Letter 21: May 26, 2008
Last week a reader objected to my boasting about managing to mail recent letters on their "cover dates," pointing out that they reach Europe a day later. So they do. This one will, too. But to the best of my knowledge it's a public holiday throughout England and Scotland as well as a Federal holiday here, so I say that's ok, and welcome to your work week.
I've been busy, you see, finishing that substantial project I mentioned. It's finished. I'd like a break. Instead of working can we just sit around for a few moments and talk about movies or something? Ya see the Indiana Jones film yet? Course you did. It's pretty good, huh.
About 20 weeks ago I hinted that those of you who are writing Hollywood screenplays (or think you're about to) might download the free fully-functional beta version of the formatting-and-more software Sophocles. That looked better than paying three-digit prices for software that does the same things.
It doesn't look such a good idea now. The Sophocles website has been down for what I'm told is more than six weeks, and I'm also told the author is not answering snail mail.
On the other hand, if I had any Hollywood screenplays I wanted to submit (not currently a problem!), I don't know what other software I'd buy. Well, I do know. I'd buy something that made me look like just another unremarkable already-working professional. I know what product that would have to be. But I object to paying that much for what I'd get, so I won't advertise it here.
Anyway, I have a working copy of Sophocles and I backed up the installation files, so if the screenplay urge does come upon me I'm covered.
Onward. What else can we say about the movies?
I got my Guild card by selling to the BBC, and I later sold to British television, but I've never even attempted a sale to any US producer. I have, I confess, tried Hollywood writing and I have a certain number of completed scripts lying contentedly in the drawer. I hope they are quietly maturing of their own accord, like delicious Californian wines.
And I found writing in the Hollywood style much harder than short comedy or one-hour drama. Why? I like to think it's because I'm better than I used to be at seeing what's wrong with the work, but I'm not sure that is true. How to be sure? Tomorrow I'll re-read a thing I was proud of ten years ago, and see if it's still as good as it was then.
Just this morning a screenwriter friend writes that s/he is "sick of my script and have been tearing it apart to the point that I haven't really written anything to move it forward for months." Recognize that feeling? We talked about it here before. So. You want something you can try this week? Here's something I suggested before. This time, please actually try it. Never rewrite until the first draft is complete. Get the first draft done, knowing that it is garbage, knowing that it is what more than one working professional has called vomit. That is how the first draft goes for them and for most of us. Never rewrite until the first draft is complete. No, stop it. I mean you. Never rewrite until the first draft is complete.
David
David Jung McGarva
+1 (818) 707 1871
Write me: david at todayiwrite dot com
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