Suck it up and keep writing
In 2009 Josh Olson, writer of 'A History of Violence', wrote a lengthy piece entitled 'I will not read your fucking script'. If you've never come across it, good. I guess you must have been busy writing, right!? The article caused one hell of a stir, thousands of comments, pro and con, lovers and haters. It's worth reading, for sure - and it'll teach you a few things, regardless of what you may think of Josh Olson.
Olson probably needs a bit of anger management therapy and takes himself just a bit too seriously. Still, he does have a point. In essence, all he says is that he's a busy writer and people shouldn't impose on him with requests for his opinion on everything from story ideas to spec scripts. He makes that statement vigorously and uses lots of colorful words along the way. His writing makes you think he's this one overblown asshole. Maybe that's what he is - maybe Hollywood's gotten to him. And maybe he's really just had too many bad experiences.
If you're a fresh writer, just starting out, you should take note. Powerful people are busy people - that doesn't automatically make them assholes, but it makes approaching them difficult. If you actually do see an opening, use it only if you're absolutely ready and absolutely sure you're not wasting that person's time. Those doors are most unlikely to open twice. Hand that person, let's call him Spielberg, a shitty story idea on smudged paper with spelling errors and a story that makes no sense whatsoever, you can kiss Dreamworks good-bye. Simply put, don't burn any bridges before you get a chance to cross them.
Now for the most important bit of learning: If Josh Olson tells you that he won't read your fucking script, suck it up. If Steven Spielberg say you don't have any talent, suck it up. If Kevin Spacey twitters that you're the worst writer on the planet, suck it up. Learn how to handle rejection and learn how to handle it gracefully, humbly. They may be right, you may indeed be a miserable writer. But if you let rejection turn you off writing, then you're no writer to begin with. So take every rejection you get (and there's plenty to be had), suck it up, learn from it and always keep on writing.
Hmn... makes you think, doesn't it? If you or I were in Josh Olson's shoes - would we be that way, too? I sincerely hope not. Yes, I wouldn't be able to take the time to read everything - but I would, at the very least, find more positive ways of saying 'no'.
Olson probably needs a bit of anger management therapy and takes himself just a bit too seriously. Still, he does have a point. In essence, all he says is that he's a busy writer and people shouldn't impose on him with requests for his opinion on everything from story ideas to spec scripts. He makes that statement vigorously and uses lots of colorful words along the way. His writing makes you think he's this one overblown asshole. Maybe that's what he is - maybe Hollywood's gotten to him. And maybe he's really just had too many bad experiences.If you're a fresh writer, just starting out, you should take note. Powerful people are busy people - that doesn't automatically make them assholes, but it makes approaching them difficult. If you actually do see an opening, use it only if you're absolutely ready and absolutely sure you're not wasting that person's time. Those doors are most unlikely to open twice. Hand that person, let's call him Spielberg, a shitty story idea on smudged paper with spelling errors and a story that makes no sense whatsoever, you can kiss Dreamworks good-bye. Simply put, don't burn any bridges before you get a chance to cross them.
Now for the most important bit of learning: If Josh Olson tells you that he won't read your fucking script, suck it up. If Steven Spielberg say you don't have any talent, suck it up. If Kevin Spacey twitters that you're the worst writer on the planet, suck it up. Learn how to handle rejection and learn how to handle it gracefully, humbly. They may be right, you may indeed be a miserable writer. But if you let rejection turn you off writing, then you're no writer to begin with. So take every rejection you get (and there's plenty to be had), suck it up, learn from it and always keep on writing.
Hmn... makes you think, doesn't it? If you or I were in Josh Olson's shoes - would we be that way, too? I sincerely hope not. Yes, I wouldn't be able to take the time to read everything - but I would, at the very least, find more positive ways of saying 'no'.
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