If anyone takes time to read your script, 1 page or 120 pages, say thank you. At least once. And mean it would be great.
Don't be defensive and feel compeled to defend every point. Whether the notes are from a stranger on here or a friend or a producer -- most will be problems with your script. But if it's just "this is great" and no feedback that can help make it better -- well that's not as helpful as you think.
You learn this as you go.
Pro writers get notes and say "Thank you, I'll consider that" and newbies go "Here's why I did it right and you're wrong... I already fixed it in the rewrite... it's just a typo... i disagree... you're wrong... I'm right... yada yada..."
And yes I'm sure there are a few pro writers that still think their **** doesn't stink, but most writers are good at handling notes. It's one of the most important skills to learn.
Look up Kevin Smith being asked to write Superman and being told he can't fly, wear the suit and he has to fight a giant spider. He wrote it.
Look up the Game of Thrones story about how the first pilot they shot was terrible and their good writer friend, like Craig Mazin of scriptnotes fame and done deal fame, had to tell them "it's terrible, do it all better." And they reshoot 90% of it.
If people give you notes and you disagree with all of it, just say "thank you."
If you want, it's better to ask questions than try to fight for your point.
If three people point out a problem area, there is probably an issue with it.
Sometimes people give you a note that sounds stupid when you first hear it, you hate it -- but then others bring it up -- or you think about it later and realize what the note is really about. They can say "I don't like the sister character" but you love her... how could she not be in this script?? Then you think about and realize the note was correct, taking out the sister made it better. Or the note was really saying something else and you fixed it another way...
So many examples of how notes made great works better. If the artist didn't listen, they wouldn't have been as successful in their efforts. You need others to see stuff you can't see because you're too close.
And as my film teacher said, "I can only judge by what you have on the screen or page, not what you think you have." You may think you are writing clear -- but you're not.
The GOT pilot, it wasn't clear the 2 main characters in the pilot were related and if you've seen Game of Thrones that's kind of a big deal. They thought it was obvious, because it was obvious to them, but it did not come through in the actually pilot they made for 10 million dollars. Be thankful all you have to change is words in your script.
Writing is rewriting.
Learning how to take notes is a skill you learn over time. And it may be the most important one in our writer's toolbox.
Don't be defensive and feel compeled to defend every point. Whether the notes are from a stranger on here or a friend or a producer -- most will be problems with your script. But if it's just "this is great" and no feedback that can help make it better -- well that's not as helpful as you think.
You learn this as you go.
Pro writers get notes and say "Thank you, I'll consider that" and newbies go "Here's why I did it right and you're wrong... I already fixed it in the rewrite... it's just a typo... i disagree... you're wrong... I'm right... yada yada..."
And yes I'm sure there are a few pro writers that still think their **** doesn't stink, but most writers are good at handling notes. It's one of the most important skills to learn.
Look up Kevin Smith being asked to write Superman and being told he can't fly, wear the suit and he has to fight a giant spider. He wrote it.
Look up the Game of Thrones story about how the first pilot they shot was terrible and their good writer friend, like Craig Mazin of scriptnotes fame and done deal fame, had to tell them "it's terrible, do it all better." And they reshoot 90% of it.
If people give you notes and you disagree with all of it, just say "thank you."
If you want, it's better to ask questions than try to fight for your point.
If three people point out a problem area, there is probably an issue with it.
Sometimes people give you a note that sounds stupid when you first hear it, you hate it -- but then others bring it up -- or you think about it later and realize what the note is really about. They can say "I don't like the sister character" but you love her... how could she not be in this script?? Then you think about and realize the note was correct, taking out the sister made it better. Or the note was really saying something else and you fixed it another way...
So many examples of how notes made great works better. If the artist didn't listen, they wouldn't have been as successful in their efforts. You need others to see stuff you can't see because you're too close.
And as my film teacher said, "I can only judge by what you have on the screen or page, not what you think you have." You may think you are writing clear -- but you're not.
The GOT pilot, it wasn't clear the 2 main characters in the pilot were related and if you've seen Game of Thrones that's kind of a big deal. They thought it was obvious, because it was obvious to them, but it did not come through in the actually pilot they made for 10 million dollars. Be thankful all you have to change is words in your script.
Writing is rewriting.
Learning how to take notes is a skill you learn over time. And it may be the most important one in our writer's toolbox.
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