How long does it take to write a screenplay?

Would I write a cohesive screenplay if I didn't write it in chronological order?

• Of course, I'm not referring to a non-linear narrative, I'm referring to writing individual scenes rather than writing the screenplay from the beginning. Would this leave me liable to inconsistencies and plot holes? Has anyone else used this method to write screenplays? Thank you in advance.

• Answer:

  No, you don't have to write it in order, you can write individual scenes. This usually ends up with a lot of editing, but it won't end up with plot holes if you do it right. I would recommend "mapping it out" rather than just writing it all down (that way you won't end up with so many "deleted scenes"). Write down sort of an outline, and maybe try to fill in the blanks. Know your whole story first before writing any of it. After you finish the outline, you should probably know more of how to fix any plot holes that do exist, and you can figure out the rest as you go along. I've written scenes ahead of time, and they work, but I've also written a lot that don't... only do this if you know it will work in the story idea, that this scene "will happen sooner or later".