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Screenwriting Groups

Whew… Still working through the sleep deprivation. Hallucinating is good for the soul… LOL.

The next structure post will have to wait a little while longer because I’m on and off the road till after the next week to ten days. All of a sudden I’ve been getting email from a lot of first time visitors and lurkers asking me about screenwriting groups… I’m probably not the best guy to ask about this.

About three years ago, I actually put one together. I thought it would be fun to have someplace to go talk screenwriting for a couple of hours. God knows regular people don’t want to hear me talk about it.

So I happened to have this list of email addresses of locals… 53 to be exact. Please make note that every one of these people had discussed with me and others I know about how they would love to get into a screenwriting group.

Cool. Out of 53 people, I figured we’d get lucky and come up with at least 10 interested screenwriters and wanna-be screenwriters.

I created a mailing list. Kind of like a Yahoo Groups thing so we could all communicate. So a month ahead of time, we worked out all the details. My favorite coffee shop was more than happy to let us use them for our venue.

Round and round the emails went. The list grew. A month went by. We all voted on Thursdays nights to be our meeting night.

The first Thursday rolled around.

3 people showed.

The next Thursday, 2 people.

The next Thursday, 1.

Guess who?

But that’s okay because what they didn’t know won’t hurt ‘em. LOL.

Some visitors have asked me how to go about starting their own screenwriting group when they don’t know anyone who wants to be a screenwriter… Well, I do have an answer.

I mention this service because I’ve actually recommended this service to quite a few people in areas where screenwriters aren’t growing on trees like in Los Angeles… The good news is that it has worked really well for a lot of people. True, a few people that have written me, tell me they have to drive almost an hour to get to the meeting place but hey — they probably have to drive a friggin’ hour to watch a movie.

In other words, you gotta go where where you can…

Which brings up a list that I’ve had for a while… A list of things you really need to consider if you’re going to start a group or maybe even help improve a group that you’re already a part of…

You’d think this would be obvious but you’d be surprised. I’ve been a guest of a couple of groups that held their meetings in places that were really fucking loud. I would avoid places like that if you’re actually trying to improve your screenwriting. One person I know gets to hold her meetings where she works. Another one at a church. You never know.

Will it be once a week? Twice a month? Whatever it is, figure it out ahead of time. Make a schedule and both email and print it out for everyone. If possible, create a simple web site or forum for everyone to discuss screenwriting until the next meeting.

I’ve been told that some groups do a lot better with less members… Probably true but I’ve also visited groups that had 20 members and seemed to do well.

Probably a good idea to keep things moving. I’ve visited groups without leadership and quite honestly, all they did was talk. Sometimes talking is good though. LOL.

Whatever those might be.

Goals. Do you want to simply improve your writing? Do you want to sell a spec script? Figure it out and share it with your group. Some people are completely content with writing their Worm Farm Debutante screenplay that is never going to sell. It’s too local. It’s boring. Yada yada but they still want to write it as a screenplay for some reason. LOL. More power to them. Only problem I see here is having that person critique one of my screenplays but you never know.

I’ve also seen groups travel together to workshops and seminars and then share notes at a meeting with those that couldn’t attend.

Reading screenplays. Some groups read screenplays and then talk about it at a meeting. I think if you can keep the meetings scheduled with different kinds of activities, you probably have a better chance at keeping the group going — a lot of groups fold because nothing ever gets accomplished.

Whew. I’ve seen it all! In an informal group like this, being constructive is always best. In other words, you have to qualify why you don’t like something in a member’s script. Let the person who wrote it explain where they were coming from. Know up front that they won’t like what everyone has to say but that’s not the point. The point is for them to gain some valuable perspective that they didn’t have before. To see and understand how someone else views their work and then toss what they feel isn’t going to improve the work.

Together as a group. Not literally together… LOL. But as in preparation for a future meeting. This is where good schedules come in. Planning events like this ahead of time make it a lot easier than coming up with the idea at one meeting and making it the topic of the next meeting.

I found a pretty decent PDF eBook by that discusses all this quite well so why reinvent the wheel?

Download

Some other decent links:

American Screenwriting Association

List of compiled by

So if you’re having a hard time finding someone to discuss this fine art and craft with, consider joining a group or starting one. Worse case scenario is starting one online using Yahoo Groups or something similar.

If you’ve got some ideas, links, suggestions, recommendations, whatever — sound out.

Unk




Friday: 1 February 2008|1917|Under Uncategorized

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22 Responses to “Screenwriting Groups”

  1. Tom on Friday: 1 February 2008|1921

    I went to a group once… once. Best thing I got out of it was learning about Joseph Cambell’s (sp?) Hero With A Thousand Faces.

  2. Unk on Friday: 1 February 2008|1929

    Wow… That was quick. Only once? Kind of a hit and run thing, eh?

