Read on Twitter
1/16 A cool cat @paul_s_casey put out this tweet and I have to push back a little. Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time a writer who had been writing in the void for what seemed like forever ran across this Twitter hashtag #WRAC17. It was like Nirvana. There were all these
2/16 writers talking about Spec Script Shoutouts. Some of these writers names were familiar to me. I was like oh my God! How can I get to read these? Will they read mine? To say I was intimidated is a massive understatement. No one even knew I existed much less my name. I was in
3/16 Paul's words unheralded. No one sought me out & said let me read your work and trumpet it to the world. I started lurking and following all the names I saw with #WRAC17 in their posts. I came to realize that these writers were on a mission. Writers helping writers. I could
4/16 dig that vibe and dove in enthusiastically. This was what I had been looking for in the world. I didn't DM anyone I barely knew and said read my script. I started interacting with the members of #thewracgroup. Over time I began to build GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS with these
5/16 talented writers. I offered to read their scripts with no expectation they would read mine. I RT their success stories. Congratulated them on good news. Not for my own personal gain but because I was excited to see it happen for them. It showed me what was possible & though
6/16 I may be crazy, at least I had found others afflicted with the same disease. The desire to tell stories and get them out in the world. A strange thing happened along the way. These very same writers who would give me night sweats at the thought of me asking them to read
7/16 my work, did ask to read something of mine. Holy shit! My mind went blank. I'll never forget seeing my name on #WRACList18 with a script called #SmugglersBay. A year later I was on the list with the same people who had terrified me. Then I get an email from a development
8/16 rep at CBS. They wanted to read my work. It didn't go anywhere but I saw the power of this group. As time moved forward each new friend led to another and another. I've never lost that excitement or desire to embrace the writers helping writers mantra. My relationships with
9/16 certain writers grew deeper. Why wouldn't they? These people had my back when no one knew my name. Fast forward to today. I read anywhere from 80 -150 plus scripts a year from peers. A lot of new names & faces. I promote as many as I can & when asked to read a new writer, I
10/16 almost always say yes. I remember what it's like to be on the other end. But these scripts that are promoted often, I'm all for that too! Why? These writers have honed their craft over many dark nights of the soul, did countless rewrites until their eyes bled & fingers went
11/16 numb. Hell I've done over 20 on The Fifelot alone. It's been said by others that I'm halfway decent at marketing myself. I will never apologize for waking up every day, promoting me & my work as hard as I can. I promote others as hard as I do myself to get our work
12/16 in front of industry eyes. I don't have a manager / agent but yet because of the kindness of others promoting and championing my work I've gotten gen mgs with studios, had pro writers ask for my work, others pass it along to industry contacts. The level of gratitude I feel
13/16 is beyond words. This has taken me years of building RELATIONSHIPS & DOING THE WORK. I've followed pro writers on here for years & never once asked them to read my work. I've been grateful for their willingness to share their knowledge, answer my questions & light the path.
14/16 So if you want to unfollow me feel free. But here's a tip. FIND those writers who have your back when no one knew your name, build those RELATIONSHIPS, cheer every time you see a writer post good news. Those little wins keep you going in the low times. Because
15/16 I love all the crazy dreamers tackling the blank page. I want to give back, help other writers further along. To me it's a privilege to take a trip through your imaginations. But there's only so many reads I can do and meet my page goals and that goes for everyone. Time is
16/16 an always dwindling resource. My final thoughts. We all need ATTENTION or EXPOSURE. Granted some need it more than others but take solace in this fact. Hollywood doesn't care much about twitter or contests. It's the biz of show. Write something that blows people away!
