What's going on in the share your work section?

[curious1980]

I've noticed that not too many people share their work in the screenplay section. Why do you think that is?

[Stijn Hommes]

Probably because it's a pain to get the right formatting in and because it's harder to break up in meaningful pieces. I also suspect there are less screenwriters on the site as a whole.

[Mumut]

I think you're right about fewer screenwriters but I'm hugely happy that I shared the first few pages of action of my first screenplay. I'm writing the second and will share it again. At that stage I might feel competent to look at the work of others and add my thoughts. So I would encourage any new scriptwriters to get the fantastic help that's available in SYW.

[icerose]

Probably because it's a pain to get the right formatting in and because it's harder to break up in meaningful pieces. I also suspect there are less screenwriters on the site as a whole.

The formatting actually isn't very hard once you know how to do it. In your script writing program you save it as a text file with formatting. Then you go into that text file copy the chunk you want it and put it in a code box. It looks like # in your options above when you're creating your message. The formatting goes in perfect and even gives you a nifty scroll box to work in.

As to why not many post there, fewer script writers, scripts take a while to do, most take months, so you'll only see people post every few months, filter that down and you just won't see much work very often.

I rarely critique there myself because I know I'm a harsh critiquer and if people sit there and argue with me, it ticks me off and it's just not a good combo. So I save my critiques for requests for the most part.

[killbox]

Most writers have either close friends/readers who regularly read their work or they are part of a writers group that shares work with each other. I'm part of a group.

Because of that, I've never really felt a need or inclination to post it online.

[zeprosnepsid]

I've never posted there despite the fact that I post on Zoetrope and some other places because I just haven't been in a situation where I need 10 pages or less critiqued. It's great if you have a really problematic scene or you want to shore up your first 10, but because of the page limit that's all it's really helpful for.

But since your first 10 are probably the most important for a spec script, it's still a very valuable potential resource. And I'm sure that problem scene is in my future...

[mario_c]

Things go in cycles, and right now things seem to be slow. The script writing community on AW is small but determined, and at some point the traffic into SYW will pick up again. Honestly, I come here more to lurk around and chat with different people, but I've gotten invaluable feedback on my query letters and script intros in there. I would do it again.
Well, a few of you post on Zoetrope too - hope to see your scripts there soon!

[curious1980]

Things go in cycles, and right now things seem to be slow. The script writing community on AW is small but determined, and at some point the traffic into SYW will pick up again. Honestly, I come here more to lurk around and chat with different people, but I've gotten invaluable feedback on my query letters and script intros in there. I would do it again.
Well, a few of you post on Zoetrope too - hope to see your scripts there soon!

I agree with you and the others. At least it's slowed down for a positive reason. :)

[Grandmaster]

I thought it was because everyone's outside now, enjoying the sunshine.

Icerose is a GREAT person to give you feedback so anyone who wants to argue with her in that section...

Curious1980,
I personally am at a mid-way between a piece so could maybe do a swap with you, but then, I'm going home to sunny England for two weeks so may not be able to get you the comments back for a while. Also, the piece I'd be looking to swap is quite explicit sexually.

If you'd be interested, send me a PM and we'll exchange details before agreeing to send the files over. I personally wouldn't want to have to make you read something you're uncomfortable with or find boring, as I know that it would be difficult for me to give feedback on something I knew I'd find tedious before even getting into (so wouldn't even want to).