I wrote on Facebook, about four days ago, that I had
submitted my screenplay to Amazon studios to be evaluated and hopefully
accepted and possibly get paid. Being this was my first screenplay, based on a
short story I wrote many years ago, (I have a second script finished but I need
to work on it also), I figured it was about time to get this career of mine
jump started, once more.
Being that this was the first time I had ever written a
script of any kind, I knew it wasn’t the best, but I gave myself an “A” for the
effort of at least trying something different. I had gotten a book on
screenwriting, but only read about a third and what I mean by a third, I truly
skimmed through the book and tried to only read the highlights.
I then went and purchased the screenwriting program, Final
Draft, (which, for some reason won’t work on Windows 10 and a new version runs
about $160!). I took my story and tried to re-create it, as the program showed
me how, step by step. My Seventy-five
word story was finished as a fifty-nine page script. However, the script sat on
my desk (and in my hard drive) for at least eight or so years, collecting dust.
A few years back my brother was in town and I let him read
the script and of course he liked it, (everyone who as read any of my stories
always tell me they like or love my stories, of course they don’t count, to a
point), and he wanted to take it back with him, to California, and show it to
one of his producer friends. He later called me and told how those “friends”
like it, too. Of course I have never heard anything about my script again, no
matter how many times I asked. (Twice).
Anyway, today, I received an email from Amazon Studios, in
regard, to my submission. It was rejected. It stated that they had determined
that my script did not meet the needs of their development slate at that
time.
Where have I heard that statement before? About twenty years
or so ago I sent this same story to a Sci-Fi magazine. It was returned to me,
rejected. I know that the reader read the entire story because my manuscript
reeked of cigarette smoke on every page. Their rejection letter indicated,
almost word for word, the statement above. So, I made a bunch of corrections,
re-wrote a lot of the story and re-submitted it.
A week or so later I got another letter from that editor saying
that they didn’t ask for me to send it back to her. Ouch! That put a damper on
that story for many years.
Looking back over the many years, I have been trying to edit
my own works, apparently to no real success. I’ve had the knack of editing
other’s works but have been terrible at editing my own. I majored in Journalism.
Creative writing came later in my life.
Anyway, Amazon Studios finished their note with; if you make
significant revisions to your work, you are welcome to re-submit it in the
future. Whatever that means. Well, I do know what it mean…I just have to keep
working on it until I get it right or enough money to send to my stories to an
editor/proofreader.
In the meantime, I have dusted off all of the books I
purchased many years ago on how to screen write. The one I have to pay
attention to, “Screenwriting for Dummies”. I know I have a couple more book,
locked or lost downstairs in my fortress of books, I just have to make the
effort to get up from this comfortable sofa and put on my shoes and go down
there to that scary place and get more books. Just kidding… or was I?
Anyway, it looks like I have a lot more reading to do and I
mean slow reading. (I can speed read, but I usually read fast only when I am
reading a novel.) And, of course, save a
ton of money so I can get my stories read. Does anyone know of anyone who wants
to be a beta reader? I want to, need to
get this done before this year is out.
My only problem, right now, everyone I have asked, for help,
tells me yes, but never come through. So, I have to read, read and do more
reading, to get through this on my own. I will get it done…I have so much to
do…I would like to say I have so little time, but that’s just a myth. I will work
with one thing at a time and that time is now.
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