So, if you arrived here by Googling "how to win a Nicholl Fellowship", you should know two things:
- I have not won a Nicholl Fellowship -- YET.
- The way to win is to write a great screenplay.
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.
11 comments:
Googling your way through life, why not?! Too funny.
Hope you win your precious fellowship this year, but if you asked me you've got your sights on scaling the wrong mountain. Your REAL goal should be getting your writting made into a movie, NOT justifying your efforts by winning a contest.
Have you even finished your masterpeice? Time's a tickin' girl. DON'T ADD ANY NEW SCENES. Spell and grammar check the ones you've got, mail it in, then treat yourself to an ice cold, Miller's Genuine Draft (or perhaps a tasty sasparilla, if you're so disposed).
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
Yup. Masterpiece done. Proofing, proofing, proofing. Thanks for the encouragement. Drinking green tea right now and just sent the teenager out to pick me up a Snickers bar. Do I know how to party or what?
The Nicholl isn't just any ol' contest, E.C. Careers are launched BECAUSE of the Nicholl. Look at Mike Rich, Susannah Grant, etc. It's not just about validation.
Having said that, though, I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. I just chose to take time away from pimping my other work to focus on this screenwriting goal to better my odds of accomplishing it. If it doesn't pay off, what is the worst that can happen? I spent six months working to become a better writer.
It's a win/win.
I know a lot of people who set goals but don't put the time and work into accomplishing them and then wonder why they didn't get what they went after. The reason they didn't get what they wanted is because they didn't really go after it. They made a half hearted effort and waited for somebody to hand them the rest and then lied to themselves about the amount of effort they put into it. There are a lot of people giving 25% out there who really think they're giving 110%.
Well if YOU must focus on a competition, at least you're focusing on the RIGHT ONE.
Good luck!
Unk
Moving on to something new after this week. What'll it be... what'll it be... some "unknown" project perhaps.
Hmmm. Sounds intriguing.
Unk
I am glad you'll be submitting again, good luck, I want to see your name in accolades.
I won't make it. The story I am doing now is perfect for it but I don't want to spend the money sending it off as is. I would be rushing.
I'll do BlueCat and Scriptapalooza in the fall maybe, if I don't hear anything from shopping my stuff around this summer.
My new goal for 07 was to market myself
Well this is mid-April. You got seven and a half more months to market!
Best wishes!
Congratulations on completion -- I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!
I was a finalist once. Also a quarter and a semi, I think. Something less than getting the money but more than getting your name in Variety and any number of cheese baskets from people who briefly want to know you but quickly change their minds. Bitter much? Yup, now I'm even heckling myself.
annabel and Billy, thanks. If nothing happens, so what? I pout awhile and eventually realize that I'm a better writer from the process.
Julie, cool beans that you're back from fishing. Or is it?
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