Continuing To Write and Read
Reading screenwriting books may seem like something a rank beginner should do, but for me it is very helpful. I read Robert Walter’s book and found that if gave me some really good ideas on how to improve my story. I needed to make it more interesting, have more conflict, more twists - in other words - make it something someone would want to view as a movie — and not sleep through or walk out of. Another book I just started is the Screenwriter’s Bible. It is recommended by so many people that I had to get it and read it. So far, it’s pretty good. Apparently, it is used by the novice and the pro. I find these books very helpful. By reading - I get ideas and write and change and improve. I want at least one pretty good script to show around.
Tonight is Table Readings again. I’m not bringing anything for the group to read. I find that most understand and “get” my writing, while others find lots of fault with it and say they just don’t like my writing. I guess I need to take criticism, but it could be given in a gentler way. And getting overly picky about spelling isn’t a criticism of the writing or style or format or anything … it’s a bad spell checker! 
I’d really enjoy some feedback about the story. I do take it all in stride and from whence it comes though. Tonight, I will sit and listen and enjoy everyone’s pages and take in the criticism for the others - mull it over in my head and see if it is valid. I am wondering if one continually sits with the same group over and over and gets the same voices of criticism, is that good? Do we then become one writer if we follow that criticism? Do we lose our own style of writing if we change to conform to the group criticism? Do we lose our voice and become one voice of the group? Are we dunned down by same group criticism? This is what I want to research.
Don’t get me wrong … I have taken some of the criticism and used it to improve, some I totally disregarded … as it should be.