What's the Difference between a Draft, Revision, and Polish?
Advice from a TV writer/showrunner
Screenwriters are often paid in installments, and the amount often depends on whether they’re turning in a draft, revision, or polish. Let’s explore the differences, starting with screenwriters working in features.
FEATURE WRITING
Drafts
A draft involves a ton of writing, and it’s not uncommon for the first draft to bear no resemblance to a second draft. In fact, it can involve a page one rewrite, which is why it might take months to write a draft.
The studio is the entity that pays the writer for each draft. However the writer will almost always work with an established producer on the project. Before any version reaches the studio, the producer will have notes, and the screenwriter is expected to implement those notes… even though they’re not getting paid extra for those drafts. So technically, they’re not drafts. They’re revisions.
