Tweetstorm: Mike Sweeney on Not Writing to Imagined Stats, Metrics, and Trends
Last night, screenwriter Mike Sweeney went on a Twitter rant worthy of our attention. Mike tweets of which he knows: He co-wrote (along…
In June 2015, screenwriter Mike Sweeney went wrote a screenwriting tweetstorm worthy of our attention. Mike tweets of which he knows: He co-wrote (along with Nick Creature) the spec script “The Mayor of Shark City,” a story of the making of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, a script made the 2013 Black List. They are also rewriting the Paramount project “Sanctuary”.
Mike’s Twitter rant is reprinted here by permission.
“Any time-frame in excess of one month means your story’s probably too slow-moving for your average reader…” STOP. JUST STOP.
Here’s what to do instead of following Scriptshadow’s “advice”…
Don’t write according to imagined stats and metrics and trends.
Don’t be boring. Follow your instincts. Write about whatever it is that helps you generate that spontaneous overflow of powerful emotion.
If you’re even considering paying someone like Scriptshadow for notes (please don’t) it’s important to understand something ahead of time…
Your script is not going to be judged by the criteria used by most readers, execs and producers in the business.
It will be judged by a set of completely arbitrary rules that someone pulled out of their ass based on how they THINK the business operates.
Actual industry people don’t sit with a checklist beside them, marking off things like “dinosaurs” or “time span” or “number of characters.”
So why are you PAYING UP TO $1000 to have someone judge your script by those criteria?
And if your blocks of text are more than five lines? Nobody will give a shit if it HOLDS THEIR INTEREST.
One great script will do more to help you break through than a hundred mediocre ones.
Follow Mike on Twitter: @Courier12. Also his writing partner Nick Creature: @CreatureAmongUs.
Mike and Nick are currently at work on a graphic novel adaptation.
For all of the Screenwriter Tweetstorms, go here.