Just curious.
I’ll go first.
Returning to the outline of my western-adventure while waiting for feedback on latest rewrite.
Now you.
feedback
Leaps and bounds!
Honestly, I didn’t expect to be the rewrite to be this far along, but that’s how it’s working out.
Utilizing elements of the previous draft, the revamped outline and the occasional sudden inspiration, I’ve been copying, pasting and making fixes left and right.
Pretty significant – changes in Act One extended it another 6-7 pages, which turned out not to be the problem I thought it might. This combined with changes in the first half of Act Two have kept things on track, so now I’m around 4 pages ahead. Still not a problem.
Even more significant – I’ve been able to insert important story elements in appropriate places, except for one. Still working on that, but not worried about it.
Basically, the whole process has been extremely energizing. And I’m loving it.
-Had a nice chat with the guy whose script I provided notes for a few weeks ago. He’s already made two films on his own, and this is his third. Despite his eagerness to start filming, I did my best to emphasize the importance of making sure the script is rock-solid and bulletproof first, including recommending a 2-week break from the script, followed by a page one cold rewrite.
After I gave my two cents about other topics like incorporating theme, conflict, character development and so on, the poor guy seemed stunned. Almost as if I’d scared him into submission. But he said he’d take everything I said into consideration – but he had to get going because he was headed out to scout locations.
Can’t say I didn’t try.
-Movie of the Moment – THE WALKING DEAD, Season Two. I’d watched Season One on DVD about a year ago, and thought it was fantastic. I never got around to catching Season Two when it actually aired on TV. Now Season Three has started up, but we’re phasing out Comcast (Roku or Apple TV? Your thoughts please) and I’m using Hulu and Netflix Streaming when I can.
Hence Season Two.
One of the many things I really appreciate about the show in general is the suspense factor. Sometimes it’s low, and sometimes it’s through the roof, but it’s always gripping and definitely leaves you wondering what’s going to happen next. And the occasional plot twist out of nowhere doesn’t hurt either.
Throw in 3-dimensional characters, believable situations (despite the whole zombie apocalypse aspect), and just plain great writing, and it’s easy to see why this has been so successful. Very eager to keep going.
-Totally forgot to mention – took V to APE this past weekend. Met a lot of great self-published comic creators. Hoping to write about it later this week, including links to some extremely talented folks.
My two cents. Apply accordingly.
I’d forgotten how much I enjoy giving feedback on other people’s scripts. I’m definitely not a guru, but I think my advice is pretty solid.
I just finished a script that has a great concept at its root, but still needs a lot of work. There are a lot of rookie mistakes, most of which are easily fixed, and I’ll make suggestions regarding the big stuff – story, structure, character development, etc. I’m curious to know if the writer will implement any of my comments. Of which there are a lot.
I don’t know if other writers experience this when reading somebody else’s work, but more than once I’d think, “how can they not know this is the wrong way to do this?”
Then I’d remind myself of two really important points – first, maybe they don’t know, so I’ll explain my comments as best I can, hopefully enough so the point gets across and it helps improves their writing, and second, feedback from a negative place doesn’t do anybody any good. The recipient is less likely to give your opinion any merit and you come across as bitter and angry. (Check out the forums on Trigger Street to get a better idea of this.)
It’s possible to give constructive criticism without tearing somebody down, but it’s also up to the writer to understand any feedback they get is about making their work better, and not an attack on them personally.
Shame on me
I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to provide feedback on somebody’s script, so rewrite stuff is on hold while I wear my analyst hat over the next few days.
After that, it’ll probably be a bit hectic, what with the half-marathon on Sunday and the movers coming next Wednesday. Despite all that, I’ll try to have some kind of positive rewrite status news sometime soon. No promises, though.
I might even take a few moments here and there to actually breathe. If I can find the time.
In the meantime, seen anything good lately?
Not done yet
Time to take a little break from working on this outline. I got some really good notes back on DREAMSHIP from a highly recommended reader, and he did a great job of pointing out what works and what doesn’t. So the next couple of weeks will be devoted to making changes where necessary.
My initial thoughts were along the lines of “This is going to take FOREVER!” But taking another look at his comments, it might not be as big a hurdle as I thought. There are definitely some parts that need work, or at least a little creative tinkering, which I think I can handle.
And it probably goes without saying that the query letter stage is also on hold for the time being. For now, it’s all about making the script better.
After I sent him the script, I admit I succumbed to that short-lived fantasy of getting notes consisting of “This is terrific! Don’t change a thing!” Who hasn’t?
But I’m also realistic about this, so I was relieved he didn’t say “This sucks,” or words to that effect. When the first part of the summary reads “A lot of good stuff here,” that’s a sort of mini-vindication for my time and effort.
Part of me was dreading having to go through another rewrite or three, but there are countless stories of working writers having to churn out dozens of rewrites in order to make the script better, so if this is what I have to do to move things forward, so be it. The more I can do to hone my craft, the better.
Not gonna lie. There was a brief period of “woe is me”, complete with an air of melancholy, but I’m over it now.
Nobody said this was going to be easy. And it isn’t. And there’s no way I’m going to stop trying, either.
Maximum Z 