How do you know when it's ready?

All of the above. Or none of the above. Take your pick.

This is a common question, seems like:

http://207.5.19.9/boards/showthread.php?t=18107

-Derek
My web page - Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror - published fiction and WIPs.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

Hi Sara, welcome back.

I guess you really don't know. Like you said, you got to take that chance. You can revise and rewrite your heart out, but there's still going to be people that don't like it verses the people that do.

You got to face your biggest critic, yourself, and know in your gutt that you have made it the best it can be, then have faith it will stand on it's own two feet.

Steph

Well Sara,

If you can read through your pages and not find any of the common beginner mistakes then you are doing all right. If people are excited by your ideas, by the story, and keep turning the pages, then you are ready.
Screenwriting people I mean.

If a couple of message board readers can rip your work apart, and YOU feel like they are correct, the advice rings true, then you know you've got more work to do.

Some board readers will find fault no matter what because THEY are idiots but there are enough solid writers here and at DoneDeal that you can get a pretty fair assement of your pages.

There is a difference between self doubt and sensing that something isn't working. Sometimes a reader won't get your scene or character but it is still what is right for that story and you just know in your gut that it works, that it is right in full context.

I believe that with most of us though we can sense that things are off, could be pushed harder, could be tightened up. And so when others critique our work we try to take that and build on it.

When people you trust start praising your work and are having a hard time finding basic, standard problems with it then you are ready.

I don't think you should give your work to industry contacts until you are clear of the beginner writer mistakes phase. You're right, you don't want to burn those bridges. Unless you have a good friend who is willing to mentor you, who will read things for you with out having to risk their career.

Then there are the contests. If you place well in some of the respected contests then that says something for your basic writing ability.
Films that get sold/made are often very different from scripts that win contests but placing well in a contest tells you that you have an understanding of the craft. It can often provide you with professional feedback.

Then there are paid consultants.
ExtHollywoodDay over at DoneDeal charges something like $150.00 for his coverage. Bill Martell charges $400.00. Our own Joe did critiques for a while.
There are other working writers out there who charge between 100 to 500 dollars for critiques and you could likely ask them Am I ready, and What would it take to be ready.

Oh I hear ya, Ice.

Go to the boards.
You can get lots of feedback there for free. Some of it you may have to take with a cup full of sugar but it could turn up some real gems.

I would offer to help you out a little more but I'm up to my neck all ready.

Dialog is hard. That is a major sticking point for many writers.
Here are some things just off my head that might get you thinking.

Is there a tug of war going on between the speakers?
Even if the banter is friendly is there some kind of goal being saught that creates a natural conflict?
What is being said between the lines? Subtext.
If I shortened this up what happens?
Can I tell which character is speaking without reading the character name?
Does each character have it's own voice, rythem, word choices, speech patterns, expression, etc?
Does this scene need dialog?
Read the dialog out loud. Act out the character. Other then feeling a little silly, does anything feel forced? Unnatural? Do you know anybody that might actually say that?
Have you made up your own jargon?
(I'll try to find you a Martell tip about that.)
Did you drop us into the middle of the conversation and do you yank us back out at the highest point? Get in late, get out early.


As a side note, maybe when you've had it with message board readers you can drop hints to family that a nice gift would be money for a script consultant. If that is what you REALLY want.
Personally I think I would pay the 30 to 50 bucks to enter the Nichol or Disney fellowship.

Sara-

Happy to have been some help.

You're right, your script has come a long way, but like you said your dialogue still needs a little work. The important thing is, is that you recognize this as a problem and from there you can fix it.

Like I said before I'm only one person. Posting your work on the boards is a great way to get a wide range of opinions that you can compare and take notes on. What one person might not like, another person might love. If several people say the same thing about a particular line of action or dialogue, or a scene, then you know it's something to be looked at and considered. Like Scripter said though, in the end, it's up to you to go with your gutt instinct. Only you know what fits your story and what doesn't.

Scripter has a lot of good points and advice. I would definitly try entering the contests. I know money is an issue but that shouldn't stop you from accomplishing your dream.

What I would do, is hide a coffee can in the cupboard or under the bed, every time you have some extra money, even if it's just a few dollars/quarters here and there, put it in there and don't ever take it out for any reason, (unless of course you really really really need to.) When ever you have enough saved up, use it for screenwriting. This is your very own can, the can of hope, the can that tells you that you don't have to be rich and made of money to make your dream happen. With determination anyone can accomplish anything.

Okay, pep talk over.

scripter-good list for dialogue. I'm going to save it in my "script tip" folder.

I might have Bill's tip on that, but I don't have the URL address. I'll have to take a look when I'm in my script tip folder.

Steph

Off the subject,

aren't you expecting a baby?

Ah! That was it.

Wow, has it been four months all ready?

Well, congratulations.
I guess that would explain why you left us for a little while.

Three kids

is the really big adjustment because now the children out number your hands.
If they all go different directions you have to chose which one to follow and grab first.

My youngest just turned 3, so, not really a "baby" any more.
Very deep in to that "ME DO IT SELF" stage.

Back on topic.
Sometimes these breaks can be good for us. Give us a little distance from our work, change our perspective a little.