Quote: Ironhide @ September 29 2008, 7:54 PM BSTWhen were they? They sound like fun!
*shakes fist* Damn you Freud and your slips!!!!
kjs
Scriptapalooza Page 2
Quote: KJSmyling @ September 29 2008, 8:10 PM BST*shakes fist* Damn you Freud and your slips!!!!
kjs
Gives a whole new meaning to 'impervious' though, dunnit, Oz?
I don't mean to be rude, but does anyone else find these endless "competitions" and writing "opportunities" slightly pointless. Fair play to those who flag them up, but (and here I will get f**ked, probably quite hard and fairly) I don't see any point in them. I was once put forward for a competition by a colleague, but on the basis that I would only put my material into consideration if I were assured to win/place.
These comps do seem to be (by and large) a way of fulfilling remits/being seen to be egalitarian, without any recognition of talent which should be supported and developed.
Like many others here I'm sure, I rely on my own mettle and general tenacity to try and advance myself as a writer. Win or lose, I enjoy writing.
Why do we do it? To win, take part, or to develop ourselves as people? Comedy especially is very tough to write well. And after that, to get cast and produced effectively. And in any decade, despite this, often considered the least of the arts, rather than laughter being considered an essential to our well-being.
Sorry.
All I'm saying is that do we want to write to competitions or write something we really believe in? Whether comedy or otherwise? Whether TV/film/manuscript to entertain our kids?
There are obviously talented writers on the site. Better than myself, no doubt. But how many write comedy because they love comedy, rather than being good at writing comedy? How many could be writing something far more wonderful than those of us who know we can only possibly write comedy, but can do it well?
Please PM me on this issue (joke).
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 1 2008, 2:14 AM BSTI don't mean to be rude, but does anyone else find these endless "competitions" and writing "opportunities" slightly pointless. Fair play to those who flag them up, but (and here I will get f**ked, probably quite hard and fairly) I don't see any point in them. I was once put forward for a competition by a colleague, but on the basis that I would only put my material into consideration if I were assured to win/place.
These comps do seem to be (by and large) a way of fulfilling remits/being seen to be egalitarian, without any recognition of talent which should be supported and developed.
Like many others here I'm sure, I rely on my own mettle and general tenacity to try and advance myself as a writer. Win or lose, I enjoy writing.
Why do we do it? To win, take part, or to develop ourselves as people? Comedy especially is very tough to write well. And after that, to get cast and produced effectively. And in any decade, despite this, often considered the least of the arts, rather than laughter being considered an essential to our well-being.
Sorry.
All I'm saying is that do we want to write to competitions or write something we really believe in? Whether comedy or otherwise? Whether TV/film/manuscript to entertain our kids?
There are obviously talented writers on the site. Better than myself, no doubt. But how many write comedy because they love comedy, rather than being good at writing comedy? How many could be writing something far more wonderful than those of us who know we can only possibly write comedy, but can do it well?
Please PM me on this issue (joke).
"and here I will get f**ked, probably quite hard"
Tell the truth, that's the only reason you said it, wasn't it?
I think competitions do several things. They give you a deadline. Meaning you actually have to finish something by a date. Nobody procrastinates like a writer. They also give you hope. Some people, especially beginners, feel like they have no idea where to send a script, so what's the point in trying to write one? It therefore gives them a sense of purpose. Finally, for those who win or place, as you said, it can be both encouraging and give them confidence in their abilities, as well as flagging them up to producers and possibly even giving them some interesting contacts that might help in future.
And if nothing else, it can draw people into communities of writers online, much like this one. I have a lot of writer friends I would never have known but for a competition.
Scriptapalooza ate my hamster!
I only enter competitions if one of my past scripts or a new poject fits in the remit. If not, I weigh up the payoff versus effort and distraction from my current projects before bothering. But I agree with Tim's point that we shouldn't need a competition as an incentive to write.
I write because I'm driven to it. My life in one sad and singular sentence. 
It would be madness to base your whole writing career strategy around competitions. Obviously, you should write what you want to write and send it to people you think would like it. This is why I never bother with very prescriptive competitions ie some of the 4Laughs ones which ask for "a sketch about a caveman who is also a fifties dad" etc., I only send things into very open briefs which match the kind of thing I would be writing anyway, or even better, have already written.
But having said all that, winning competitions can open doors. I know plenty of people who've had industry interest as a result of winning the right competition.
Also, winning competitions is good for your morale as a writer. We all have doubts from time to time, and sometimes it's nice to be told your sketch was the second best out of 300 or whatever.
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 1 2008, 2:14 AM BSTLike many others here I'm sure, I rely on my own mettle and general tenacity to try and advance myself as a writer. Win or lose, I enjoy writing.
I agree completely, there is no real point in writing scripts based specifically for competitions but then again the points made in favour of competitions are also true. Just like everyone on here I'm a writer and I write because I love writing. However as a new writer I didn't really know where to send my scripts and in the process of contacting agents and producers I happened to come across some competitions. I've been writing on and off for the past 7 years and it was only this year that I discovered writing competitions. I had a spec script written so I sent it to Scriptapalooza, however I wrote my film script for a competition because if I won I would have a chance of getting the drama I was already working on looked at.
So to sum up, write because you love to write and that way even when you get writers block you'll still want to carry on and if a competition comes by enter it for the opportunities it could lead to. That's what I do anyway.
I think competitions can be helpful. I got back into writing through the BBC Last Laugh comp...
Plus comps are a good exercise... how many writers get their own stuff produced straight off the bat. Most will be offered small jobs first, as in, we like your style, could you try some stuff for this show.
Entering comps can teach you to adapt your style to what is wanted...
kjs