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Unofficial Tips for Properly Using These Boards! (currently 4387 views)
Alan_Holman
Posted: April 8th, 2005, 8:18pm
Guest User
There is a key player (co-writer, producer, et cetera) who is needed for the development of any phase in a film project, so identify the current phase -- be it concept script, pre-production, et cetera -- then identify the key player on whom you must depend, or in whom you must trust, and CONTACT THAT KEY PLAYER! Feel at ease when phoning -- or otherwise contacting -- that key player.
Perhaps if these discussion threads are used properly, more of those key players will gravitate towards it, so please consider the following tips for the proper usage of these discussion threads...
ASK QUESTIONS, CONSIDER REPLIES, AND EDIT ... if you are inclined to do so. Humans are naturally inclined towards following their intuition during the process of creative-writing. As a creator, you don't ever have to accept anything as it is.
Please be inclined to share the following forms of support for each-other:
-creative brainstorming -sharing resources -giving each-other direction (when asked for) -giving each-other advice. -sharing knowledge on a wide variety of topics that might be useful to each-other for use in scripts. -providing each-other with tips for when to market a script, and how to market a script. -evaluating each-other's scripts, and providing each-other with help in the form of objective opinions. -Recommending other useful web-sites and resources to each-other. -Stimulating each-other's creative minds with intelligent and/or witty banter.
Don't just post a script and start asking people to read it. Read others first and post some feedback.
Don't let your first post be: 'Does anyone want to co-write a screenplay with me?' We don't know who you are or if you can write. We're not going to dedicate that much time working with a total stranger who doesn't know how to write a screenplay (otherwise, you would've done it on your own).
Use a spell-checker!!! It's one thing to have an occasional misspelling or typo in your post, but when every fifth word is misspelled, it shows where you stand with your writing. If you have to, write your post in Word and run the spell checker through it, then cut and paste it here.
And in a similar vein, don't use abbreviated word when you post. Using 'u,' instead of 'you,' and 'B4' instead of 'before,' shows laziness. This site is a writers' forum. Write like one.
The bigger problem is the huge number of scripts by people who don't want to be members or people who stay for the first little while and leave to other sites and continue to put new work up but not actually be a member.
Nobody really cares for spelling on message boards, that's why so many make mistakes and fix them later if it really bothers them. In a 90 plus page script it's next to impossible, even you of all people should know that.
It's all unofficial, just suggestions. People can do whatever is allowed by Don, and that should never be questioned because he so far offers this place for free. I might donate if I could spare it ... or if I weren't desperate for people to donate to my own site.
I'm reminded of a logline that someone wrote for his sci-fi script. It was so filled with spelling and grammatical errors it was difficult and annoying to read. If one paragraph pissed me off, then 120 pages of this would put me on a murderous rampage.
Well maybe than, look at gamefaqs or imdb. they cannot spell very well over there, I don't see anybody saying anything.
I admit that I suck with grammer, spelling... I mean, it's not hard to get words right the first time if you look hard enough.
I thought about fixing my grammer but you should see my old english papers. There, Their I always mixed them up and just used there all the time. The only way I'd fix my grammer is if somebody said they'd give me a million bucks.
Of course since we are "writers" over here we should be perfect all the time but we're only human. like celebrities, they're only human too but we love and hate them.
"Write", I agree at times my grammar and such isn't particularly perfect, yet I do agree if you're not going to give a damn about how you write then how are you going to expect to read you're scripts?
I'm not going to mention any names, but they who know who they are.
I'm not sure what "how are you going to expect to read you're scripts?" That is supposed to mean because it seems like you rushed through it and forgot a word.
I've read a lot of scripts with a lot of spelling errors, I tell the writers and they don't ever fix them or seem to care. I've read some of the scripts that have been sold and or produced on here and elsewhere and believe me if that's all they look for it's notgoing to be hard.
Some have a lot of spelling errors.
What does spelling on a message board have to do with a script? To be honest why should I care if a spelling mistake takes away another person who doesn't read my scripts anyway?
