Only The Writing Ends At FADE TO BLACK

Let’s talk…from one writer to another…this profession is not for the weak hearted.  Patience, persistence, self preservation, are all necessary ingredients to push on when you are faltering, when the words and scenes are not flowing, when you are on your 7^th rewrite knowing there is not much more you can contribute to the story but have to write something.

Here are some more poignant questions to ask yourself…(as writers, our questions must be poignant!)  Does your creativity also channel into all the practical aspects of being a respected writer? How are your proof reading skills?  Are you up on your cutting and pasting repertoire with word processing software?  Can you afford the Industry’s latest and greatest scriptwriting software; and successfully load it onto your computer so formatting a screenplay is at your fingertips?  Let’s not forget about binding your script properly with the exact holes and margins in the right places.  Have you already done this?

Are you ready to scream like I am to the universe about how unfair it is that we have to follow all these details in order to claim the title of “professional” rather than “amateur” screenwriter in Hollywood?  We are warned in the quoted information below, in paragraph 1, that if we do not pay attention to the details, our work will never see the light of day in a scripts agent’s office.

Why do we write anyway if the process is so convoluted and sometimes painful?  As you read all the words below regarding “Formats, Covers and Protecting OH MY!!!  (Do I hear echoes of the Wizard of Oz here?) Maybe YOU will ask yourself: WHY DO I WRITE? OH MY!!!

 “After many exhausting months of writing, you’ve finally typed those greatly anticipated words on the final draft of your brilliant screenplay: FADE OUT.  Now that the script is as fantastic as you can possibly make it and you’re ready to enter it in contests or send it out to agents, it’s time to REALLY make sure your script is perfect. Since you’ve spent so much time and effort on your writing, you wouldn’t want to submit an unprofessional looking script filled with typos, spelling and grammatical errors or a cover that screams ‘amateur.’  With the enormous stacks of scripts agents and readers have to sift through on a daily basis, it’s crucial to present a script that stands out as neat and professional. Here are some points to keep in mind so that your script will be taken seriously.

Read, Read, Read

Once I finish a script, I find it useful to print out a hard copy of the entire script and read it from the beginning, word for word, at least three or four times. With each read, you might find typos or errors that your software didn’t catch. Don’t count solely on your screenwriting program to discover every type of error you may have in your script“. For example, a scrip program might not catch some grammatical errors that a program like Microsoft Word does.  So to make sure the grammar is correct, cut and paste the completed script onto Microsoft Word and find grammatical errors that you didn’t see with a script-writing program. “Once you’re finished with that, either let someone else give it a careful read-through or do one final spell check with your software before you print.

Format Counts

With the days of typing a script with a typewriter long since gone, screenwriting software has taken the guesswork out of the proper screenplay format for new screenwriters and allows them to concentrate more on writing than trying to remember where the parentheticals go. If you don’t yet have screenwriting software, consider it a worthwhile investment in your screenwriting career. Sure, you can get by without it, but it’ll definitely make your life as a writer much easier.” There are websites out there that review some of the most popular screenwriting programs.

“Typically, scripts will have one-inch margins around the top, right and bottom of the page and an inch and a half margin on the left where the three holes are punched. Most screenwriting software has a feature that lets you ‘cheat’ by adjusting the formatting of the pages to make your script longer or shorter. Although this is a helpful feature, it is best to only use it sparingly. Most feature-length scripts fall in the range of 110 to 130 pages. If your script is 109 pages or 132 pages and you want to lengthen or shorten it by a page or two, no one will know the difference. However, if you think you’re going to transform your 150 page script into a 120 page script, forget about it. When you’re ready to print, make sure you have the proper type paper for your printer. Laser printers usually make sharper copy, but a good quality inkjet can be just fine. For printing a master copy of my script, I find that 24 lb. weight printer paper holds up better for making numerous photocopies. When you make photocopies of your script, go with regular 20 lb. weight, 3-hole punched paper. 

Covers and Brads

To have your script taken seriously, appearance definitely counts. A great script with the wrong kind of cover or binding might not get the attention it deserves. Some new writers often make the mistake of putting fancy covers or decorative lettering on their scripts. Remember to keep it simple so that your writing and story stands out, not your graphic design talent. Your script’s title should be centered on the page, with ‘by Your Name’ just beneath the title.” You can find lots of example on the internet. “In the bottom left hand corner should be your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. There’s no need to write your script’s WGA registration number since it will be assumed that you’ve already protected your script. The script’s cover should be made of plain card stock paper, which you can find at office supply stores. Plain white or light, neutral colors are the best choices. You wouldn’t want your script with a bright green cover to fall in the hands of a reader who can’t stand the color green. The industry standard brads are ‘Acco #5 Solid Brass Fasteners’ which are 1 ” inch and will work with the average 110 to 130 page screenplay. Along with the brads, you may want to use ‘Acco Brass Washers’ to secure the brads. Both are inexpensive and can be found at Office supply store.

Protecting Your Script

Protecting your script is the next important step that should be done before you make photocopies or let anyone read it.  There are several ways to protect your screenplay. The Writer’s Guild of America, www.wga.org, offers a script registration service for both members and non-members.

When you send the WGA a copy of your script and a fee (currently $10 for members, $20 for non-members), they send you a certificate with the title of your screenplay, which can be used to establish the date of creation. They also retain a copy of your script in the event that you need proof of creation. The WGA now offers online script registration which makes it faster and easier to register a script. The other option you can consider is copyrighting your script with the Copyright Office. The Library of Congress’s Copyright website is where you can download copyright forms and find out more information about obtaining a copyright: www.loc.gov/copyright. The current cost for a copyright is $30.  

Now that your script is finally finished, looks fabulous and is all ready to send out, you can relax’ or maybe get started on that next script!

Now that you have these few simple steps on screening writing. Go forth and write and remember formats and protecting yourself. Now head to the black.”

A few simple steps on screening writing!  I counted about 5 steps and did not necessarily find any of them simple.  However, this is a detailed account of points we can all follow for success.  I am thankful I now have a plan.

Why do I write, OH MY!!!  Maybe I am a masochist but it feels so good to create.  The feeling of connection with words flowing through my fingers and onto the page refreshes my soul over and over.  I fly over the clouds of my mundane life and reach the highest peak, free of rules, free of restrictions. 

Now fade to black.