Debbie Moon at 2013-12-16 17:44:58:

Yaay, Scott! I'm genuinely in awe of how you achieve all this… Okay, well… My children's TV series got renewed for a third season, and was nominated for multiple awards (even won a couple!) It was also shown in a lot of new markets, including the US - Which led to me signing with a LA manager! All being well, I'm coming to LA for the first time in the new year (*wibbles in terror*)… Perhaps unsurprisingly with all that going on, I didn't end up producing as many new scripts as I'd hoped. I wrote a TV pilot that's just been optioned, and a feature screenplay, and I'm determined to finish the vomit draft of another by the end of the year… Being British and easily embarrassed, I hate to boast, but I'm grateful for a really good year - and I hope everyone else had an equally productive time!

sharpreef at 2013-12-16 18:47:09:

Hi Scott, Major thanks for all the time and insightful posts. I wish I had this resource when I started writing fifteen years ago. This year was solid for output and I'm hoping to see returns on that work in '14. I'm putting the finishing touches on an independent feature that I wrote, directed and shot on an island off the coast of Chile. I feel like we will have something special to share with the world, if we ever finish! Approaching the completion on a spec which I've been working on for a long time. I did something different with the process this time (my 15th script) that may be of interest to your readers. I paid for professional coverage on drafts in an attempt to gauge where I was along the way. It's been very encouraging to receive some considers as the script improves. It's also been humbling to see the detached critisism and reports that are usually only reserved for producers, but I think, overall, that it's been very helpful in taking the material to the next level. We're close to the recommend level on scoring and hopefully the new draft will cross that barrier. This process has also made me realize just how subjective this business is. One reader's major critisism was exactly what another reader found so compelling about the project. In the end, the criticism is valuable, but as writers, we have to trust our gut above all else. Thanks again for your generosity and posts. I wish you and all fellow writers a happy and productive New Year.

Scott at 2013-12-16 19:11:42:

sharpreef, thanks for sharing and congratulations on your movie. Re script coverage / feedback: Can't recommend it enough. Even if it's a writers group, that can be helpful. Obviously it depends on the writers. Short of that, then by all means get some pro feedback. I use them sometimes for my own material, just to see if I'm on target or not. The thing is your script is going to be read by professionals at some point, so best to get feedback from the pros to help you know if you're on track. Best of luck on all creative fronts, sharpreef, in 2014!

Paul Friend at 2013-12-17 04:43:35:

Not quite as rock 'n' roll as sharpreef and Debbie's achievements, but this year I finished my first script - even got a few reads after querying. Pretty pleased with that. Just finishing up my second effort, with a plan to send out in the New Year. Also had some great ideas to keep me busy over the next 12 months - couple of ideas for Hollywood & something I'd like to submit to the BBC Script Room. Good luck to everyone in 2014. Thanks Scott for a great resource - a daily read for me!

Aarthi Ramanathan at 2013-12-17 05:45:03:

Scott, congratulations! The fact that you still have the time to email us after all that blows my mind and can't wait to hear more about your progress with your own scripts (amidst inspiring the rest of us writers, glad you are taking time for yourself to pursue what you are passionate about) And kudos to everyone who has replied so far! In my case, my goal earlier in the year was to have one or being really enthusiastic, two kick-ass scripts complete including one I restarted the previous year - but again, part of the learning process - I am still working on those. On the other hand, I have doubled the scripts I am working on to four (along with brainstorming two more) so I have finally learned to stack (yay!). I have also doubled the scripts I used to read now (four a week vs. one) and that's helped me learn how to write better, not to mention finally joining the great blackboard, being inspired by fellow writers and swapping notes with them. Perhaps my only disappointment this year is that I am still waiting to reach the final edit stage with at least one of those scripts I am working on... but otherwise this year has been the most educational, writing wise for me, so hope to get there eventually...

Markham Cook at 2013-12-17 15:35:06:

Amazing Scott. Congratulations. This was a big year for me in some ways, and not so perfect in others. On the plus side, I signed with my first agent which was significant not least of all because he's in L.A. and I'm in Toronto. I did many, many rewrites on the script that caught his attention. It did the rounds to generally positive reviews and I did the "General Meeting" tour of Los Angeles. That was serious fun. I developed a story to pitch in the meetings, and it was well received. I've spent a good deal of time writing that script this year as well. The first script was eventually optioned. Much joy. On the flipside, I've written less than I hoped to. Maybe I didn't set as stringent goals as I should have. Maybe it's fear of delivering something sub-par. Maybe it's the sophomore jinx. Maybe it's living thousands of miles from the centre of the movie universe. I've looked to your site over and over for inspiration and help, and you've delivered over and over. And now you've delivered again. Today, my birthday, I am setting achievable, realistic, but big goals for the coming year. Thank you for everything Scott. And all the best to my fellow writers.

cgusmann at 2013-12-18 10:00:13:

