Feedback from other writers

Hiya everyone...

Just wanted some advice and this is definitely the place...

Just finished writng my first treatment and was wondering do you think it's a good idea to put it on the site and get some feedback?

Is it risky?

People will only nick it if they think it's a good idea - so if they do then that is a compliment and quite encouraging really.

There's no risk of me reading it, as I try to avoid the 'critique' forum. But I'm only a newcomer here - veteran members will no doubt provide whatever encouragement, constructive criticism and praise you're seeking.

EDIT: Oh, risk of your material being swiped? Yes, consider it a compliment.

I'm with Marc. By all means share.

If this is your first project then it would probably do no harm posting it up in critique for some feedback. People have different views on whether to do this. Some worry about the idea been taken while others worry about the critisism it will actually recieve. Others like the feedback to gauge how they are doing.

If you are going to post the treatment do bear in mind that if the idea is good it can be lifted by anyone who can then put their own spin on things to produce an original piece of work. (as Marc P said, you could consider this flattering).

Critique can be a harsh world. You may think you have produced the mutts nuts of sitcom only to have it torn to bits. A thick skin will be required when you read replies.

So far doom and gloom - but there is an upside. Some of the comments you recieve can really help. The way I look at it is, that if just one comment helps me to improve my work then the whole exercise was worth it. There are a lot of experienced writers here who's little pearls of wisdom could assist you in changing the shape of your work for the better.

Def.

What about instead of posting it on the forum for all to see, sending it to a few of you more established writers for feedback, providing obviously that they have the time and aren't busy with their own projects.

Like I said because this is my first treament, I'm not expecting the idea to go down a storm I just want feedbak on the treatment itself, would it sell? Is it set out right? That sort of thing.

Edited by Aaron - spelling.

I would not worry about ideas being knicked, there are no new ideas, only new voices. Besides an established writer who could actually get the show made is unlikely to be lurking in Critique.

I have thought about this myself. With my sitcom I just PM'd people whose opinions I respected and asked if they would take a look.

Had a few people look and the feedback was really good. you can get much better feedback using the Microsoft Word review feature than you would by just getting comments in critique.

I recall posting a sitcom excerpt in Critique and getting some extremely useful feedback, particularly from Marc. I suppose how helpful it is depends on who bothers to respond, but the advantage of posting work for a general savaging, rather than just soliciting feedback from those you have established a rapport with, is that feelings are less likely to be spared, which is what you want.

I'd just get on and write the script. Nobody will just want to read a treatment. The pudding is the thing - as Shakespeare said - not the receit!

All posts are dated and logged forever. You're better off posting it than not, because then there's an unarguable date stamp associated with it.

Quote: Tom G @ April 2 2009, 2:25 PM BST

With my sitcom I just PM'd people whose opinions I respected and asked if they would take a look.

View original

And you've just let everyone else know that you don't respect their opinion.

Quote: Marc P @ April 2 2009, 3:23 PM BST

Nobody will just want to read a treatment.

View original

Surely everyone wants to read a 4000 word treatment. Especially if it has pictures!

Have decided to post...............!!

Please let me know what you think -

This is a situation comedy looking at love, friendship and the lengths people will go for money.

With the economic climate at an all time low and unemployment at its highest the last thing anyone would want to do is lose their job. Unfortunately for Jonas Lovechild & Adolf Stokes this is a situation they have to face and to add to their problems their room mate Lauren Lovechild announces she will moving out at the end of the week with her boyfriend Chad. The sudden severity of the situation is realised when Lauren also calls in a debt owed to her by the boys and wants the money before she moves out.

Jonas is a lad with big ideas but mainly about himself. After the death of his parents in his early teens Jonas lived on his own with no guide or boundaries. He sets about coming up with ideas to make as much money as possible with the least amount of effort.

Adolf is a social outcast in every sense of the word, with a name like Adolf it is no surprise. He is the son of an unsuccessful German punk band, his parents wild ways are most definitely not replicated by Adolf. He starts by panicking about the situation but then soon agreeing to do whatever Jonas asks him to in order to get the money and not let Lauren down.

Lauren is the mother of the three, always bailing the boys out of whatever trouble Jonas has got them into. Her middle class up bringing and strict parents hide what is a very wild side. She is frustrated at always being let down by her friends and so throws herself into her relationship with Chad for the stability she so craves.

So.. with only six days to find Lauren's money and this months rent also due Jonas and Adolf try to formulate a plan in which to come up with the cash. Any money in the bank has been spent by Jonas on sugar puffs due to a recurring nightmare about the honey monster, and there is definitely no time to get a new job so they scour the streets and the internet for ways to make money fast. There is also the idea of breaking Lauren and Chad up, but would the boys really go to such lengths to save some money?

Lauren, blissfully unaware that the boys are now unemployed, goes about planning her life with boyfriend Chad. But the more time she spends with Chad the more she begins to question the relationship; will she be able to go through it? Is living with her two best friends really that bad?

OTHER CHARACTERS

CHAD – Chad is Lauren's upper class, snobby boyfriend. Working in the city as a stock broker, to Chad money and image are the most important thing. Although on the surface he and Lauren look a perfect match Jonas doesn't see it, but does he care enough about Lauren to show her.

MR STOKES – Mr Stokes is Adolf German punk dad. Living off the fame of a number three hit he had back in the eighties, Mr Stokes spends his days busking, taking drugs and soliciting advice to Adolf, Jonas and Lauren. For every ninety nine crazy things said one bit of advice will be insightful.

MR ZIMNER – Mr Zimner is the landlord. He is a white midget running his tenants like he was a black pimp. With a ghetto image to keep up in front of everyone becomes increasingly annoyed about being reminded of his middle class up bringing.

Main questions really - would it sell?? is it even formatted right?

Thanks Guys & Gals

x

Are Jonas and Lauren related, what with having the same surname?

no a silly error on my part..........!!!

no a silly error on my part..........!!!