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50 Shades Of Elitism by Samuel Caine

Oh, yes. This post is going exactly where you think. I’m going to talk about the much discussed 50 Shades of Grey, but I’ll confess now – I’ve not read it. This is not a critical analysis, or an endorsement of any kind. I am not defending the divisive contents of the book, which raise all sorts of issues about the glorification of consensual sexual violence, but it is a defence of sorts: it is a defence of the author and the book’s readers against the elitist demons in all of us…especially me. Over the past few months, as the… Read More »50 Shades Of Elitism by Samuel Caine

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How Do I Become A Freelance Writer?

Updated for 2017 Writing and making money from it is probably everyone’s dream … and we ALL dream of the six figure deals for our novels and screenplays! But before we get to that fabled return, we have to earn money – so it feels like we may be stuck in the boring day job FOREVER. Yet it IS possible to make money writing in OTHER ways while we write our specs and unpublished novels – welcome to the wonderful world of the freelance writer! Freelance writers are available to hire for any number of writing jobs, small, medium or… Read More »How Do I Become A Freelance Writer?

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The Great Writing Myth: How To REALLY Make It As A Writer

Wanted: Great Writing GREAT WRITING (ie. original and well-written) sells, right? That’s logical. So if I focus on ‘great writing’, I figured I would get there in the end. After all, that *had* to be what the AUDIENCE wants, right??? But as a script reader, I was LEFT AGOG when what **I** thought were derivative, crappily-written scripts made their way to screen. But then I decided it was just a freak occurrence and toddled off on my way… … Then it happened again. … And again. … Over And Over … Again. Argh!!! Originality is overrated I started to notice that… Read More »The Great Writing Myth: How To REALLY Make It As A Writer

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Build It And They Will Come: Lucy V’s Wager

Lots of screenwriters are fond of the Field of Dreams quote “Build It And They Will Come” – and good on ’em. I truly believe that if you keep going, no matter what, one day all will come good. I have to believe that, as it’s pretty much the story of my life, not just screenwriting. “Build it and they will come… ” Is it actually 100% true? Yes. And no. Common sense dictates that if you keep going, something has to happen for you eventually. But by that same token, common sense also says there are no guarantees either.… Read More »Build It And They Will Come: Lucy V’s Wager

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Coping With Rejection

Since I rejected 170+ people yesterday for The 4 Nights in August competition, I thought those non-longlisted entrants would like to know whether rejectors ever feel guilt. Yes, this one does. I’ve rejected A LOT of people over the years. I joke sometimes that’s why I never get very far in contests myself: it’s scriptwriting karma, if you will. Way I figure it, if you write “Pass” enough times on coverage and add up enough low scores or percentages, it’s bound to bite you in the ass in an industry that does, in part, rely on luck. And I’m very… Read More »Coping With Rejection

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I Am Not A Lucky Person

You don’t have to go far to hear writers, filmmakers, actors etc expressing RAGE when told however hard they’ve worked, they’re “lucky”. Hell, I include myself on that. I am not a lucky person. Name any given situation, even something as small as picking one outcome **or the other** – left or right? Heads or tails? Red or black? – I WILL PICK THE WRONG ONE. 100% true factoid. I’ve ended up in enough wrong places and lost enough bets and money to know this. I am a hard working person. Hell yeah. We all are. I know lots of… Read More »I Am Not A Lucky Person

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How Do I Become A Professional Scriptwriter?

Bang2writer David Bird has this question: How do I become a professional scriptwriter? This is a good question and one that could take all day, so I’ll try and keep it simple: Keep writing, keep connecting, keep building. It really is as simple – and as complicated – as that. It’s important to note however: Professional writers are NOT automatically those that are the most successful purely in terms of monetary gain. My Dad was an art student in his youth for a short time and he always tells the story that apparently Van Gogh sold just one painting while… Read More »How Do I Become A Professional Scriptwriter?

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It’s Not About Luck… And It Totally Is

Sometimes professional writers say that screenwriting success is *not* about luck – and get quite heated when people suggest it is, especially newer writers. As an example, Bang2writer Dominic Carver has written on his blog several times about contests and whether there is an element of luck involved, here is one of the posts – be sure to check out the comments, too. By coincidence, today professional writer Daniel Martin Eckhart has written on his blog about how stamina is key and comes above even talent. Check his post out here. For the record, I don’t know a SINGLE writer… Read More »It’s Not About Luck… And It Totally Is

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Screenplay Tips # 12: Submissions, Rejections & Relationships

In the last of this series on screenplay tips, here are my thoughts on sending stuff out, dealing with rejection and making things happen: DO: Plan ahead. With such a wealth of information at your fingertips, there is no excuse to NOT know what is going on in the writing world, especially things like The Red Planet Prize or The BBC Writers’ Academy. Knowing how your “writing year” works against your “real life year” helps you make decisions on what you CAN and CANNOT do, realistically. DON’T: Panic or tell yourself it can’t be done. I’m a big believer in… Read More »Screenplay Tips # 12: Submissions, Rejections & Relationships

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Are We There Yet?

So you’re not a new writer. You’re what I call a “seasoned writer”. You’ve cracked the writing side of this whole malarkey – you’ve got the portfolio, you’ve got good feedback; maybe you have a couple of options, contest placings, an agent, various meetings and perhaps some related work under your belt. Yet still you don’t feel *there* yet. 99% of what we do, as writers, will come to nothing in the long run. However hard you work, however many options, meetings, commissions and people you pick up along the way – agents, producers, TV Execs, directors, money men, sales… Read More »Are We There Yet?

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I’ve Written A Screenplay. Now What?

Updated So, You’ve Written A Screenplay ‘I’ve written a screenplay, now what?’ is one of the top Google searches that leads writers to this blog. Plus Bang2writers write to me, asking me for ideas on what to do / where to send scripts they’ve written, so I thought it was time I put my thoughts on this in one place, once and for all … Enjoy!  1) Get Some Screenplay Feedback i) Getting it – do peer review You don’t have to pay for this, though you can if you want to.  Alternatively, you can do peer review aka a… Read More »I’ve Written A Screenplay. Now What?

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Good Luck

A great philosopher once said: “The best kind of luck is the kind you make yourself.” Okay, it was The Care Bears. But it’s true. When you’re a screenwriter, it’s easy to fall into the thinking the THE WORLD HAS IT IN FOR YOU. Initiatives don’t shortlist you? They must hate you. Agents don’t want to read more of your work? They must be trying to destroy you. You haven’t won a contest or got an option? Why, that is blatant sabotage. It’s hard, after multiple knockbacks, to not wallow in self pity and/or stick a fork in your leg.… Read More »Good Luck

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