I've been pitching various projects in my slate to execs here for awhile, and all of my written pitches up until now have been fairly high scored (4+ average across all scorecard variables) and all of them are fairly encouraging and positive about the pitch and concept, with half of the pitches being script requests and half being passes.
However, today I received one that has very low scores across the board (mostly 2s) and a ton of critical feedback. But here's the thing. The exec is correct in all of her feedback. In fact, her feedback made me reassess not just the pitch I made to her but how I approach the 2 page pitch document as a whole. I need to do a better job crafting the story in a concise but narrative-heavy way, so that it doesn't devolve into a "this happens and then that happens, leading to this happening" approach. In rereading the pitch I sent to her, I completely missed on that.
Next step for me is to rewrite the pitch from scratch, condensing the story while keeping the soul intact, and delivering on the emotional stakes and character journeys, rather than the setting and the outcome.
I bring this up because I have been somewhat spoiled by "good" outcomes of my pitches so far and was taking for granted that I had the art of written pitches figured out. Not mastered, there's always room to improve, but I felt I had a good grip on it. Now I realize I need to continue to improve and deliver where the gaps in the pitch are. This is one of the reasons I appreciate this place so much. Education is a step towards professional work, and each review and outcome makes me stronger.
(Maurice, if you read this, I wasn't sure if this should go in the Screenwriting or Anything Goes lounges, so feel free to move it if I got it wrong with my apologies.)
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Well. That's a question and a half. One I don't truly have an answer for.
It used to be a simple "I always have, even as a kid". After my long walk with the dreaded block... My answer is a little diff...
Expand commentWell. That's a question and a half. One I don't truly have an answer for.
It used to be a simple "I always have, even as a kid". After my long walk with the dreaded block... My answer is a little different.
Why do I write?
Because I breathe. And I have no intent on letting me stop myself again. I let me get in my own way for too long.
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Maurice, I'm very much with Martin about writing...writing's my F-U-N.
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Why do I write? For me, it’s my escape from this world. It’s a place where—even if I’m writing about something painful—it still feels like a way out. I often write about things I don’t dare or don’t w...
Expand commentWhy do I write? For me, it’s my escape from this world. It’s a place where—even if I’m writing about something painful—it still feels like a way out. I often write about things I don’t dare or don’t want to say out loud, things I only dare to dream about. New ideas keep coming, new worlds, new versions… and if I didn’t write them down, they would tear me apart. Maybe nothing will ever come of them, but writing is still my way to escape. With every story, I begin a new life.
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I have many reason to write. Of course, I choose this passion to convert it in money making job, being the main reason but apart from that it is reflection of my existing brain which can produce multi...
Expand commentI have many reason to write. Of course, I choose this passion to convert it in money making job, being the main reason but apart from that it is reflection of my existing brain which can produce multiple ideas.
Writing when you feel to write is a hobby but consistency, discipline and dedication for writing is your commitment and shows what you can be as a writer. These all I have learnt and practicing currently.
There are many days when you don't feel to write specially when it becomes tough job and no more happy escape. And here is a real role of mine as a writer to proof myself and keep going. Because if I call myself as a professional writer , I should keep doing my work and finding out solutions for every obstacles.
I write, since my dreams are banging to get out of my head, so I put them into Word and/ir Final Draft files.