It’s really interesting to come on this baord and read new teleplays (yours, incidentally is the second one I’m going through, and I’ll have comments for you this week, PROMISE.)

There’s a great Stephen King “tutorial” called On Writing. It, to me, breaks down one of the most fundamental misunderstandings about writing. And I am as guilty (if not more so) than anyone at breaking this rule. To break the rules, you must intrinsically understand exactly how to use them properly. There is structure in chaotic pieces.

The other great thing I learned from that book (which, while applying to a novel, still works for most story telling mediums) is another rule often broken, and something you address in this post. You can never care more about your character’s well being than the story.

There will always come a day when you realize the story is taking your character down a dark path and you can never compromise and attempt to steer them from their inevitable conclusion (ahem, Stephanie Meyer).

Lastly, you touch a great point about criticism. It’s funny, we both thrive on criticism, and attempt to buck it. Every one of us. It’s tough to hear that what you’ve written isn’t perfect. Especially if it’s several drafts into the process. But, fine tuning is paramount. That’s what is great about this site. We’re already fixing elements of our pilot based on feedback. Will we make EVERY change that’s suggested? Of course not. But great criticism does two wonderful things: it offers a solution to a problem you didn’t know you had, and it reminds you that you’re fallible. Thanks for the post!