I've been writing for a long time and have even had a hand in writing a produced independent feature, but this year was the first year I really committed myself to becoming a screenwriter. I think that step alone counts as a success for me, but if no one minds I'd like to brag a bit. This year I completed a spec for the Warner Brothers Writer's Workshop based on the show "Alphas" and two original feature length scripts. I'm very proud of all three of those. "Alphas," unfortunately, didn't advance, and the second script I wrote is in the criticism/rewrite phase. However, the first script I wrote was entered in several contests and did well considering I (naively) entered before it was really ready to be seen. It even made the semifinals of Page International! I've since revised it quite heavily and feel like it is in a much better place than when I began entering contests. The Black List 3.0 was an invaluable resource for me to get solid feedback on my script at a reasonable price. I am currently queuing up an original pilot script and another feature for next year. I hope to have both in first drafts by May, but that might be a bit ambitious for me. On the screenwriting front this year was pretty good, but prose writing didn't go well. I was hoping this would be the year I get published, but I was only met with rejections. I have pushed forward, using the motivation that is National Novel Writing Month to begin work on a fix-up novel that has been long gestating. I'm less than halfway through what I think will be the final, but I already have several stories finished that I hope to try and get published early next year. My biggest accomplishment this year was becoming more disciplined. I was the type of writer that would only write when "inspired" and rarely go back for revisions. This year I made it a point to write as often as I could and constantly brainstorm. Next year should be even more productive for me just because I've gotten myself to the point where I am averaging over 1,000 words per day. Finally, I committed myself to blogging about the trials and tribulations I'm facing as an aspiring. The year was full of rejections, but it was also full of lessons learned. Here's to the next year!

Scott at 2013-12-18 12:19:04:

Paul, if you are getting reads from queries, that's a really good sign. Speaks to the quality of your story concepts and ability to articulate them in a concise and clear manner (read: logline). Just. Keep. Writing. A point I stress over and over is it's not just about the script, it's about the WRITER. The more you hone your understanding and practice of the craft, the more prepared you will be for the pressures and realities of the daily grind of being a professional writer. Good luck to you in 2014! Go Into The Story will be here to support you along the way!

Scott at 2013-12-18 12:25:17:

Markham, congratulations on busting down Hwood's gates. That is a big accomplishment. As hard as that is, the next steps are right up there in terms of difficulty including developing the work habits and focus to pound out material. Your agent's best friend is a kick-ass spec script and/or a kick-ass pitch. That makes their job much easier. Of course, the only way to give them those 'products' is to create them. Have you read this Business of Screenwriting post: The Art of Stacking Projects? There's also this: One Page Per Day. That combo plate is one way to make oneself more productive. And there's this: A big honking blast of creative juju for you, heading up North to Toronto! WHOOOSSSH! Best of luck in 2014!

Eunique at 2013-12-23 00:34:13:

This year, I decided to stop being afraid of a childhood dream and tackle it instead. I have not accomplished nearly as much as the other commenters, but I've started. For that, I'm very proud. I am only six pages into my first screenplay, but I'm no longer stuck staring at a blank Celtx screen. I've been reading one screenplay a week, watching new movies, rewatching old favorites, reading GITS daily and teaching myself formatting. I am also doing a lot of reading and generally trying to get over this hump of second guessing myself.

bolo boffin at 2013-12-24 02:12:23:

I'm coming in late to this post series, but I'm here! My looking back: * In order to meet with writers on a night I could actually attended, I started Turtle Creek Screenwriters, a screenwriter group in Dallas, and helped build it up to three meetings a month, breaking down screenplays. It's got some nice momentum now. Every other Tuesday we discuss our own scripts and once a month we break down a classic screenplay. * I attended a Blue Cat workshop for one of my potential scripts. The script is still not finished yet and I didn't like the workshop, but I did get off my hindquarters and go. * I went to the Worldcon in San Antonio for prep on a possible sci-fi series. * I worked on two different scripts. Neither are finished, but they are always in my thoughts. * I've broken down six different classic scripts to various degrees. * I've worked through a couple of tools I personally like from the Tennessee Screenwriters Association, a story premise worksheet and a thematic premise worksheet, to make them more understandable. * I've started an original Powerpoint to help find a writer's personal process for writing. I've finished one on character arcs and critical decisions, but the information is from a workshop I saw a few years back. It helped me process the information better, though. * I've helped give feedback to several people and their scripts - three at the BlueCat workshop, eleven at Turtle Creek. So clearly my year has been about positioning myself to help others write more than about my writing. I need to keep that going, but I need to have a stronger emphasis on my writing.

Greg Machlin at 2014-02-04 19:11:45:

Great post, Scott. looking forward to catching up on the whole series. Late w/ this post, but at least 2014's off to a good start... 2013 year: * Released the comedy webseries WRNG in Studio City, which I co-created, co-wrote, and exec produced. 11 episodes, 19 speaking parts, 5 directors, and bonus content totaling 84 mins of material. Also lots of post-prod. supervision. WRNGinStudioCity.com * One of six writer/producers on "On the Rocks," the multi-cam webseries. 24-min Pilot filmed in June, released in Oct. Kickstarter campaign for $25K successful in November. * Wrote 3 drafts of Ep 103 of "On the Rocks." * Wrote and presented two public readings of two different drafts of full-length play "Keith Haring: Pieces of a Life" for Skypilot. Full production of world premiere coming in July. * Developed pitch and co-wrote 20-page treatment for "Awesome Quest," following meeting with production comedy. * Rewrote "What the Hell Happened on Page 9?," half-hour pilot. * Short plays: Wrote "Smart Phone" for Theatre Unleashed's 24-hour play festival, which won their "TUNY" award, and "King's Gambit" for Skypilot's anti-bullying play series. Also wrote and directed "Love in the Time of Very Bad Things," about robots in love. * Wrote short film script "Ted." onward!