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?  

 

But it's more that just trading comments and criticisms that get people to read your work.  If I'm bored reading your three or four line synopsis, how am I going to make it through the script?


Phil

Phil, it's unfortunate that you place such a huge factor on a synopsis. Sometimes, someone can have a well-crafted story with well-rounded characters, great subplots, and a killer ending, but their greatest weakness and where they need the most work is in condensing this jewel into four lines. That's no small task. I've asked before how to do this and NO ONE responded.

Now, if your priority is in using the synopsis to determine whether you will read a work, I suppose that explains why even after reading one of yours, you have not read or commented on one of mine per your own comments that that is the way you work. This is even though The Burnout and The Fempiror Chronicles are in different genres on here, they would actually fall pretty closely together in genre if you hold hem side by side.

So with everything I've read, Phil, the only reason you have not read my script (unless you're busy on something else) is because you hate my synopsis. And if so, perhaps you'd like to give me feedback on why it doesn't work for you, so I could improve upon it, since as you've pointed out, a synopsis is just as important as the story, but to date, I've never been able to do justice to any of my stories with a one paragraph synopsis.

I'm actually on page thirty of the Femporer Chronicles now.  I've printed it up a couple of times, but could never get around to reading it.  When I'm done with it, I'll get back to you.

While you may think that I put too much emphasis on the synopsis, I can't see any other way to decide what scripts I should read.  I don't have the time to read every script on the boards.  I have to rely on the synopsis.

I've written synopses for two other scripts on the boards, just for the sake of doing it.  One was for Halloween Games (under horror) and the other was for American Geisha (under action).  You'll have to flip through the threads to them.  Compare the original ones with what I wrote.

IN regards to writing the loglines, you just have to learn how to strip everything away from the story until all you have left is the essence.  There's no other way to do it.


Phil

I was trying to figure out how "Beginnings" had 53 views and no comments. Then I realized that people might have read the logline and been turned off. I've already submitted a revision of the script with a new and, hopefully, improved logline.

My apologies, Phil. I thank you for having a look at it. I clearly spoke out of turn, and without thought to my words.

I do understand what you mean on bad synopses. Not too big on those who tell me what I'm supposed to think of it, either. But I do admit to at least believing my synoses are not so good.

If you don't mind, after you've looked at the script, would you tell me your opinion on my synopsis?

Your synopsis reads:

"This is the first part of an epic series that is a twist on the traditional vampire story. David is a boy with a normal life ahead of him when he is attacked by someone who changes him into a member of a race called the Fempiror. An old Fempiror called Zechariah takes David under his wing and shows him the ways of the order of Rastem, whose mission is to keep the rogue Fempiror order of Tepish in check, for if the Tepish are ever left to their own devices, they will change the human race into Fempiror, causing a slow genocide over many years. Unfortunately, all David wants is to go back home, and the hardest lesson he'll ever learn is that you can never go back once you've left."

Mine reads:

"In the eighteenth century, a young man is forced into a world of demons and eternal darkness and to fight in a millenia long blood war."

My synopsis is vague but it is enough to whet your appetite.  It may not be 100% accurate, but it gives an overall impression of the story and leaves you wondering about demons and blood wars.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe 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. Phil

Oh my God, Phil.  I had never seen this.  It is -- bar none -- the funniest thing I have ever seen on this site!

I just had a look. NWO333 is quite humorous. Poor fallen disciple dogglebe, did you turn on your lord "The Chosen One" and have him crucified? I guess it's hard to be humble when you're chosen.

Then again, people like that do get enough notoriety to get attention.

To cover your one liner, that's very good. I can totally adapt that into being 100% accurate.

Oh and George another thing you can do to get things read is find someone you mix well with and use that person as they will you and exchange works of writing for reviews. I did that with a guy who is produced and a very good screenwriter. (Possibly the best I've ever read.) He'd do for me what I've needed since 3 years ago when nobody on this site read my work, a good long review that basically gave me a new direction to take a 3 year old script.

It went from 80 pages to 120 back down to 114 in just the span of a month after his help, I mean that seems like quality help. I also gave him some advice, where wanted of course plus he seemed to have the same problems I had. He'd spend so much time on something and when it's done, he hates it or parts of it.

