Writing for Free and Experience

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writerinthemaking

New member
Hello everyone I'm just starting out with writing and well I thought I would come here and just put myself out there for anyone who has a story but needs someone to write it. I'll work for free because all I'm looking for right now is the experience so that I can eventually become a better writer. I currently don't have anything written to show as an example.

If you decide to let me write one of your stories you can rest assured that if you do not like how it turns out (since im still pretty new to this) that all concepts and ideas I recieve from you will be confidential and I will not pass them on to anyone else.

I hope someone out there will decide to use me because I would really appreciate the expeience and ability to have what I write critiqued by those more experienced than I am.

As mentioned earlier all my writing is free, but if you like how I've written your story I would appreciate some credit for it even if it is just passing my name on to someone else who needs a writer. :)

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this.
 
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I was toying with not responding , but I'm going ahead anyway with it.

I understand when someone comes on here and asks to collaborate with someone on something - but that's normally after they've collected some experience with their *own projects*.

It worries me that since you've yet to not write anything that you regard as a solid 'sample', that you could be waisting someone elses time along with your own.

If I were you, I would be working on my own projects until I got up to speed to have a good sample ready, where helping someone else with their story would be the next logical step.

IMO, it seems that you're putting the cart before the horse here.

A great site is www.donedealpro.com which has a very active Message Board.

Just sayin'.

EJ
 
you don't have *any* writing samples? I mean, if nothing else, I'd write *something*! Doesn't matter what, just write. It won't cost you anything but your time.
 
I am working on some stuff I just havent got any completed yet. I could show what I've got but they're not complete so that's why I did'nt offer them out just yet. I just wanted to put myself out there...like I said I'm very new to this and I appreciate the advice I wasn't sure if it was required that I had a sample.
 
Welcome to the board, fellow writer!

Welcome to the board, fellow writer!

Hopefully you will get some takers. I'm sure there are a few filmmakers around with zero ability and/or desire and/or time to write, and be willing to wing it. Who knows, could be a great partnership out there waiting to blossom.

Best of luck


www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
 
pcascio said:
Give this person a break. You can find a way to test him/her before going out on a limb.
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that isn't my point. if you asked to be a cameraman for somebody, you'd show up with at least SOME kind of clip that shows you at least know what a camera is and how to work one. that isn't even getting into the little things like dolly shots, steadicam ability, etc.

for someone who's a writer, who wants to work with a filmmaker who's got an idea, but has nothing to show, nothing "complete" and is trying to jump into the field, that throws up a huge red flag. i don't care if it's a 3 page short, 5 pages of a feature, I don't need to see a *whole* screenplay, but "I don't have any samples of my work but I'd like your ideas!" doesn't cut it. ESPECIALLY for writing, because you can sit down at any point and write something. If you *don't* have a writing sample, that says volumes of bad things.
 
Help

Help

Tell you what WITM,

Write a three page short on how finding something in a garbage can turns out to be a fortuitous happenstance, then send it to me and I will critique it for you. That way you will have one screenplay to your credit, and a little experience.

Best I can do.

A
 
You might consider doing what I did: writing some spec scripts for a specific purpose for a base of people that might need them.

I wrote three spec scripts for dvxuser's SpyFest, conforming to the festival rules in each. Then I created a post in the SpyFest forum announcing the scripts' availability, and offered them to anyone who wanted them. In the same posting, I offered to write custom scripts for SpyFest if the filmmaker had his own concept he'd want developed.

All three of the spec scripts were scooped up. Two of those three were completed and made it into the festival: Spying for Fun and Profit and Robin The Spy.

Two dvxuser members also contacted me about writing scripts based on their ideas. Both of them went into production. One didn't make it into the festival, but another called No Middle Ground did. And it won!

One great piece of advice I received a few years back was that writing is all about material. So I echo those previous posts that say "create something---anything!"
 
WITM - I'm in pre-production for a non profit project that I'm looking for a writer for as I've found that I'm bad at it and have no interest in doing it :) PM me if your interested - no pay, but definitely credits. And your own free copy of the finished product :)
 
This is crazy. Don't write someone else's story, write your own! If your going to be a writer, your going to have to use your imagination and creativity to design your own stories and scripts. Why waste anytime whatsoever on someone else's ideas? Are you not confident in your own ideas?

C'mon man, step up to the plate and swing, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go buy, 'The Screenwriter's Bible' by Trottier, then have all your other questions answered at "Done Deal", as EJ mentioned. They even have a place there you can workshop up to 5 pages at a time with ample experienced professional scribes to help you along the way. Don't write for free in here for some slacker that can't write his own script. Seriously, just start writing your own work. Who knows, maybe it'll be good.
 
Great now I'm going to have to write my own script! Thanks alvarez! :) I think he would get more experience working on my project :) Got your PM WITM - I'll get back later tonight with details of the project if you are still interested.

Although I agree with Alvarez - you'll learn more coming up with your own ideas and developing those. Taking my idea and writing the dialogue for it will only help build some technical dialogue writing skills. Writing your own means you get to come up with your own complete treatment instead of having to try and follow crappy one. Too bad though - mine was going to have a man in a dog suit in it...
 
I might have something also, but I would like to know a little bit about you... Where you come from, interests, etc...that wayy I can know where you would be writing from personally.... PM me if interested...
 
To everyone who gave me offers and advice I want to say thank you. I believe I will go ahead and follow the adivce of Alvarez and the like and pull back and spend some time perfecting my own work. Good luck to everyone and I'll still be around the forums at times.
 
writerinthemaking said:
To everyone who gave me offers and advice I want to say thank you. I believe I will go ahead and follow the adivce of Alvarez and the like and pull back and spend some time perfecting my own work. Good luck to everyone and I'll still be around the forums at times.
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Wise, wise decision.
 
Profoundly dissagree

Profoundly dissagree

WITM,

I perfected (?) my craft by collaborating on a number of projects. At this point it is not important who came up with the idea. What IS important is how you, the writer, interpret the idea, and put your own spin into it. What IS important is developing a STYLE and a COMFORT in writing.

I write other people's ideas everyday. I enjoy it. They plant the seed, I bring it to ife. I also write my own original work. Both are rewarding.

What collab work gives me is variety, and that variety has helped me in my own work tremendously.

I say ... take the offer to write someone else's idea and get the writing experience. That's what you came here for.

I repeat, at this point it IS NOT important whose idea it is. That's like two cooks fighting over who came up with the recipe. Who gives a rat? How is the end result is what matters at this point.

Take jdajda up on their offer.



Do it, and do it good.

A
 
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Ideas are a writer’s lifeblood.

Without them he stands alone in his career. And the odds don't looking promising.

If you're struggling to come up with ideas, then perhaps writing isn't for you.

Nobody said writing was easy, and the truth is it takes years to get to a decent level where you start to see the rewards.

People often say that it takes 5 years of commitment to the craft and nine scripts written to finally 'get somewhere', although a lot of that time again it's just the beginning (i.e. land a manager or agent) and it all starts over again.

Just sayin'.

EJ
 
Sweet I love this board! I'll PM the details to both of you (Alex and WITM) and see what either of you think. Last night got busy with a dog emergency, but I'll try and get around to it later.
 
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