Quoted from Grandma Bear Shawn, You are very nice. I feel Close to number 4. maybe after I rewrite this vampire script.   I had seen the discussion that movie poet and here too. some people seem to get annoyed by this article. I thought he was spot on because I recognized myself and also some friends. And what he said was that it is very hard for writers to judge themselves and that these 10 levels might help writers get an idea where they are in their screenwriting level. He did not say this was the new rule, merely an aid to help writers judge themselves. Personally I thought it was great.

I really don't understand the mentality behind being annoyed at the fact all you're doing is posting something very useful to help fellow writers. I, for one, appreciate it.

I know it's not exact. There is no such thing but it does get you to thinking just where are you in the evolution of writing.

I saw myself in the first few levels and I saw where I want to be in the last few. It's a pretty neat measuring stick that’s more art then science but none the less helpful.

Thanks for posting it.

Shawn.....><

Really nice thread. Thanks a bunch, Pia!

I place myself at Level 4 in a critical fashion because...

...although I know of the steps in levels forward and further, (through intuition and not off by heart) I have trouble applying them.

Truthfully, I can critique many good scripts here that have the potential to surpass this level, but it takes much more than talent, skill and logic. In short, I think it takes persistence and luck. Really, I think persistence eventually breeds luck.

The "luck" I'm referring to isn't blind. It comes from a consistent applied effort. In that respect I guess it meets with application and evolves into something which isn't luck at all.

So what's the magic ingredient? We need to "level up", my friend. And what's that? ...

We keep writing and then we eventually find out.

Sandra

Quoted from Grandma Bear Shawn, You are very nice. I feel Close to number 4. maybe after I rewrite this vampire script.   I had seen the discussion that movie poet and here too. some people seem to get annoyed by this article. I thought he was spot on because I recognized myself and also some friends. And what he said was that it is very hard for writers to judge themselves and that these 10 levels might help writers get an idea where they are in their screenwriting level. He did not say this was the new rule, merely an aid to help writers judge themselves. Personally I thought it was great.

Personally, Pia, I would rate you far above Level #4. Although you might find "instances" where you feel you fall short, I think that your work proves in a nutshell what kind of writer you are.

You have an innate ability to discern the nuts and bolts of story. Applied, that is what makes a good writer.

I believe you have this down pat; the rest is just golden feathers, (bonus) and fluff.

Sandra  

Hmm.  This is a very interesting concept, and this chart can be used as a very good inspirational tool for what you need to work on personally yourself, (if you have that gift of judging yourself honestly), and what you need to look out for pitfall-wise in your own writing, or what you'd like to aspire to in your own writing.

However, it does seem kind of 'horoscop-ish', or like a chinese calender or fortune cookie, in that in all ten stages, there's generalizations of characteristics that every writer should see in themselves, from the beginning, amateur stages, all the way up through the master stages.

(I'm a Scorpion myself, but I know I can read through Aries and Sagitarius and find instances of myself, because they're so broad.)

I feel that we can all do the same thing with this chart.

For instance, in comments of my work, people said I've made them cry, (Jeff, Dreamscale of all people!), cringe, (I've heard that one many times, including from Pia!), and people have said that I've inspired them and I've put them through an experience with my story.  So I know I've accomplished things that are mentioned on the tenth level.

But, at the same time, I know I still have times where I'll go on five or seven page tangents about something that I know only I'll be interested in, which coincides with being at a level 3, and even level 1.  However, I know how to go back to those tangents in the rewrite and get rid of them if they're extraneous, or use them where they'll fit in somewhere else.

I do like this level thing, but I think I'll only use it for inspiration on the things that I need to work on for myself, (I know I need to write more Hollywood-friendly themes, like in Level 5.)  But I'm not ready to stop writing about things that I'm passionate about quite yet, either, which puts me back to Level 1 I believe.

I've been all over the board and the levels here, so I don't think this helps me place exactly where I'm at as a writer (a screenwriter... a Hollywood screenwriter at that, because I think Michael does have a point about this list being Hollywood-centric).  But it does show me what I need to work on.

Quoted from rc1107 However, it does seem kind of 'horoscop-ish', or like a chinese calender or fortune cookie, in that in all ten stages, there's generalizations of characteristics that every writer should see in themselves, from the beginning, amateur stages, all the way up through the master stages.

Well said!

That's where I was going with the art/science analogy but you said it much better.

We all want to see that there are some writing habits behind us and if we are honest we should see the short falls we still need to work on.

And in the middle...

That sweet spot...

Where we are.

BTW, it's good to see other people chimming in on Pia's level here. She is above the curve and deserves to be reconized as such.

Shawn.....><

Great idea for a thread!
Gotta say that I love ScriptShadow, it's an amazing resource for new and experienced writers.

Even if you aren't interested in his current script reviews he has a pretty solid backlog of advice columns and script reviews. He's one of those guys that is a great teacher even if he hasn't had a 100% success in his field. He knows what makes a great story and can help his readers reach their goals by focusing on his G.S.U. method.
Nate

Working towards trying to get better, but right now I am at Level 3 with bits of Level 4.

Level 4.