Quoted from DustinBowcot All that really matters is that you had a go. You exercised your story-telling muscles. Maybe you missed on this one... it's not an easy genre to come up with something that's going to appeal to people. Plus, you don't have to appeal to everyone anyway. And writers make for some of the worst readers... and often our advice isn't worth a shit. So, don't worry about it. Hope my review of your work wasn't too harsh... if I've reviewed it yet.

I knew it was hacked before I entered it, lol.  I sheared 20 pages off with a chainsaw.  No one's been harsh, it's far below the bar of what I usually write.

I'll be uploading the real version when the OWC is over.  

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Still, some pretty solid entries in this OWC.  My favorite at the moment is "Current Events", excellent work from the writer, though I've no clue who it is.

9 down, 17 to go.  Should get most of them read by the weekend.  Anyone who can churn out a story in 7 days is a good writer IMO.  

Can't wait to see what the remaining 17 have in store.  

Though, I must admit, the concept of "shorts" still baffles me.  I could never really develop anything as well as some of these OWC entries in such a short page span.

Quoted from DustinBowcot And writers make for some of the worst readers... and often our advice isn't worth a shit.

Alas, this is more often than not true.

Especially in an OWC where we are all rushed, comparing with our own scripts, checking the criteria and comparing with others.

even amongst the wiring community I find some folk to be excellent reviewers despite not being perhaps the best of writers.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Alas, this is more often than not true. Especially in an OWC where we are all rushed, comparing with our own scripts, checking the criteria and comparing with others. even amongst the wiring community I find some folk to be excellent reviewers despite not being perhaps the best of writers.

I'd much rather get notes from a producer or story analyst... but you're right, there are some good reviewers in the writing community too and they usually aren't the best writers.

I suck at reviewing. The only area I feel I could maybe help someone is with the writing itself. Leaning things out and whatnot.  But for structure, character development, stuff like that, I never know what to say to people. Not everyone is good at that. I hold teachers in the highest regard because it takes a certain kind of person to be able to do that...to instruct. To break something apart, see what's not working, then give advice on how to fix it. I break something apart and all I have in front of me is a bunch of broken parts.

marnieml,

Just tell them what you think. Fixing it is their problem. Most do want to know. And (this isn't directed at you) don't get too excited. Chance would be a fine thing.

R

I agree with Rendevous. I'm sure Marn does fine with reviews. Say what you liked and didn't like. Pure, honest criticism is the best kind. The problem with the reviews of many other writers is they often bring baggage...preconceptions on what needs to be there or doesn't, or how it needs to be written. Pure and honest...if fairly considered...works best.

Enjoying my first OWC. I must say the variety of the scripts here is amazing. I read the challenge and wrote a simple shark attack script because that's all I could think of. But here we have a cartoon, two gangster films, a samurai script, a reality piece, and some other odd balls. Very creative, but I guess we're all writers or something like the sort.

I've been trying to give feedback as best I can. I'm not a grammar or format expert but I think I do well with story elements so I try to help on that.  I would never put too much stock in what one person says in a review, but if multiple readers make the same comment, that has value and means something. I've gotten some positive and negative feedback on my entry but it's all good feedback. I'm still new at this and all opinions are appreciated.

Good points, Cameron. I think you'll find yourself quite welcome here and your opinions appreciated. Good luck!

Yeah Kev...there are def some writers with their own preconceptions. Instead of accepting someone's vision and storyline and making a suggestion on how they might make it better, they put their own spin on what they think your story should be. Yuck.

Then you get reviewers like Rendevous. Useful, subtle suggestions mixed in with quirky and sometimes random thoughts.  LOL. But respectful and always entertaining.

Marnie - I think this happens a lot, but then people do have preconceptions on how things should be - I actually think it's quite hard to do a good review of a script, especially of a better writer -- but I think the variety of angles people come from is useful - I've got my own ideals on how something should be, but then other people come from a completely different angle, and adding them all up gives a good picture.

Hey, can we get a consolidated post with all the entries linked in one list - like with some other OWCs?  Don't know about anyone else, but I find that extremely helpful in tracking what I've read and what I haven't...!  

Quoted from Grandma Bear You should be able to find them all here.  http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-OWC0414/

I wonder if I can C&P from my worksheet including the links...

1. A Twist in the Tail - After four shark killings disturb the locals in Miami, the authority decide to pay out a $15,000 reward to the person who kills the biggest Tiger Shark.  Joel has the upper hand in hunt but does he have more to deal with than a sixteen foot shark?
   
2. Alaskan Sound - Weekend warriors on vacation in Prince William Sound are seduced by the power of the Alaskan Wilderness, as they seek a rare trophy: the head of a vicious Salmon Shark.
   
