Red Mosquito

oasisfan35 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:But on that note, I finished the first draft of my novel.

Finally worked out how I want a particular scene to end this morning as I was waking up. Now I'm just I'm just trying to keep it playing in my head since I have had zero downtime to actually write it out, though I did jot some notes; looking forward to the work day ending.

Every little thing when it falls, it falls in it's right place.

I'm finishing up a screenplay about a frustrated millennial unknowingly scarred mentally by the images of 9/11, as I believe a lot of 20 somethings are/were, for it changed the way they saw the world at the age of 10-18. There is a whole separate plot involved, but that is the underlying idea.

I basically feel like a genius when I'm writing it, so I need some critique from a screenplay competition to tell me all the reasons why it sucks. Not that I listen to half the shit they have to tell me, because I don't. But they can give some good input

Harry Lime wrote:I'm finishing up a screenplay about a frustrated millennial unknowingly scarred mentally by the images of 9/11, as I believe a lot of 20 somethings are/were, for it changed the way they saw the world at the age of 10-18. There is a whole separate plot involved, but that is the underlying idea.

I basically feel like a genius when I'm writing it, so I need some critique from a screenplay competition to tell me all the reasons why it sucks. Not that I listen to half the shit they have to tell me, because I don't. But they can give some good input

Why should they critique you if you've already decided you won't listen?

harmless wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:I'm finishing up a screenplay about a frustrated millennial unknowingly scarred mentally by the images of 9/11, as I believe a lot of 20 somethings are/were, for it changed the way they saw the world at the age of 10-18. There is a whole separate plot involved, but that is the underlying idea.

I basically feel like a genius when I'm writing it, so I need some critique from a screenplay competition to tell me all the reasons why it sucks. Not that I listen to half the shit they have to tell me, because I don't. But they can give some good input

Why should they critique you if you've already decided you won't listen?

They have to critique it. Two critiques. It's part of the fee you pay to enter the competition.

I do listen sometimes. But you have to remember that it's subjective, because only two people read your stuff. I need to hope I get a reader who is on the same wave length as me.

Harry Lime wrote:

harmless wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:I'm finishing up a screenplay about a frustrated millennial unknowingly scarred mentally by the images of 9/11, as I believe a lot of 20 somethings are/were, for it changed the way they saw the world at the age of 10-18. There is a whole separate plot involved, but that is the underlying idea.

I basically feel like a genius when I'm writing it, so I need some critique from a screenplay competition to tell me all the reasons why it sucks. Not that I listen to half the shit they have to tell me, because I don't. But they can give some good input

Why should they critique you if you've already decided you won't listen?

They have to critique it. Two critiques. It's part of the fee you pay to enter the competition.

I do listen sometimes. But you have to remember that it's subjective, because only two people read your stuff. I need to hope I get a reader who is on the same wave length as me.

Writing is a subjective medium. Are you writing for the reader or yourself? Not that they're mutually exclusive but cherry-picking critiques isn't exactly effective in my opinion.

oasisfan35 wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:

harmless wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:I'm finishing up a screenplay about a frustrated millennial unknowingly scarred mentally by the images of 9/11, as I believe a lot of 20 somethings are/were, for it changed the way they saw the world at the age of 10-18. There is a whole separate plot involved, but that is the underlying idea.

I basically feel like a genius when I'm writing it, so I need some critique from a screenplay competition to tell me all the reasons why it sucks. Not that I listen to half the shit they have to tell me, because I don't. But they can give some good input

Why should they critique you if you've already decided you won't listen?

They have to critique it. Two critiques. It's part of the fee you pay to enter the competition.

I do listen sometimes. But you have to remember that it's subjective, because only two people read your stuff. I need to hope I get a reader who is on the same wave length as me.

Writing is a subjective medium. Are you writing for the reader or yourself? Not that they're mutually exclusive but cherry-picking critiques isn't exactly effective in my opinion.

Yep.

And screenplays are even more difficult/subjective because they're essentially incomplete. Just like stage plays, a lot changes between the page and the stage even if the words stay exactly the same.

oasisfan35 wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:

harmless wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:I'm finishing up a screenplay about a frustrated millennial unknowingly scarred mentally by the images of 9/11, as I believe a lot of 20 somethings are/were, for it changed the way they saw the world at the age of 10-18. There is a whole separate plot involved, but that is the underlying idea.

