Hi everybody!

I've been reading and checking this board so often in the last couple of months that I'd thought I'd post something here.

This is a new world to me. I have worked in the P.R., broadcasting and sales field throughout my professional career and that's been my life for nearly 20 years. That field was also my focus in college although I added an English literature degree as a double-major.

I've never been remotely interested in writing creatively let alone screenwriting until about a year ago. I was completely bored while traveling and got an idea for a TV show. Shortly after the idea came into to my head, I could visualize it playing out. It took awhile to find the time to transfer it from my brain to a page but I got it there.

I wish I had read a lot more here and learned how to write script before I actually wrote a script (if that makes sense). I have learned a tremendous amount from many of you...although most of it has been indirect reading feedback from other scripts and BabzBuzz has been an incredible resource.

My script was posted in mid-summer but I've updated it and have to figure out to re-send as an updated script (now with fewer format errors and some better lines of dialouge). I've written a short and am about 25% through a feature and I'm looking forward to posting those and getting feedback from you all.

Providing feedback is a little hard for me right now because I don't really know what I'm doing myself...so it's hard to give direction / corrections.

All I'm really trying to accomplish is to take my ideas and see how far I can go with them. A secondary goal is to create a site for my stuff and entertain some friends with them. The pilot TV script I wrote was intended just for a group of people I knew and they encouraged me to take it further.

Thanks for looking over my introduction...I'm looking forward to posting some stuff and posing questions while trying to avoid being annoying.

Welcome to a great spot CrusaderVoice

I'm only a year old here myself you'll learn fast Jump on in

dena aka pale yellow

Hey CrusaderVoice.

I too am a relative newcomer to the site.  I've actually been reading scripts off this site for half a year before regestering around October.  After reading a lot, getting feedback on some of my own material and reviewing scripts, I like to think I've improved a bit since I started.

I can understand your apprehension about posting replys to scripts.  I think that anyone would appreciate you reading their material or a piece of it and leaving a reply about what you thought of it.  From what I've seen, everyone here is the "give a read, get a read" kinda person so definitely leave your thoughts and it'll be returned for sure.

Welcome to SS and best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Johnny

Everyone here on SS is super friendly.
We appreciate all input and feedback.
Even if you are a complete n00b, we still enjoy hearing how you feel about scripts.
We also love giving our opinions (although, sometimes can be a bit harsh).
But I assure you, everything is meant in the nicest way.

Good to have you, Crusader!

Welcome to SS, Crusader,

Hope you find it a great resource and you use it well. You've already mentioned help from peers and Babz is a great way to learn.

To post a re-write all you have to do is go through the exact same task you did to post the original script. Except this time, you just leave a comment in the 'questions or comment section' which says 'This script is a re-write of a previously posted script.' I usually post a link as well. Not sure if it helps Don in any way, but it's the thought that counts, right??

You've stumbled across screenwriting the same way many other screenwriters stumbled across it... Just for the hell of it. Those writers are typically the ones who enjoy the craft more... That's if you enjoy it at all.

As for reviewing other screenplays, I know exactly where you're coming from. Simply leaving a comment which says stuff like "I liked it" and a couple of suggestions with the story is all you need at the start. You'll find you start mentioning more technical stuff as you learn it. I'm still quite unsure of myself when I post reviews. I can't help but wonder if I'm bullshitting my way through reviews. I might get someone to look over it, actually

Welcome to SS, mate

Dan

Quoted from CrusaderVoice .I'm looking forward to posting some stuff and posing questions while trying to avoid being annoying.

Don't worry, we'all at Simply have "being annoying" covered.  

Truth: Be yourself. Have Fun. Learn. Teach.

Sandra

Hi Crusader and also Reg John

You guys are significantly slowing your learning curve by not participating. Your opinions are as valuable as anyone's. Just tell people what you like or don't like in scripts. Focus on the story. By doing that, people get to know you and will give comments on your work, which is critical at this stage of your learning.

