Shopping Cart by Steve Burton (steveb) - Short, Drama - Jan takes a fold able shopping cart from a stranger assuming he took it from under her porch. After realizing this mistake, she goes on a quest to find him for a return of his cart along with the slim hope of finding her long lost son. 10 pages

production:This story about guilt and redemption is the shortest version of a much longer story that could also be developed for screen.


Writer interested in feedback on this work

I don't know about you guys but it came up fine for me. You got some errors. Some are little. Like

EXT. STAIR STEPS - FOLLOWING

You could describe the steps in the action line. I really don't know about following. I would use CONTINUOUS. But that's just me.

Yeah, there are issues here for sure.

Not sure what software you're using but it looks like it's giving you problems.  Dialogue does not look to be properly centered.  "FOLLOWING" is not a correct time element.  Way too much detail, too many Slugs, and really unbelievable dialogue on Page 1.  NO age given for your characters.  Characters not properly intro'd.

Absolutely nothing going on in your first 4 pages.  I'm out.  Sorry.

Steve,

At the beginning of page 2 in the story.

We see the following formatting:

EXT.  SIDEWALKS  -  DAY

The man takes his belongings and insert them into a bag,  Leaving a small
ornament of flowers in the shopping cart, Then the man leaves.

And then in the the other scene  that follows on the heels of the above scene reads:

EXT.  FRONT  STEPS  -  SAME

Jan stands near the cart in which the bouqet of flowers remains.
She picks them up and waves them at the sad homless man who
responds not a single word back to her.

                                          JAN
                                   (Loudly)
                              Do  you  want  your  flowers?  

The sad man continues to walk away,  Never saying a single word nor care to look back at her.

I think that you should allowed us the opportunity to to actually see Jan when she crosses the street and then obtain and take hold of the shopping cart,  And then switch back to her steps with the same scene heading just as in your story.

When writing any type of story. The rule of thumb is to make something happen in the first 10 pages.

You definately made something happen within the first page. You've matched your story title to action lines using the shopping cart sitting on the sidewalks.
Good Work.

I will respond and give you my final comment at a later date.
                                  
                                  
  

Quoted from DarrylLuster Steve, At the beginning of page 2 in the story. We see the following formatting: EXT.  SIDEWALKS  -  DAY The man takes his belongings and insert them into a bag,  Leaving a small ornament of flowers in the shopping cart, Then the man leaves. And then in the the other scene  that follows on the heels of the above scene reads: EXT.  FRONT  STEPS  -  SAME Jan stands near the cart in which the bouqet of flowers remains. She picks them up and waves them at the sad homless man who responds not a single word back to her.                                           JAN                                    (Loudly)                               Do  you  want  your  flowers?   The sad man continues to walk away,  Never saying a single word nor care to look back at her. I think that you should allowed us the opportunity to to actually see Jan when she crosses the street and then obtain and take hold of the shopping cart,  And then switch back to her steps with the same scene heading just as in your story. When writing any type of story. The rule of thumb is to make something happen in the first 10 pages. You definately made something happen within the first page. You've matched your story title to action lines using the shopping cart sitting on the sidewalks. Good Work. I will respond and give you my final comment at a later date.

On page 11  you need to set up you Flashes such as the following:

QUICK  FLASHBACK

And then at the end of the Quick Flashback continue your story such as the following:

BACK  TO  SCENE

Quoted from DarrylLuster On page 11  you need to set up you Flashes such as the following: QUICK  FLASHBACK And then at the end of the Quick Flashback continue your story such as the following: BACK  TO  SCENE

Fom what I see in your story Jan an elderly widowed single woman and parent who lost her only boy.  She takes on the hard struggles of everyday life trying to make it and do the best thing and treat everyone right.

A good story Steve.

Darryl