I basically feel like a genius when I'm writing it, so I need some critique from a screenplay competition to tell me all the reasons why it sucks. Not that I listen to half the shit they have to tell me, because I don't. But they can give some good input

Why should they critique you if you've already decided you won't listen?

They have to critique it. Two critiques. It's part of the fee you pay to enter the competition.

I do listen sometimes. But you have to remember that it's subjective, because only two people read your stuff. I need to hope I get a reader who is on the same wave length as me.

Writing is a subjective medium. Are you writing for the reader or yourself? Not that they're mutually exclusive but cherry-picking critiques isn't exactly effective in my opinion.

It depends. If you're cherry-picking to find 'critique' that you like and agree with, what's the point? You haven't learned anything. If you want to write stuff for other people to actually read, you have to get used to being told stuff you might not want to hear. That said, anonymous critique is only as good as the critiquer, and I do think it's important for them to understand what you want to achieve in order to really help you. There are plenty of people wanting to satisfy their egos over the Internet, and they may or may not know anything at all about writing. I would be particularly careful about this in cases where people have an incentivised obligation to critique you.

I finally published my self-published novel (first released: June 2010) as an eBook on Amazon.com. I can send any of you an eBook file for free if you want, but if your friends are looking for something to read, lie to them and tell them this is good, then send them the purchase link! Only $0.99 for a limited time: http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Places-ebo ... ew+balliro

Simple Torture wrote:I finally published my self-published novel (first released: June 2010) as an eBook on Amazon.com. I can send any of you an eBook file for free if you want, but if your friends are looking for something to read, lie to them and tell them this is good, then send them the purchase link! Only $0.99 for a limited time: http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Places-ebo ... ew+balliro

Simple Torture wrote:I finally published my self-published novel (first released: June 2010) as an eBook on Amazon.com. I can send any of you an eBook file for free if you want, but if your friends are looking for something to read, lie to them and tell them this is good, then send them the purchase link! Only $0.99 for a limited time: http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Places-ebo ... ew+balliro

There's an error in the book description.

Dscans wrote:

Simple Torture wrote:I finally published my self-published novel (first released: June 2010) as an eBook on Amazon.com. I can send any of you an eBook file for free if you want, but if your friends are looking for something to read, lie to them and tell them this is good, then send them the purchase link! Only $0.99 for a limited time: http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Places-ebo ... ew+balliro

There's an error in the book description.

My fiancee spotted that today! Should be fixed soon. Thanks!

Simple Torture wrote:

Dscans wrote:

Simple Torture wrote:I finally published my self-published novel (first released: June 2010) as an eBook on Amazon.com. I can send any of you an eBook file for free if you want, but if your friends are looking for something to read, lie to them and tell them this is good, then send them the purchase link! Only $0.99 for a limited time: http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Places-ebo ... ew+balliro

There's an error in the book description.

My fiancee spotted that today! Should be fixed soon. Thanks!

I was just trying to make the case for me being your next editor.

So I have a question for the writers out there. I've run into a conundrum in a story I've been working on. I was told that when the story wants to veer an a different direction than you want, you should go with the story. Let it take its course and don't try to steer it. Anyway, I've been writing this story based on a dream I had and it kind of went in a different direction than I envisioned, but I just went with it. The problem is that it went borderline Hollywood. The way it starts, and the way I pictured it, it really explored what it means to be human–which is what I think fiction and all of the humanities is about.

So did I make the right call or should I go back to its core and start over?

Dscans wrote:So I have a question for the writers out there. I've run into a conundrum in a story I've been working on. I was told that when the story wants to veer an a different direction than you want, you should go with the story. Let it take its course and don't try to steer it. Anyway, I've been writing this story based on a dream I had and it kind of went in a different direction than I envisioned, but I just went with it. The problem is that it went borderline Hollywood. The way it starts, and the way I pictured it, it really explored what it means to be human–which is what I think fiction and all of the humanities is about.

So did I make the right call or should I go back to its core and start over?

Tough to say without reading the story, but to me that "don't try to change to course of the story, let the story write itself" advice seems dubious. I understand it in theory, but sometimes it seems like the best thing for a piece of art would be to push back against your natural impulses. Anyway, if you're not satisfied with the story, I say go back and change it, then let someone else read it and see what kind of feedback you get.

Kevin Davis wrote:

Dscans wrote:So I have a question for the writers out there. I've run into a conundrum in a story I've been working on. I was told that when the story wants to veer an a different direction than you want, you should go with the story. Let it take its course and don't try to steer it. Anyway, I've been writing this story based on a dream I had and it kind of went in a different direction than I envisioned, but I just went with it. The problem is that it went borderline Hollywood. The way it starts, and the way I pictured it, it really explored what it means to be human–which is what I think fiction and all of the humanities is about.

