networking

It’ll be here before you know it!

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Just one week – seven days, and counting – until The Maximum Z Winter ’24 Script Showcase goes live.

Are you a screenwriter or TV writer with a script you’re just itching to show the rest of the world? Well, this is your chance to do exactly that.

Bonus – it’s FREE! Won’t cost you anything to send in the basic details about your script. But hurry – the deadline to do it is Thursday, December 5.

Then on Friday, December 6, a list with all the scripts will be posted. A link to that list will be posted on various social media platforms. If your script is among those listed and you want to spread the word about it, you can copy-and-paste the link and post it on all of your platforms.

Everybody wins.

Here’s the Winter ’23 edition to give you an idea of what it looks like.

The more eyes we can get on this, the better.

And if somebody wants to read a script, each writer’s email is included in their listing, so an interested reader can contact the writer directly and ask.

Here’s how it works:

Email the following info here with the subject line “Maximum Z Winter ’24 Script Showcase”

-Film or TV

-Title

-Writer(s)

-Genre(s)

-Logline

-Awards (if applicable) – limit of 5

-your email

That’s it.

And three very important details to keep in mind:

-ONLY ONE SCRIPT PER PERSON

-DO NOT SEND THE SCRIPT!!

-PROOFREAD YOUR EMAIL BEFORE SENDING! Is all the info correct? Any typos? How it’s written in your email sending it in is how it’ll be listed in the post.

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

Why am I doing this? I’m a big believer in networking and helping out the writing community. I don’t have much pull or influence within the industry, but wanted to do something that could help writers, and this seemed like the most practical way.

Did I mention it was free?

Once again – the window to send in is between right now and Thursday, December 5. Daily reminders will be posted during that time, but isn’t it better to just take care of it RIGHT NOW?

Thanks for sending in!

Your (script’s) chance to shine!

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Have you got a screenplay or TV script that you want the world to know about, but been having trouble in making that happen?

Have I got some good news for you.

One of my main objectives in doing this blog has been to help out other writers however I can. While I can’t connect you with the decision-making muckety-mucks in the industry, what I CAN do is help you spread the word about your script – maybe even that it gets the attention of one of those muckety-mucks.

That’s right, it’s time once again for The Maximum Z Script Showcase! (Winter ’24 edition)

Even better – IT’S FREE. Won’t cost you a thing. Not one hard-earned buck. Not one thin dime. Not one plugged nickel. Not even one red cent.

Starting today through Thursday, December 5, you send in the details about your script, and then on Friday, December 6, a list with all the scripts will be posted. A link to that list will be posted on various social media platforms. If your script is included and you want people to know about it, then you can also copy-and-paste the link and post it on your platforms.

Here’s the Winter ’23 edition to give you an idea of what it looks like.

The more eyes we can get on this, the better.

“But what if somebody wants to read my script?” you might ask. Great question. Each writer’s email is included in the details they send in, so if a script catches somebody’s attention and they want to read it, they can contact the writer directly. Win-win.

Here’s how it works:

Email the following info here with the subject line “Maximum Z Winter ’24 Script Showcase”

-Film or TV

-Title

-Writer(s)

-Genre(s)

-Logline

-Awards (if applicable) – limit of 5

-your email

That’s it.

And here 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 recommended – PROOFREAD YOUR EMAIL BEFORE SENDING!! Is all the info correct? Any 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 listed in the post.

Once again – the window to send in is between right now and Thursday, December 5. Occasional reminders will be posted during that time, so don’t delay and send it straightaway.

Looking forward to seeing what you’ve all got.

From the archives: May I be of some assistance?

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“Be with you folks in a minute.”

Not the first time I reposted this one, but was reminded about it after a great chat with a screenwriting colleague earlier this week asking for some help in promoting her FREE class on writing a Christmas movie. Details down at the bottom.

In the meantime, please once again enjoy this post from July 2019.

For the most part, working towards making it as a screenwriter is a solitary effort. You’re the one who has to write the script and get it out there. It’s a tough journey, but you don’t have to go it alone.

Hence – networking.

Making that initial contact is great, but you should also strive to make it worth the other person’s while as much as you are for yourself.

Once you start to build up your own personal community of Other Writers, and those relationships gradually develop beyond the “Hi. Nice to meet you” stage, you’ll naturally seek out some help in the form of feedback – your latest draft, a query, a logline, what have you.

And that’s all well and good, but it’s equally important, if not more so, for you to return the favor. Rather than just popping up and saying “Hey, would you read my script?”, try “Hey, we’ve known each other a while, and you seem to know what you’re talking about, so would you be open to reading my script? And I’d be more than happy to reading one of yours.”

Helpful tip #1 – don’t be the person who asks for notes but isn’t willing to give them.

Helpful tip #2 – even if you don’t like what their notes say, you still need to hold up your end of the bargain and give them notes – especially if you’re the one who asked in the first place.

Sometimes the best kind of help is when it’s unexpected – either from you or from somebody you know.

A few years ago, a producer friend of a friend was looking for a certain kind of project. I didn’t have anything that met their criteria, but offered to post the listing on a few social media platforms. At least 20 writers responded. I sent their info to the producer, who then contacted a few of them (as far as I know).

What did I get out of it? Just being happy to help and the appreciation from all the writers – even the ones the producer didn’t follow up with.

