The latest draft of the animated fantasy-comedy spec is in the hands of some beta readers.
One has already gotten back to me with some suggestions of minor fixes, but overall very positive comments.
Which is really, really nice.
And they also liked a lot of the jokes, which is definitely nice to hear.
I can’t really explain it, but there’s something about this script that’s giving me a real positive vibe.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about a script this early in the process, so like the title of the post says, I’m riding this wave of positivity as long and as far as it’ll take me.
I’m sure it’ll require at least another pass, maybe two, until it gets to the quality I want it to be, but for now, I really like how it turned out.
Like with each of my scripts, I had fun writing it, and hope the reader has an equally great time reading it. This is something every writer should experience. It really does make a difference.
As the wait for the remaining notes continues, the focus shifts to cranking out pages for the microbudget feature, which is coming along nicely, thanks for asking.
Hope you have an exceptionally productive weekend.
Even though screenwriting (and writing in general) is a solitary activity, a lot of us experience the same ups, downs, and everything in between. While one of the great benefits of networking is how it can help you on a professional level, don’t underestimate the effectiveness of the personal aspect.
Being part of the writing community offers up what is more or less a built-in support team. Other writers have been through just about all the same things you have, so they know how to respond and react to whatever’s going on with you. Count me as one of the many who’s been on both sides of the equation.
The past few weeks have seen a lot of announcements from some of the big contests, and lots of writers have posted their good or not-so-good news. Whenever I see that sort of thing, I try to be as encouraging or sympathetic as I can. This brought up thoughts of a post from way back in 2013 about this sort of thing.
Thought you might enjoy it.
When another writer follows me on Twitter, I’ll send a thank-you DM when applicable and ask how their latest project is coming along. The responses are usually pretty enthusiastic, and it’s great to see such a wide spectrum of material and how each person’s path is developing.
(What writer doesn’t like to talk about their work? I’m no exception either.)
Or maybe they’ve hit a bump in the road. “I’m stuck in Act Two,” “This rewrite’s killing me!” or “I’ve been dragging my feet on getting this draft done.” Happens to all of us.
Based on how they’re doing, I’ll usually write something like “That’s awesome!” or “Hang in there!”, followed by the ubiquitous “Best of/Good luck!”
And I actually mean it.
Honest.
So it was a little surprising when I got this response during a recent DM chat – “You have a special gift of encouragement. WHO does that these days?”
Really? Nice, supportive people are now considered a rarity?
I’m not an idiot. This is a savage business a lot of us are trying to break into. It’s extremely competitive, and the odds are definitely not in our favor. It’s extremely easy to get disenhearted and want to throw in the towel after receiving that 97th rejection letter.
A few words of support are never the wrong thing to say, even if it’s something as simple as “Good luck.” That may be just the extra push you need to get yourself to keep going, start again, or what have you. If you’re lucky, you have loved ones, friends and trusted colleagues who support your efforts, regardless of how long it takes.
And consider me part of that group as well.
-Movie of the Moment – STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013). Nice to look at, but is it really asking too much for an original story and characters – again? I didn’t like the Leonard Nimoy/Spock part of the 2009 movie, and was disappointed at the way this one played out.
For a funnier, NSFW spoiler-filled review, click here.
It bothers me that Orci, Kurtzman and Lindelof have become the go-to guys for pop culture sci-fi flicks. Yes, they’ve got talent (to a certain extent), but their work just feels like something’s missing. Maybe too much relying on flashy spectacle and not enough smart storytelling? The effects should enhance the story, not the other way around.
As much as I enjoy a good fanboy film, I’ll take a solid story over gee-whiz special effects every time. I suspect a lot of people also feel this way, or at least hope they do.
Trust your audience to be able to follow along; they’ll appreciate it.
No matter what you write or how much, be proud for just sitting down and doing it. That’s an accomplishment in itself.
Hope you have a great time and that it goes quickly. You should enjoy writing, and love having written.
If you’re editing and/or rewriting, be confident you can make it even better.
After calling it a day, reward yourself with a small self-indulgence. You’ve earned it. Cookies are good. As is a drink. Cookies and a drink, doubly so.
Not able to write? It’s okay. Schedules get busy. Do what you can. If you don’t write, that’s okay too.
Be careful about overdoing it or feeling burned out. Take it easy, recharge those batteries, and have at it when you’re ready.
Another screenwriting contest season come and gone, at least for yours truly.
My western’s record with PAGE extended to 0-6, and didn’t make it to the quarterfinals in the Nicholl. After last year’s debacle with Austin, I opted to skip it this year.
(Side note 1 – I don’t pay to get the reader/judge notes, so don’t know why the script fared how it did for either contest. The Nicholl used to offer notes after the top 5 were announced, but not sure if they’re doing that this year or you had to pay upon registering.)
(Side note 2 – A very hearty congrats and good luck to the 359 writers who made it to the Nicholl QFs. I wholeheartedly applaud the Academy’s decision to limit submissions to one script per person. Other contests should follow their lead.)
My initial reaction to the news from both competitions was “I must be a really shitty writer to keep failing like this.”
But as my ever-supportive wife, a few friends who are also consultants, and several other trusted colleagues in my writers’ network reminded me:
It’s a really good script.
You’re not a bad writer.
IT’S ALL SUBJECTIVE.
This script has also done moderately well in some smaller contests, so it can’t be that bad.
I know a writer whose script advanced in the Nicholl after several years of bupkis. I also know another writer who made it to the top 50 one year, then the same script didn’t even make the quarterfinals the following year.
And as a few others pointed out about the prestigious contests and the scripts that do well in them: it may be a good script, but would it be a good movie? I’ve read some contest winners (and some top vote-getters on The Black List); some were very well-written, and some just didn’t do anything for me. One or two even made me question why they did as well in the contest as they did.
Furthermore – did any make me eager to shell out the cost of a ticket if it were available on the big screen?
Not really.
But again, that’s just my take – i.e. SUBJECTIVE.
At the very least, reading these scripts could be helpful in a “developing your craft” kind of way.
So where do I go from here? I’m rewriting a pair of newer scripts, and haven’t decided if either will go the contest route. Possibly, but right now I couldn’t say.
I’d rather focus on getting them in decent shape. If that means skipping contests next year, that’s fine by me.
Got some notes back on the animated fantasy-comedy spec.
I’ll be the first to say it still needs work on a few fronts, but the overall consensus is “I really enjoyed it”, which means a lot. On several levels.
Added bonus: they liked the jokes. Always great.
Despite all this, for as long as I’ve been at this, I still feel a twinge of anxiety as I open the email to see what the reader thought.
Impostor Syndrome? Possibly.
I know I can do the work, but there’s always that hidden fear that somebody’s going to say “wow, does this suck”. I suppose it stems from that initial sense of just hoping the reader likes it.
While it’s great to get notes of a positive nature, I tend to focus more on the sections that deal with what didn’t work or needs work. Every writer wants their script to be the best it can be, and notes of a critical nature can be invaluable in helping you get there.
And a lot of the time I find myself agreeing with what the notes have to say. Sometimes they even help me navigate my way out of a problem I already knew was there, but was having trouble finding a solution. Those are fantastic to get.
Even as I wait to hear from a few more readers, I’ve already started jotting down ideas to incorporate the strongest suggestions from this batch into the next draft.
Which I will then send out, once again thinking “I hope they like it.”
-Just a friendly reminder that my two books – GO AHEAD AND ASK! INTERVIEWS ABOUT SCREENWRITING (AND PIE) VOL 1 & 2 are available on Amazon and Smashwords.
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