Josh Olson Won’t Read Your Fucking Script; Unfortunately, I Probably Will…

A couple of weeks ago, this article from The Village Voice was making the rounds:

“I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script,” by screenwriter Josh Olson.

I read it. I digested it. I even waded through a good portion of the comments (though there are a hell of a lot of them) — and I have to say, I thought it was brilliant.

The thing is, I’m not a professionally published writer, though I hope to be one someday. I’m also not a professional screenwriter, though I have some aspirations in that area as well. I get the frustration of the struggling writer completely, and I totally understand the importance of networking and finding someone who will give you a chance to prove yourself. That was one of the main points that the commenters took issue with, arguing that no screenwriter (such as Olson) would ever be able to make a career for himself without the help of a successful writer taking the time to look at his work.

On the other hand, while I am not a professionally published author, I am a relatively established fanfiction author.

(I’ll wait while you finish chuckling… ;))

Seriously though, I’ve been writing fanfiction for the same fandom (Inuyasha) for almost six years now, as well as helping to moderate a fandom community and participating in other aspects of the fandom — and although I don’t have the overwhelming popularity of some other authors, I’m at least a relatively recognizable name, and I have a small following of my own. I’ve done a good deal of “beta” (editing/proofreading) work, which has ultimately led me to pursue a career in publishing, and I get requests from readers for advice on their own projects on a semi-regular basis. Unfortunately, in nine cases out of ten, the material that people ask me to look at is…extremely flawed. But I nearly always say yes when they ask me, because I hate disappointing people — especially people who regularly rave to me about my own writing. I feel guilty saying no…

I’m not a mean person by nature — I honestly like to help people whenever I can, and I actually really enjoy taking a piece of written work and finding ways to improve it. But the thing is, there has to be something there to work with in the first place. If the existing material is so thoroughly flawed that it would basically be easier to throw the whole thing out and start from scratch, there’s not a whole lot an editor or advisor can do to help — other than give the author an honest opinion. Which probably isn’t going to be much fun for either party. I get so frustrated in these situations, because I can’t help thinking how much it would suck to get the kind of feedback I feel I have to give from someone whose opinion I really value.

I guess, for me, the moral of the story for aspiring authors (myself included) is that it’s all well and good to be ambitious and seek out the advice of people who might be able to help you — but please, please, please make damn sure that what you’re giving them is the best it can be. And even if it is, please, please, please prepare yourself (genuinely) for the fact that they really might not like it. Doesn’t mean you can’t improve it — doesn’t even mean it’s not already good — but all they can do is give you their honest opinion. Anything less would be disrespectful to you, wouldn’t it?

So don’t blame the messenger; if you have to blame somebody, blame the one who asked for the advice — you.

(The good news for me is that I’m really good at that…)