Thanks for the tips. I'll take them into consideration when I revise the script again. As for the scene headings I didn't quite understand what you're trying to say with "way off"... to long? The continueds are not mine, those are part of the CELTX software application while publishing the script...not my fault, and probably accepted.
I'll do have to work on the wrylies more. It's a shame that those formatting mistakes prevented you from reading the rest. One thing though, if it's true that some producers and story hunters may feel reluctant to read a script with these type of mistakes, others may also be aware that they are dealing with non-professional writters and that what counts is the STORY.
If anyone here believes that what they have written is final I have news for you: you are wrong. You could have written in perfect British English a script without an interesting story and it may use a bunch of bytes in someone storage. You write a good story and you will be discovered sooner or later. Mistakes can and must be solved if we could detect them in time. Stories on the other hand grows from inspiration and they are the ones produced eventually... Or I'm wrong?

So... What do you think guys?

Story versus Formatting?

As for me, no vocabulary mistake or formatting error would stop me from reading other's scripts... But that's me.

Thank you all for any help you could offer.

Sincerely;

MDZ

Thanks for the tips. I'll take them into consideration when I revise the script again. As for the scene headings I didn't quite understand what you're trying to say with "way off"... to long?

The continueds are not mine, those are part of the CELTX software application while publishing the script...not my fault, and probably accepted.

I'll do have to work on the wrylies more. It's a shame that those formatting mistakes prevented you from reading the rest. One thing though, if it's true that some producers and story hunters may feel reluctant to read a script with these type of mistakes, others may also be aware that they are dealing with non-professional writters and that what counts is the STORY.

Story versus Formatting?

The scene headers should only contain the basic information. You don't specify the exact time in them. You don't need present day. So I would just have
EXT. OCEAN - DAY



You can turn off this function in your software. It is better without them and it saves space.

Let's take things one at a time:

Firstable, Thanks once again for youe comments, but I'd like to agree and disagree in some topics:

1) If those who created the application software for the structuring of the script decided to use cont'd or any other form...is their decision and as you can see my script has three (3) little stars attached to it.

2) Since you didn't read the story...because your lack of stimulus, the point in making "PRESENT DAY" is justified since the next scene heading goeas back 6 months into the past.

Sorry but I'll have to use Cont'd again to my next post.

If you're interested in reading my opinions about yours...keep in touch!
:)
Sure the story counts. But a reader has to be able to get to the story. And you have to tell that story well. A good story also has a certain structure to it, in the same way as a screenplay has a structure to it. Uusually if a writer doesn't have a good grasp on how to structure or format their screenplay correctly it is a strong indicator that the story won't be structured correctly either. There are mllions of screenplays out there, producers are inundated with them. They will not give up their time to read a poorly written screenplay in the hopes of finding a gold nugget. Because they know that a properly formatted screenplay is by a writer who has more experience and is more likely to give them what they want than an amateur.

Have a look at the second page of your script. Look at that massive action paragraph you have. Nobody wants to read paragraphs that long. It is poor writing, and poor storytelling. Four lines max. Try and have as much white space on your pages as possible. I mean look at all the mistakes I pointed out in just two pages. How many do you think I would find in 94 pages? I'm just saying that you could have the best story in the world but if you tell it poorly people won't be interested.



You need to get the formatting right so people can get to your story. But it is not just the formatting that stopped me from reading. It is the quality of the writing. It simply isn't good enough to hold my attention and make me want to read on. How many screenplays have you read? My guess would be not many. You can't write a good screenplay without knowing what you are doing, and the best way to figure that out is to read a lot of them. Read quite a few professional screenplays and then go back over your own and give it a thorough edit and it should make a huge difference.

Cheers,
Tim.

Miguel,

You can submit your revised script the same way as you did the first one - just note it to Don when you're uploading that it's a revision.

It may take a couple of weeks, but it will be here eventually. Actually, I think if you have it hosted on another site you mention that to Don as well and he can get it up more quickly somehow.

AJR