Screenwriting : How Much of Your Work Should You Share on Social Media? by Ana "Quin" Quinata

I find that sharing too much on FB leads to resentment from people who aren't qualified to do anything with your work anyway. If a professional doesn't enjoy reading your script then certainly your friends will hate you for making them read it, right?

Sharing is fine as long as you protect yourself. Register and copyright your work, and dont share til its ready unless youre really looking for criticism and feedback.

@Danny - Through what avenues do you or would you share your work on social media provided you've taken the steps to keep yourself protected? I have submitted for copyrights for projects but I suppose I'm wondering how to make the most out of this technological age we live in.

well, i dont share my work on social media to be honest.

CJ, do your comments on the LOC also apply to non-Americans?

CJ, I love the way you see things. Ana, the thing you have to always remember is that you can't copyright the idea, only the actual version you have created of it. But, if you don't find ways to get it out there, then it never will get out there. It's something that all writers have a little fear of (or a lot of fear of sometimes) but that is also something which chokes the creative spirit and discourages writers. You can't move forward as a professional writer if no one sees your work. The dilemma then is what do you do. I think part of what CJ is saying that is very good advice, is to find your comfort zone and keep moving forward. For myself, I agree that LOC is the only true resource. There is a lot of controversy growing about the usefulness of WGAW though I think that having your work registered in multiple places can never hurt you in the long run, if you can afford to do that. I register in three places...LOC, WGAW, and the Canadian version of LOC (which is really not very useful but I like having things on record at home).

Just enough to make somebody want to see more.

@CJ - How did you know I adore JK? All kidding aside, I've been working on a story for about 10 years and the only reason I allowed that instructor to see my work on it was because I knew I would be moving. If he didn't like it, no harm done. I could continue writing it in secret on my own. Instead he loved it and all it took was him saying that to make me shake because I literally thought no one would care about my subject matter that I found so precious. I don't think anyone can tell the story the way I can and with so much care. I have registered my pilot episode with the LOC and am currently working on episode 2 and 3. If you don't mind me asking, WHERE do you share your work that you've found is most beneficial?

@Brian - I do register with the LOC but because the WGA registrations have expiration dates, I can't justify the cost of it. I have submitted my pilot to a couple contests and intend to get it entered in the Stage 32 TV writing competition as well. I'm started to get my work out there more and more, I just don't know how much to make accessible to the general public. Would a "first 10" (or 20) page share be advisable or is it better to do so with a script in it's entirety?

Great question, Ana. The advice so far is all fantastic...what I can contribute to it comes solely from my own experience. I freelanced for a long time, and I can say that "getting yourself out there" online doesn't have to be strictly limited to your "work" (i.e scripts). For example, lots of folks I know in the indie comics/writing community run blogs, FB pages, or Tumblr blogs, and share opinions, WIP snapshots, and stories there. They're not sharing every scrap of their work, but they are creating and curating an online presence for anyone who is interested, and proving that they can produce content on the regular. Here on Stage 32, you can do that just by being active in the Lounges, as you are. And remember, anyone who really wants to see your work? They'll ask. I used to use a platform called Journoportfolio, which allowed you to curate your creative work and store files in one place. (Similar to Google Drive, but shinier). You can use a site like that to create a protected page that you could link people to if they want to see scripts.

@Matt - I'm going to look into Journoportfolio. Thank you for mentioning it. Do you know how much users utilize the script/logline upload feature for their profiles? What has been the response from those that do?

@Ana. Getting your write ups copyrighted will keep you at the safe end. Yeah, I love Matt's words; just a scrap of your work not all of it. Make an idea list. Have ideas or stories to share on social media. It is very profitable to build an impeccable online pressence at this time. Have ideas for a standard project and those you can develop on the long run. Write more for the fun of everything. With that, I guess you have nothing to fear. If there is a thief, he has done himself little good picking bread crumbs, fallen off the table. Lol...

Hi Ana. You're right to be cautious. Someone else taking credit for your idea is rare, but it does happen. If I'm really passionate about an idea I register it with LOC or WGA before putting it out there. As you said, LOC doesn't expire, but if it's a script I intended to send out immediately, then I settle for WGA. I've used the loglines on Stage 32 quite a bit, just posted a short on my page inspired by Batman and Superman. It's mainly for my own amusement - I've had a few comments but no real success with it.

don't worry 'bout it. If your material is great, it's cheaper to buy you out than to steal.

I don't like that professor's idea of putting work out for public view unless it's copyrighted. That sounds potentially risky.

