I understand what you're getting at Phill and after I worked on a proposed radio sketch show I tended to write for that medium a lot without really thinking. Everything is in the mind and so the punchline can change everything.
There definitely is a world of difference in writing for radio to writig for TV.
Quote: Frankie Rage @ January 18, 2008, 9:36 PMI think he may be a professional screen-writer thinking we were all also professionals!
I get that most people here are aspiring writers (apologies for using that term, if you write - you're a writer. The only way you can aspire to be a writer is if you look longingly at a pen and paper; but you know what I mean), I just figured the point of posting stuff in the critique forum was to improve your sketch writing (or sitcom writing) ability with the view to making a sale/career.
I thought I might be able to help there since I have a little, not a lot, but a little bit of experience. Occasionaly I think I could offer a better critique if I knew what medium the sketch is aimed at.
Most of the time it's obvious or doesn't matter.
However, I can see now that some of it is just for fun, some of it is to amuse only the other people here and some is even a method of long-term storage. Which is cool, but renders a lot of what I might say a bit pointless. I'll try and bear that in mind.
Quote: Phill @ January 18, 2008, 9:57 PMI get that most people here are aspiring writers (apologies for using that term, if you write - you're a writer. The only way you can aspire to be a writer is if you look longingly at a pen and paper; but you know what I mean), I just figured the point of posting stuff in the critique forum was to improve your sketch writing (or sitcom writing) ability with the view to making a sale/career.
I thought I might be able to help there since I have a little, not a lot, but a little bit of experience. Occasionaly I think I could offer a better critique if I knew what medium the sketch is aimed at.
Most of the time it's obvious or doesn't matter.
However, I can see now that some of it is just for fun, some of it is to amuse only the other people here and some is even a method of long-term storage. Which is cool, but renders a lot of what I might say a bit pointless. I'll try and bear that in mind.
I wouldn't think the stuff on here's too flippantly written.
I'm serious about writing. I think a lot of others are too.
And I'm sure we're all glad of a good bit of critique.
Quote: Phill @ January 18, 2008, 9:57 PMI get that most people here are aspiring writers (apologies for using that term, if you write - you're a writer. The only way you can aspire to be a writer is if you look longingly at a pen and paper; but you know what I mean), I just figured the point of posting stuff in the critique forum was to improve your sketch writing (or sitcom writing) ability with the view to making a sale/career.
I thought I might be able to help there since I have a little, not a lot, but a little bit of experience. Occasionaly I think I could offer a better critique if I knew what medium the sketch is aimed at.
Most of the time it's obvious or doesn't matter.
However, I can see now that some of it is just for fun, some of it is to amuse only the other people here and some is even a method of long-term storage. Which is cool, but renders a lot of what I might say a bit pointless. I'll try and bear that in mind.
When I have some time I will read some of your stuff Phil. And from your CV you have an impressive writing background. You will notice a lot of our writers have varying degrees of experience.
It's great to have another experienced writer on the forum; we already have some i.e. Mr Slag. But the more the merrier I say especially if they're active in offering feedback.
Anyways as I said before just take things with a pinch of salt you should be all good.
And if there is anything you want to raise, don't hesitate to PM me or bring it up in this thread.
I echo Phill's point re: the original reasons for writing a piece. If I'm being honest, my writing is performed with only two points in mind:
1) That I have something I just have to communicate whether funny or a serious point. If it doesn't get written it festers inside me like an ulcer
2) That I want to eventually sell it, both to maximise the audience and its impact, and for the cash itself.
If I don't intend to sell a project, I won't even start it. 
I know Phill from my earliest outings into serious writing and he has a LOT of experience, which would be a shame not to have spread around.
Phill, nice to see you around again. 
Do share.
Probably the best thing is to offer whatever critique you feel is appropriate Phil, like the rest of us do. All critique is usually welcome, especially constructive criticism! And if you have experience of the 'industry', I am sure loads of people would be interested in what you have to say, including myself! 
Although there is a lot of banter on here, don't mistake it for disinterest!
Quote: SlagA @ January 18, 2008, 10:12 PMIf I don't intend to sell a project, I won't even start it.
I can understand that but can't empathise with it. I can't get my mind around it in terms of the thought process. If I have something I like it has to come out - whether it offers any commercial opportunity or not doesn't come into it. Only later do I consider whether or not anyone else might like it or if there is any liklihood of it fitting the current requirements of a money making piece (whatever they are!)
I do admire The Slaggs work btw as I have posted many times!
Quote: Frankie Rage @ January 18, 2008, 9:36 PMI think he may be a professional screen-writer
*Flutters Eyelashes*
I Love you Phil!
Quote: Charley @ January 19, 2008, 1:58 AM*Flutters Eyelashes*
I Love you Phil!
Does he write horror films? 
You'd have to ask his critics! 
A comedy-horror I co-wrote got described as "a new low for the British Empire" ...
I was quite proud of that.
My only suggestion would be to make a special note if its a video sketch. I tend to watch them more as its the final product and I like to see how it turns out.
I agree with Phill in that writing a sketch without a medium in mind is a bit peculiar. "Is it a play? Is it a poem? Is it graffiti?"
"It's just me expressing myself!" ... Seems odd. Surely one has something in mind when writing sketches. I always do.
I think most such formless ideas are usually flagged as such somewhere before the main text, like in the title or something, Phill.
Quote: James Williams @ January 19, 2008, 8:10 PMI agree with Phill in that writing a sketch without a medium in mind is a bit peculiar. "Is it a play? Is it a poem? Is it graffiti?"
"It's just me expressing myself!" ... Seems odd. Surely one has something in mind when writing sketches. I always do.I think most such formless ideas are usually flagged as such somewhere before the main text, like in the title or something, Phill.
Formless ideas? I'm sorry but that's purely you putting some wishy washy emphasis on it to suit your own viewpoint. I'd guess most of the stuff on this forum is written for the medium of this forum alone. Just because the writer doesn't have pretentions of it being taken beyond the forums boundaries doesn't make it worthless, pointless or formless.
Similarly I don't really see how writing TV, STAGE, RADIO aids what I've always assumed to be intelligent adults further understand the written script? Is it somehow funnier or well observed because I've written it radio at the top?
If somebody is so focused on writing for a particular show, or radio programme for cash can I ask why the hell are you putting it on view in the obviously the wrong context of a forum?
Quote: Rob B @ January 19, 2008, 8:36 PMFormless ideas? I'm sorry but that's purely you putting some wishy washy emphasis on it to suit your own viewpoint. I'd guess most of the stuff on this forum is written for the medium of this forum alone. Just because the writer doesn't have pretentions of it being taken beyond the forums boundaries doesn't make it worthless, pointless or formless.
Similarly I don't really see how writing TV, STAGE, RADIO aids what I've always assumed to be intelligent adults further understand the written script? Is it somehow funnier or well observed because I've written it radio at the top?
If somebody is so focused on writing for a particular show, or radio programme for cash can I ask why the hell are you putting it on view in the obviously the wrong context of a forum?
Woah, someone's taking my points far too personally.
'Wishy washy emphasis'?! If you don't have a form in mind for the piece then by definition it's formless.
Writing with a form in mind gives one 'pretensions' does it?! Nonsense.
For heaven's sake calm down and get some perspective. I just said that sketches without an obvious format in mind are normally flagged up as "ideas" or whatever. I've got nothing against people bashing ideas about. Everyone does it. I certainly didn't say such stuff was 'worthless'.
A finished work HAS to have a medium!!
And if you guess most of this stuff is written for this forum alone - as regards the critique section, you're just plain wrong.