Quoted from LC Re reads by the usual suspects only, this is often the complaint when reading begins in an OWC. This is why Don gives a big window for reading and reviewing. In an open challenge there's bound to be some who don't twig to the community expectation of quid pro quo. Unfortunate but common. Look back at the July OWC , most everybody who entered left comments on all entries. Some just don't get as excited as some of us to get on it straight away, or there's work/family commitments etc. so they take longer. I've read a few (reviewed one so far) but I'm not in it this time around. Some people imh need to chill and not be so harsh with their critiques. Focus on: will this make a good film imh. Does it meet the challenge? And try not to just agree with the person's review before you. I know from experience that can get very tedious. He/she doesn't need to hear about the watermark a gazillion times.   You men folk sound a little serious and stressed.

Thanks, LC.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  

The scripts have been up for 48 hours. I usually give it a week before sending out the scoring sheet as some folks have weekend commitments and review a few at a time over the course of the week.

I commend and thank everyone who has already read and reviewed all of them.  

This year, I keep the adverting of the challenge limited to SimplyScripts (The SS FB page, mailing list and front page of the blog).  I did not go outside and advertise this on Movie Bytes and other screenwriting sites primarily because of the vitriolic complaints regarding participation. I am surprised that it started so soon.

With regard to enforcing reads, I have done that in the past.  It was incredibly time consuming  tracking who reviewed how many over the course of a week.  It really didn't change the number of reviews and folks still complained about the quality of the reviews.

- Don

Quoted from Dreamscale You want nurturing, positive, uplifting reviews, take it you Mom and Grandma.  You want real, honest feedback, get it right here.

I could not disagree with this more.  I do hope that other reviewers see this comment and take heed.  You can give a nurturing, positive and uplifting review that is real and honest.  To be clear, I'm not talking about blowing smoke up someone's ass or stroking their ego.  I am talking about constructive criticism.

If the reviews start turning abusive and insulting, I will just close this store down.

Don

When receiving advice we should look at the person delivering it. Are they worthy of listening to? Have they done anything... anything at all in some cases? Have they had anything produced, even a few student shorts? Or are they bitter because they're a failure?

The reviews may be honest, but they often reveal more truth about the reviewer than the work being reviewed.

Every OWC we seem to go through the same routine on this thread. Sigh!

When reviewing a script I focus primarily on the story and characters. How believable it is, how entertaining, how much of an original spin it has, was the twist a surprise or did I see it coming? Does the dialogue flow naturally and is it compelling? Are the characters multi-dimensional....things like that. A script can be perfectly formatted but if it's about a guy with a phobia about dolls and he inherits a house full of dolls, spooky things happen and he gets attacked by a demon doll at the end...I tend to mark them much lower than much more creative and original stories that may have a few formatting errors.

I then consider production. With my producer's hat on I think of how much it will cost, how viable it really is. The best script in the world by an unknown writer isn't going anywhere if its going to cost a million bucks for a ten minute short movie.

Finally, the lowest consideration on my list is the format. I do mention formatting issues simply because I know a properly formatted script has more chance of being read by a producer, or advancing in a competition than a badly formatted one. But lets be clear guys, there's no hard, solid locked screenwriting rules. There's guidelines. Some guidelines can be bent, others broken.

https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/there-are-no-screenwriting-rules-310610bc8c9d

It does frustrate me when I see review comments which claim a script is a fail because it used one unfilmible comment when describing a character or if there's too many orphans. Sure, mention them as all review comments help, but making formatting the main focus of your review isn't really helping. If there's loads of errors this is obviously a new writer or someone who did a vomit draft last minute. So yeah, say this needs a lot of work to fix the issues, seems rushed, but then look at the core - the story.

To be a good script writer is not about getting the guidelines correct, it's about creating very compelling and believable stories and characters. That's the important thing. To me it is anyway because the audience won't be compelled with a perfectly formed script but they will be compelled with a gripping story, one they can't guess what's going to happen next.


-Mark

I comment heavily on formatting because I love rules and guidelines. I learned to write out of one of those books that everyone hates. I also comment on the story but less so than formatting because I struggle to come up with my own ideas let alone how to change or better someone else's.

