logline

A little re-educating never hurts

Maximum Z accountability, acts, development, draft, education, genre, ideas, outlines, patience, progress, protagonist, rewriting, screenplay, screenwriting, script, story, title, writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’d already been working on the new spec for a bit when a friend offered up the chance to be a beta tester for his new screenwriting course.

It offers a lesson a day to help you get your first draft done. He admits the course is geared more towards newer writers still learning the ropes, but thought I might enjoy it – as well as provide feedback about my experience with it as needed.

I figured “Why not?” and signed up.

Just a few days in and I like how it’s going.

I’m following the lesson plan, which so far has involved the very basics – What’s your idea? Which genre is it? Tell us about your protagonist. Do you have a few ideas for the title? What’s the logline?

It would be really easy to blow all this off and just jump ahead, but I said I’d adhere to the guidelines, so that’s what I’m doing.

In some ways it’s helping take some of the pressure off and avoiding the trap of the whole “just write it!” mindset. Taking it nice and slow, and being slightly more reflective than usual is reaping some benefits. Getting the more manageable tasks out of the way has also resulted in a few more bursts of creativity – which is especially helpful as I continue to work on coming up with story ideas.

It’s almost zen-like in the approach.

I also like the accountability factor. It’s great for me to work on this, but I want to help my friend make the course as effective as I can, which is why I’m being diligent about completing each day’s lesson. I’d call that a win-win.

This is a 60-day course, and I’m still in the single digits and about to get into the outlining phase. Like I said, I’d already been working on this, so I have a lot of the first act in place – it’s the second act that’s proving to be the challenge.

But I’m not stressing about it. One lesson/task a day equals slow but continuously steady progress.

If things work out the way the course intends, then I should have a pretty solid first draft in just under two months, which is fine by me.

Then the rewrites begin, which will probably a totally different course.

One week to go

Maximum Z community, contests, genre, logline, marketing, screenplay, screenwriting, script, social media, spec, television, title, writing , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Submissions continue to come in for the upcoming Maximum Z Winter ’23 Script Showcase, which goes live on Friday 22 December. The cutoff for sending in is Thursday 21 December, so there’s still time to add your screenplay or TV script into the mix.

If you’ve been trying to think of a way to spread the word about your script, then look no further. Once the post is up, I’ll post a link to it on several of my social media platforms, and hope you’ll do the same.

All this free marketing and publicity, with an emphasis on the “free” part.

Here’s how it works:

Email the following info here with the subject line “Maximum Z Winter ’23 Script Showcase”

-Film or TV?

-Title

-Author(s)

-Genre(s)

-Logline

-Awards (if applicable) – limit of 5

-your email

And that’s it. No more, and definitely no less.

A few important things to remember before sending:

-DO NOT SEND THE SCRIPT! If somebody is interested in reading it, that’s why your email is included.

-ONLY ONE SCRIPT PER PERSON

-MAKE SURE YOUR LOGLINE IS ACTUALLY A LOGLINE. A few writers have sent in synopses and taglines, which are most definitely NOT loglines.

-PROOFREAD YOUR INFO! Is everything spelled correctly? Is all the info there that needs to be there? I will post what you send as is – no editing on my part, so make sure it reads the way you want it to.

The inbox remains open for just a few more days. The cutoff date of Thursday 21 December will be here before you know it, so don’t delay and send today.

Our crack staff of editors is standing by.

The countdown continues…

Maximum Z community, contest, genre, logline, networking, proofreading, screenplay, screenwriting, script, social media, spec, television, writing , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The number of listings continues to grow for the upcoming Maximum Z Winter ’23 Script Showcase.

The Showcase will post on Friday 22 December, so submissions will be accepted until Thursday 21 December. Like the lady in the gif says – you’ve got two weeks and counting to send in the details about your script.

I’m thrilled that lots of writers are taking advantage of this absolutely free opportunity to put their screenplay or TV script in the spotlight.

Are you one of them? If so, great and thanks!

If not, why the heck not? It’s super-easy and all you need to do is send an email here with the following info:

Film or TV?

Title

Author(s)

Genre(s)

Logline

Awards, if applicable – limit of 5

Your email

And this cannot be stressed enough: PROOFREAD YOUR INFO BEFORE SENDING IT!!

