Watcha everyone, just wondering how many times people rewrite their scripts before posting them?  I finally finished my first feature some months ago but proof read and rewrote some of it.  I'm currently tightening it a little more, so was just wondering at what stage most of ya just post?

Oh on the paranoia front, does anyone feel this before posting?  Like what if this sucks arse and I've just spent months writing a complete turkey!

You just have to have a little faith in yourself and one opinion saying something sucks doesn't mean it sucks. Some people think Star Wars is a classic film... others don't. Neither is wrong, just an opinion.

I finished my first feature since the early 2000's just last year and I've been letting it sit and editing it all this time and still continue to do so. Probably a year or so in now and I'm happy with what I wrote. (Probably will skip the whole posting it process)

I don't know if it's paranoia but it sure is something that makes you feel anxious.

I guess your right, if I'm happy with it...well I'm kinda happy with it...then I shouldn't worry.  The longer I leave it, the more I hope it doesn't get slated here.  I started writing it way back in 2005 but I'm a slow writer and I've wrote quite a few shorts in that time too.

I'm just like that.  I've rewritten Ground Zero, going on four times now.  The plot finally just got completely rewritten after I've reread and reread it again and again.  Because to me, it's not if I just feel I'm happy with a script, I am making it for the viewers, and if they find problems with it, then I don't hesitate to fix them, because I can like a garbage movie, the key is making sure the script you write is one your viewers enjoy, not just you.  But that's just me, we all have different views on those specific matters afterall.

At the very least, rewrite it once. If you decide to put your script aside for a few weeks then one rewrite should set it about straight when you come back to it. After not looking at it for a while, you tend to know exactly what you want to fix. If not, I'd say two rewrites at the very least. Just don't submit the first draft. The first draft is almost always crap.

As for the paranoia, there's always going to be someone out there who thinks your script sucks. That doesn't make it a complete turkey. I don't think it takes months to write a turkey anyway. That is, if you spent months working on it, it should be a good script on some level. No matter what, the script's not going to be perfect. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to make it so. Just submit whatever you think is your best work and you shouldn't have much to worry about.

I've only ever posted two scripts here.

The first one, linked to in my sig, went through about seven drafts because I was so nervous about posting it here.  I wanted it to be really good, so I picked at it and picked at it, feeding into my own compulsory, overly-retentive inner critic.  I lost track of what DID work, and left in a lot of what DIDN'T somehow or another.  

My second one, an action flick called The Silk, was only a second draft.  I posted it hoping for some kind of feedback before I threw myself into five more rewrites.  I wasn't near as paranoid, because I actually wanted criticism.  After some of the criticisms on my first posted script, I realized hey -- that didn't kill me.  I felt that much more comfortable and less paranoid when I started that second script, and, two drafts later, submitted it to be posted.    

Facts:  my first script lingers here on the site, not having been read in at least a year, year and a half, and in my opinion, for good reason.  My second script was purchased less than two weeks after being posted by a prodco who read it here.

Moral of this story:  Paranoia = not good, and negatively hampers your perception.

Just write.  Do your best.  Don't just expect criticism, hope for it.  Realize no matter how negative or bad a comment you get, it won't stop your pulse.  Your heart will continue to beat.  And the knowledge and insight you gleam from comments and criticisms will make your next script even better.

Good luck.  Keep writing.  :)

Quoted from Lon Moral of this story:  Paranoia = not good, and negatively hampers your perception.

I, as I often do, disagree. You should, I think, be your harshest critic. That said, you should hate your work. You should look at it, examine it, and then, hopefully, realize it's shit. Only then can you improve it. Be paranoid. Be very paranoid.

Paranoia is your friend. Embrace it.

Seth

Quoted from Seth I, as I often do, disagree. You should, I think, be your harshest critic. That said, you should hate your work. You should look at it, examine it, and then, hopefully, realize it's shit. Only then can you improve it. Be paranoid. Be very paranoid. Paranoia is your friend. Embrace it. Seth

I disagree. Paranoia is being afraid of other people, not yourself. What you think and what others think are two different things. You should aim to please yourself, first and foremost. If you aim to please others, you'll never be satisfied. You can't please everyone. That's a fact.

I do, however, agree that sometimes you need to be hard on yourself in order to produce your best work. That's part of the process, after all. I wouldn't say you should hate your work though (only to a small extent). A little self-loathing can be a big help at times but at the end of the day, you should enjoy what you do. Otherwise, why bother?

Seems I've caused a bit of a dispute on the boards.  

Thanks for the advice everyone, think I'll post it and see what reaction I get.  I think that's the best way to know if things work or not.

No dispute here.  Just differing opinions.  Nothing wrong with that. :)