    They’re not for everybody.

    Some people swear by them.

    Unk

  3. dave on Friday: 1 February 2008|1941

    I’ve belonged to a screenwriting group for going on 15 years. Started out where only one person knew anything (person moved from Texas where they belonged to a screenwriting group). She started it by printing a flyer up and putting around town and in the local film office.

    One thing that’s been stable is only 2 people have led the group, officers have been elected to handle various duties. There is a membership fee, a library of scripts and other screenwriting things (books, videos, tapes, etc.), you have to submit work to be accepted and at each meeting we read 1-2 writer’s first 30 pages and critique (positively) the work.

    The only things that have changed over the years are the members, the locations and now the number of meetings (people don’t come much in the summer or dead of winter).

    I’ve learned a lot from the group, but the best thing are the writer friends I’ve met whom I can trust with honest feedback when I’ve got something to show.

    We’ve also kept between 15-24 writers in the group all along. All in all, a great group.

    Virginia Screenwriters Forum out of Richmond, Virginia.

  4. nicolle on Friday: 1 February 2008|1944

    Dammit Unk! I was totally writing a post about this… But I’m outclasses since I don’t have a list of any actual groups, just gonna give a rundown of what I’ve found the benefits to be in the different kinds of groups and why newbs should seek one out. Kinda like a splinter cell, but with (hopefully) less explosions.

  5. nicolle on Friday: 1 February 2008|1945

    Also I’m drinking. So the folks who like their blogs sober need to stay out my face.

  6. Tom on Friday: 1 February 2008|2004

    UNK,

    I’m not anti-group… I think it was more this particular group. I didn’t know any of them. And it didn’t seem like the organizer put much thought into how it would work… which is why your post here is so great.

    And I actually think sites like this and sites where people post their work for feedback are better because

    A) You can bring people together from all over.
    B) People can read stuff and comment whenever they like.

    Actually, I shouldn’t say better. Because I’m sure a good group that meets in person probably has a higher ceiling than an online thing, but it’s a lot easier to do online. But groups are more social. And a better way to build a local community and all that.

    P.S.

    I’m drinking too.

  7. margaret on Friday: 1 February 2008|2143

    Wow. I fell right into that demographic - I’m a new lurker here who just joined a screenwriting group via Matchup. Will attend first meeting in a couple of days, see how it goes. (And I have to drive as far as I do to see a movie.) Thanks for the info.

  8. Unk on Friday: 1 February 2008|2202

    dave,

    Now that sounds like a really good group…

    nicolle,

    Post it! You know I’ll read it.

    Tom,

    I hear ya… I’ve been a guest at a few groups where I thought to myself, “Glad I’m not a member…”

    Geez… Please. No email.

    margaret,

    Welcome! You are officially no longer a lurker.

    Unk

  9. Ryan N. on Friday: 1 February 2008|2351

    Great post!

    Since I’m new to all this gibberish stuff…never really thought about screenwriting groups.

    Need to look into it if there are any round here.

    Anyone in Utah???

  10. Elver on Saturday: 2 February 2008|0133

    Well, there seem to be exactly zero people here in Estonia even remotely interested in screenwriting meetups. (Excluding me, of course.)

    The problem with every country around Estonia is the language barrier. Yay.

    So if any Estonian screenwriting aficionados happen upon this comment, throw me an e-mail and let’s have a beer together. My e-mail addy is elver.loho@gmail.com

  11. Alexis Niki on Saturday: 2 February 2008|0944

    Hey, thanks for the link to my free ebook, “Joining, Creating, or Running a Screenwriters’ Group.” Glad you found it useful!

    If there’s one element that determines above all others whether a screenwriting group will thrive or not, it’s having all the members in agreement on the goals–and then creating a structure that supports those goals. It takes a little discipline, but the payoff can be huge.

    Alexis Niki

  12. Unk on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1009

    Ryan,

    Gibberish stuff? LOL. For some reason, that makes me laugh.

    Utah? Where’s that? LOL.

    Elver,

    I gotta tell ya… You’re FUCKED. LOL. Seriously though, you’re the only screenwriter I’ve ever heard come from Estonia. In fact, you being from Estonia is like the 2nd time I’d ever heard of Estonia — the first time being an article I’d read YEARS ago about Estonian Pirates.

    But hey… That’s what I’m here for, right?

    Alexis,

    You’re very welcome! I’ve already had several emails from readers wanting to put much of what you say into practice.

    Unk

  13. emily blake on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1308

    I lucked into a very efficient and successful group over the last year. We meet once a month at the house of whoever’s script is the focus of the meeting and the host always puts out snacks.