Is everything on there accurate and spelled correctly? There have been a few listings that left out some important details. As one writer responded when asked if it was a TV or film script, their response was “Oh, God. I had ONE job: Fill out the form correctly!”

Exactly.

Also important: DO NOT SEND THE SCRIPT

-and-

ONLY ONE SUBMISSION PER PERSON

Once the post is up, I’ll put a link to it on my social media accounts. Hope you’ll share it around and proudly announce your inclusion.

For those that have submitted in years past, already-submitted scripts are welcome, but new material is encouraged.

A few writers have asked if short film scripts and specs for existing TV shows are allowed. The answer is YES.

Feel free to email me at the address above if you have any other questions.

Clock’s ticking.

Put your best script forward

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With the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes over, an event originally planned for earlier this year can now take place.

That’s right. It’s time for the triumphant return of The Maximum Z Winter ’23 Script Showcase!

Got a feature or short screenplay, or a TV script you want the rest of the world to know about? This is your chance to do exactly that – for the incredibly reasonable price of ABSOLUTELY FREE.

On Friday, December 22nd, a list of scripts easily available and shareable with pretty much anybody will be posted here, and yours could be part of it. I’ll also post a link to it on a few other platforms, thereby enabling as much access to it as possible. You are also more than welcome to do the same so you can proudly proclaim “Hey! Check it out! My script’s in here!”. What better way to toot your own horn?

And since it’ll be a wide assortment of scripts, chances are some of the listings could make you think “Hey, I’d like to read that!” Each listing already includes the writer’s email, so it’s a piece of cake to contact them directly and say “Hey, can I read this?”

What a bargain, huh?

Submissions accepted between now and Thursday, Dec 21st.

Here’s how it works:

Email the following info here with the subject line “Maximum Z Winter ’23 Script Showcase”

-Film or TV?

-Title

-Author(s)

-Genre(s)

-Logline

-Awards (if applicable) – limit of 5

-your email

That’s all. Pretty simple, right?

However, there are two very important details to keep in mind:

-ONLY ONE SCRIPT PER PERSON

and

-DO NOT SEND THE SCRIPT!!

Previously-listed scripts are okay, but new scripts are encouraged.

Also highly encouraged – PROOFREAD YOUR EMAIL BEFORE SENDING!! Is all the info correct? No typos? I’ve received more than a few over the years that could have used a good edit. How it’s written in your email is how it’ll be written in the post.

The inbox is open with a deadline of Thursday, December 21st, so don’t delay and send today!

Looking forward to seeing what you’ve got.

For all the writers of screen & TV out there

Maximum Z community, contest, film, genre, logline, screenplay, screenwriting, script, spec, story, television, writing , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hard to believe it’s that time of year already, but if you’ve got a screenplay or TV script you want to share with the rest of the screenwriting community, and the online world in general, your chance to put it front and center is once again at hand.

The Maximum Z Summer ’23 Script Showcase will post on Friday, June 2nd, so you have between now and Thursday, June 1st to send it in. Details listed below.

This bi-annual event has been going on for a few years now. It’s just my little way of giving a helping hand to any writer via a little publicity boost for their script, absolutely free of charge.

Once the post is up, I’ll post a link to it on my various social media platforms, and highly encourage you to do the same if you want to get more eyes on your listing.

And if you see a script you’d like to read, the contact info is right there for you to get in touch with the writer to ask. I’m fairly certain they’d be more than happy to send it your way.

Here’s how it all works:

Email the following info here with the subject line “Maximum Z Summer ’23 Script Showcase’:

-Film or TV?

-Title

-Author(s)

-Genre(s)

-Logline

-Awards (if applicable) – 5 at the most

-your email

And that’s it.

Two VERY important details to keep in mind:

-DO NOT SEND THE SCRIPT!!

Just the info above. Nothing else.

-and-

-Only one script per person.

New scripts are highly encouraged, but past submissions are also welcome.

Again – send it in between now and Thursday, June 1st.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – proofread the email before sending!. There’ve been more than a few typos over the years, so make sure everything reads the way it’s supposed to.

Looking forward to seeing what you’ve got, so don’t delay and send it today!