Tarantino doesn't hang out here. Pretty much everyone is in the same boat as you. And certainly everyone remembers what it was like. So just jump in and give honest feedback. Welcome to the board, nice to meet you!

Thanks for the responses, everybody, and thanks Dan for the re-posting tip.

I do plan to jump in 'kev. I've read a lot and had my own opinions but I've been apprehensive because I'm well aware of my own inexperience and I also have this feeling that I should post something that the writer could use. I'm going try and not hold back and even if my comment would be a little on the trivial side, I'll let the writer (and everyone else) know at least my reaction to it.

This is something I'll work through.

Steex, I can see the niceness and supportive attitude prevailing here. It is very clear everyone is here to help...and that is also why I'm looking forward to interacting here.

Shorts are a good place to start. For someone to read your feature, that's a big time commitment. If you submit shorts and are active, you'll get plenty of feedback.

And you'll need a thick skin. Unless you went to film school, your early shorts are going to be riddled with problems, even if you are a published novelist. But you'll get the hang quick.

Read pro scripts when you can. Join Scriptshadow's blog and get on his mailing list.

Hey Crusader,

Welcome aboard to the world that is SS…

My astute peeps that have chimed in are absolutely correct – the best way to learn is to jump in and get involved. This will also mean in getting your own work some reads. I can understand your apprehension because we all have that at the beginning but the more you write, review, and write – the easier is becomes.

Best of luck to you.

Steve

Welcome to the boards, Crusader.

I actually enjoy thoughts from beginning writers and people who don't even write at all as they may be looking at the story in a different light and can help me see things in the story that I never realized.

That's why I let my mom read everything I write before anybody else.  She says I'm very tout and a very handsome writer.

On a serious note, just tell how you felt about the story, both good and bad.  Don't worry about sparing feelings.

Also, on a serious note, if you ever read some of my stuff, you'll see that I would never let my mom read anything I write.  :-)

- Mark

Quoted from rc1107 Also, on a serious note, if you ever read some of my stuff, you'll see that I would never let my mom read anything I write.  :-)

;D ;D

So you're telling me I shouldn't have read 'Thistles' as a bedtime story to the kids I was babysitting the other night?? Maybe that's why I didn't get paid...

Welcome aboard.  Definitely jump in and leave feedback.  You'll soon start to see how things work and don't work.

Glad you found SS and Happy New Year!

Quoted from danbotha ;D ;D So you're telling me I shouldn't have read 'Thistles' as a bedtime story to the kids I was babysitting the other night?? Maybe that's why I didn't get paid...

Are you even old enough to read Thistles? ;-)

Quoted from mcornetto Are you even old enough to read Thistles? ;-)

Uh... If it was on film, I probably wouldn't be allowed in, but there's nothing stopping me from reading the script. Quite disturbing when I remember it's one of my favourite spec scripts...

Thanks for the additional tips.

I now see the value of writing some shorts. I didn't see the point at first and thought they were more creative people since I started this process with only one decent idea. I'm learning there may be no better way to practice the craft than writing small, self-contained pieces.

Apparently, there's a suggestion here for something to read if I DON"T want to go to sleep...so thanks!

Quoted from CrusaderVoice Thanks for the additional tips. I now see the value of writing some shorts. I didn't see the point at first and thought they were more creative people since I started this process with only one decent idea. I'm learning there may be no better way to practice the craft than writing small, self-contained pieces. Apparently, there's a suggestion here for something to read if I DON"T want to go to sleep...so thanks!

First off, welcome! Just add SS to your list of new addictions.

One of the first things I wrote was a 40 page mess that needed some serious damage control. I have been sticking to shorts for practice, I still don't feel confident enough to write anything close to 40 pages yet. Everyone has there own pace though, but everyone here is awesome. You can read someone's 2 page script and they return the read by 100. Have fun!

Johnny