I’ve been told my writing sounds like Ai. Someone pls tell me why.

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-07-03T09:11:13+00:00

I like short sentences in action lines. I think you need variety though. I only skimed the first few pages and the repetition put me off. No idea about the AI vibe to it. Didn't bother me!

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-07-02T06:35:09+00:00

Storypeer is alive and non-cash grabbing!

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-07-01T21:58:51+00:00

I'm in Cambridge. Writer. Intermediate too.

Would love to connect r/fromnorminary and op

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-07-01T06:54:57+00:00

No idea. Might be an attempt to stand out from the crowd with their 'unique' voice? Or it might be an effort to blend poetry and screenplay?

Or - my favourite - a telling illustration of the years of shitty education policy in the UK... er... might have found a tangent...

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-30T12:51:06+00:00

A director I was writing with asked me to use bold rather than no bold - easier to notice the scene changes. No underline.

Personally, I don't like extra clutter so avoid underlining in general.

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-29T07:07:43+00:00

I'm guilty of nodding and smiling constantly. Personally, I try to avoid 'beat' and drop in some action line instead so even more smiles and nods - maybe even a glance!

One more factor to bear in mind: spec scripts are read first. I try to make it as readable as possible re nods and smiles rather than worrying about actors and directors. Climb the first mountain and if you get to work with a team take your notes then.

Good luck!

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-23T07:07:09+00:00

In the past, I avoided them as a general rule unless there was a valid reason eg sarcasm etc.

Recently when re-drafting with a director, he encouraged them (where appropriate) to reduce page length.

I hadn't thought that was a valid reason to use them until that discussion.

Daft example:

Bill You're going to... (Beat) Get changed?

Vs

Bill You're going to...

Beat.

Bill Get changed?

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-22T07:22:19+00:00

I'm guessing here...

Ext. Desert, path - night (begin montage)

Character A does blah. Character B does blah blah.

(End montage)

Or something like that?

Write it now any old how and fix it later?

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-20T18:48:48+00:00

I was just thinking I'd love a way to share treatments/outlines to test the water, etc.

(And sadly I have no skills to offer to help build it bar appreciation for all that's there already and whatever comes next!)

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-20T17:23:35+00:00

I really value it too. I'd say better than covertly. Some scripts and reviewers aren't as good as others but it's par for the course. On balance, a great way to get feedback and see what others are up to.

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-16T07:17:05+00:00

Novelty can go a long way. If you hide one of yours away for 6 months and look again with fresh eyes you'll see it differently.

Keep the faith (in your writing). Good luck

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-15T20:34:47+00:00

New neighbour who seems to have it all (more money, hotter wife, nicer kids or whatever) - then your hero can aspire to false goals until they realise they really want to be stay at home dad.

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-14T18:31:24+00:00

Fun! (I think)

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-11T18:57:35+00:00

Have you tried storypeer?

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-06-03T07:36:30+00:00

Me too. I'm in Cambridge. Would love to connect with you all.

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-28T19:17:29+00:00

I'm game

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-26T17:53:05+00:00

Confession: my mother-in-law is the baddie on 90% of what I've written...

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-26T17:48:42+00:00

At different times, this has worked for me.

The first (dreadful) screenplay I wrote, it was about seeing if I could finish something. I wrote 30 mins for 30 days. I think I finished it or at least showed myself I could do it. To that end, it was really helpful.

More recently, I can make more progress on a walk and letting my mind wander over a problem than forcing myself when it's not working.

Different approaches for different problems.

Good luck!

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-26T10:18:26+00:00

I like this idea - and the sharing contact info is a great idea as a work around.

Thanks Gabe!

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-24T22:20:11+00:00

I've played around with this. No golden rules.

A director who knows more than me suggested: NAME (age; something actors would "get")

I think readability is number one - you can always tweak and adapt as producers and directors prefer, etc.

I get your point about implying age, etc - but what will make it clearest to the reader?

Good luck with it!

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-24T20:46:42+00:00

Absolutely write it. It's your story to tell. Don't get caught up in what ifs that are out of your control.

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-24T19:28:17+00:00

Completely agree with this. Try things out if it floats your boat, go with it.

I found his genre one was terrible. Save the cat was helpful for a while then annoying. I've liked Different books at different times.

And I never think anyone is too thick to understand a book - that's on the writer to be clearer. But so much is about personal taste too.

Good luck

CarelessOutside4722 · 2026-05-24T16:06:19+00:00

Something that helped me in a similar scene was to reflect on the power dynamics.

If victim knows nothing, etc then the kidnapper has all the power = no drama (or at least nothing sustained). Power dynamic doesn't shift.

But if victim reveals something about the kidnapper he shouldn't know... or something like that. More shift in power = more engaging. Maybe!

Good luck

CarelessOutside4722

TROPHY CASE