No Story Time-Screenwriting When Life Takes Over

I am in the middle of a huge relocation.. yet again... and I am too stressed out to write. Inspiration is not the problem. My brain is actually fried from stress. In fact, just writing this post seems taxing...  and I know it's a mess. I keep thinking that if I can just get past the holidays, the new year is going to be awesome for my writing.

Well, my plan to overcome this in the meantime is to print out the script and read it in hard copy and blue pencil the heck out of it this weekend... that should promote some re-write material...

ugh...  i can't think straight right now.. this sucks...

 

 

Page 72 & A Preview Of My Lolita Costume For Comikaze

So I just completed 72 pages of my current script and I actually could have kept going, but I stopped myself to think about a scene I added and whether or not it affects something earlier in the story. What do you do when you change something and you need to go back and make sure it's laced through the story properly?

I usually make a note on an index card and come back to it, but for some reason this time I felt like I needed to stop and think about the overall impact of the change. So that is where I am right now. A couple more sessions and I will have the first draft.

In other news, I have compiled all the pieces for my Sweet Lolita costume for Comikaze. Now, I know that Stan Lee has nothing to do with Sweet Lolita's or Kawaii, but I just wouldn't make a very good Cat Woman. So I decided to have fun with it. I have always wanted to go all out with a Kawaii Sweet Lolita Look.

What do you think of my choices for the outfit?

 

 

Tricking Myself Into Writing

I just passed page 60 on my current screenplay. That is 60 pages in under 2 months. For me, that is a great pace. I find that by telling myself I only have to write ONE PAGE and then I am free to do other non-productive things, like gaming, television or social media, I actually trick myself into writing much more. 

I click the Movie Magic Screenplay icon, read back a couple of pages and get going on my supposed ONE PAGE, but I never stop at one page. Once I get myself in the zone, it's so fluid that I can't stop till I have exhausted my brain, which isn't easy to do. One page turns into ten naturally.

Overcoming that first objection by telling myself I am only committing to ONE PAGE seems to work for me. Do you have a trick that works for you?

Unhappy Screenwriter

 I have been too busy to write lately. I know, that is just an excuse. If you have time to post on posterous or check facebook, you have time to write. This is true. Which is probably why I feel so crappy about it. Two days and not a line of action has been put to paper. Tonight I will make up for it and do 10 pages. I'm serious! 

What do you do when you are in a writing funk?

 

How to Market a Screenplay

Are you ready to sell your screenplay?

If you have gotten tons of feedback via local groups, acting collaborations to have your script read aloud (good local groups can be found or made at Meetups.com

Perfect the scripts to your absolute BEST. I love Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder – its is great.. there are tons of books you can read on the topic and of course you should read tons of screenplays, lots are available for free at: Script-O-Rama!  and SimplyScripts (sometimes these are post shooting scripts, but it still helps to see how others handle communicating actions etc.)

I have a list of screenwriting software here: List of Screenwriting Software and i use movie magic screenwriter but have used Final Draft as well. Format is a big deal for readers, so make sure you are up on all that stuff.

Ummm… so, when you are ready to roll.. I would work out a killer log line – here is an article on that, but SAVE THE CAT has the best formula i have heard for it yet.. LogLines for Screenplay and you can  buy Save the Cat here!

Then, I would create a great query letter, here is some info on what that:  http://www.isomedia.com/homes/screen/query.htm & http://filmdiva.blogspot.com/2006/07/sample-query-letter-really.html

This will be your first impression (never send an entire script, unless it has been asked for.. it is a waste of your money and time – start with a query letter).

OKAY! Now you are ready to spend some cash! Get a subscription to Hollywood Creative Directory Online as well as Internet Movie Database Pro and use those to create a data base of people you will mail to.. I like to seek out Development Execs and people involved in producing films similar to the script i am trying to sell on IMDBpro and then look their information up in HCDonline.com and send to them specifically. but there are lots of ways to use the information those two sources give you.

Make sure to follow any requirements listed. Whether you are sending to a producer, dev exec, agent or other. Some people send queries even when “no unsolicited material” is accepted.. its your money.. sometimes you get lucky, so you can make that call.

Most of all, if you get ANY feedback in a rejection notice outside of the usual form letter, CHERISH it.. i always stress that, because they took the time to give you something valuable.. their opinion on what you can do to improve your chances and an opening to send a follow up thanking them and perhaps even re-sending the script back after the changes have been made.