenplay. He explains why you should never send out your script when you’re under the delusion that you’ve just written your best work ever.