Pratchett is fantastic. I'm very sad he's dead. Great world building, full of great characters and the stories are always gripping, yet he never descends into any nastiness. It's impressive stuff.

Just figure it out before you start writing more scenes. Good luck

Thanks for the response.

You're probably right about me getting tired of the logistics, but I think it has to do more with initially being happy with a concept, then talking myself out of it. Too much negativity as I write is what I'm trying to say. Like "why am I struggling with this, it won't go anywhere." Obviously not a good mindset to have.

As for this particular story. My plan after the "realization," or whatever you want to call it, was to have one of them introduce the other to their family. As I started writing, Benjamin was the one to do this. He would tell his ex-wife that he found someone...but leave out the man part. Then there would be a reconnection with his daughter. Th

Yes - finish!!!

How to IMO.

1) Have a concept that you love.

Dustin - your sci-fi spec script (Exhibit 22) was the best sci-fi spec I've ever read. You had just a killer concept/premise - I assume that starting with that premise energized you to plow through and the finish it.  So, Steven - love your premise.

Steven, you're still waffling on the core concept/premise. You've gone from two straight guys ending up gay to this:



In other words - you still are not comfortable with your premise. It has to be your touchstone. Stop writing scenes until you get clarity on it.

2) Write or at least outline your most problematic scenes first.

Steven, for you - I w

I've heard women say that too. I've also heard men say that... but that doesn't mean they're going to change sexual orientation.

Dave is correct... the most important point here is that you finish a feature. I understand how you feel because I used to have the same problem. I had so many ideas running around in my head, I'd write half of one down and then get bored (because I already know the story) and start a new one.

Writing a feature is a little like long-distance running. You hit barriers, be that stitch or even a back ache that you must run through if you are to finish. You don't hit a barrier and stop.

You have some great ideas... clever... they deserve to be finished.

I don't understand what that has to do with finishing a feature?

Are you responding to my response from your previous post? If so, it should be obvious what that has to do with a feature. Unless I have to spell it out?

I don't understand what that has to do with finishing a feature?

Sounds like me lol Thank god for bosses who don't check up on us



It doesn't seem like it at first- but this is all really positive stuff. Sure, things happened beyond your control and these projects fell down. But, the positive thing is that they took off in the first place.
Your writing is obviously doing something right if people have taken notice and started these projects - shit happens sometimes, but keep writing, play the numbers, and you never know what will happen.

I do a lot of my writing at work which isn't too common for people but I have a cushy job. Home life is busy with kids and a wife so I get it in where I can. Haven't had the same amount of free time lately though.

I think I was deterred by a few things. The first being a short I wrote which won a competition didn't get filmed as it was supposed to. Had a director and couple of actors - one of which I know - but kept being delayed until finally nothing.

The second being a horror short that actually was produced turned out to be the biggest piece of shit I've ever seen. Even the director admitted this after the f

I've heard women say that too. I've also heard men say that... but that doesn't mean they're going to change sexual orientation.

Dave is correct... the most important point here is that you finish a feature. I understand how you feel because I used to have the same problem. I had so many ideas running around in my head, I'd write half of one down and then get bored (because I already know the story) and start a new one.

Writing a feature is a little like long-distance running. You hit barriers, be that stitch or even a back ache that you must run through if you are to finish. You don't hit a barrier and stop.

You have some great ideas... clever... they deserve to be finished.

...they charge a healthy fraction of the original entry fee...

The latter is Grace and Frankie - tv series. You may want to check it out. Either way,  good luck with it. I'll take a look at it when you're done if you want.  

I think this was an early version as well - doh! Some comps have allowed me to send an update but Page and this was one of the ones that didn't allow it.

Early or later version for this one?

Good luck!

You live in California, I'm sure you've heard a woman say "I'm done with men for a while." Well, maybe this is the same thing. They realize they're bi sexual.

I get it, and there's two ways I can handle it. I could go the Brokeback route and have them super conflicted, but engaging in their feelings. Or I can have them realize what's going on and rationally sort it out. Maybe it can play out uncomfortably rather than passionate and intense. I don't know.

You live in California, I'm sure you've heard a woman say "I'm done with men for a while." Well, maybe this is the same thing. They realize they're bi sexual.

Hmm - okay. I'll check back and give it a read when you finish it.

Note: IMO, it is important for you to realize that this:



Will be your speed-bump.

No one will be offended by a gay love story - or if they are - so what. That is not an issue. Your speed-bump will be explaining how two straight men become gay. You will not be able to explain rationally how a growing relationship with a man changes their sexual orientation.  Christ, we all have best friends - we don't want to sleep with them if we are straight. And you're going to make this complicated by two - two men are going to change their orientation. The reason it ain't been done before as a plot point is that it ain't pla

Couple things. I've written random things in various genres, all of which were received pretty well but something would happen where I'd just stop writing. With horror I get bored, because I'm tired of the tropes. With Sci-Fi I get too deep in my own head and focus on world-building rather than style. See my project titled New Life as a good example of this. I meticulously detailed everything but when asked what the story was...I didn't have an answer.

So, I tried the straight up drama genre. The outcome was something a little too personal from my childhood and it caused me to step away.

I did get like 80 pages into a Western. That was Winterhaven, which had very good reception around here and on /r/scree

Steven, take it or leave it advice - finish one.

What is the point of continuing to write the openings to features if you aren't going to complete them?  If it's not in your DNA (e.g., scattered brain), I get that - but then why not just write shorts?? At least that way you have a product for your efforts. You're a pretty solid writer from the samples I've read - I really think you would serve yourself well by (a) completing what you start and (b) only start those things that you think you will complete.