How long does a script usually take?

[demonangelz]

so i've been wondering this ever since I started writing, how long do you guys take on your script? A month? couple weeks? So far I'm alrdy estimating my script alone might take at least 1 month n thats if life doesnt interferes >< Also, do you guys put in all the codes n everything while writing (besides the cgs n images)?
thnks for listening, n again ty in advance XD

[Niki]

Well I think it usually depends on the writer's commitment, and also your output rate (?). For example, some days you can write more than others.

I suggest you don't worry too much about how long you take, otherwise you might end up rushing it... or vice-versa, never finishing it! So the best thing would be to set some goals and work with those (>w<)/

[TakeOverWorld]

A while. Not that I've finished making a VN yet. ^^;
In response to your second query, I usually code simple things when I'm writing, since I write on the rpy file, so I would do things like 'show sprite happy with fade' or whatever.

[yummy]

Heck. Some people manage to finish a script in a month, weeks even.
It really depends on the story, the game materials at hand (CG, BGM, extra code) and one's devotion.
And resistance, when two years worth of work get deleted because you didn't backup. (Yeah I'm still shocked)

My working method isn't that great either. I just fire up scite, put some music with no lyrics sung and just write.
I try at most to insert codes because it's a little like a screenplay, it helps to visualize since renpy isn't GUI oriented.
And when you don't have the materials already made, you can always use placeholders, temporary background images, sprites and music to help you imagine the rest. And sometimes it helps when you use complex ATL compositions.

Here's how to use Scite with Renpy by the way (don't really know if it still works though).
http://www.bishoujo.us/renpy/scite.html

Also, I'd suggest you to use lots and lots of comments.

Code: Select all

#This is a comment

And don't hesitate to break your wall of text into smaller parts, placed into labels. This way, scite allows you to "shrink" the labels, which in turn allow you to up your productivity (going up and down from text to init in case you want to add something more).

[Avaible]

Some days more time, some days less, depends on various things. And even if you don't have anything to do it may still be hard to write since one is usually burnt out from all the stress of daily life. When I'm relaxed and have time I can finish a short story (~40k words) in two to three weeks, but that only happens once a year or so. At all other times it may even take a year to finish one little story of around 240k words, because life always interferes in some way. Of course, those numbers are in regard to me, it's different with everyone. Important is to not to stop writing even if what you write is bad in your opinion, because as long as you make progress it's something you can improve on.

And resistance, when two years worth of work get deleted because you didn't backup. (Yeah I'm still shocked)

Similiar things happened to me too, can really bring you down. Then again, it's a painfully effective way to teach one to always backup everything, isn't it?

[Taleweaver]

That strictly depends on how long the script is. I've written game scripts in two weeks, some in a month, some (like my current project) are scheduled for several months. If you'd like to try out what you can accomplish, take part in the next NaNoRenO, where the challenge is to create a complete VN from scratch within one month. Great things have come out of a NaNoRenO.

[lordcloudx]

Writing usually takes me anywhere between several months to less than a week depending on the type of story and the work ethics I've formulated for a particular project -- which is never really the same every time.

If you feel like you might have trouble in continuing a project in the future, set personal weekly deadlines and try to get some writing done on a daily basis. Doesn't matter if it ranges from 5k to only 400 words a day. What's important is that you maintain the discipline to keep writing and don't fall into this trap: http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 11&t=11339

[Gear]

My script has been in the making for 11 years now. Granted, it started off as a novel, but still.

[LVUER]

And since I'm a fan of gameplay, it depends on how complex your game/VN is. JackNorton's games are good examples of complex hybrid VN (if it still could be called as VN). Obviously, the more complex the gameplay is, the longer you need to code it (and even longer to test it and flush out all the bugs).

[Auro-Cyanide]

That is like asking how long a piece of string is. It would depend on:

-Length and complexity of the game.
-Time invested in writing.
-Speed and cability of the writer.

Obviously someone wrting a complex game in their spare time around a job or study is going to take far longer than someone who has the time to work on a short script all day. So it is pointless worrying about it. You know if you are making good use of your time or not, and whether or not you care.

[demonangelz]

got it ty everyone for ur help XD I think I'll try to pace myself to work on a certain amount of words a day

[KomiTsuku]

On a good day, I push around 2.5-3k words. Bad days, maybe 500-1k. The most important thing is that you have to be persistent and keep working. It gets easy to blow off writing for a few days and falling behind.

Unless I've already writing the whole story out in traditional novel format, I pretty much write directly to code.