Hi discussion board, room for one more?

I'm new to screenwriting, and I was told that the best way to learn is to write, write, write some more and read examples of what other people have written. I've searched the internet and there are loads of feature length scripts available to download but this is the only place I've found with shorts (any other suggestions?). Anyway I have spent the last few weeks reading through the scripts posted here, I have been scared, amused, bemused and in some cases confused but almost always entertained. So thank you, and keep up the good work!

On a completely different note, is it just me or is there a disproportionate number of horror shorts on this site? Don't get me wrong, I adore horror films, I was just surprised. Does the genre work particularly well in the short film format, is it something to do with the gender division of contributors to the site, or I have just found a place where people really appreciate a good scare?  

Welcome to the board Shonagh, read screenplays by people like Alan Holmon, Balt, RE Freak, Goose, the types of people who put time into making great work. that's the best way to learn things, read good screenplays.

of course those are the first people that come to mind, there are others who are good and you can find them without much hassle.

I have also noticed the large amount of horror scripts which is why I haven't released 3 of my scripts, it's a hold out because I'd get lost easily. Reprisal is a good well written horror script that shows good pacing and some character development if you want to read a pretty entertaining horror script, it's a slasher with heart.

Welcome to the site. I'm guilty of adding to the pile of horror scripts, it's the genre I'm most comfortable with. I think it's probably because anyone can star writing a slasher or a zombie script and end up with a feature length. It's an easy genre to write, and it's good for practice. Though it does make it hard to release one when it just gets lost in the long, long, increasingly long list.

Hopefully you will continue to be scared, amused, bemused and in some cases confused.

Thanks for the welcome guys. I'll have a look through the site for work by the writers you recommended.

I am just experimenting at the moment with different genres (and I have yet to write anything longer than 15 minutes), but I must admit I have probably written more horror than anything else (friend that reads my stuff "why does someone always have to die at the end of your films?"). If I ever figure out how I might post a couple of my sickeningly romantic scripts just to even things out!

Quoted from Shonagh (friend that reads my stuff "why does someone always have to die at the end of your films?"

Ah, you and I suffer from the same syndrome I see.  

Welcome to Screenwriter heaven!

'And then he dropped dead" - has got to be the neatest ending in the world. And not nearly as lazy as " and then he woke up to discover it was all a dream".