Sound advice from McLung.

i think when it comes to new writers it's just better to stick to the main points. Keep things in absolutes. Learn the basics first.

Let's not over complicate this with grey areas. Give them bullet points in black and white. Do and do not. They can learn the nooks and crannies as they go.

Quoted from leitskev for the newb writer: 3) know what an unfilmable is

This is a big one to stay away from all together. Lots of new writers make this mistake as did I when i started.

My suggestion was to learn what an unfilmable is and avoid it until you've written 5 features.

What brought me into this thread was not to continue an old argument that people are sick of. What brought me in was that this was a great example of exactly how it happens. There is a desire to teach newbs with rules that are as simple and as few as possible, black and white rules. Not real rules, though, merely teaching rules. Training wheels.

But then what happens is that these things crystallize into actual rules for many people. And I think there are a lot of veteran amateur writers here, very smart and talented people, whose writing will break out into a new level if they realize these rules don't exist in the world you want to be in - the professional world. Throw off the training wheels!! Where the rules help you write better...yes, stick to them. But there is a point where they actually get in the way of truly good writing. How can that possibly be a good thing? It's not. That's why no pros write that way. None. Zero. It's not a coincidence.

Quoted from leitskev My suggestion was to learn what an unfilmable is and avoid it until you've written 5 features.

Why five?

Quoted from leitskev ...an old argument that people are sick of.

Heh. I'll say...

Folks,

Thank you so much for the input. I'm going to tap on the brakes on this a little.  Bear in mind, this is going to be an email to a new writer who submit scripts.

As one who reads a shit ton of screenplays every day (On average I post 30 scripts a week. For everyone 1 script posted, I reject 2 to 3 and the primary reason is the formatting renders the work unintelligible.  Second is spelling and grammar.

So, the main thrust of this is going to be - formatting - get yourself some screenwriting software.  Try a free one at first and if you are going to continue, then move up.  

The minor thrusts are going to be camera, we see and passive voice.

I am not trying to cure brain cancer.  I am trying to be as helpful and positive and succinct as possible to the first time screen writer.

Big picture - everyone is sorta, kinda saying the same thing which is very helpful.

- Don

Quoted from leitskev My suggestion was to learn what an unfilmable is and avoid it until you've written 5 features. What brought me into this thread was not to continue an old argument that people are sick of. What brought me in was that this was a great example of exactly how it happens. There is a desire to teach newbs with rules that are as simple and as few as possible, black and white rules. Not real rules, though, merely teaching rules. Training wheels. But then what happens is that these things crystallize into actual rules for many people. And I think there are a lot of veteran amateur writers here, very smart and talented people, whose writing will break out into a new level if they realize these rules don't exist in the world you want to be in - the professional world. Throw off the training wheels!! Where the rules help you write better...yes, stick to them. But there is a point where they actually get in the way of truly good writing. How can that possibly be a good thing? It's not. That's why no pros write that way. None. Zero. It's not a coincidence.

Yep - I also have one over arching paradigm - Don't forget that you are trying to engage a reader.

If violating a rule (e.g., unfilmables, uses of asides, etc) gets the page turned - then do it.

Quoted from Don Folks, Thank you so much for the input. I'm going to tap on the brakes on this a little.  Bear in mind, this is going to be an email to a new writer who submit scripts. As one who reads a shit ton of screenplays every day (On average I post 30 scripts a week. For everyone 1 script posted, I reject 2 to 3 and the primary reason is the formatting renders the work unintelligible.  Second is spelling and grammar. So, the main thrust of this is going to be - formatting - get yourself some screenwriting software.  Try a free one at first and if you are going to continue, then move up.   The minor thrusts are going to be camera, we see and passive voice. I am not trying to cure brain cancer.  I am trying to be as helpful and positive and succinct as possible to the first time screen writer. Big picture - everyone is sorta, kinda saying the same thing which is very helpful. - Don Ooops - didn't see the breaks tapped. Anyway - looking forward to this