This is one reason why I think it's a mistake for a new screenwriter to look to an internet message board to teach him/her how to write screenplays. But what's the alternative when you're out in the middle of nowhere? I don't know. If your writing shows promise and you have some talent, you could try querying working screenwriters whose stuff you admire and ask if they'd like to mentor you. I don't know.
I agree that it's a mistake for new writers to look to message boards to teach them... The alternative is reading books on writing, which I think would help a lot of people who make the "dumb" posts that are being talked about in this thread. There's a ton of information available in books that people just don't take advantage of.
What seems to be happening is that someone decides "I think I'll write screenplays", so they stumble upon an online forum like Done Deal. I think this forum is quite valuable, and I've learned a lot from it, but what I've learned here is much different than the things I've learned reading books about writing. If you're out in the middle of nowhere, you'd be much better off buying and reading ten books on writing / screenwriting and taking a few cracks at it yourself. It's a lot easier to click around online than it is to read a whole book, let alone write a screenplay.
I think it mostly comes from the people who don't want to be filmmakers, and see this like some sort of lottery. "Will my script sell?" kind of seems like a silly question to me, since if you want to make money, it's probably the wrong thing. Of course people make money at writing, but it's crazy to think that you can just randomly pick a highly skilled profession (ANY trade) and instantly be at the same level as the top people who are selling scripts for a million bucks. It's people who don't want to put in the work, which is reading about the craft, and practising it. To me, it seems like books are the only viable substitute to personal instruction or film school. Just like writing scripts is the only way to get better, no matter how many books you read or Robert McKee seminars you go to.
Bob
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