Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

DZ-64: Backmatter - Controlling your Work, Treatments, and Writing Styles


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Listen to understand what you can control in your career--and what you absolutely cannot.

In our annual Backmatter-only episode, Stu and Chas indulge themselves by offering personal opinions on the life and work of emerging screenwriters based on their own personal experience.

To that end, they discuss: what is and is not in your control in relation to an emerging writing career; choosing what project to develop next; using the Black List site to gain traction; the difference between treatments for pitching as opposed to for development; and the difference in writing style when writing on spec as against work for hire.

We also unexpectedly have a guest: David Wappel kindly joins us to share his thoughts on anchoring nouns.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

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  • Thanks to our Patrons, especially Khrob, Theis, Sandra, Jesse, Randy, Paulo, Thomas, Jennifer, Malay, Alexandre and Lily.

    ———

    CHAPTERS

    • 00:00:00 – Introduction
    • 00:05:27 – What is in your control?
    • 00:28:58 – Choosing what to develop
    • 00:33:24 – Using the Black List site
    • 00:59:47 – Treatments for development vs for pitching
    • 01:23:23 – Writing on spec vs work for hire
    • 01:37:37 – Backmatter to backmatter
    • LINKS

      • Read: M. Night Shyamalan on His Failures, His Successes, and Glass
      • YouTube: Can't watch a rough cut lady song
      • Read: Write Along Podcast on Planners and Pantsers
      • EPISODES IN THE BACKMATTER SERIES

        • DZ-17: Where's my gold-plated ensuite?
        • DZ-36: Backmatter - Time Risk and Fixing Movies
        • DZ-47: Backmatter - A Lost Jedi, White Knighting, and Writers-On-Set
        • DZ-57: Backmatter - Aesthetics and Forgiveness in Writing
        • DZ-64: Backmatter - Controlling your Work, Treatments, and Writing Styles
        • DZ-77: Backmatter - Prioritising and choosing projects
        • DZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable Product
        • DZ-95: Backmatter - Building and Maintenance
        • ———

          More Draft Zero is brought to you by our awesome Patreons.

          If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, or a review on Podchaser.

          We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.

          Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-64/

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          Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastBy Chas Fisher and Stuart Willis

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