So did I make the right call or should I go back to its core and start over?

Tough to say without reading the story, but to me that "don't try to change to course of the story, let the story write itself" advice seems dubious. I understand it in theory, but sometimes it seems like the best thing for a piece of art would be to push back against your natural impulses. Anyway, if you're not satisfied with the story, I say go back and change it, then let someone else read it and see what kind of feedback you get.

Generally, I think people offer that "Let the story take its course" in first draft stage, just so that you have the impetus to finish the damn thing and you're not worrying too much about editing as you go. You can come back and edit afterwards, when you've got to the end and you know exactly where your story should or should not have gone, and what your characters should or shouldn't have done. If anything is glaringly wrong then, hopefully you'll know about it. So yeah, I'm not sure if the "Just see what happens" advice is good for emerging writers at all; at some stage you'll have to fight your instincts for the sake of making the writing more effective for a reader.

I received my two reviews from the screenlay competition.

One review didn't understand the last 20pgs and needed clarity, and the other review praised it and understood everything.

They give you a chance to revise & resubmit the piece, but I'm sort of caught in a pickle with the two reviews. I don't know. I'll figure something out.

harmless wrote:

Kevin Davis wrote:

Dscans wrote:So I have a question for the writers out there. I've run into a conundrum in a story I've been working on. I was told that when the story wants to veer an a different direction than you want, you should go with the story. Let it take its course and don't try to steer it. Anyway, I've been writing this story based on a dream I had and it kind of went in a different direction than I envisioned, but I just went with it. The problem is that it went borderline Hollywood. The way it starts, and the way I pictured it, it really explored what it means to be human–which is what I think fiction and all of the humanities is about.

So did I make the right call or should I go back to its core and start over?

Tough to say without reading the story, but to me that "don't try to change to course of the story, let the story write itself" advice seems dubious. I understand it in theory, but sometimes it seems like the best thing for a piece of art would be to push back against your natural impulses. Anyway, if you're not satisfied with the story, I say go back and change it, then let someone else read it and see what kind of feedback you get.

Generally, I think people offer that "Let the story take its course" in first draft stage, just so that you have the impetus to finish the damn thing and you're not worrying too much about editing as you go. You can come back and edit afterwards, when you've got to the end and you know exactly where your story should or should not have gone, and what your characters should or shouldn't have done. If anything is glaringly wrong then, hopefully you'll know about it. So yeah, I'm not sure if the "Just see what happens" advice is good for emerging writers at all; at some stage you'll have to fight your instincts for the sake of making the writing more effective for a reader.

I always read it as, "Write with your heart, fix with your head."

Harry Lime wrote:I received my two reviews from the screenlay competition.

One review didn't understand the last 20pgs and needed clarity, and the other review praised it and understood everything.

They give you a chance to revise & resubmit the piece, but I'm sort of caught in a pickle with the two reviews. I don't know. I'll figure something out.

Very nice.

What's the pickle?

durdencommatyler wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:I received my two reviews from the screenlay competition.

One review didn't understand the last 20pgs and needed clarity, and the other review praised it and understood everything.

They give you a chance to revise & resubmit the piece, but I'm sort of caught in a pickle with the two reviews. I don't know. I'll figure something out.

Very nice.

What's the pickle?

The reviewer that didn't understand it, REALLY didn't understand it. I'd have to change plot points and the whole ending. So if the screenplay advances into the next group, I'd have to hope I get a reader who is like the second reviewer. Or I can choose to revise it, but that might screw something up that was already good.

Harry Lime wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:I received my two reviews from the screenlay competition.

One review didn't understand the last 20pgs and needed clarity, and the other review praised it and understood everything.

They give you a chance to revise & resubmit the piece, but I'm sort of caught in a pickle with the two reviews. I don't know. I'll figure something out.

Very nice.

What's the pickle?

The reviewer that didn't understand it, REALLY didn't understand it. I'd have to change plot points and the whole ending. So if the screenplay advances into the next group, I'd have to hope I get a reader who is like the second reviewer. Or I can choose to revise it, but that might screw something up that was already good.

I mean, if one person didn't get it and the rest of the review (as well as the other was solid/high praise) I don't see why you need to totally change anything. You won't be able to please everyone, obviously. If you're happy with it, submit it.