This has Been My Experience As Well...

From Denny O'Neil at Bleeding Cool :

Sorry. Writing is self-taught. You acquire the skill by applying the seat of your pants to a flat object and moving a stylus across paper or tapping a keyboard, and you continue to do that until someone begins paying you to do it, and then you spend the rest of your life teaching yourself how to do what you’re doing. It is often a lonely life–you can get help before and after, but not during–and if the notion of closing a door behind you and manipulating verbal and visual language for many hours every week is abhorrent to you, then perhaps you would be happy applying your skill and intelligence and enthusiasm elsewhere.

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Add to this that life is going to get in the way, try to derail you at every turn, and will sometime succeed for the moment. But if it wins in the end and you stop writing don't whine. You weren't a writer. It's all right.

But if you keep getting up off the mat and get back in the fight then you need to work on your one-two combination and your upper cut.

Amen, Amen, A-Men!

"I also find script competitions suspicious in general because what's the point? There already is a script competition. It's called "getting your movie made."

--- Alex Epstein, Complications Ensue

Our Credo for the New Millennium

"Go out and be somebody's superhero."

Wiring TeeVee and the Web

WIRED has an excellent couple of articles regarding the nature and future of television and the internet.

Let's be clear - THIS IS MUST READING FOR ALL OF US - Writers, producers, cameramen, directors, everyone. Anyone in this industry who has ever felt, "Damn, I'm on my own with this one."

ARTICLE ONE

ARTICLE TWO

These are the must-read articles which we will discuss in the next couple of days as I pull them apart. There are also several articles on web attention-getting strategies, some How-To's, and just general good stuff to know - Bookmarked!

Oh and let's add Kay Reindl's new post on Dr. Horrible to the mix.

Get ready to put your debate blazer on...
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Alex Epstein weighs in on the topic here.

DMc puts his spin on it here.

Too Legit To Quit

So we started working in the new offices today, and its been a whirlwind of dusting, moving things "just so" and making this new place "home."

It gives one a sense of legitimacy to tell someone "drop by the office," which for me used to mean the "home office." I still use the home office as do many of you, but I'm certain there's someone in the grand pulp masses out there saying, "Wow. I need to get an office."

What you're really saying is, "I need to become legit."

Legitimacy doesn't come from having an office, it comes from having work written and produced or published. It comes from your showing up to meetings on time and ready to get to work. It comes from going the extra mile to meet and greet people who are at the same level as you are and above. Especially above. It comes from reading the trades and learning how the business works and how you fit. It comes from being ready for your "big break" when it comes.

That's legitimate.

And you can do that from your kitchen table at home. Trust me. That's where SCARECROW was re-written. That's where SCARECROW: SLAYER took form, and those stories for TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN. THE SKULL. THE SOUND. P****** P***. WOLFSBANE. PATCHWORK (the first script I ever wrote, which was written during my day job at a local gym).

And dozens of other ideas, scripts, treatments, designs, drawings and numerous blog posts.

I put off trying to find office space for the longest time because it's expensive, time consuming and it can often be one more thing to worry about. I didn't want to be that guy who overextends himself into something he can't back up. You see it every day here in Los Angeles: some little production company gets office space in an expensive Beverly Hills, West Hollywood or Santa Monica address; announces a bunch of projects... and nothing happens. No deals. No scripts. Not even a piece of key art.

So if you're looking to legitimize your effort, sit your butt in the chair and write. Anywhere.
(Except at the coffee shop because damn -- sorry Bill Martell -- ain't that the cliche'?)

Your (manu)script is your business card. Your badge of legitimacy. Invest in it first. Get something produced then build on that. Be legit before it costs you a monthly rent...

Sincerely,

Your Mad Pulp Bastard