I’m Done…
…writing!
For now.
For a week or two.
But not for good. Never! Never! Never!
Here’s the deal. As you, my faithful two or three blog followers already know, I have been putting my scripts out there. Way out there. To the tune of 300+ queries and eleven (11) requests for scripts and, although there are several scripts still out being read – I hope – the passes have been encouraging. I have received comments like: ‘…well written…’; ‘…like your writing..’; ‘…enjoyed the story…’; ‘…liked certain elements…’; etc. But – and this is the kicker – in the end they all said pretty much the same thing: liked the script, but didn’t LOVE IT.
Why?
Dunno.
Then I read a blog entry over at Scott Myers’ Go Into The Story (http://www.gointothestory.com/) — Shane Black on how he approaches action stories (find the entry here– you’ll have to scroll down just a tad: (http://www.gointothestory.com/search?updated-max=2010-03-11T16%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=10) and WOW!!! Did it ever open my eyes! Now, all the things Mr. Black said I have read/heard/knew before but…. when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I immediately knew why those producers and managers in Hollywood kept saying, ‘…didn’t love it…’. Please, if you only do one writing related activity today, read this article. Really.
Which brings me to this morning. A balmy 55 degrees, overcast, rainy. The coffee is hot. The Bear Claw is fresh. And I’m ready to begin the next leg of my journey in becoming the best screenwriter I can be. I am shelving my writing for the next two to three weeks and spending my time reading/analyzing/tearing apart scripts based on Mr. Black’s Ten Rules For Action Stories. When I am finished, I will apply what I have learned to my current script, then go back and rewrite, yet again, the four scripts currently making the rounds in Hollywood. When I finish this writing odyssey I want those producers and managers who read my scripts to scream, ‘I LOVE IT!’.
That’s the plan. Learn from the best. Apply what I have learned. And then,
Keep Writing!
Always good to try new things, Mike. And Shane Black is one of the best action writers — EVER!
I’m starting to send out query LETTERS — not e-mails. We’ll see how that goes, and revamp some of my pasts scripts and work on their pitches, and one-sheets, BUT I’m also storyboarding 3 new scripts too. Always gotta be working on something new.
A bear claw and coffee sounds nice. Glad to hear the weather’s warming up too. Over here in Washington we’ve had an early spiring and most everything’s already blooming. Can’t wait for summer.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
E.C.,
I’m always striving to improve — don’t think a writer can be successful without a willingness and ability to learn.
Good luck with the queries — don’t become frustrated. The trick is to find the right person at the right time with the right script. Serendipity is the screenwriter’s friend.
Keep Writing!