On the MA course publishers do they that there is a distinctive style where you can tell that the people have been on a Creative Writing course and in the workshops I have found a lot of people do tend write safe technically perfect but bland pieces, through being scared of not adhereing to all of things they are taught.
but do you think seeing that "distinctive style" would help them read past the magic "first ten"
J26
Quote: Marc P @ October 18 2009, 10:44 PM BSTAre you mentoring James?
I am his guardian.
Quote: Johnny26 @ October 19 2009, 12:48 PM BSTbut do you think seeing that "distinctive style" would help them read past the magic "first ten"
If your distinctive style leads to good writing, then yes. If you possess a distinctive writer's "voice" and you can also produce accessible and original scripts, then it should only go in your favour.
Tell a good story! That's what hooks people in to reading past page ten. It's that's simple. People often forget it though. Ask yourself what makes a good story? If you can't answer it - do some thinking and some analysis.
Quote: Marc P @ October 19 2009, 1:28 PM BSTTell a good story! That's what hooks people in to reading past page ten. It's that's simple. People often forget it though. Ask yourself what makes a good story? If you can't answer it - do some thinking and some analysis.
Good point. In too many sitcom scripts (especially) you can read the first couple of scenes and no real plot has been established. Make a point of getting the story for the episode alluded to as early as possible. Far too often no sense of intrigue is established early on. As a reader, you end-up wading through the first ten pages without the feeling there is a story that you want to know the ending to.
Yeah. That will be five hundred pounds please. It's not a long course but it's an effective one.
Quote: Marc P @ October 19 2009, 1:28 PM BSTTell a good story! That's what hooks people in to reading past page ten. It's that's simple. People often forget it though. Ask yourself what makes a good story? If you can't answer it - do some thinking and some analysis.
so will a "good reader" see through a less "schooled" script and champion that script or do they really want the complete package?
J26
Quote: Marc P @ October 19 2009, 3:01 PM BSTYeah. That will be five hundred pounds please. It's not a long course but it's an effective one.
i wish I read the price before I asked the question
J26
There is no such thing as a good reader, just good scipts.
That's a bonus for completing the course.
Quote: Johnny26 @ October 19 2009, 3:02 PM BSTso will a "good reader" see through a less "schooled" script and champion that script or do they really want the complete package?
The technical aspects of structuring a script aren't massively extensive, nor are they particularly difficult to learn. They are important, not because it shows the writer is well "schooled", but because structure tends to produce a better script to translate into radio/TV/film. Unless you have a truly ground-breaking and unique take on a genre, I don't think however original your voice/vision is, you'd be wise to ignore the basic "laws" of scriptwriting and expect it to be well-received.
Quote: Johnny26 @ October 19 2009, 12:48 PM BSTbut do you think seeing that "distinctive style" would help them read past the magic "first ten"
J26
I don't know, I do think courses can teach you how to write good solid stuff but I think it can be devoid of a lot of individuality. A lot of the things they teach are stuff not to do which is obviously useful but it means, IMO, that the some people are too scared to experiment or break the rules.
that's the first course I have ever completed, I'm getting all emotional, it was well worth the fee, I'm just off to find an agent.
J26
You can find them all over the place.
following on from my last post do you think it is worth entering somthing like the sit-commission thingy and getting feed back from them
J26
i just spoke to one on the phone, he only wants 1 1/2% that's quite good
J26
what is a sole agency?
J26
[quote name="Johnny26" post="522431" date="October 19 2009, 3:21 PM BST"]following on from my last post do you think it is worth entering somthing like the sit-commission thingy and getting feed back from them
Yes I think it is a good idea.
J26
i just spoke to one on the phone, he only wants 1 1/2% that's quite good
J26
If you mean one and a half percent he is not a proper agency.
what is a sole agency?
That's next door to the newsagency and he is a fishmonger.