All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
I'm new here. Just signed up today. Been a reader for a few months now. Been a writer since '03. Been a good writer since... not yet.
I have a problem. Perfectionism. I can't finish a script. I've tried and the closest I've come is 41 pages.
My first script, Hell on Earth has been re-written 68 times. I promised that this version would be my last and haven't worked on it since. That was 5 months ago.
I'd say that I'm pretty good at polish work and individual scenes. My friends say I'm good with tone, but they are my friends, so...
I have 117 projects on the back burner. My current three projects are 2 TV pilots and a zombie movie.
Beyond that, I don't know what else this is to say except hi.
My first script, Hell on Earth has been re-written 68 times. I promised that this version would be my last and haven't worked on it since. That was 5 months ago.
68 times? Is that a full re-write or just changing a few scenes here and there?
Congratulations on your work! Perfectionism - I know, it can be a gigantic thorn in the side. We all do it. Well, most of us here can certainly sympathize.
My advice here is this:
Try not to do what I call "fine edits" on what will ultimately be torn down.
You know? You build this gorgeous scene, but the scene sucks within the context of the greater story and you've spent days editing it. Nothing wrong with working something over - that's the name of the game, but always ask yourself: What am I working over? Why? Why now? Why this now?
It's often the case too, that you get well meaning individuals that come back with a critique (myself included) with loads os unimportant notes regarding typos etc... It often doesn't matter in the early stages of a wip.
Again: Welcome to the boards! Including your perfectionism!
That's what I do. Scenes. I can write four major scenes for a script if someone could connect the stuff in-between. Or, I can polish a script if it's already written.
But I have discovered that I am incapable of finishing a script.
Honestly, Hell on Earth isn't even my story. It's my brother's story. It's taken me 6 years to translate a story from my brother. It's really quite pathetic.
That's what I do. Scenes. I can write four major scenes for a script if someone could connect the stuff in-between. Or, I can polish a script if it's already written.
But I have discovered that I am incapable of finishing a script.
Honestly, Hell on Earth isn't even my story. It's my story. It's taken me 6 years to translate a story from my brother. It's really quite pathetic.
I REALLY .... REALLY-REALLY-REALLY HEAR YOU!
That's why we can really appreciate the writers that churn it out day-after-day. And make a living at it. And people call them hacks. I'd LOVE to be called that. It would be the most endearing word in the world. I'd let my husband use it during sex even. Hackysack.
Sweet Jesus, 68 rewrites!! If you aren't happy with a script after that many rewrites I think I'd move on lol.
Anywho welcome to the boards mate and I know where you're coming from about not finishing anything, I've got quite a few scripts that I've started with excitment but then drfited away from after a few scenes. I always say I'll go back and someday I probably will.
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
Welcome, mate. I only joined a few days ago myself and I'm really enjoying it on the boards.
If you prefer writing scenes than entire scripts, I think your safest bet is to join a writing staff rather than work on your own. There are tons of sites that do that. Have you heard of Monster Zero Productions?
No, I haven't but this is where my second problem comes into play. Lol.
To put it nicely, I don't work well with others.
Even for fun, I had to have a friend of mine come up with an idea so we could write because if it were my idea, I wouldn't be capable of sharing it. =(
I'm trying though.
My brother is writing Green Berets and I'll just polish it, all the way through. It should work. =)
Well, in a weird way you're not really working with others on these sites.
You choose (or get given) a storyline to write, you write it and then email it to the creator of the show, and another writer picks up from where you left off.
I start a lot of projects and then leave them aftyer a few scenes or when I'm at work I'll write half a treatment for what I think is the next great film only to open up my laptop at home to realise that I have no idea what to write.
Recently, I'm having a bit of a loss of confidence. I think it's down to not writing much for the last couple of months. Everything I read back that I've done sounds dreadful in my head. Reading other works, both produced and unproduced is a massive help when you're either struggling to finish a piece or playing with your next idea.
Reading other works, both produced and unproduced is a massive help when you're either struggling to finish a piece or playing with your next idea.
Agreed. You'll either have one of two reactions:
You'll read something so amazing that it'll inspire you to be just as great.
or
You'll read something so awful (most likely produced) that'll leave you thinking you can do so much better.
It'll most likely be the latter, because believe me, there's a lot of crap floating around out there that's, for one reason or another, been purchased.