By Ann Marie Williams © 2019 Many of the major screenwriting competitions begin releasing their written critiques to entrants around this time of year. So, I thought it might be helpful to post (or re-post) some tips for dealing with those critiques. However, these tips can be just as helpful for whatever format you're writing: … Continue reading Tips for Dealing with Feedback of your Story: Identify the True Source of the Problem
Category: Yourself as a Writer
Writing Takes Time
by Ann Marie Williams © 2021 Writing takes time. Simple, I know. But I didn't realize I hadn't fully accepted this until last year when I quit agonizing over how long it was taking to fix aspects of my story. Once I accepted that it would take a while, I started making breakthroughs far quicker … Continue reading Writing Takes Time
When You’re Stuck on a Problem in Your Story…
Two "Simple" Questions to Ask Yourself by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 Some problems a story faces are easy to fix. But, sometimes I'll find myself deep into my work in progress, struggling to fix a fairly massive issue (or, at least, it sure feels massive when I can't find the solution). I don't mind … Continue reading When You’re Stuck on a Problem in Your Story…
A Solution Exists
by Ann Marie Williams, © 2020 One of the biggest roadblocks to my writing doesn’t stem from plot holes, character arcs, or finding ways to hide exposition. It’s that little voice that whispers, “There might not be a solution to this.” I firmly believe there is a solution for every problem a story encounters. That … Continue reading A Solution Exists
7 Tips to Help You Focus on Your Writing in a Hectic World
by Ann Marie Williams, © 2020 It's rarely easy to sit down and put thought to paper. But when the world is screaming for your attention, that challenge is amplified even further. So, I thought I would take today to share some of my tips for “getting back into writing.” And, if you’ve got … Continue reading 7 Tips to Help You Focus on Your Writing in a Hectic World
Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The Story, The Page, The Theme
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 When you receive a critique, it's helpful to determine which comments pertain to one or all of the following: The story (the vision you have for your story — this may or may not be accurately conveyed on the page). The page as it’s written (the story that’s on … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The Story, The Page, The Theme
Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The First Read
by Ann Marie Williams In an earlier post, I discussed the importance of being honest with yourself about your writing. But even if you're able to be objective about your own writing, the one thing you can never do is experience your story for the first time. Sure, there's the first time you read through your … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The First Read
Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The Script, The Story, The Theme
by Ann Marie Williams When you receive a critique, it's helpful to determine which comments therein pertain to one or all of the following: Your story (the vision you have for your story — this may or may not be accurately conveyed on the page). Your script as it’s written (the story that’s on the … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The Script, The Story, The Theme
Rewriting Tips: Save, Delete, Test
Except from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script by Ann Marie Williams © 2019 Finding the best version of my story often means having to delete beloved parts from my script. For the sake of the story, I’ll have to sacrifice a beautiful … Continue reading Rewriting Tips: Save, Delete, Test
Writing Tips: Conveying Story and Pacing
Except from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script by Ann Marie Williams © 2019 As a screenwriter, you need to be aware, not just of the pacing of your story, but also of the pacing of your script. The two should be the … Continue reading Writing Tips: Conveying Story and Pacing
Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: Try to Find Something Actionable in Every Critique You Receive
Except from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script by Ann Marie Williams © 2019 It’s important to realize that you don’t have to take every suggestion from every critique you receive. However, if you find that you’re disregarding all your critiques, then it could be because you’re too … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: Try to Find Something Actionable in Every Critique You Receive
Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: Be Honest with Yourself
Except from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script by Ann Marie Williams © 2019 A fundamental skill you need as a writer is the ability to be honest with yourself. No critique, including your own, will ever be as effective as it could … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: Be Honest with Yourself
Dealing with Critiques: Unkind Critiques
Except from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script by Ann Marie Williams © 2019 There is a difference between a constructive critique and an unkind critique. Just because someone points out problems in your script does not mean that he/she needs to be unkind. Critiques can be … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques: Unkind Critiques
Ways to Analyze Critiques of Your Writing: Identify the True Source of the Problem
Reprinted (with slight modifications to fit the blog format) from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script. Have you experienced this situation when reading a critique of your writing: The critic points to a moment in your story that he/she found unnecessary and suggests … Continue reading Ways to Analyze Critiques of Your Writing: Identify the True Source of the Problem
Reasons to Enter Screenwriting Contests Other Than Winning
Entering a screenwriting competition with the hope of winning is a great goal. After all, if a screenwriting career is what you’re after, then winning (or placing highly in) the right competition has the potential to move you further along that career path. Moreover, the competitions that have a track record of actually helping to … Continue reading Reasons to Enter Screenwriting Contests Other Than Winning
Screenplay Competitions 