What Other Writers Can Mean to You

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Writing can be lonely work. Photo courtesy: Castle Rock Entertainment

I remember when I started taking workshops I’d occasionally meet a writer who was terrified that other writers would steal their ideas. If you listened closely, you could tell that they actually viewed other writers as enemies. This is such a bad attitude to have, for many reasons. Obviously, I can’t tell you that no writer has ever stolen an idea; I can tell you that other writers are the least likely people in Hollywood to steal your ideas and the most likely to be outraged if that happens. More importantly, other writers can help you at almost every stage of your career. The benefits of having strong ties to other writers far out way the risks.

LEARNING

Other writers will help you learn your craft. If you take a writing workshop the instructor will almost always be another writer. They may not have written one of last year’s blockbuster—those people are typically too busy to teach you how to write—but they will have valuable experience to share with you.

As will the other students. Most writing classes are designed as workshops in which you read and critique each other’s works. One of the things I remember clearly about writing a script in a workshop is that very often I would criticize someone’s scene or structure and then find myself trying to do whatever I’d criticized a week or so later. That would make me stop and begin again. As a general rule: If it’s wrong when you see it in someone else’s script, it’s wrong when you try to put it in yours.

Another thing about workshops is that at least a few of the other writers are much better than you are. Some people get depressed by this. You should not. In fact, if you’re the best person in your writing program then you need to think about a different program. You need to be around better writers so that you can learn from them. You need to figure out why you think they’re so good and try to do the same thing—or better yet, your version of the same thing.

STRATEGY

Once you feel you’re ready to look for work other writers can help you with strategies for getting attention. There are lots of different ways to “make” it in the industry and writers are always coming up with new ones. Sometimes the same thing will work for you, or sometimes just thinking outside of the box with another writer will help you figure out your next step. They can share information with you about agents, lawyers, managers, contests, internships, writing assistant jobs, and many, many other things.

CONTACTS

If you’re talking television writing then knowing other writers can be tremendously helpful since in TV writers are also producers. Much like any other business who you know will matter. I used to be very frustrated by the idea of getting ahead via “Who you know” because I didn’t know anyone. But then I realized, you could change who you know. You’ll be meeting people all your life, in school, at the job, on social occasions. Meeting people is making contacts.

In film, writers are pretty much the bottom of the pile. If you’re writing film it’s still important to know other writers, just don’t expect them to get you a job. It’s very, very unusual when a film writer is in the position to hire another writer.

Now, I do have one rule about making contacts or, as it’s often called, networking: Never network someone you don’t like. They might actually give you a job and then you’re stuck with them. Networking should always be about meeting people you like, people you have a natural affinity for, and people whose work you respect.

This is probably not your writer’s group. Photo from 30 Rock courtesy NBC Studios.

COMMUNITY

Someday, if you’re lucky, you’ll be in the Writer’s Guild of America. You will then be a card-carrying member of a community of writers. In the meantime, there are ways to be involved with the WGA—certainly, there are many events open to non-members—you can find out at WGA.ORG. The Guild can also answer questions for you if you’re offered a job, whether it’s union or non-union. For example, if a producer offers you work you can check to see if they’re signatory which would mean they can’t offer you less than minimum even if you’re not in the union yet.

There are many other kinds of writing communities, from online forums to in-person critique groups. Not all types of communities work for every writer. Figure out where you best fit you and then jump in.

There’s someone out there who gets you. Photo courtesy: Columbia Pictures

THEY JUST GET YOU

Being a writer can be a hard life. Not everyone you care about is going to understand what you’re doing or why. Low paying survival jobs, long hours alone, self-imposed deadlines, random epiphanies, constant distraction. Writers don’t always make a lot of sense to non-writers. That doesn’t mean all your relationships should be with other writers, it does mean that some of your relationships should be with other writers since they will understand you in a way others don’t. Your family and your significant other will understand you in important ways but they may never understand the writer part. Always have a few friends who do.

Of course, each of these areas overlaps. You can often get good strategy advice from a critique group and any community you join will likely be offering craft and career development support. The important thing here is that you remember to allow other writers to enhance your life.

author-avatar

Marshall Thornton has an MFA from UCLA in screenwriting. He spent ten years writing spec scripts and has been a semi-finalist or better in the Nicholl, Samuel Goldwyn, American Accolades, One-In-Ten and Austin Film Festival contests. As a novelist, he writes the Lambda Award-winning Boystown Mysteries. The eight book series follows the cases of a gay detective in turbulent 1980s Chicago. Marshall has also been known to write the occasional romantic comedy. You can find him online at marshallthorntonauthor.com. You can follow him on Twitter: @mrshllthornton

4 Replies to "What Other Writers Can Mean to You"

  • comment-avatar
    Fred Cheney July 2, 2018 (11:15 am)

    ” If it’s wrong when you see it in someone else’s script, it’s wrong when you try to put it in yours.” Love that line. But it’s not wrong to see what’s right and use it.

    I had an idea for a novel set in my sleepy rural town in Maine. I started it upwards of 25 times. Then I reread “The Ballad of the Sad Cafe” with my granddaughter. And I saw the pacing I needed. I got a legal pad and a #2 pencil and got my first 3000 words [almost nothing needed to be changed]. Then I was on my way.

    Very helpful article.

  • comment-avatar
    Lyndol Michael July 2, 2018 (1:54 pm)

    I appreciate this advice. However, I’m getting mixed messages about spec format for industry readers, e.g., in competitions. Can you help? “Breaking the code” for me is about winning a contest – moving my work up the studio/indie structure wherever possible. But I’m getting mixed messages about what readers really want to receive. The goal is “a page-turner,” right? Your advice?

    • comment-avatar
      Marshall Thornton July 13, 2018 (12:05 pm)

      Sorry, I just saw this. I was taught a specific kind of spec scriptwriting which ditches a lot of “directorial” decisions. And yes, I’ve been told that I’m doing it wrong because I don’t use camera angels. Typically, I’m being told this by someone who has no idea what they’re doing. To be fair, many people who’ve gone through film school and taken one or two screenwriting courses but mainly focused on directing really haven’t been taught how to write spec scripts. I think you’re right, the goal is a page-turner and everything you can eliminate, you should. That doesn’t mean though that you won’t run into readers who don’t get it. You have to remember readers are often poorly paid or not paid at all, they may or may not have an appropriate education. They’re not necessarily correct. You have to decide what you believe, stick to it, and be consistent.

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