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I'm new here. Just signed up today. Been a reader for a few months now. Been a writer since '03. Been a good writer since... not yet.
I have a problem. Perfectionism. I can't finish a script. I've tried and the closest I've come is 41 pages.
My first script, Hell on Earth has been re-written 68 times. I promised that this version would be my last and haven't worked on it since. That was 5 months ago.
I'd say that I'm pretty good at polish work and individual scenes. My friends say I'm good with tone, but they are my friends, so...
I have 117 projects on the back burner. My current three projects are 2 TV pilots and a zombie movie.
Beyond that, I don't know what else this is to say except hi.
My first script, Hell on Earth has been re-written 68 times. I promised that this version would be my last and haven't worked on it since. That was 5 months ago.
68 times? Is that a full re-write or just changing a few scenes here and there?
Congratulations on your work! Perfectionism - I know, it can be a gigantic thorn in the side. We all do it. Well, most of us here can certainly sympathize.
My advice here is this:
Try not to do what I call "fine edits" on what will ultimately be torn down.
You know? You build this gorgeous scene, but the scene sucks within the context of the greater story and you've spent days editing it. Nothing wrong with working something over - that's the name of the game, but always ask yourself: What am I working over? Why? Why now? Why this now?
It's often the case too, that you get well meaning individuals that come back with a critique (myself included) with loads os unimportant notes regarding typos etc... It often doesn't matter in the early stages of a wip.
Again: Welcome to the boards! Including your perfectionism!
That's what I do. Scenes. I can write four major scenes for a script if someone could connect the stuff in-between. Or, I can polish a script if it's already written.
But I have discovered that I am incapable of finishing a script.
Honestly, Hell on Earth isn't even my story. It's my brother's story. It's taken me 6 years to translate a story from my brother. It's really quite pathetic.
That's what I do. Scenes. I can write four major scenes for a script if someone could connect the stuff in-between. Or, I can polish a script if it's already written.
But I have discovered that I am incapable of finishing a script.
Honestly, Hell on Earth isn't even my story. It's my story. It's taken me 6 years to translate a story from my brother. It's really quite pathetic.
I REALLY .... REALLY-REALLY-REALLY HEAR YOU!
That's why we can really appreciate the writers that churn it out day-after-day. And make a living at it. And people call them hacks. I'd LOVE to be called that. It would be the most endearing word in the world. I'd let my husband use it during sex even. Hackysack.
Sweet Jesus, 68 rewrites!! If you aren't happy with a script after that many rewrites I think I'd move on lol.
Anywho welcome to the boards mate and I know where you're coming from about not finishing anything, I've got quite a few scripts that I've started with excitment but then drfited away from after a few scenes. I always say I'll go back and someday I probably will.
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
Welcome, mate. I only joined a few days ago myself and I'm really enjoying it on the boards.
If you prefer writing scenes than entire scripts, I think your safest bet is to join a writing staff rather than work on your own. There are tons of sites that do that. Have you heard of Monster Zero Productions?
No, I haven't but this is where my second problem comes into play. Lol.
To put it nicely, I don't work well with others.
Even for fun, I had to have a friend of mine come up with an idea so we could write because if it were my idea, I wouldn't be capable of sharing it. =(
I'm trying though.
My brother is writing Green Berets and I'll just polish it, all the way through. It should work. =)
Well, in a weird way you're not really working with others on these sites.
You choose (or get given) a storyline to write, you write it and then email it to the creator of the show, and another writer picks up from where you left off.
I start a lot of projects and then leave them aftyer a few scenes or when I'm at work I'll write half a treatment for what I think is the next great film only to open up my laptop at home to realise that I have no idea what to write.
Recently, I'm having a bit of a loss of confidence. I think it's down to not writing much for the last couple of months. Everything I read back that I've done sounds dreadful in my head. Reading other works, both produced and unproduced is a massive help when you're either struggling to finish a piece or playing with your next idea.
Reading other works, both produced and unproduced is a massive help when you're either struggling to finish a piece or playing with your next idea.
Agreed. You'll either have one of two reactions:
You'll read something so amazing that it'll inspire you to be just as great.
or
You'll read something so awful (most likely produced) that'll leave you thinking you can do so much better.
It'll most likely be the latter, because believe me, there's a lot of crap floating around out there that's, for one reason or another, been purchased.
Never finished one. I have a shitload of scenes. But, I was reading on the "Submit Work" thing that it only accepts full scripts, so I'm waiting for confirmation.
If it accepts scenes, I'll put some out to read.
P.S. 68, technically, as I started it again last night. =)
I'm pretty sure that only full, beginning-to-end scripts are accepted here. But this is the best site I've found for newcomers to post scripts. Other sites (like Monster Zero, who I mentioned before) make you pitch the idea, with a full list of characters, and the storylines plotted for 6 episodes of the first season. Then, if they like the idea, they comission you to write a pilot, and if that goes well, they ask for one season. And if a season is comissioned on that site, they usually ask for 22 episodes!!
As you're new at this, I think this site is the best place for you. But, when you've built up quite a body of work, check out what other sites have to offer.
