When You Know You Have The Goods....

[MargoChanning]

....but you feel like all you're doing is beating your head against the wall, how do you keep going?

I've come close: Gotten great reviews on my work (from some fairly high profile people, won a few awards that apparently, nobody cares about, made a living my whole career as a writer (so I know I can actually write) and still....

Every day a new piece of crap gets produced - FUNDED for God's sake and many of us are sitting on really good work, if only someone would give us a shot.

Been querying like mad lately and nothing. No managers. No agents. Once in a while a prodco, but that's it.

I don't want to quit. I can't quit. But how do you keep from losing your mojo? I'm 45 pages into this romcom that a producer asked me to write and for the last five days, all I can do is stare at the thing.

Just looking to share here and see how you all cope, ok DDers? Not looking for an ass slap.

Sorry to run on. Thanks for reading.

[Han Shot First]

Every screenwriter at some point (some right from the beginning) feels like they "have the goods." As has been evidenced by more than a decade of Done Deal, this is most often an inaccurate diagnosis.

Remember that being a good writer has nothing to do with being a good screenwriter. Beyond that, keep querying and trying to get reads -- when you "have the goods," someone who matters will let you know.

[Why One]

Originally Posted by Han Shot First

Every screenwriter at some point (some right from the beginning) feels like they "have the goods." As has been evidenced by more than a decade of Done Deal, this is most often an inaccurate diagnosis.

Totally agree with that! Hindsight is 20/20. I thought I had a goods back then -- then I realized I didn't because now I have the goods! Of course this isn't the first time I've thought this. It's iterative.

It's the DUNNING-KRUGER EFFECT.

[MargoChanning]

Actually, I didn't think that I had what it takes when I started. Not by a long shot. But I read, listened and learned. And worked very hard.

That said, I totally understand what you're saying and maybe....who knows....that one person will come along. Guess that's what it's all about.

[Geoff Alexander]

Originally Posted by smcguinn

....but you feel like all you're doing is beating your head against the wall, how do you keep going?

I've come close: Gotten great reviews on my work (from some fairly high profile people, won a few awards that apparently, nobody cares about, made a living my whole career as a writer (so I know I can actually write) and still....

Every day a new piece of crap gets produced - FUNDED for God's sake and many of us are sitting on really good work, if only someone would give us a shot.

Been querying like mad lately and nothing. No managers. No agents. Once in a while a prodco, but that's it.

I don't want to quit. I can't quit. But how do you keep from losing your mojo? I'm 45 pages into this romcom that a producer asked me to write and for the last five days, all I can do is stare at the thing.

Just looking to share here and see how you all cope, ok DDers? Not looking for an ass slap.

Sorry to run on. Thanks for reading.

Then I have to ask--is your material commercial? Is it a clear genre?

[MargoChanning]

Hi SBS,

I believe the romcom feature I'm writing is very commercial, if I could just make this a story I want to tell, as opposed to something I promised I'd do. I have the leeway to make it my own, but as I read over the 45 pages yesterday, I realized I'm missing the mark somewhere.

Regarding my pilots, two of them are definitely in the vein of what you'd see on Starz original programming, Show, etc. The third is a bit more unconventional in that it's protagonist happens to be a "conflicted" priest, who commits an act that is decidedly un-priest-like.

This particular project was reviewed by the former head of Bruckheimer TV, who did me the courtesy of calling me at home to tell me how much he liked it, but that he had to pass due to the fact it didn't fit their "template," so to speak. So there you go: Close, but no cigar.

[Todd Karate]

Originally Posted by smcguinn

....but you feel like all you're doing is beating your head against the wall, how do you keep going?

This is where blind faith comes in- you truly have to believe that you're going to make it if you just keep going. I don't think there's a secret beyond that.

You only "fail" when you quit, as the old saying goes.

[MargoChanning]

I do agree with you, Todd. Thanks. I won't quit. Too damn stubborn for that.

[mariot]

I'm confused here. The OP said he can't get any interest from managers or agents but he's got an assignment. He feels he "has the goods" but is "missing the mark" on his assignment.

How good should a writer be before he seeks a rep?

Is this a confidence issue? Do you take an assignment even if you're not sure you can write it well?

Thanks.

[MargoChanning]

No, no. Sorry, mariot. Didn't mean to confuse.

I took on this assignment for a producer friend of mine who previously, acted as a sort of de facto manager for me. He pitched a couple of my projects to less than a handful of actors who, personally, I didn't think were right. But, because they were "heavyweights," he felt that they would be more likely to open a pilot for an unknown (in other words, me).

In a magnanimous moment during one of our conversations, I told him that, if he ever had a story idea that he would like to see come to fruition, that I would be happy to write it.

So I made the commitment and now I want to deliver. He believes that he can sell it. I don't know. Got to finish it first. And no, I am not being paid anything up front for this. Basically, I just want to finish and move on to my own projects.