Speaking of things dying, that aren't, had to correct someone on Facebook the other day who said Inktip was closing... it isn't either!

I don't contribute a lot either. I was a member of this forum in 2008 but forgot my password, and made another account in 2013. From then on, I've been opening the forum a few times per week, and I mostly browse. Sometimes I'll read something. Things here have died down, a lot. That's a fact. IMO, the period between 2012 - 2014 was when this site was most active. After 2015, things began to slow down. Some active members that would post frequently and keep this place busy left and other platforms emerged. SEO-wise, the site seems to rank pretty well, but maybe the old-school design turns some people away. Message boards, in general, are a dying form of internet communication. It's good that this forum has many loyal members, and there is definitely a sense of community here. So, I wish all of you well.

Quoted from Demento … the period between 2012 - 2014 was when this site was most active. After 2015, things began to slow down…

Actually, based on the site’s ‘Extensive Statistics’ it was about a solid 6-year period of continuous activity: January 2013 – October 2018. After that things seemed to slow down for some reason.

Bottom of this page -->  https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?v-stats/

I think this year end of 2018-ish was the start of Streaming Services literally blowing up with a shit-ton of ridiculous content, driving the final coffin-nail into the prospect of scripting for Hollywood, which always was the primary catalyst for most screenwriters… to make it to the big screen. Without that enigma driving the industry, the dream doesn’t appear as lucrative anymore, not for big dreamers who have visions of big juicy Hollywoodland sugar plums dancing in their head. Write for Netflix…? Meh, where’s the fun in that!

As always, this is an interesting subject, and one that I, myself, have brought up many times over the many years I've been a part of the SS family.

There are many ways to look at this.  Some have already been brought up, others not so much, or even different angles to look at.

Peeps get older, and downright old.  Damn, let me tell you about it!  As we get older, we feel differently about things...we handle things differently...and maybe most importantly, our priorities change.

When you're young (or even relatively young) and without kids, your time is "your" time to do whatever you choose to do with it.  When you have a family, not so much any longer.

When you've succeeded in your field of choice, and are doing well financially, much more time can be spent on the finer things in life, like travel and/or other entertainment that takes up time, and takes you away from home.  Now, with the whole COVID thing, this may no longer be a factor, but it's still something to consider.

For me, who has been very quiet as of late, it all comes down to several things I've been saying for many years...

I tend to lose interest when I feel peeps aren't giving back what they should be.  Not reviewing OWC scripts when they have taken part in the challenge.  Not giving "real" feedback that matters or even means anything.  Sugarcoating comments to scripts that do not deserve it.  Teaming up with other SS'ers to improve their scores and feedback.  Publicly saying after the fact that they didn't leave feedback on scripts they read because they had nothing new to say.

It's all BS and is why I try and just stay quiet

If you choose to join a team/league/etc. and then not show up time and time again, the team/league/etc. loses, as do the players and participants who do make time to do what they signed up to do.

In terms of non special events, like OWC's, etc., the old SS adage says it best - Quid Pro Quo. The more you give up front, the more you should get back.

We all have lives and many, many things in our lives that take precedence over something like SS and our OWC's, but if you decide to be a player, than you need to play, and the same old lameass excuses don't cut it.

Word out.

Could part of it be that the spec script world is not much of a thing anymore? There is tremendous demand for content, but it seems to me maybe producers are looking for stories they can develop. And it's much easier to read a short story, a graphic novel or a comic book.

I haven't written a screenplay since the last OWC I entered here, about a year ago. I'm back writing short stories and novels now. I may be tempted into the next OWC here though. If those strange runes are anything to go by, there's one brewing.

Quoted from leitskev Could part of it be that the spec script world is not much of a thing anymore? There is tremendous demand for content, but it seems to me maybe producers are looking for stories they can develop. And it's much easier to read a short story, a graphic novel or a comic book.

I think it is better now and easier to make it. So long as by 'making it' one means having a well-produced feature or TV series out there.

Before, we had the dream of Hollywood, but this was more akin to buying lottery tickets than offering any real chance of success. The dream has gone but we're left with a reality where content is in greater demand, creating more opportunity for the writer.

Not to mention, with our job, AI doesn't stand much of a chance...and I'm not sure it ever could. It takes a consciousness to write a story.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I think it is better now and easier to make it. So long as by 'making it' one means having a well-produced feature or TV series out there.

One would think there is more opportunity with so many content producers. Even IMDB has their own channel. I have no idea what kind of content these producers are looking for, however. I haven't tried to sell them myself. Last couple of years, with other stuff to worry about, I just try to write stories, and whatever happens with them happens. Hopefully screenwriters are finding success marketing to these producers. I'm seeing hints that producers are pouring through short stories, comics and graphic novels. It's easier to pass one of those around, and if your company decides to purchase the material, they use their own screenwriters to develop. But I don't know any of this from experience, so I could be way off base.

Quoted from leitskev One would think there is more opportunity with so many content producers. Even IMDB has their own channel. I have no idea what kind of content these producers are looking for, however. I haven't tried to sell them myself. Last couple of years, with other stuff to worry about, I just try to write stories, and whatever happens with them happens. Hopefully screenwriters are finding success marketing to these producers. I'm seeing hints that producers are pouring through short stories, comics and graphic novels. It's easier to pass one of those around, and if your company decides to purchase the material, they use their own screenwriters to develop. But I don't know any of this from experience, so I could be way off base.