For me PERSONALLY I absolutely love opening up a well-formated piece of writing, I can get through a bad story that is well formatted a lot easier than I can get through a good story that is badly formatted. I'll read all the scripts for the OWC because I personally think it's the right thing to do, but if I was just opening a randomly submitted short to SS and it was badly formatted I would probably pass. Saying that I personally think it is in the writers best interest to have good formatting. Now I'm not saying you have to be OCD like me and follow the rules that the wannabe gurus make but its really easy to do basic things like checking punctuation, grammar, and spelling. (spellcheck and Grammarly are free)

I don't think I'm one to blow my own horn, other than putting up news of an option or a produced film but I've been on SS for about a year and a half, maybe a little more. I had written one feature before I joined. Had never even thought about writing a short. Now I have three produced films, one in post-production and one set to film in the next few weeks (my script from the last challenge), I also currently have several shorts on option. So although I think I'm far from professional, and I never want to be, I like my day job, I do feel like I must be doing something right.

Quoted from Don If the reviews start turning abusive and insulting, I will just close this store down. Don

Please don't even think about that. Since the last year and myself finding this site, it's genuinely got me through more than most should have to deal with, a welcome distraction from the troubles of daily life.

There's always a spectrum of opinions, the vitriolic end of it I've raised my opinions on previously and don't want to go over it again, but there's too much beauty around here to consider what life would be like without this place.

I know it's probably a burden at times on you, Don, to keep this up and running when things get niggly and crap, but believe me it's appreciated. I know I'm grateful beyond any logical comprehension anyway.

Quoted from Cameron Please don't even think about that. Since the last year and myself finding this site, it's genuinely got me through more than most should have to deal with, a welcome distraction from the troubles of daily life. There's always a spectrum of opinions, the vitriolic end of it I've raised my opinions on previously and don't want to go over it again, but there's too much beauty around here to consider what life would be like without this place. I know it's probably a burden at times on you, Don, to keep this up and running when things get niggly and crap, but believe me it's appreciated. I know I'm grateful beyond any logical comprehension anyway.

Totally agree, I live on this site. I have two computer screens at work and SS is up my entire work day, and then I'm on and off all night at home. When OWC's come around I don't sleep well because I constantly feel the need to check my phone for a comment.

This is my social media. Love it!

I've read them all now and I echo what has been said above. Things may get a bit heated in here but it's only because everyone is so passionate about this craft. I would be lost without SS and the OWC. Not only have I learned a great deal on these forums but the OWC is on of the writing highlights of my year!

Keep up the great work Don!

-Mark

It's possible to give critique that is harsh yet beneficial. It's the comments like "utter bore of a read" or "so very poor I can't continue" that serve no purpose whatsoever.

The one bad thing about an anonymous challenge is that we can't ask, at least not right away, how long the person has been writing. Maybe this is their first ever attempt?

Bottom line is you don't need to be "nice," but rather show at least a bit of encouragement.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I would suggest if you don't like a script, that's fine, but if someone else comes in and says they like it, you don't then add a sarcastic comment or challenge them because they happen to like a script you don't. It doesn't happen that often (thankfully) but it's really irritating when it does.

Phew, there you go, I've had my bitching session now!

Quoted from MarkRenshaw Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I would suggest if you don't like a script, that's fine, but if someone else comes in and says they like it, you don't then add a sarcastic comment or challenge them because they happen to like a script you don't. It doesn't happen that often (thankfully) but it's really irritating when it does. Phew, there you go, I've had my bitching session now!

"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." - My mother and hopefully most of yours.

Quoted from Steven Yea I dunno, I don’t typically critique others work as I don’t feel qualified to do so. If there is a formatting or “how to do something” type of question I’ll give my opinion. I’m also more active on /r/screenwriting over on Reddit.

You don't need to be "qualified" to weigh in on whether you like the dialogue, found the story interesting/boring, call out a typo, state whether you think they met the parameters,  and a ton of other things.  

For me:

Any review is better than no review.

Harsh reviews are fine and in fact often times needed. Ideally avoid inflammatory terms.

If you can give a harsh review being nice rather than being mean without losing the essence of your review -  default to nice. However, never be nice for the sake of it. False praise is one of the worst things a writer could get. It pushes them in the wrong direction.

