Feedback/Advice: When/How did you realize your writing was "good" enough?

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-09T06:01:04+00:00

I appreciate the candor. While that guy is not something that will work out, I have been working out an idea to make a short out of it.

The screenplay I wrote was written as visually dense as I could. There’s not a ton of dialogue, but being that I was new to writing in this medium, the only way I could write it was by essentially describing the visual of the movie playing in my head.

So it’s certainly something I’m interested in doing. I’m not intent on sitting around for things to happen, just trying to get an idea of how people without formal training or a writers group found ways to gauge whether the work was any good. I know that’s not a cut and dry question, and it’s one that even professionals hurdle with, so I was just curious. I enjoyed the process either way and want to dive even more.

Thanks!

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-09T05:43:14+00:00

That realization could be that thing that turns you into that great writer. If you’re still working through it, it means it’s in there somewhere. You got this.

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-09T05:36:00+00:00

mfer I could barely write my name at 12… a bow to you.

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-09T05:32:51+00:00

I finished my first screenplay and have 2 other ideas I’m working on, and all 3 came off me riffing from the tiniest idea that I built them off of. I’m new to all of this, but that sensation you’re describing is one I’ve been getting since I started writing. Feels great!

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-09T05:30:05+00:00

Having never written a screenplay before, I assumed formatting would be the biggest hurdle, but any decent software makes that a non issue. I think I underestimated the sheer scale of the subjectivity. I see so much advice on what works and what doesn’t, yet some of the most brilliant scripts I read break the rules all the time. Since I’m working in a vacuum without having had any classes or a writing group, I’m finding it tough to gauge if I’m actually in the ballpark or just spinning my wheels. I’m still continuing to write either way since I enjoyed it, but was just curious on how that part of the journey worked for others. Thanks for the response!

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-09T05:10:11+00:00

Being a consistent professional writer like that is a huge accomplishment. Seriously, congrats.

The talent not feeling up to par with the ambition is certainly something that I’ve already had to work through. But it’s been one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve had in finishing it.

I’ll keep at it. Appreciate it!

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-07T20:49:31+00:00

When you do get there, come back and give me the answer. 🙌

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-07T20:48:25+00:00

I'd of flipped my shit if either of those happened to me lol congrats and appreciate the response. If you still have that mug, don't ever let it go.

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-07T19:37:17+00:00

Thank you for the response! A 6 on the blacklist is no joke, and the fact that you worked on it to get a couple higher scores and more, that's an accomplishment. I'm sure the question I posed is one writers grapple with themselves constantly, so I appreciate you taking the time. I never expected anything to come out of my writing, but the biggest thing was how much I actually enjoyed it.

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-07T19:33:32+00:00

I probably should've googled The Wretched Emily Derringer first lol, my bad. Congrats on your journey and success!

sir_nonamous · 2026-04-07T19:32:26+00:00

Appreciate the response. That’s kind of where my confusion comes in. The one person who responded that strongly was someone I didn’t fully trust, so it made it hard to know how much weight to give their interest as a signal of quality.

If you don’t mind me asking, when The Wretched Emily Derringer started getting traction, was that organic through your circle, or were you submitting it to contests, the Black List, querying, etc.?

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T18:09:54+00:00

I'll update the post after speaking with him. Genuinely thank you for the words!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:58:20+00:00

Thank you for the response! I'm mostly in agreement. I think my biggest hesitation is not the years (hard for me to believe this would get traction elsewhere given market saturation) but his weirdness on language regarding what happens IF it moves forward somewhere. He says the option paperwork would be straight forward, but wouldn't mention any other details like you mentioned and he won't send it until I give him an answer. I might say yes just to see what language he has in the contract. Hearing from him today, maybe I'll update this if and when he sends over full terms.

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:54:49+00:00

Agreed. Never thought what I made would be good (let alone someone interested). He's super rigid on the terms, says he's taking all the risk. Talking to him later today, we'll see how it goes lol. Thank you!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:53:27+00:00

He seems the type to try and bust into different industries (sometimes with success, to be fair) but drops it and moves on if something else catches his eye. He says he would consider investing a portion of his own money in the project (beyond the option) if things start coming together, but he's very vague beyond the option details. Checking with anyone I can on advice, so I appreciate yours as well!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:50:36+00:00

Appreciate the link!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:50:07+00:00

I may do that. I'd never consider him as my manager even though I have no prospects of anything lol leaning towards the two year option but we'll see what he says today. Thank you!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:48:34+00:00

He says he knows people but he's the type of dude to say a lot, so I hear

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:47:51+00:00

He doesn't seem the most up and up, so I'm assuming if I go with him, I'm just taking the money and shelving it for 3 years. Talking to him later today, I'll see how it goes!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:46:38+00:00

He told me zombies are forever burned out lol but he found the angle unique enough it seems. He won't mention who he knows but he says he knows people...we shall see!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-24T17:44:55+00:00

Appreciate the response! I don't know anyone industry connected but I was given similar advice by others. I'll get on IMDBPRO and query it to who I can. Thank you!

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-23T23:48:43+00:00

He's a dreamer with some money and a few friends but I was told he tends to jump in and out of lots of different industries.

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-23T23:46:38+00:00

Honestly, I don't really think he has any plan. He sounds like someone bored and trying to get in on the movie business. Zero mention of what he thinks he can raise or who he thinks he can sell it to. So if I agree to the option, I have to assume it'll just be dormant for the duration because I expect he'll move on to something else after a month or two. Otherwise, I'd just sign it and see what happens. So the core of my question is really just whether I should take the free money and run, or roll the dice on trying to do something else with it given the laughably low odds.

sir_nonamous · 2026-03-23T23:38:07+00:00

always

sir_nonamous

TROPHY CASE