it's not that easy when you're not a native speaker.

Just keep reminding yourself where the rules always seem to stem from; lackeys, troll reviewers, coverage providers, self proclaimed gurus - many of whom are failed writers either trying to make an easy buck off amateurs or trying to knock others down to build themselves up.

You know what, Jeff. You've won.

I can't take this crap from you anymore and can't be part of a community where it's so routinely accepted.

In all fairness, Jeff just twisted around your own insult. You called people that recommend the rules trolls, egoists and con artists. Jeff twisted this around and called the opposite (people that recommend breaking the rules), poor writers.
It's tit for tat.

Very true.

CJ, I did not throw anything directly at you, either, nor was it intended that way.

What I said is very true - that those "writers" who struggle with grammar or the like, always are the ones who say it doesn't or shouldn't matter.

What I always say is that grammar, spelling, structure, and all things "writing" matter a Hell of alot.  When something is "wrong" it's downright wrong and really can't be argued.

Writing a "great story" is subjective and will always be so.

One should always strive to be a "good writer" first, because that's universal. Stories are hit and miss and will always be so.

Hey,

I have a question for the native speakers regarding the active voice. Example:

A man sits behind his desk, working on a laptop.

A man sits behind his desk, works on a laptop.

What's the difference between these two? I know that the first one is simple present + present progressive and the second is just simple present but I've seen both versions in other scripts and I'm not sure what to use. Probably depends on the action!?

Is it necesarry to pick one style and stick with it throughout the whole script?

Thanks in advance!

I worded my comments about where the rules stem from badly. I did not mean to imply anybody recommending the rules was a troll, egoist, or con artist (thanks to Jeff Junior for the paraphrasing). What I was trying to say, and failed to make clear, is that I feel many of the rules that trouble people are created by unproven experts and spread verbatim by those who follow blindly, those who use them against others, and those who see a way to make easy money. These are the rules found in various screenwriting books and consultant blogs that are easily copied and pasted around communities until they become axioms. Examples would include the “7 Deadly Sins of Writing” in the book 101 Reasons Your Screenplay Sucks, or "50 Dead Giveaways That You’re an Amateur Writer” blog post by Danny Manus, or the rant about how we should all use a 5-act structure in the book Screenwriting 101 by Film Crit Hulk!. I feel this kind of advice is a cynical form of scaremongering that oversimplifies complex and often subjective issues in attempt to raise the author’s profile while driving amateurs to dwell on the superficial. I do not equate the same feelings toward a writer pointing out core presentational issues with writing - however, I do feel even that can be taken far too seriously at times by some. Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway for clarity, issues with typos, grammar, lucidity, efficiency, impact, and presentation should always be addressed by any aspiring writer, to their full ability, and with a hunger to improve without detriment to their motivation or creativity. I agree that ignorance and dismissiveness hinders progress more than it helps.

For what it’s worth, I personally have a tremendous respect for you Jeff, a writer who I believe boasts a decade of experience, authored one of if not the most read and applauded scripts within this community, and one of the few out there who’s been offered hard cash for his work. I feel you are, without doubt, an excellent writer with admirable talent, who’s work I certainly enjoy reading and aspiring toward. That said, I cannot fathom where your eagerness to chide and humiliate others stems from because it's quite frankly beneath you. In the year I’ve actively been a part of this community, which is one blessed with some of the nicest and most talented creatives I’ve come to meet, you have insulted my work, my profile picture, my strapline, and now my writing ability at its core. All of which, you’ll be delighted to know, I have changed as a direct result of your comments and have gradually lost confidence in altogether - and this is the thing, you (along with Dustin to an extent) terrify me, and I’ve posted with a consistent fear of your sharp rebuttals and harsh feedback since day one. The fact is, I’m too weak to continue and too jaded to find any positives in doing so. You make this place a hard and negative arena to contribute toward, and you know what, maybe that’s for a greater long-term good. Perhaps you will bootcamp a stream of poor writers into something special. Perhaps you already have. All I know is that I cannot watch it and I cannot take it. So, in my best imaginary Jeff Bush voice “I’m out!”.

I’ll sign off with this. In my first year of writing, I was deluded/arrogant enough to submit my first few scripts to the BlackList and Amazon Studios. For all my technical writing flaws, terrible grammar, abundant typos, formatting issues, and complete ignorance of the rules, I did get spotlighted a few times by both - I guess because a few people in the system gave me a break. Some didn’t though, and I’ll never forget just how incredibly low their admonishment made me feel. It’s this experience that has always caused me to try and find the love in other people’s work in an attempt to keep them motivated enough to continue and hone their craft. The fact is, writing hurts enough without us writers having to hurt each other.