    We start every meeting by checking in to see where everybody is in their screenwriting progress. Then we go around the circle and each person gives their notes on the project or projects up for discussion. We discuss, we support each other, we give advice, then we all go home. We keep updates and ask for advice via email list between meetings.

  14. Unk on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1311

    Nice to see some of you getting lucky with your groups… Very cool.

    I assume it helps improve the writing?

    Unk

  15. Ryan N. on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1320

    I’m in the learning/beginning phase of screenwriting. I’m trying to figure all this out. So, therefore, it’s all gibberish right now.

    Especially when I’m not good at writing in the first place. Struggle on where to put the DAMN commas, apstrophes, and etc… Lol

    Needless to say, I’m slowly learning.

    Give me sometime and I’ll have it down to the point where it’s not gibberish. Then I will acutally have something to say that is worth reading about.

    Until then, keep up the great work. I’m learning more here than anywhere else.

    Thank for all that you do here.

  16. Unk on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1336

    Ryan,

    But where’s Utah?

    Dude… Just kidding. I go the Salt Flats at least once a year. Almost got killed at the rest stop there.

    Ouch.

    Unk

  17. Ryan N. on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1348

    Sounds like Utah could’ve been your permanent location. Lol …actually that wouldn’t be funny, but you would know where it was…

    Utah’s somewhere in the mountains. It was only found cause of some Mormon pioneers. Without them, I don’t think anyone/anything would ever exist here. Lol

    For some reason the snow knows where we are. Lol

    Way too many snow storms.

  18. Elver on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1657

    “Seriously though, you’re the only screenwriter I’ve ever heard come from Estonia.”

    Well, I’m as non-Estonian as can be while still being ethnically Estonian and living here. I reject the local culture and substitute my own. I wouldn’t be on your website if I didn’t.

    So I dunno if I qualify as an Estonian, really. Probably not.

  19. Tom on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1713

    “I don’t know, maybe it was Utah.”

  20. Unk on Saturday: 2 February 2008|1723

    “So I dunno if I qualify as an Estonian, really. Probably not.”

    You’re still the ONLY Estonian screenwriter I’ve ever heard of… LOL.

    Tom,

    Still drinkin’? LOL.

    Unk

  21. Laura Deerfield on Monday: 4 February 2008|1214

    Elver - perhaps you need to get a grant to study abroad. I went to grad school with an Estonian woman who had gotten a Fulbright. She said the key was having a very specific school she wanted to study at, which offered something not available anywhere else. That was Beat poetry. (The school was the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.) She said that it was nearly impossible to find people interested in poetry in a serious way - I imagine screenwriting is similar.

    I haven’t been in any screenwriting groups in person, though Triggerstreet has served as one for me. I *have*, however, been a part of some AMAZING writing workshops and writer’s groups for other genres, and when you get a good one - there’s nothing more valuable.

    A good group will offer you critiques of your work from people with an interest in and knowledge of your craft, the sense of having a community of peers (writing can be such a lonely occupation), and connections.

    The best experience I had was a SciFi & Horror writer’s workshop in Eugene, OR. A woman I did a little babysitting work for told me about it. Every other week, in the back room of a casual restaurant. There were about 12-15 regulars, but as many 20 might show up any given night. Specific people were assigned to bring in work each week, so there were 2-3 short stories to read and critique at the next meeting. The mix was ideal - about 50% of the regulars were working writers (several of them supporting themselves with writing alone - including the editor of F&SF magazine) and the rest were students and amateurs. In addition to critiques, we shared marketing ideas, tips for inspiration…and it was also a social network with people I enjoyed being around. SF and Horror writers? A buncha geeks! We played baseball in the summer, and for once in my life I was *not* the least athletic person there! We hung out and drank beers brewed by the members. And mostly, we learned about writing from each other.

    The critiques were a mix of the practical “can you sell it” of the pros with the intellectual analysis of the students - I read some fantastic work, and I learned a LOT, in particular about plot and story structure, that is proving valuable to me in screenwriting.

    I definitely recommend getting involved in a group if possible. Just talk to everyone, tell everyone you meet that you’re a writer - and you might get lucky enough to be introduced to a group like the one I found in Oregon.

  22. Elver on Tuesday: 5 February 2008|0535

    Laura,

    I’ve seen the insides of universities, both as a student and as an investigative journalist. I’m sure there are exceptions, but from where I stand, universities are intellectually backwards places full of corruption.

    If you put your mind to it, you can fit an average university course into a maximum of two weeks of intensive study. And you’ll walk out knowing more than someone who studied the same at the university — he studied these things to pass a test, you studied to know more about the subject. These are two completely different goals.

    I could rant on and on about this and I have, in the past, but to sum things up: it’s very unlikely that I’ll ever set my foot into any university ever again, except to pick up women. (Universities are surprisingly good for that sort of stuff.)

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