The person who receives a harsh review and is offended by it has just as much responsibility in responding like an adult as the reviewer does. Just type back - thanks for taking the time to read my work. I thought your words were a bit harsh, but I appreciate you taking the time. - that would normally end it.

Exceptions to the above are personal insults - if someone calls you a moron, idiot, etc, - have add it (note, often leads to entertaining thread reads anyway). Reviewers should avoid words like garbage, trash, did you graduate high school, etc.

Nothing pisses me off more than writers who post that they are interested in feedback and then don't even bother with a thank you when they get it (okay - there are things that piss me off more than that - but it still pisses me off somewhat).

I'll make one exception to the above - newbies. Often you can tell, and while I will be frank, I will try to steer them in the right direction a little more gentle. However, that wears off if they don't respond or continue the same pattern.

Anyway - I got five scripts left to read which I will do tomorrow (a casino day today). Hopefully the number of reviews will pick up.

Final Add - I never went to a screen writing class - started as a cold newbie and 90% of what I have learned I learned here - yeah, I would Google stuff as well but didn't even know to google it until some one pointed something out. This site rocks!! - it's a go to for me everyday and on everything I write.  

Quoted from eldave1 For me: Any review is better than no review. Harsh reviews are fine and in fact often times needed. Ideally avoid inflammatory terms. If you can give a harsh review being nice rather than being mean without losing the essence of your review -  default to nice. However, never be nice for the sake of it. False praise is one of the worst things a writer could get. It pushes them in the wrong direction. The person who receives a harsh review and is offended by it has just as much responsibility in responding like an adult as the reviewer does. Just type back - thanks for taking the time to read my work. I thought your words were a bit harsh, but I appreciate you taking the time. - that would normally end it. Exceptions to the above are personal insults - if someone calls you a moron, idiot, etc, - have add it (note, often leads to entertaining thread reads anyway). Reviewers should avoid words like garbage, trash, did you graduate high school, etc. Nothing pisses me off more than writers who post that they are interested in feedback and then don't even bother with a thank you when they get it (okay - there are things that piss me off more than that - but it still pisses me off somewhat). I'll make one exception to the above - newbies. Often you can tell, and while I will be frank, I will try to steer them in the right direction a little more gentle. However, that wears off if they don't respond or continue the same pattern. Anyway - I got five scripts left to read which I will do tomorrow (a casino day today). Hopefully the number of reviews will pick up.

Critique - a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

Some of the feedback I've seen on the OWC stuff (including myself) hasn't been critique of anything. Pointing out the obvious flaws doesn't serve much of a purpose unless you suggest something which can make those flaws better.

With this whole thing being anonymous right now, no one has the opportunity to say anything to their reviewers, which sucks. There's a lot of "can't even get through it - PASS" type of "reviews" and the writer has no ability to say anything back.

Say what you want about my participation habits here, but when I'm given feedback I always tell a person that I appreciate it and take their advice to heart and most of the time incorporate the changes they'd suggest.

Quoted from Steven Critique - a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory. Some of the feedback I've seen on the OWC stuff (including myself) hasn't been critique of anything. Pointing out the obvious flaws doesn't serve much of a purpose unless you suggest something which can make those flaws better. With this whole thing being anonymous right now, no one has the opportunity to say anything to their reviewers, which sucks. There's a lot of "can't even get through it - PASS" type of "reviews" and the writer has no ability to say anything back. Say what you want about my participation habits here, but when I'm given feedback I always tell a person that I appreciate it and take their advice to heart and most of the time incorporate the changes they'd suggest.

Could not disagree more.

The critique definition is silly. We are not expecting formal critiques. Google comment or opinion instead.  

Always point out the obvious as you have no idea whether the writer knows it is obvious. There were typos pointed out on my script and the reviewer need not tell me how to spell it correctly - the fact that they spotted a typo was beneficial.

PASS - is valuable feedback. It tells you a reader thought it wasn't for them.

Anonymous has little to do with comment volume - For example, you comment sparsely whether it is anonymous of not.  And the issue with your comments has never been whether you appreciate comments on your work or not. That's a misdirection. It has always been on whether you comment on others.

Another way of saying it - IMO - feedback is the currency of the site. Some pay it, some don't.