If you feel sharing your work is important to you I would suggest striking a relationship with fellow writers and starting -or joining- a group. Share projects and give eachother notes and stuff like that. I would find people who are not friends to participate. But if your screenplay is ready to place into competition you are either ready to search for an agent yourself or ready to move on to another project that may garner more attention at a reputable contest. Notes from a professional are essential in order to continue a "completed" project. There are a plethora of resources online for connecting with such professionals, although for a pretty penny. I'd be happy to read your work myself if you'd be happy hearing my honest opinion. I'm sure anybody else here would as well. There's a whole number of ways of getting your screenplay read by people. Write an article for an online site for whatever you follow on FB and on the little bio at the bottom your allowed to write whatever you want about yourself including links to your work and all that.

@Arran I hadn't considered speed when thinking about WGA registration so you make a good point. Sort of cover yourself while waiting on the LOC to move glacially. Thank you for that piece of advice. I added a couple loglines to my profile though I think I probably need more practice with them.

Ana, just to point out... The fact that you are the writer/creator gives you automatic copyright of your work. Period. Registering it with the LOC gives an official date of when you claim copyright. Registering gives you stronger legal standing should you ever need it. It's simple. It's practical. So even if you register a script with the LOC online and are waiting for the official paperwork to arrive in the mail feel free to share it—it's in the system, it's dated, you paid for it and have a receipt, plus you already have copyright as the original writer and owner of your specific execution. And those in the industry who may be interested in reading your work may not do so unless it is registered because your copyright registration protects them too. However most will not accept unsolicited work registered or not. Just an example, let's say you approach a studio exec to pitch your vampire script, and unknown to you they already have a vampire script in development, therefore more than likely they will flat out refuse to hear your pitch or read your script simply to protect themselves and their company. Even so, their vampire script has a registered copyright; your vampire script has a registered copyright. Both scripts are about vampires but their executions are different, and the registered dates prove claim of copyright. Many screenwriting competitions require copyright registration for the same reason—a registered copyright protects everyone who comes into contact with a script; there's official documentation of its creation and by whom. The industry is a small community; no one wants to tarnish their reputation, and most people/companies already have their own projects to produce. As Dan M already stated, it's cheaper to just buy a script than steal it. The group that infringes upon copyright the most are student filmmakers. They just don't quite understand that producing a script without getting written permission from the writer, and then posting that production on YouTube is copyright infringement. Anyway, perhaps study copyright. Get the facts. Then don't worry about it! Focus on writing! Best to you! :)

@Beth - Thank you for that clarification! I always thought it needed to be registered to have any sort of ground to stand on.

Sure, you're welcome, Ana. But still register your copyright. Lol! It's an easy step. It's often expected (as explained) and rather typical. No big deal. So just do it, and share your work however you feel comfortable. :) Oh, of course, do not put that registered copyright or WGA registration number on your script title page... Because these registrations are generally expected and typical, by placing them on your title page that makes you look "paranoid" and unprofessional—sorry, it just does! It's one of those "things." Lol! Just file your official registered copyright and know it's there if needed. People interested in your script may ask you if it is registered, to double-check. You just say "yup." Again, best to you! :)

Why risk it Claude? Registering takes 10 mins online and is easy to do. You're still able to make changes without having to re-register as long as they're not really big changes so get it done as soon as you're ready to show it to anyone.

I register my stuff and share loglines. I'll share my short scripts and whatnot... what I keep guarded (except for pitch sessions, writing groups, coverage, etc.) is the actual pilot or feature script - the executive of the idea is what's important.

Guys, again, registering your already-owned-copyright registers your claim of copyright with the LOC—gives it a solid, hold-up-in-court date. BUT when you create an original piece of writing, you automatically get certain property rights in that work. These rights are called "copyright" and automatically attach to certain works. Nothing more needs to be done to gain the protections of the law. If your work is copyrightable, it will be copyrighted as soon as it is "fixed." And "fixed" means making it tangible, like writing your story idea in the form of a screenplay, or treatment—the execution. However there may be certain reasons you wish to register your copyright and formally protect it well into the future... Reasons like wishing to claim copyright infringement should the need arise. And thus registering your copyright gives you a solid basis to do so—the reason why it's so common to register copyright in screenwriting. So, Claude, I don't share your views on such matters... I would share the 10 pages as I already own the copyright as the creator of the original writing. If you prefer, go ahead and register those 10 pages before sharing. However if those 10 pages are part of a larger work, it would be very easy to register it as a whole before sharing the script in its entirety with that producer—just a few minutes online. Why wouldn't they wait? But do whatever makes you comfortable. ;)

Look, I'm not a lawyer. But I have been advised by some copyright lawyers... In my past working in graphics and advertising I've had to register trademarks, as an artist, etc... Anyway, most of this information is readily available online. Seek it out. Learn it for yourself. It's pretty straightforward. ;)

Maybe it's not social media but you could put a script on Blacklist. However, this is if you're ready to sell.

Beth must be talkin' to some legal types – but what she says is pretty much spot-on. When you write it, it's automatically yours. The best way to prevent theft of your marvelous story is to not share it with others – but isn't that a basic idea behind screenwriting - to put your story up on a screen to share with others?

Doug, I find your comments so wise.