Joyce Jahnke's Blog
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Continuing from my last blog…I made a plan and stuck to it. I took one day off this past week from writing and…I caught a cold… Very interesting…I wonder if there's a connection.
In regards to my script, after allowing a single scene to dance around in my head for a week or so, I was able to finalize it (to the best of my ability.) So I am in full pre-production mode and I'm starting to learn more and more about producing.
I wanted to talk this week about analyzing feedback on spec scripts. As a screenwriter, I know how eager we can be when it comes to having someone read our spec scripts right away, (whether it's complete or not.) But who are the best people to take a look at our scripts? What are we looking to get out of it? And where do we draw the line?
I often have friends in the industry, that I trust, read over my work and give me feedback. Regardless of their level of experience, -- actors, directors, producers and other screenwriters are among those that I prefer to interact with regarding the quality of my work. My social and personal friends just don't know how to identify with the craft. They would be helpful if I needed them to review a film but not a script.
I find it helpful to let my readers know ahead of time what I need most from their input in order to improve my draft. My personal motto is "I can only get better with negative feedback". I sometimes get more then I bargain.
I tend to want feedback concerning:
Format: Is all of the technical stuff in place? I have often been accused in the past of telling a story and not showing a story. Authors tell a story but screenwriters show it. Therefore, are all of my scene heading in place, is my hook early enough to grab and keep the readers attention etc.
Story: How's my hook? What do you think of the points? Is it interesting? Is it complete?
Characters and Dialogue: Good guys/Bad guys…How does it feel? Is the conversation realistic or way too lame and/or predicting
Grammar and spelling: I am a writer. I have the worst grammar and spelling then anyone I know. When receiving feedback I need to know how's my grammar and spelling throughout the entire script?
What I don't need to know is:
That I am a good writer.
That my script is "the bomb".
When I hear those two replies or anything similar I often assume that my script wasn't read with care or at all.
Once I receive feedback, regardless of whose it's coming from I ALWAYS carefully dissect their suggestions and take from it only what I totally agree with. Not sure if it defeats the whole purpose of having someone take time out to help in the first place…
Having others read our material is very important however, we must train ourselves to listen as well as not to listen when it comes to our work (especially if the reader doesn't plan to give us a big fat check.) In the past I would try to accommodate all advice given and the end result would be a huge mess of a script.
Joyce Jahnke
Screenwriter/Producer
Check out Joyce Jahnke on IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2643456/
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