3. American Shark in London - A great white interrupts a gangland execution.
   
4. Blood in the Water - A friendly wager between three friends, a race across the lake. What they quickly discover is - this swim will be a race for their lives.
   
5. Current Events -  An ambitious journalist discovers that the story she's been chasing is liable to chase her back.
   
6. Finning - A down-on-his-luck fisherman is hired by a wealthy entrepreneur to obtain the final, and most dangerous, addition to his unusual collection of shark fins.
   
7. Genetic Engineering - When irresponsible science once again breaks laws of nature, reshaping of interests is undeniable.
   
8. Hunt - A killer whale faces adversity in more ways than one.
   
9. Immersion Therapy - Dr. T's training is put to the test on the final day of aquaphobia desensitization class when his group therapy patients finds their phobia compounded by an immanent and genuine water hazard.
   
10. Jail Bait - Three bros find themselves stranded on a party raft in the middle of the ocean after a day of drinking.
    
11. Jaws: Pe'ahi - A surfer travels to Hawaii to ride the one of the most dangerous waves in the world.
    
12. Jowls - Four people on a boat. In the water. With a shark. A big one. Beeg teeth. Very beeg.
    
13. Lord Laughs at the Wicked - A serial killer at sea hits a snag.
    
14. Loyalty - Sometimes, sharks aren't the worst thing in the water.
    
15. Nauticca Knot - When a young girl from the seaside town of Nauticca Harbor befriends a curious little visitor, she discovers firsthand the power of friendship, and in the process, unravels one of life's oddest mysteries.
    
16. Reel Tension - A former soldier fights the battle of his life, when he reels in a massive shark.
    
17. Retrieval - A smuggler kidnaps a newlywed to assist him in recovering his loot, which is guarded by a rogue shark.
    
18. Samebito - Ten years after losing his brother to the jaws of a mythical shark named Samebito, a 12th century Japanese fisherman enlists the aide of a ship's Captain to hunt down and exact his vengeance.
    
19. Sentient - In the faraway future, a hitman on death row is forced to recount his story before he is killed.
    
20. Shark Dreaming - After the death of his partner, a fisherman is tormented by a life changing decision he must make.
    
21. Shark Tale - An old man explains the balance of give and take when the sea is concerned.
    
22. Terror At Sea - It was supposed to be a day of fun on the ocean but as one family quickly learns...the ocean has many secrets.
    
23. The Lagoon - Two Union soldiers hunt for hidden gold at the end of the Civil War.
    
24. The Ordeal - In a post-apocalyptic world, a sacrifice is called for so that others may live. Who will pay the price?
    
25. The Shark Doctor - A marine biologist suffering from sex addiction is called by a theme park to diagnose what is killing the great white sharks they plan to feature in a new exhibit.
    
26. The Stillness in the Water - An author attempts to teach his nephew the power of stories by recalling a time when a novel he wrote lead to a close encounter with a great white shark.
    
27. The Tides of Caeus - A warrior attempts to stop a corrupt pirate from gaining a mystical amulet... and put to rest a fabled monster.
    
28. To Catch a Predator - In the summer of 1979, citizens of Fair Haven, Massachusetts were worried about a rogue shark, but one unwelcome guest should have been more concerned about the boy determined to catch it.
    
29. Up from the Depths 2 - Young Newlyweds are menaced by a rogue shark while honeymooning on Maui.
    

Nope.
Ham-nation!
Gimme a few and I'll put in all the links.  Grrr...

Quoted from Forgive Marnie - I think this happens a lot, but then people do have preconceptions on how things should be - I actually think it's quite hard to do a good review of a script, especially of a better writer -- but I think the variety of angles people come from is useful - I've got my own ideals on how something should be, but then other people come from a completely different angle, and adding them all up gives a good picture.

Most suggestions are helpful or at least insightful, but you always get that one chucklehead who suggests things that would actually change the whole dynamic of your story.

I don't want to come down on reviewers though. The fact that someone would take their time to read your story is appreciated.   

Quoted from Forgive Marnie - I think this happens a lot, but then people do have preconceptions on how things should be - I actually think it's quite hard to do a good review of a script, especially of a better writer -- but I think the variety of angles people come from is useful - I've got my own ideals on how something should be, but then other people come from a completely different angle, and adding them all up gives a good picture.

I for one never comment on format and any issues involving spelling errors, typo's, etc... It's a one week challenge and lets face it, not everyone gets a chance to write for several hours throughout that week and catch the errors. For me, it's all about the story. I will admit I'm not that great at giving reviews so I keep it simple and tell them what I liked and didn't like. I'm never a jerk towards anyone and whether the writer agrees or not with me is up to them but everything comes down to one thing...respect.