New Here

[uncle_al]

Thanks, Padma.  I appreciate your response.
{deep breath}
Okay, then.
Since this is what we do, the thing is to do it the best we can. 

So what's stopping you?

In most cases I've run across (including my own case), what's stopping you is you.
Get out of your own way.  It makes things a whole lot easier.

And, on that ambiguous note...

Cheers!
Al B.

[padnar]

What uncle-al says is right. I am passionate about my writng.
I am always ready to work on suggstions but stop writing never.
As he says we dont know how not to
padma

[uncle_al]

Sorry I was interrupted in my previous post...
(What's fifteen days between acquaintances, after all?)
Where in Detroit are you located?  I'm just north of the city, around Nine Mile and John R (yes, where the bridge over I-75 collapsed).
Yes, there's a difference between amateur and professional... and it's not necessarily about getting paid for it.  (That does help, of course...) In a nutshell, here's my definition:

The difference between an amateur and a professional is in the attitude.  A professional is always willing to learn from someone else, whether from their example or from their mistakes.  A professional knows that it can always be better, but that the best you can get at the point where you have to send it off is what has to be.  A professional knows that writing the first draft is the first 90% of the project... and each additional draft is the next 90%.
(Think about it... if you've been writing any length of time, it'll make perfect sense.)

What's been said once is worth repeating... "Anyone who can be discouraged from writing should be."  (I misremember who said it, but I'll look it up and get back to you.)

That just leaves the field to those like me, who write because we don't know how NOT to.

Cheers!

Al B.

[yacub]

I would like to say thanks for the information

[uncle_al]

okay here I go. My name is daryl nance and I have been writing books since the 8th grade. I have never been to school for it and have not tooken any classes. I just like to write. I have wroten a script for this book I wrote. don't want to give the name away because I need to get it copy written first. I have a poor mans copyright but I am still scared to give any information on it, not even the name. I live in detroit mi and I love dreaming and being creative. I always have. So this is a site that I would love to learn from because I have no Idea where to go now. I don't think my work is profesional because I don't know all of the big words or stuff that you guys be talking about. but I would love to learn so if anyone can help me out with what to do next hit me up. Lets see hum... Oh yea I am 20 years old very young but also very talented And I have some great books that I want to write scripts for but need help so there you go Darylnance@rocketmail.com   

Daryl,
There are a few things I can see you need to work on just from your email.
English grammar and spelling seem to be two of them.
Never having been to school for writing is not a handicap; some of the most respected authors in literature had never been through any formal course on writing.  Several come to mind immediately; Shakespeare, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Studs Terkel...
Liking to write, it seems to me, is half the battle...
About adapting your own book... it does save you from the problem of obtaining the rights to adapt the property, since you own it to begin with.  And, just so you know, "poor man's copyright" is only mildly effective in these days of the Berne Convention copyright treaties.  You have a copyright on the material as soon as it is "fixed" - that is, written down.
More later...
Cheers!
Al B.

[yacub]

okay here I go. My name is daryl nance and I have been writing books since the 8th grade. I have never been to school for it and have not tooken any classes. I just like to write. I have wroten a script for this book I wrote. don't want to give the name away because I need to get it copy written first. I have a poor mans copyright but I am still scared to give any information on it, not even the name. I live in detroit mi and I love dreaming and being creative. I always have. So this is a site that I would love to learn from because I have no Idea where to go now. I don't think my work is profesional because I don't know all of the big words or stuff that you guys be talking about. but I would love to learn so if anyone can help me out with what to do next hit me up. Lets see hum... Oh yea I am 20 years old very young but also very talented And I have some great books that I want to write scripts for but need help so there you go Darylnance@rocketmail.com   

[ScriptNurse]

I'm curious how you wrote a screenplay without having a logline first.

[padnar]

Hi,
welcome from India and I am sure if you post your first ten pages
people will help you.
padma

[carolrn]

Hello
I just finished a (first draft) screenplay. I'm now trying to write the logline and synopsis.
Where can I post it for comments?

I'm actually a nurse, though my screenplay is not about nursing.
Carol