I posted my first script on Simplyscripts.com a year ago April 18. Since then, I've discovered several discussion boards and scriptwriting forums across the internet. I have also posted several scripts and read a few too. However, I have always had difficulty getting people to read (or at least getting feedback on) the scripts that I have posted. I notice I am not alone with my 0 replies on my script threads.

My question to all those out there is how do you get people to read your script? Some scripts sit with 0 replies, and others get inundated. A lot of them are fan fic type scripts, and I will admit, my one fan fic (which was primarily a distraction for me while writing something more original) has received more replies than all of my others, but there are also original scripts getting burning folders.

I may be the only one asking what the secret is, but what do you say? What's the secret? What makes you read one script over another?

Ask, it's that simple.

Surely not. I was reading the enchantments books and stocking on warthog tears, and you're saying just ask? Hm, seems too easy, but I'm willing to try anything. The scripts I wanted commented more than any other are listed as The Fempiror Chronicles. Both are in the adventure section. I think a potential turn off is that it links to an outside site, but Don said he couldn't deep link to a pdf in Angelfire.

However, the question is still out there. What do others looks for when searching?

I notice that when people spend the time to be a member they get more reads, some peope post a script go away for a few months come back and expect the world.

That shows the writer doesn't care, I notice this happening a lot. At least 1 person read your screenplay, a few of mine are still untouched.

Read others screenplays, post replies and be as informative as possible while doing it... don't suck balls and kiss ass, just be truthful and honest, you'll get replies and people reading your stuff, you will.

As for me, I'm gonna be on here a lot more when my finger heals and I get over my recent stay at the hospital for an alergic reaction that closed down my lunges... I was very worried I wasn't gonna make it, I had a lot of friends there at the time, thank god or the balt might not be here right now.

Be good, Be safe, Stay on the ground if you can find it...

I doubt reading stuff helps, truthful and honest just gives people a reason not to read your work. I say do what some people do, mention your script until everyone is sick of you, that way they will have to either read it out of hatred or read it because of the hype.

Have you actually asked say Goose who has a reviewing service, or whoever this week has taken over that board for themselves.

I've posted on there a couple of times. It got one read and a promise to be more thorough later the first time. I posted again a few months later, and so far, nada. I really don't want to be annoying to get reads out of hate. Sure, it might get attention that way, but I think that might be the wrong kin of attention.

Dont post it anymore  -- is not usfull than?! Try to post somwhere alese?!

I begged annoyingly for people to read mine until enough of them caved and posted positive reviews which caused others to read it.  I've learned, however, that of those people who enjoy reading scripts, most of them prefer to NOT leave comments.  A lot of people casually read things from this site and don't comment on them.  If your script is on the site, your story IS being told to people, and that's a great thing about the internet; however, just to know your story's being told to a few casual readers is a good enough reason why some people post scripts, but those of us who frequent these message boards know that comments/suggestions, and feedback of any sort, is like water -- or a sweet, sweet drug; it gives life and gets you high at the same time ... so good.

This is a little off-topic but I didn't think it garnered a new thread: How long do submissions usually take to be posted? I know each submission is reviewed individually, but I submitted mine a week ago and was just a little curious on what the average waiting time is, because I'm dying to have my script read by people other than neighbors and friends.

As for the previous comment, I used to be someone who trolled the site and read scripts, but never commented. But in a lot of cases the threads appeared to be abandoned, left untouched for over six months, so I didn't want to bring up an old thread, I always figured that was a forum faux pas.

If you have anything to say in an old, untouched thread, say it.  Someone will appreciate that you've said it.

I'll keep that in mind from now on. Anyone know anything about the question I had?

I've noticed Don's pretty good about getting the script up within a week or so. It's more a question for him, though, so it might actually garner a new thread. Who knows, there may actually be a thread on it already.

As for reopening old threads, check out the start date on this one. Sometimes people don't read the older threads unless they pop up again. And any writer who is one here would be overjoyed if their script that hasn't received a comment in a year and a half suddenly pops up as just gotten touched.

I would, anyway. There is no faux pas to commenting on old threads. Someone started it once for one reason or another,and there is no reason to think that most discussions can't be reopened if a new idea is presented.

Quoted from George Willson I may be the only one asking what the secret is, but what do you say? What's the secret? What makes you read one script over another?

A couple of things decide this for me.

The genre is a big factor.  I don't like all types of films so some are automatically cut off my list.

The synopsis has to be a well-written synopsis.  It has to be short, to the point and interesting.  I've seen to many synopses (plural of synopsis, I believe) that go on and on describing the story in too much detail.  That tells me that you don't know how to write a synopsis, and if you can't write a synopsis, how can you write a story.  The same problem holds when the writer doesn't include enough of a synopsis.  I've seen this enough times in the horror section where a synopsis reads how a killer is terrorizing a town or chasing a bunch of teens.  A synopsis like this tells me what type of movie you like, but not what you've written.

The synopsis should be short and tell people only enough to make them interested.  As the saying goes, you should only feed a horse enough to let him know he's hungry.  At the risk of patting myself on the back, read the synopses to my three scripts.  They're thread bare and say just enough (IMHO).

Something that turns me off from a reader is when he oversells his scripts.  I, personally, don't want to read someone describing their work as 'the funniest college movie since Animal House,' or 'the most realistic look at the day-to-day life of a German U-boat commander.'  What's even worse is when you sell yourself as the greatest thing since sliced bread.  If you want to see a great example of this, look up "Street Scriptures" in the serial section.  The guy pushed people away from his script by talking such shit.

Another thing that I've decided is that I will not read anyone's script who hasn't read and reviewed anyone else's work himself..  It doesn't necessarily have to be something I wrote, but you have to review someone's stuff before I review yours.  This board works best if everyone does both.

I'd write more to my manifesto here, but I have to get to work.


Phil

If someone takes the time to comment on your work, it would be polite to at least throw that reader a bone on their own work.  That's the way I feel anyway.  I know that I give top priority to the works of "comment-givers", if only to know where they are coming from as another writer.

Alan is right.  Even a "I really liked this" can make your day.  And a "This sucks because..." (Emphasis on BECAUSE) can still be useful.

If you don't invest even a little time to make these boards a two-way street, you are just kind of leech, you know?