Screenwriting : As a screenwriter, what are you going to do better in 2017? by Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal"

I will get back with you on this....I'm still laughing out loud at the cartoon. :-)

Linda: That's why I picked that one for this thread. "War and Peace and Cabbage" doesn't have the same ring does it

First of all, Phillip, congratulations on the award! Now, as far as what I hope to do better in 2017: 1. Write every day without excuses or procrastination 2. Slow the pace and not always rush to the finish line 3. Focus more on quality instead of quantity 4. Thoroughly research who I pitch to 5. Truly look at why I do this in the first place 6. Not give up on an idea just because I haven’t found the right avenue yet 7. Trust my instincts even though it may not be what works for others

No. Not at all. lol

Linda H: Holy cow! That's an insightful list. Well done.

Thanks, Phillip. After finishing the TV pilot in the S32 Write Club Challenge, I jumped the gun and pitched it (the first week in December) to many executives on different sites, and also submitted it to two different executives for the S32 First 10 Pages coverage, without thoroughly doing my research. I received 12 passes altogether, with conflicting and sometimes confusing feedback. But on the plus side, I also received these encouraging words: “interesting concept,” “interesting project” and “very cool and original concept.” So, I’ve stepped back from it for the past few weeks and am ready to look at it with those new goals in mind in 2017. :-)

Evolve and reinvent. Same as usual but perhaps this time will be a bit better due to what I call the personal trudge of 2016 making excuses combined with crappy luck and Doubting Thomas Syndrome in a environment I can't always control. I kind of figure this to also be normal in my development doing this stuff a solid 5-6 years. I still love the craft and feel the most like myself doing and articulating it. I extremely dislike when the practical personal life gets in the way of the business and creative life. So evolve and reinvent with the proper balance (Lesser worrying about personal self while retaining my own agenda.) geared for success. Michael Lee Burris "I will never stop driving that revolutionary wheel of desire and determination always needing help along the way."

Write more emotionally powerful screenplays about cabbage.

Phillip, I sincerely plan on tightening my moments and making more of them cinematic. Regardless of my love of words it's a damn visual medium so I'll be ramping up the memorable "movie moments". Great thread!

William: Admirable!

William....like "Ripped to Shreds" starring Cole Slaw....okay sorry....couldn't help myself. lol

I will not only write for the hopes of pitching or business. I will write for the therapy of my own soul.

Volunteer, meet filmmakers, have fun.

2017: Move on to the next story. Keep moving forward! Pitch ideas to more people earlier on in the writing process. Finish the course I'm currently taking.

I hate rewrite & proofreading, so I gotta do it, then start getting constructive notes from trusted consultants here on S32. Gotta do it, screenplay #9 Write Club 2016 is almost finished. Great question, Philip E. Thanks, buddy.

Jorge: Thanks and Happy New Year!

Finish.

Phillip, congrats on your many successes of 2016. I wish you and everyone else here at S32 the best of luck in 2017. I want to better myself at screenplays, make something happen with my production company that I just newly formed, form collaborations with like-minded individuals (hint...hint to all those living in the Ocala, Orlando, Tampa Florida areas), and just try to be the best that I can be.

network, get my scripts into more hands.

Izzibella: Thanks and I like your goals.

Good luck, everybody here in 2017! I hope to find the right producer for my miniseries.

Great thread, and congratulations on your progress Phillip. You set the bar high. :) So, I'll have a lash at this. I started the year flailing, not sure of the direction I needed to go in. Then I had a one hour session with a producer here on Happy Writers after he had read my script, and go some great advice and direction, making tons of notes and really reflecting on it. Then I rewrote based on feedback, got some great direction in log lines from Mr. Hardy himself, and submitted my first feature in a few contests, where it didn't make any quarter-finals but did do well in the Page making the top 25% which was encouraging, but more importantly, taught me that listening and considering the feedback I was getting was not easy but worthwhile. This year, it's going to be about working a little harder, moving forward, and not allowing myself to sit back and lose momentum. I've already submitted my second feature for coverage (while I step back a little from the first as I need to sometimes take a little break), and I've outlined my third feature. Its always about learning, and the more I learn, the more I realize I need to learn...so that's the direction. Good luck everyone in your dreams, and Phil, keep being you! You have my utmost respect, and you are a good friend.

Brian: Great contribution to this thread. Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm always happy to help. I read another S32 member script this weekend and it was very good. That's one of the great things about this community. To quote Wavy Gravy from the film documentary Woodstock, "We're all feedin' each other man!"

Haha Aray I was just about to post, manage my time better! I need to spend more time writing this year and want to have at least 3-4 completed scripts by year's end. My New Year started with a read request from a fairly big production company, so fingers crossed that this is a harbinger of good things for 2017.

Write better characters, scenes, and stories

@Dan G. Great! Do it! Best wishes to you.

Phillip, Dan -I have an Emmy and Peabody award winning screenwriter who I hired to take off my two characters and we are finally marketing it this year. If you know or anyone knows of someone interested in joining the funding on the feature film, let me know and email me at doctaroe@aol.com. My characters will be as effective as Finding Dory once they get on the silver screen. They are our passion and we know they will soar like eagles! Believe in your passions and they will yield.

Here is my passion...............! Finally trademarked and branded! Great 2017 to come!

That's what's up, Roe, and I'm curious... What Project(s) are your last two posts referring to?

Shawn, my series is The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba and I have a screenplay written by an Emmy award winner based on my series which is currently being marketed for this year. Are you on LinkedIn? You can probably view it best there. Thanks for your interest, Shawn.

Roe: Good luck with your project. Your characters look nice. I know zippo about the animation market, so I'm afraid I couldn't be much help.

Phillip-thanks so much, I am glad you like the characters. Most are positively receptive to them. If you come across any connections please feel free to refer me.

Nope, Roe. Don't do LI. Just S32 and FB. Have you thought about posting your work on S32? Some creatives like myself will just move on instead of leaving the network due to lack of time.

I have posted on FB and Stage 32 on my profile. I am new to S32 so not sure where you are referring to click it to post. It is on my profile page. Enlighten me if there is more.