I’ve also been fortunate to be on the receiving end, with friends sending me emails and messages about listings seeking scripts like mine.

A little effort really does go a long way – anything from forwarding a script or job listing to a few words of encouragement, or even offering congratulations for somebody achieving some kind of accomplishment. Don’t you like when somebody does that sort of thing for you?

As much as we’re all working towards our own individual success, we’re also part of a community; one where each member should help support the others in whatever way they can.

-Screenwriter Isabel Drean has a new online course called “Break Into The Industry With A Christmas Movie“. It’s free and only runs for 28 minutes. There are also links to other online courses Isabel offers. She’s a veteran screenwriter, including selling five scripts which were all produced in an 18-month span.

Input much appreciated

Maximum Z action, animation, comedy, community, determination, draft, encouragement, fantasy, feedback, networking, notes, perseverance, persistence, rewriting, screenplay, screenwriting, writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the past week and a half, I’ve had a pair of Zoom calls with writing colleagues – the first to discuss ideas for my action-comedy spec, and the second to review their potential fixes for the animated fantasy-comedy. Additionally, one friend did some pro coverage on the animated script, and another friend sent a video of their page-by-page analysis for it.

I can’t begin to describe how beneficial all of these were in making me feel more confident about each project.

I’d been feeling stuck regarding the story of the action-comedy, so talking through it with somebody helped fit a few more puzzle pieces into place. Also great – they love the concept of the story and think it has a lot of potential.

Still quite a ways to go on it, but every little bit helps.

As for the animated script, the general consensus was that a lot of it is solid, but a few areas could use a little adjusting that would all go a long way in improving it. Even better – these are not major changes, so although they’re still challenging, they’re not insurmountable. Just requires a little more effort on my part.

Another bonus was that all three had very positive and encouraging things to say about the script itself, and felt these changes would help take it to the next level. I’ve set a deadline to have a completed draft by the end of the year, but hoping it’s closer to the end of October. Either way, seems doable.

Like I said – feeling really good about both projects. And I definitely would not have gotten to this point if I hadn’t reached out and asked for this kind of feedback.

Your network of writers is one of the most underrated but also most valuable resources you have. Notes, encouragement, connections, just to name a few. I love helping out when I can, and I know that many times the feeling is mutual.

Even though I’ve gone through A LOT of drafts for the animated script, it wouldn’t be what it is today without the feedback from many of the writers I know. Any future success it could potentially yield will be due in no small part to what other writers had to say about it.

For which I am very, very grateful.

From the archives: Try the direct approach

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Nice to see you again. Mind if I ask you something?

In June, there was an event on Twitter (I’m not calling it the other thing) called ScreenPit, where writers listed the loglines for their scripts in the hopes of garnering interest. Trust me when I say there were A LOT of scripts listed. Some I’d read before, some I’d heard of, and most that were new to me.

If something caught my eye – the title, the logline, the concept, I’d reach out and ask the writer if I could read it.

Nobody said no, and they were all thrilled to be asked. Some even asked to read my stuff.

This whole experience reminded me of a post from Dec 2016. Enjoy.

Sometime last week, I received a very nice compliment via on online forum regarding the quality of the script notes I give. A mutual associate of ours chimed in with the grumbly “Well, he never does it for me.”

To which I responded “Because you never ask.”

I don’t know what this writer’s standard M.O. is for getting notes, but from what I can gather, usually involves them posting “Anybody want to read my stuff?”

There’s nothing wrong with that, but the drawback is you run the risk of getting feedback from somebody with less experience than you, or worse, has no idea what they’re talking about.

This is why networking and establishing relationships with other writers is so important. If someone posted a generic request for a read, I’d be less inclined to respond. Even if I knew the person. I figure they’ll probably get a few other responses, so why bother?

But if someone came to me specifically and said “If you have the time, would you be able to read this?”, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. This shows me that they value my experience and opinions, along with respecting that I can’t simply drop everything to accommodate them. They’ll also include an offer to read something of mine, if I’m interested.

Sometimes I’ll get an email asking me for a read, and it might be because of any number of reasons. They’ve read my stuff before and think this new script is similar. They know I have an eye for fill-in-the-blank. All of this could only have come from myself and this other writer having already established a good professional relationship.

While I always encourage writers to get out there and network, it’s also important to build on those connections once you’ve got them. You don’t have to become somebody’s best friend, but being supportive or offering the occasional words of encouragement really go a long way. Plus, people are much more likely to remember that sort of thing, adding to the likelihood they’d be willing to help you out.

More than often I’ve read about another writer’s projects and introduce myself, tell them how I found them (usually via the forums) and of my interest in the script in question, then ask if they’re cool with me taking a look at it. It’s a rare occurrence when someone says no.

Both of you are writers constantly striving to improve, and some good, solid feedback can play a big part in that. And that can be best achieved by getting to know other writers and treating with the same respect you’d expect to be treated with yourself.

-Like I wrote about a few weeks ago, the 9-week summer session of Kaia Alexander’s Entertainment Business School begins on August 5th. This weekend is your last opportunity to sign up and have access to the wealth of info, advice, and guidance about the business of show that Kaia has to offer. And if you use the code PZ50S24, you’ll get $50 off the enrollment fee. Kaia really knows her stuff, so if you’re serious about wanting to learn more about having a career in screenwriting or TV, her course is a great place to start.