networking

My jets can cool no longer

Maximum Z feedback, networking, rewrite, screenwriting, self-confidence, social media, writing ,
Oh, how I love visual jokes
Oh how I love sight gags

I had it all planned out. The rewrite’s done, but I won’t be able to send it out for professional notes until after January 1st, so until then, I’d have plenty of time to research the best places to query and work on my western outline.

It was nice to think that.

But as is usually the case, things have changed a bit.

A trusted colleague sent some extremely helpful notes, and more are due from another.

*side note – I connected with both through social media and networking. Proof it has benefits!

It would seem a short rewrite session is in my immediate future.

I welcome these latest developments.  They contribute to making the script as strong as it can be, and that’s what counts the most.

Added bonus: a lot of this first set of notes deals more with format, rather than story, so fixing them won’t be too difficult.

Even better added bonus: the notes ended with the words every writer lives to hear: “I wish I wrote this.”

If that ain’t a confidence-building good omen, I don’t know what is.

-Winter break begins this weekend at our house. Hoping to take V to see THE HOBBIT and LES MISERABLES during that time. Anything a parent should be concerned about with either? (She hasn’t seen LOTR, but seems eager to catch HOBBIT)

Moving ahead 144 characters at a time

Maximum Z networking, Twitter

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Julie Gray of justeffing.com.  Among the topics we discussed was the growing use of social media as a tool to help writers network and brand themselves.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but those words made quite an impact on me.

I’m not the most avid Twitter user.  I check it from time to time on my phone, and occasionally from my laptop. Probably because I’m writing, and want to focus on that.

Most of the people I follow are screenwriting or film-based.  A lot of them, like me, are working hard to achieve success.  It’s especially cool that they’re scattered all around the world. (Hello UK and Australia!)

I can’t help but notice that some people tweet A LOT. Sometimes about a project they’re working on, or posting a link to an article, or maybe messaging with somebody.

Like I said, I don’t tweet that often, and seeing these makes me feel like I’m missing out on something.  Not being LA-based, it’s tougher to become part of that community.  Tougher, but not impossible.

I’m going to start making a more sincere effort to change that.

I’ll follow more people.  I’ll make more comments. I’ll retweet something I like, rather than thinking about doing it later and not.

The only person who can build my brand is me, and this is the first step towards making that happen.  I’m not expecting instantaneously huge results, but you never know…