Hang on! We’re going back to almost where we just were!
The previous draft of the mystery spec was a nice round 100 pages. As this rewrite continues, I just hit page 90 and I’m still in the last quarter of Act 2, so there’s probably somewhere around 20-30 pages left.
Not too bad, and as I move ahead, I’m already thinking about what needs to be fixed in the rewrite after this.
The constant question during initial writing and each subsequent rewrite is always “How can I make this better?”
Even as I crank out pages, the wheels are already turning as to what changes and improvements to implement. Honestly, sometimes it’s a little dizzying trying to keep track of everything.
This is just a part of the whole process, but it seems to get a little easier with each rewrite.
-Contest news update! The western has been submitted to the PAGE and the Nicholl, with maybe 2-3 more targeted for later in the year.
Fingers, as always, firmly crossed.
In the meantime, focus has switched back to the current ongoing projects because the arsenal must continue to build and it’s never too early to get ready for next year.
That’s one way to eliminate the competition (insert rimshot here)
If your inbox is anything like mine, chances are you’ve been getting a lot of emails lately touting the pending deadline of more than a few contests.
For the most part, I usually ignore them. Maybe the Nicholl if I have a script ready, but rarely any others, if any at all.
But a little more confidence in my abilities and encouragement from other writers is making me gradually change my mind.
I’m seriously considering biting the bullet and submitting a script, warts and all, to a few competitions over the next few months.
It’s one of those things every screenwriter should do at least once or twice.
But which ones? There are a lot to choose from, ranging from the obscure to the high-profile. While there’s nothing wrong with the Brand X Screenwriting Competition, you have to admit it doesn’t carry the same cachet as being a finalist in Austin, PAGE or TrackingB.
Everybody has different criteria for what they’re looking to get out of a particular contest. While a cash prize is nice, most are seen as stepping stones to making industry connections and getting representation.
Some offer script notes – a handful do it for free, but almost all charge extra for it. It’s not something I’d do, but that’s me.
If you’ve decided this is the year you take the plunge, then do your homework and research the ones you’re interested in to find out they have to offer. What kind of reputation do they have? How was the experience for previous entrants and winners? Do the prizes justify the amount of the fee?
No matter which ones you decide on, keep in mind you are going up against a lot of other writers just as eager and ambitious as you. Do you think your script is ready to take them on? Like, REALLY ready?
Even if you have a tiny amount of uncertainty, how much time is there between now and the deadline? Use this to your advantage and give your script an extremely thorough read-through (or two) and fix what needs to be fixed. Nobody likes finding a typo after the fact.
Do whatever you can to make your script ready to go, cross your fingers when you hit ‘submit’ and hope for the best. How long you wait until getting back to your current project is up to you.
So how’s 2014 been going for you so far, writing-wise?
Even if you’re not the type who makes New Year’s resolutions, you probably promised yourself this would be the year you were going to definitely…
-Write every day!
-Read more scripts!
-Connect with more writers!
-Have the script ready for the Nicholl days, even weeks before the deadline!
-Not surf the internets when you’re supposed to be writing! (tough, but not impossible)
Have you done any of this? If so, good for you! It doesn’t matter how much you accomplished; the important thing is you still did it.
Feels awesome, doesn’t it? Keep at it!
If not, why not?
Sure, it’s easier to procrastinate than to do the actual work, but if you want to call yourself a writer, then you kind of have to, you know, write. Even if it’s just a page a day.
So consider this the digital equivalent of a motivational, well-intentioned kick in the pants to get yourself going.
There’s still time to start the year right, so as soon as you’re done reading this (which should include hitting the ‘like’ button and leaving a comment of praise/gratitude), go and do any or all of those things listed above.
Like the saying goes, this thing ain’t gonna write itself.
What? A new, original idea? We don’t know if our brains can take it!
“Don’t remake good movies. Remake bad movies and improve them.” – John Huston
As a writer and fan of original material, it’s quite disturbing how many remakes and reboots keep appearing or are announced, with no sign of it coming to an end.
Sadly, this is how the industry works, with most of the studios afraid to take a chance on something new and original, as opposed to something that’s already proven itself.
But apart from a few exceptions, how many of those trips back to the well have been successful? On top of that, there’s no avoiding a comparison to the original, with the remake usually found lacking.
Putting this in perspective – I’m a huge fan of the original ROBOCOP, which will have a remake released in February. I have no desire to see it because the trailer doesn’t make it look that interesting, and I don’t see the point in remaking it in the first place.
Counter to that, the forthcoming GODZILLA remake/reboot looks great because it appears to be a smart, new approach to the story, and definitely feels like a significant improvement over the one from 1998. I really hope it doesn’t fall victim to PACIFIC RIM syndrome – big build-up, followed by big letdown.
Now they’re announcing Ed Helms as Frank Drebin in a reboot of THE NAKED GUN. Have they no shame? Apparently not.
The movie-going public wants, no, craves new stories. Look at The Black List, or the latest batch of Nicholl finalists. This is high-quality stuff, people. Just about any one of them would make for a great film.
There’s a ton of fantastic original material out there, but all we can do as writers is keep writing and hope somebody believes in it enough to drum up the courage to do something with it.
Thanks to the wonder of living in the digital age, I’ve connected with an incredible number of even more incredible writers. Not being the pushy sort, I always wait until we have a bit of a rapport to ask if they’d be willing to read my script and maybe give a little feedback. And a lot of the time, they ask for the same thing, of which I’m more than happy to oblige.
But there are those who respond along the lines of “I’m not comfortable with letting somebody I don’t know that well see my work.”
A perfectly legitimate response, but also raises a few questions:
-Do you think I’m going to steal your work? No disrespect, but I don’t want it. At all. Just like you, I’ve put in an immense amount of time and effort so I can take a certain pride in claiming “Yes, I wrote this.” Why would I want to risk everything for your script? There may be some unsavory characters out there, but I’m not one of them. I’ve made no effort to hide who I am from you or anybody else and stand by my reputation.
-Is it because I can’t advance your career? Just because I’m not in the industry now doesn’t mean I won’t be in the future. I try to help my friends out when I can. Act like a jerk to me now and that’s how I’ll remember you.
-Am I not professional enough for you? I may be unsold and unproduced, but I’ve got a manager, have had some moderate success in contests and what I would call a pretty solid grasp of what good writing is. Maybe my notes could even make your script better, and most importantly, they’re free.
-Do you think your script is already perfect, doesn’t need any more work and any criticism on my part is just me being jealous of your superior writing skills and trying to sabotage it? Good luck and I wish you all the best.
We all need whatever help we can get, and most people are pretty accommodating.
Don’t be afraid to make connections and get your work out there. It’s been my experience that everybody’s already wrapped up enough in their own work to make becoming more than involved with yours not much of a possibility.
*Rewrite update: about 1-2 details away from having the first act done. Really like how it’s shaping up, but still a long way to go.
**A big congratulations to the Nicholl finalists. Won’t deny being jealous. Now back to work for the rest of us already focusing on next year.
Maximum Z 