tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7129422949181823690..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: How do you know if your script is any good?By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1554392643894717052012-05-02T21:39:34.519-07:002012-05-02T21:39:34.519-07:00Costco has busboys?Costco has busboys?Don K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14384602948048032742012-05-02T21:13:19.859-07:002012-05-02T21:13:19.859-07:00I'm enrolled in a UCLA Extension course on scr...I'm enrolled in a UCLA Extension course on screenwriting right now though I fear I turned in a script treatment in lieu of a synopsis.Danielle Solzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273354313459326114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26884147532814575042012-05-02T18:31:55.309-07:002012-05-02T18:31:55.309-07:00So, Ken, what did Heather want?
I spent many year...So, Ken, what did Heather want?<br /><br />I spent many years in critique groups for writers and the comments ran the gamut from incisive and helpful to downright idiotic ("I never heard of green-and-white police cars.") You always have to consider the source.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21319516491114153762012-05-02T18:29:12.362-07:002012-05-02T18:29:12.362-07:00My answer to that question is always a resounding ...My answer to that question is always a resounding "You don't. You can't."<br /><br />Success doesn't mean your writing is good, failure doesn't mean it is bad. Reviews are pointless. <br /><br />Avery Hopwood had five hit shows on Broadway <em> at the same time,</em> and nobody but the people who have won the writing contest he sponsored know who the hell he is. Nobody is looking to revive his musicals. Likewise, somebody like Buchner dies an unrecognized failure but changes the course of dramatic writing.<br /><br />Playwrights do not control the way that audiences (readers or otherwise) react to their scripts (oh how they try!). The only thing the writer controls is his or her own work. <br /><br />Is it any good? Who knows? Nothing anybody else tells you will answer that question. What you want to know is if you evoked something in them that approximates what you were trying to accomplish. <br /><br />Adjust from there, playwrights! If you really want to know if your script is any good, just ask me and I'll tell you:<br /><br />"It's wonderful! Keep writing."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82881764768885099232012-05-02T18:16:59.485-07:002012-05-02T18:16:59.485-07:00You are, of course, not the only blogging N. Wood ...You are, of course, not the only blogging N. Wood admirer. Try this one: http://tsutpen.blogspot.com/2012/05/gunslinger-guide-to-natalie-wood-24.htmlestivhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12736355730705116526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19860506438800982272012-05-02T15:56:10.532-07:002012-05-02T15:56:10.532-07:00Great post! Another great bit of advice I heard fr...Great post! Another great bit of advice I heard from comedy writer Graham Linehan: Put what you've written in a drawer somewhere and don't look at it for a month, or three months. I've heard other writers rave about this advice.<br /><br />In other news, I've finished Frasier and am now watching Cheers. Holy cow. I forgot how amazing Shelley Long was. Also the writing is great right out of the gate. Given Cheers's slow start in the ratings, you can't help but feel that all good shows will eventually find an audience if they're allowed to.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70766456146278270662012-05-02T13:26:43.393-07:002012-05-02T13:26:43.393-07:00I was silly enough to post my pilot script on my b...I was silly enough to post my pilot script on my blog if anybody wants to scoff at it.Frankhttp://beatdreams.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34771969117661832632012-05-02T11:26:41.130-07:002012-05-02T11:26:41.130-07:00It's important to get a few friends who you kn...It's important to get a few friends who you know will be truthful. You've got to make it clear to them not to cut you any slack, because the people you want to sell the script to sure won't.Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38424457378900949142012-05-02T10:43:12.110-07:002012-05-02T10:43:12.110-07:00No one then or now, could rock a B/W photo like Na...No one then or now, could rock a B/W photo like Natalie Wood. Lovely!<br /><br />Oh, and the advise is spot on.<br /><br />PamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37884882388130511212012-05-02T08:41:35.035-07:002012-05-02T08:41:35.035-07:00I don't buy into that whole, "Your family...I don't buy into that whole, "Your family and friends are your toughest critics, if you can please them, you can please anyone" jazz... of COURSE you're going to "please" them, they don't want to hurt your feelings, so they're not going to give you any constructive criticism, even if what you have really is bad, they'll still say it's good to make you feel better.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51434577357567714372012-05-02T08:17:07.587-07:002012-05-02T08:17:07.587-07:00Except I fear people think I am going to hulk out ...Except I fear people think I am going to hulk out or something. All I get is positive feedback and then I don't get anywhere. I assume I'm just average. Good enough to not get a lot of notes, but not "great" so I don't get noticed.lucifervandrosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11222482184840116176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49368902087824238552012-05-02T08:13:29.561-07:002012-05-02T08:13:29.561-07:00Hi I’m Heather! Please email me when you get a cha...Hi I’m Heather! Please email me when you get a chance! I have a question about your blog. HeatherVonsj(at)gmail(dot)comHeatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957437718840848185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61698188528182799062012-05-02T07:32:32.236-07:002012-05-02T07:32:32.236-07:00I've done numerous fiction workshops (short fi...I've done numerous fiction workshops (short fiction as well as novels), and all of your excellent advice applies equally well in that realm. It's a fine balancing act, responding to criticism even when it's vague or seems wrongheaded, yet not taking every specific note to heart and ripping apart your work in order to address every concern. You nailed it.Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78468930281623449382012-05-02T06:57:30.422-07:002012-05-02T06:57:30.422-07:00Readers Request:
The next time you can't find...Readers Request:<br /><br />The next time you can't find an appropriate picture, would you consider posting a photo of Honey West?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-918283146086907472012-05-02T06:27:29.213-07:002012-05-02T06:27:29.213-07:00Comforting advice and great timing on this post. ...Comforting advice and great timing on this post. Thanks, Ken!Katie Kosinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10267261816596840020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84004451439009818282012-05-02T06:20:55.092-07:002012-05-02T06:20:55.092-07:00DaveDaveDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602242393217808360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77844490676571724222012-05-02T06:19:41.889-07:002012-05-02T06:19:41.889-07:00Regarding your comment about it being difficult fo...Regarding your comment about it being difficult for people to "hear" a script, spot on.<br /><br />I write copy for radio commercials and have given up on sending scripts to clients. I'll record it in my own voice and throw a quick flash of sound effects or music onto the ad. Not broadcast quality production yet, but enough for them to "get the picture" so to speak. <br /><br />The amount of good ideas that have been binned quite simply because the client didn't "get" it is staggering.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602242393217808360noreply@blogger.com