I have seen work offered by Youtubers to help them write content in the past. I don't do the freelancing thing so much these days as I get regular work. There are even jobs writing emails. All sorts out there when you look. So long as you're prepared to write whatever pays, there's plenty of work out there.

I hope things are looking up for you, mate.

Dear Don.

My post hereto was not derogative or disrespectful. It was a mere question, statement if you wish? To which it was well debated upon. This been a "debate site" ~ open free speech...
    
I quote you on your comments: (1) everything was going great until Barry showed up. (2) but I've been quietly trying to suffocate this baby.

Don. You the owner of this site! For you to say what you did about one of your long standing members, in such a public disrespectful manner, says a lot about who you are. Now, the regulars won't say it out loud - but you said what you said. fine.

I did not disrespect your good site! Yet, you publically disrespect/slander me! You owe me an apology hereto.

Respectfully, Barry John

I think you'll find Don was being sarcastic Barry, maybe you are too in your response?

Hard to tell when it's just words typed on a site and you don't have the benefit of tone of voice.

Quoted from BarryJohn I quote you on your comments: (1) everything was going great until Barry showed up. (2) but I've been quietly trying to suffocate this baby. Don. You the owner of this site! For you to say what you did about one of your long standing members, in such a public disrespectful manner, says a lot about who you are. Now, the regulars won't say it out loud - but you said what you said. fine.

I think if you've been here long enough, you would also know Don enough to know that was a joke. Maybe a joke with some sting, but certainly not an attack. If he really wanted to get rid of you, you would be gone already. Don doesn't mess around with playing games.

I wouldn't expect an apology if I were you.

Me personally? It did seem a bit like you started this thread just to stir things up a bit. Have the forums been a little slower lately? Yes, but there's a lot to take in consideration too. Holidays, pandemic,  recent election in the US, which was very stressful for those of us who live here. Also, only Don knows the statistics of this site, so if SS is dying or thriving is something he would know not just better, but earlier too.

Now lets carry on with our reading and writing. I'll leave the arithmetic to others.  

Quoted from BarryJohn Dear Don. My post hereto was not derogative or disrespectful. It was a mere question, statement if you wish? To which it was well debated upon. This been a "debate site" ~ open free speech...      I quote you on your comments: (1) everything was going great until Barry showed up. (2) but I've been quietly trying to suffocate this baby. Don. You the owner of this site! For you to say what you did about one of your long standing members, in such a public disrespectful manner, says a lot about who you are. Now, the regulars won't say it out loud - but you said what you said. fine. I did not disrespect your good site! Yet, you publically disrespect/slander me! You owe me an apology hereto. Respectfully, Barry John

Christ, Barry, the man was joking. But, even if he wasn't, he wouldn't owe you an apology. You're the one who said the site was dying. Your thread is titled, "Why is SS Dying?" not "Is SS Dying?" So, essentially, you're telling everybody the site's dead just to stir up shit just because people aren't commenting as much as you wished they were. Like you said, he's the "owner" of the site. And you pretty much told him his baby's dead. I'm sure Don didn't take it that way, but I'll take it that way. And then to ask him to apologize? Lol, yeah, okay.


Man the fuck up, stop being a pussy and write something. And if you take writing as seriously as you take sarcastic jokes, I'd suggest focusing more on your work and improving at your craft. There's not a single member on this site that's going to have your back on this one.

-- Michael

Quoted from BarryJohn Dear Don. My post hereto was not derogative or disrespectful. It was a mere question, statement if you wish? To which it was well debated upon. This been a "debate site" ~ open free speech...      I quote you on your comments: (1) everything was going great until Barry showed up. (2) but I've been quietly trying to suffocate this baby. Don. You the owner of this site! For you to say what you did about one of your long standing members, in such a public disrespectful manner, says a lot about who you are. Now, the regulars won't say it out loud - but you said what you said. fine. I did not disrespect your good site! Yet, you publically disrespect/slander me! You owe me an apology hereto. Respectfully, Barry John

Barry, read things in context. Here is a partial list of other things Don has said along with a response that ignores context.

Don's first response to why is SS dying?:

Quoted Text Didn't wear a mask.

In response to a litany of potential reasons for SS slowdown given by Pia Don responded.

Quoted Text Or the guy who runs it is an incompetent ass.

When Anthony said that we all ought to try to promote this site. Don responded:

Quoted Text but I've been quietly trying to suffocate this baby.

In response to Pia

Quoted Text When the ...Hookers, thieves, people with no good intentions..... left is when SS started dying...

See, Barry - Don was making jokes. I'm a bit at a loss of how you couldn't see that from the tone of the thread. i.e., read in context.

I'm offended that I've been using the site for 2 years now and no-one has bought or produced anything that I have written!! My material is pure gold, so it must be the site... apology?


On a serious note, can we change the name of the thread to "Why isn't SS dying?", or get rid of it completely, new members or perusers who are looking to join, or posters of scripts could be put off from doing so if they perceive the site to be imminently closing or failing.