Stuch and Bruch is the idea that every fencing technique has a counter and every counter has a technique. Technique and counter are two major components of German swordsmanship and a fair description of my screenwriting adventures and life.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
The Nicholl Numbers
4,899 entries I am one of them.
245 quarterfinalists I am not one of them.
244 more named Miss Congeniality (top 10%) I am one of them.
explain the "sugar", sweetie... is that another also-ran list like they did to me with the AAA Contest. I didn't make it to Round 2 but I was a "Considers."
Sorry about the Nicholl snub. I made it into the quarterfinals as I have done the past three years--making the semifinals each year. And still no sale. Unless you make the finals or preferably a fellowship, the chances of making a sale are slim. So don't fret. Even many who win a fellowship don't sell their script. Sad but true. --Michael--
I've never even entered a screenplay competition and I've sold one screenplay and the pitch for another that I will work on immediately after my current rewrite.
Thanks Billy, unk, & scriptweaver, anon, Scott, Todd, Eddie and Edge -- wow, I didn't know that many people even read my blog!
So, the way I see it today, in the light of a brighter day, is that top 10% is pretty good. 245 scripts were considered better than mine. Okay fine. But, in one of the (if not THE) most coveted screenwriting competitions there is, at least 4,430 screenplays weren't considered as good as mine.
Not too shabby for a li'l nobody Texan gal screenwriting for just under three years.
Sorry to hear you didn't make the quarterfinalists but top 10% is pretty awesome - and like the others said, just keep on writing. I cheer myself up by reminding myself that I made top 10% in a couple of comps so even if I'm not doing everything right, I'm at least doing a fair amount of it right. And hopefully the rest will come with practice.
Contests aren't everything. I got a flush letter from Nicholl too (although I took it to be a positive). I'm not sure where I ranked... or if I was even a blip on the radar with them.
I figure that if my script truly sucked, they wouldn't waste the paper/ink or the postage to send a letter to me. The wording in the letter I received sounded as though they liked my script, and indirectly encouraging me to 'not give up'.
That "Top 10% in the Nicholl" is yours forever, gf. It catches the eye and makes people listen. Use it. I was a Semifinalist last year with my first script. I've tweaked it and resubmitted this year...got the Quarterfinalist letter so far. My second script didn't even get your top 10% letter. Didn't even get a top 15% letter. :-)) And this script has won competitions. We're at the mercy of the Reader. Just keep writing.
Okay, I made the Top 10% in the Nicholl and that's with making stupid typos. I never give myself time to proof it closely. Putting DAY when it should have been NIGHT. Using the wrong character name. Now I wonder if those mistakes kept me from the quarterfinals or was there something wrong with the script or both. If you make the Top 10% now what? How much do you rewrite your script? What if you change too much where you ruin what they liked to make it in the 10%. Do I just clean up the typos and tweak it a little? I think being close but no cigar makes it harder. Thnaks for any advise.
Well, the typos are a no-brainer but if if were me, I wouldn't mess with it too much after that. If it was that full of errors, I'd resubmit next year cleaned up and see what happens.
17 comments:
Sugar is awesome. Congrats!
explain the "sugar", sweetie... is that another also-ran list like they did to me with the AAA Contest. I didn't make it to Round 2 but I was a "Considers."
Sorry about the Nicholl snub. I made it into the quarterfinals as I have done the past three years--making the semifinals each year. And still no sale. Unless you make the finals or preferably a fellowship, the chances of making a sale are slim. So don't fret. Even many who win a fellowship don't sell their script. Sad but true.
--Michael--
If it makes you feel better, my second script was only top 15%
You guys rock. Thanks. Gonna sulk today and get back to writing tomorrow. That's the way it works, right?
I had two make the Top 10% last year. You can believe I STILL put that on my resume!
I've never even entered a screenplay competition and I've sold one screenplay and the pitch for another that I will work on immediately after my current rewrite.
JUST KEEP WRITING!
Unk
What they said. Keep writing! You will show these Nicholls nutters, I am sure...
Thanks Billy, unk, & scriptweaver, anon, Scott, Todd, Eddie and Edge -- wow, I didn't know that many people even read my blog!
So, the way I see it today, in the light of a brighter day, is that top 10% is pretty good. 245 scripts were considered better than mine. Okay fine. But, in one of the (if not THE) most coveted screenwriting competitions there is, at least 4,430 screenplays weren't considered as good as mine.
Not too shabby for a li'l nobody Texan gal screenwriting for just under three years.
Go, Scott!!!
Not too shabby at all. One of the FEW competitions worth a shit... Oops. Sorry.
Unk
No, no, don't apologize. It's a fair comparison because even feces has value - it makes the flowers grow.
Sorry to hear you didn't make the quarterfinalists but top 10% is pretty awesome - and like the others said, just keep on writing. I cheer myself up by reminding myself that I made top 10% in a couple of comps so even if I'm not doing everything right, I'm at least doing a fair amount of it right. And hopefully the rest will come with practice.
Chin up, and good luck!
Like everyone has said already - and so much better - don't fret it. That 10% is a nice place to be for now, sugar is good as well.
Contests aren't everything. I got a flush letter from Nicholl too (although I took it to be a positive). I'm not sure where I ranked... or if I was even a blip on the radar with them.
I figure that if my script truly sucked, they wouldn't waste the paper/ink or the postage to send a letter to me. The wording in the letter I received sounded as though they liked my script, and indirectly encouraging me to 'not give up'.
I'm not planning on it.
Good luck to you and your writing!
Best Regards,
Devin
That "Top 10% in the Nicholl" is yours forever, gf. It catches the eye and makes people listen. Use it. I was a Semifinalist last year with my first script. I've tweaked it and resubmitted this year...got the Quarterfinalist letter so far. My second script didn't even get your top 10% letter. Didn't even get a top 15% letter. :-)) And this script has won competitions. We're at the mercy of the Reader. Just keep writing.
Okay, I made the Top 10% in the Nicholl and that's with making stupid typos. I never give myself time to proof it closely. Putting DAY when it should have been NIGHT. Using the wrong character name. Now I wonder if those mistakes kept me from the quarterfinals or was there something wrong with the script or both. If you make the Top 10% now what? How much do you rewrite your script? What if you change too much where you ruin what they liked to make it in the 10%. Do I just clean up the typos and tweak it a little? I think being close but no cigar makes it harder. Thnaks for any advise.
Well, the typos are a no-brainer but if if were me, I wouldn't mess with it too much after that. If it was that full of errors, I'd resubmit next year cleaned up and see what happens.
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