Question for joe

[GonnaBeFamous]

When you had scripts that you thought were good but then you realized they weren't when they got torn to pieces by others, what did you do to them(assuming they weren't a development project for a producer)? Did you try to rewrite them if they required a major rewrite, or did you take it as a learning experience and move on?

[Optimus]

If you don't rewrite them, then you won't learn.


(I know I'm not Joe, but I had to pipe in anyway).

[Joe Calabrese]

I'd slit my wrists, luckily I don't own sharp things.

Seriously, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. If the concept is sound and interesting and marketable, the rest is doable.

[NikeeGoddess]

you need to read, read, read more scripts. can you imagine someone who says they're going to write the great american novel and this person has never even read a novel?! how absurd is that. find scripts that are similar to what you want to write: Welcome to the Dollhouse comes to mind b/c this dorky teen is obsessed with a cool older high school student and the audience understands her situation enough to laugh at her and feel sorry for her at the same time.

you can use an actor (like BMurphy) as a guide but know that by the time you're really ready to market your stuff that actor will be in a different place in their career (and much, much older).

you can put your script on hold by writing another (and maybe another) then you can revisit this one and decide whether its worth salvaging with a rewrite.

if you continue to write your writing will improve. i suggest you save that 90post thread about your crappy script and read it again in one year's time. you may be embarrased that you exposed yourself too soon (this kind of experience is priceless) but, you will be amazed at how much better your writing has improved. this happens to everyone!!!

[Enigma]

... and this person has never even read a novel? (THEY GET ELECTED TO CENSOR BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM)! how absurd is that....

... you can put your script on hold by writing another (and maybe another) then you can revisit this one and decide whether its worth salvaging with a rewrite.

... you will be amazed at how much better your writing has improved. this happens to everyone!!!

How true, how true! Ten years ago I wrote what I was certain an Oscar winner. It was optioned. I was on my way to the big time. A mansion in Hollywood. Riches. Fame ... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I recently ran across it and when I stopped laughing at how stupid I was back then, realized that the concept was (still) sound and that it had and has commercial potential. I'm a whole lot older now, and a better writer and it's back on the front burner. It's too bad I'm not also wiser, but....

I'm also having a lot of fun doing the rewrite and update.