In that case, I'll do a test run with one of my beginnings that I'm not as attached to. This is the beginning to Echo-7 (So far. I haven't finished this scene. Sorry).
EDIT: It doesn't keep the exact format but it came out looking better than I thought it would.
FADE IN: INT. SECURITY CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT A cold, gray security room, filled floor to ceiling with TV monitors. TWO UNIFORMED MEN are sitting at the monitors. One of the men, MICHAEL GIGUERE, late 30s, dirty blonde hair and well-built, is looking at the monitors all at once, or doing his best. The other, JASON HOUSTON, 20s, dark hair, muscle-bound, is leaning back in his chair with his feet on the table reading. Jason looks over at Michael frantically watching all the monitors. JASON They don’t pay you extra for trying harder, you know. MICHAEL Yeah? Well, they don’t pay you to sit on your ass and read but you are. Jason laughs. JASON Touche. Jason puts his feet down and stands up. He stretches his arms and looks back at Michael. JASON (CONT'D) You want something? Michael lightly nods his head. MICHAEL No, I can’t. I’ll get some later. JASON Come on, man, you’re no fun anymore. Michael looks over. MICHAEL I just got married. I’m trying to settle down and keep my job. JASON She must really have that ankle chain on you tight, boy. Michael clenches his fist tightly. MICHAEL All right. (Beat) Get me a red. Jason smiles and walks over to a wall-sized STAINLESS STEEL REFRIGERATOR. He pulls out two plastic pouches containing a red liquid. Jason tosses one over to Michael. He catches it in one hand. On the side Michael caught it on, it reads “MUSCLE RELAXANT”. Michael stands up and connects it to a metal hook hanging from the wall. He plunges an IV into it and sticks the other end of the IV into his right arm. JASON Doesn’t that feel better? MICHAEL Not yet. Michael looks over and smiles and his eyes already look drowsy. He slowly keeps moving his head back and forth. Jason looks up at the monitors and sees a person walking in one of them. JASON Hey. Michael looks back over at him with a goofy smile on his face. MICHAEL Hmm? JASON Take the IV out. MICHAEL Why, man? Jason walks over quickly and yanks the IV out of his arm. He runs back across the room and grabs a little white tube from the wall. On the tube is the word “SOBRIETY”. Jason tosses it over to Michael. It lands on the table in front of him. Michael shakes his head really fast. MICHAEL (CONT'D) What the hell is going on? JASON Take it. You took some of the red. MICHAEL Shit. Michael grabs the tube and puts it up to his nose and sniffs it. He tosses the tube back onto the table. MICHAEL (CONT'D) All right. What’s wrong? JASON Check border marker 188. Michael stands up and looks at one of the screens towards the top of the person walking around. MICHAEL All this for some straggler out after curfew? (Beat) Big deal. JASON Michael, it’s not human. Jason points to a spot on the ground. JASON (CONT'D) Give me a 3-D composite right here. Michael types on the computer then turns in his chair to look where Jason was pointing. The person walking appears in the room with them, walking in place. They both move close and inspect the image. Jason kneels down and looks at the person’s hand. JASON (CONT'D) He has six fingers. MICHAEL It could be polydactyl. JASON I don’t know, man. It looks like it’s supposed to be there. Michael stands up and looks at the person’s face. Michael backs away quickly and covers his mouth. JASON (CONT'D) What’s wrong? Michael takes his hand away. MICHAEL Call Riegert, now. JASON Why? MICHAEL Tell him we have a Code Echo-7. JASON I thought the Echo code only went to 6. Michael looks over and makes eye contact. He looks away again. Jason walks over and looks at the person’s face. The person’s face has two sets of eyes. One under the other. MICHAEL Get on the God damn phone right now and tell him! Jason runs over to the far wall and types “10118” onto a keypad on the wall. On the wall, a TV-like hologram begins to assemble itself. JASON Come on. Hurry up. INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - THAT MOMENT A man, JOSEPH RIEGERT, 40s, black hair, a bit overweight is asleep in his bed. He hears a faint beeping sound keep going off. Joseph rolls over and presses a button on top of his alarm clock. The beeping continues. Joseph opens one eye and keeps pressing the button on his alarm clock, forcefully. JOSEPH What? He opens both eyes and sits up in bed, yawning. Joseph stands up and walks over to the wall and presses his hand against it. A laser within the wall scans his hand up and down. He pulls his hand away and the TV-like hologram assembles itself quickly. Joseph watches Jason as he’s panicking on the screen. JOSEPH (CONT'D) What is it that could be so important that you drag my ass out of bed at-- Joseph looks up at the ceiling above his bed. A red-numbered hologram reads “3:19AM”. JOSEPH (CONT'D) --3:30 in the morning? JASON I’m sorry for disturbing you, sir but we have a Code Echo-7 at border marker 188. Joseph turns away from the screen. JASON (CONT'D) Awaiting orders, sir. Joseph turns around and rubs his forehead. JASON (CONT'D) Initiate a lockdown on sectors 23, 24 and 25. Apprehend and escort the Echo-7 to my home and keep this quiet. We don’t need a full-scale panic on our hands. Not now!