I could care less if someone has perfect grammer when i read there script, even if they're an egotistical ass I still give them the benefit of the doubt... No names right, that's how we're working here?
If somebody doesn't read something it's not spelling unless they are superficial jerks with a giant ego, if you're going to read something you will and if you're not you're not. it's that simple.
Again I say nobody is perfect, just some people think everybody should be.
A rather intersting thing dogglebe said: "Don't just post a script and start asking people to read it. Read others first and post some feedback."
So by this philosophy, if only two scripts were ever posted and each of us believed this wholeheartedly, no one would read anyone's script because neither of us would read the other's because the other hasn't yet read ours.
I think this forum has readers as well as writers on it, or nothing would get read at all, especially if we refuse to read others scripts until they've read ours. To this end, do you wish to criticize the readers' spelling and grammatical errors, since they are not writers? In fact, most of the target audience of modern motion pictures i going to be poor at spelling and grammar. To alienate those who would read but never write seems to alienate a large percentage of those who we wish to cater to.
I agree that writers should be conscientious of their spelling (at least), but sometimes errors happen for a ton of different reasons. To use myself as an example, I am made errors on message boards due to the following reasons: I type insanely fast and the keyboard doesn't always keep up, I don't tend to proof posts as critically as I would a script, my keyboard is wireless which is a somewhat undependable technology (but still kind of cool), my fingers sometimes fall between keys or inadvertently reverse letters (from=form), and yet my scripts are almost error-free. I say almost because no one's perfect. My posts are always perfect either for the same reason.
In this post, I have continually backspaced and corrected error after error for the above mentioned reasons. I try to catch them all, but dog gone, sometimes we miss some.
I also type really fast but a couple years back when someone brought up this exact same topic about me in general I slowed down for his majesty until he went away.
I agree that you should never just demand people to read your script, i said you should never be the first person to post in your own thread (Eventhough I did it) I shouldn't have done it but I had to tell people about posting spoilers because I believe at times I have posted spoilers and maybe ruined the scripts for others. (Sorry Balt if it hurt any of your scripts review wise by others)
A rather intersting thing dogglebe said: "Don't just post a script and start asking people to read it. Read others first and post some feedback."
So by this philosophy, if only two scripts were ever posted and each of us believed this wholeheartedly, no one would read anyone's script because neither of us would read the other's because the other hasn't yet read ours.
There are those who have upload their scripts on this board, posted, 'Somebody please read my script,' and never be heard from again. I vaguely recall one person who posted this three times and then disappeared.
I've read a number of scripts on this board and a number of people have read mine. It's a give-and-take thing.
I can't see how anyone can claim to be a writer and then not care about their spelling and grammar. It's like saying 'I build houses for a living, but I don't really care about using the right bricks'. I agree that being able to spell does not make you a good writer, but in my opinion, and I know this is harsh, putting no effort into your spelling and grammar makes you a bad writer. You can still be a great storyteller, but not a great writer. Everyone is entitled to make mistakes (and believe me in a spelling contest I would come last), that's what spellcheck and proofreaders are for. And sure the odd one or two typos will still slip through the net, but when every single sentence is grammatically incorrect and every other word is misspelt, who's going to take you seriously. It really frustrates me because its so easy to fix if you just bother to take the time.
I'm talking about scripts by the way, I couldn't care less about messages on the boards with mistakes in them as long as they are readable.
Going back to the other point, I have read a lot of scripts on this site, and posted honest feedback even when I'm pretty sure the writer is never going to come back to see it. This is not because I am an especially nice person, its because analysing what works and what doesnt in someone elses work it helps me with my writing.
Although I am building up to posting my first ever script on here, and I will pretty p***ed off if no-one reads it.
Who said they didn't care about spelling in scripts? I never said that, I care if my spelling in my screenplays are good or bad. I spellcheck the god damned thing and reformat it twice because I have to go into another program for a good spellchecker.
I wasn't referring to you Wes or in fact anyone in particular, I just know I have read scripts on this site where the writer obviously doesnt care about grammar/spelling. Or maybe they do and they just think what they have written is right, thats actually a more worrying thought.