I have a story idea and I would like everyone's thoughts on it....

[Michael Carter]

There seems to be, basically, 2 motivators for any sort of creative work (and I'm sure many creative types have a combination of both to varying degrees):

1) Aggrandization
(The act of aggrandizing, or the state of being aggrandized or exalted in power, rank, honor, or wealth; exaltation; enlargement.)

2) The absolutely desperate, burning need to create something in a given media.

I'm sure motivator #1 has produced some solid work. I'm also pretty sure that #2 is more likely to produce beautiful & affecting work.

if #1 is more of your motivator, you probably need to figure out which path gets you there.

If #2, then start writing. Stop posting "ideas" and start fleshing out the ideas you think are good. Write every day. Leave space in your outlines and plans for creativity to come in, let the characters or events take over, and get good at your craft. Find people who do smart, solid work you respect and respond too (and not just writers - anyone who does work that affects you) and get their take on your drafts.

And consider writing not just screenplays, but short stories, novels and poetry - screenplays really don't force you to dig into describing emotions and events in affecting ways.

 

[combatentropy]

The question is: "Do you have good taste?"

I agree that taste is everything, but taste isn't formed at birth. Taste is honed.

And consider writing not just screenplays, but short stories, novels and poetry

I agree completely. You could grow your skills well by doing 4 100-minute movies or nearly as well by doing 40 10-minute movies, as I did growing up.

 

[David W. Richardson]

You could grow your skills well by doing 4 100-minute movies or nearly as well by doing 40 10-minute movies, as I did growing up.

The 40 10-minute movies would probably hone your writing skills BETTER than the 4 100-minute movies, because they would force you to keep things tight and not waste screen time.

 

[sagar343]

I wish I could write a line like woody allen. But I can't. It takes years of practice.