Anyway long story short we haven't talked in a couple months but last time I checked in he was meeting with some producer or exec down in H Wood's general area.

That might be what you need, find someone whose work you like and they like yours and exchange work and get to know the person through e mails because at the end of the day it's really all you might need to write the perfect script.

What I do is Advertise go review other scripts and after u leave a nice review tell them to check out your script and then people look at it!

I haven't seen many reviews by you, I usually see hey I liked it go read... That's not a review it's an opinion. Dogglebe, he writes reviews, George even, after that review I seen of George's the other day that looked to be like 3 posts long I'd say he deserves a few reads because you can tell he read the work and has some thought to HELP the writer.

I guess some people like that kinda review because a lot of people do it.

I now go by the Golden Rule: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."

I review scripts the way I want to be reviewed. Brutally, honestly, with a big "It sucked because..." - emphasis on the because. The philosophy I have always followed in taking criticism is that I would much rather receive the input while the work can be changed, than to let it go and get slammed after it can't.

When I started this thread, I had about 10 posts. It was from here that I learned that letting everyone know who you are and that maybe you are someone whose work is worth reading will get reads by the board regulars and even newcomers. Since then, I've read a handful of scripts, and reviewed the best I know how, all of which consist of my personal opinion which could be wrong.

When I started this thread, I also had no reviews on anything (well, someone said The Fempiror Chronicles was good and he'd give a more thorough review later...yeah, that didn't happen). Since I started reading and giving my thoughts, I have had multiple reads and reviews.

After some time, I think I can finally answer my own question. You get a script read by reading others' scripts and leaving a worthwhile review, letting the community get to know you (positively), and showing through these things that you are worth spending time on.

Beyond these, a good synopsis might help your script get picked randomly, and only rarely does actively advertising or being a royal pain get you read.

Quoted from dogglebe IN regards to writing the loglines, you just have to learn how to strip everything away from the story until all you have left is the essence.  There's no other way to do it. Phil

I feel that the writing of BANANA CHAN was/is stripping away everything but the essence.  I feel that what I present in the scripts is nothing but the essence.  That's why I've been trying to write a simple short description of the series for years, but I SIMPLYtm can't write one that does it justice.

As mentioned, a good synopsis is a big, big, big plus. With thousands and thousands of scripts online, you have to attract the attention of the potential reader in the two seconds he/she is going to give to each entry. It's not more than that. With the wealth of material around here, the reader will instantly move on if you don't grasp the attention right away. It's really like trying to get an agent.

Format and overall appearance is important too. When I come here to look for something to read, I don't think "Oh, I think I'll read a mediocre attempt at writing a script by an amateur.". I think: "I want to read a really good script, written by a good writer who is serious about the craft and is ready to do it as a living". If your script looks like a work of an amateur, the reader will think it is one and instantly move on. Because the fact is that if someone is a good writer who is serious about what he/she is doing, the writer will format the script properly. Cruel, but true. I have to admit that I don't even consider reading the script unless Don's given three stars for format.

But where it all comes down to is luck. Plain and simple. That's how it is with everything. I remember a while ago there was this script called "Pickerman the Great" that really blew out the bank. It got an enormous reception. And while it did the two things mentioned above, it got a few good replies to the thread out of a lucky break few people had stumbled to it and decided to post a favourable feedback. Immediately the other potential readers saw that what's all this, it's gotten several posts and got interested. And the snowball was ready to roll. It got more posts and because of that, it drew more attention and got more readers and so on.

So do the best job you can and hope for the best. There's nothing else you can do. I've noticed that if someone advertises his/her script somewhere somehow, I won't even touch it, because it sends a message of over-enthusiasm. I think that this is someone who thinks too much of him/herself or doesn't trust the work to be good enough to work on its own. While this might not be true in all cases, this is my reaction. Every time.

it's true the best thing is to just ask around

Beyond reading, I just put my scripts in my sig and let it go. I rarely ask anyone to read anything. I figure if they feel like looking at my scripts, they're in my sig and I'll leave it at that. While on one hand it does reek of advertising, on the other, you're also contributing to something else without resorting to shameless self-promotion.