Authoring & Playwriting

Oooo... what a great question! In the past, when I was working in unscripted TV, we'd use a local woman who did transcription services. It allowed us to fully delegate the task to her and let her be responsible for the full delivery. You can still go with the fast, free way, but be prepared to do quality assurance when receiving it, which doesn't really save you time. If you'd like, I'll see if I can dig up her info for you!

Thank you but I am looking for an app for. a specific reason.

Hey, Barbara! Do you want to continue your post in the comments? We'd love to help!

I started with a novel, but my editor said that my writing style was more suitable for screenplays. I think that was her polite way of saying that I sucked at novel writing. Anyway, upon her advice, I turned that 1st novel into a screenplay and squeezed 3 sequences out of that story. I've since written 11 other screenplays. But I think I'm gonna end up taking them all to my grave. :(

I've published 3 books and turning them all into screenplays. I found it easy to do both but the only struggle I had was trying not to direct the scene.

Yeah published horror author here too and in 2018 set up my own horror publishing company called DEMAIN - about 100 books published so far.

I'm strictly a novelist myself.

I started as a novelist and then adapting to film.

Dea, I agree....I always choose my music depending upon which story i'm writing....i've got a new idea for what will be my 2nd screenplay, so i'll be looking for music that was on the radio locally at that time.

fabuloso idea. just seeing this. hoping it can get me past my writers' block on this latest story. I would consider drinking to loosen me up but music sounds more productive. thanks!

The only time I wrote with music was when I worked on my play about Tchaikovsky and his life. Otherwise the music comes from me in the form of the thread of dramatic tension and the emotional rhythm of the characters and dialogue. I prefer nature in silence or sometimes a noisy cafe for rewrites, but never someone else's music in my ears. I knew many artists who could only write or paint with music and drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

Yes! I completely agree. Music allows me to enter into that part of my brain that receives. Great comment.

It really depends what I'm listening to and what I might be writing. I actually have playlists built up for moods too.

Is it for a book or a script? For a book you need a brief synopsis for the story and the chapters. For a script you only need a brief synopsis for the story.

Thanks, Mr. Williams, it is for a book. so in chapter one should the introductory paragraph before the, In a big Dazzling throne room....... be removed?

Hey, Bright Gabriel! Thanks so much for reaching out!

I have a suggestion for how to get more responses. A lot of the screenwriters on this platform do a script exchange for notes. In your case, maybe you could give feedback on some loglines (you can find them here: https://www.stage32.com/loglines ) and then ask if they could take a moment to give you feedback on your synopsis here. You can include the link to this post in your response (it's way meta, but here you go: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/playwriting/Indecisiveness-about-synopsis ).

Just a thought!

Thanks for the ideas!

I'm publishing my mother's book of poetry as a tribute to her life. Would love to promote it on there and donate proceeds to scholarship.

My poetry is more spoken word

I have series of poems I sell on Amazon.

You can text me online and let's work together.

You need some poems? I'm a poet as well

I went to East Jefferson High School way way back in the day. I've written three screenplays set in New Orleans. They take place mostly in the French Quarter. I haven't sold anything. New Orleans was fun.

Keep your story Gothic.

I lived in New Orleans so long ago I ate at Taco Bell there for the first time. I have eaten at MOTHER'S restaurant. Sounds a lot like Melba's. Worked at a car wash over on Airline Highway one summer.

I had a nice breakfast and horrible Bloody Mary at Mother's years ago.

New Orleans is always a great setting for a screenplay. I still keep in touch with a few high school friends down there. Spent my honeymoon in New Orleans. Mother's deep-fries everything.

Congrats Alex! I would love to pick your brain and learn. Does anyone know of a good coach/professional service to evaluate my treatment? I'm writing a treatment of my novel and need to get it right before pitching it to a producer or finding an agent. First time doing this. I'm not going to write the script, having learned that if it's optioned, the production company would prefer to hire it out themselves.

I think if a book is optioned whoever options would do this themselves? One of my books just got a request for more material from a scout (it checks out), and they just wanted the ms. Another one is with a production company, and again they just asked for the ms. Got to admit I'm very new to this too so this might be duff info! x

I think as a novelist it would difficult for me to produce a screenplay treatment let alone an actually screenplay. I'm too rooted in thinking in words, being in love with the written word. It seems to me you need to think more visually for a screenplay. I wrote a one-act play once; it never got any traction so I rewrote it as a short-story with more success. I would simply like to get one of my books optioned and let someone with more experience and talent in writing screenplays develop the movie. That's why I'm thinking of approaching one of the companies Daisy mentioned earlier.

Hi Chris Good to read you. I'm an author who's written two books. I have the same plan.

Hello Chris, good for you! I'm currently planning the sixth book in my memoir series and would love to follow the same process. Honestly, though, I don't know where to start.

Logline sounds good! But unfortunately I don't have the time right now.

That picture looks familiar.....

There's a company called Beta Reads that offers beta reading at a cost ($85 and up). I've never used them and to be honest, as a freelance book editor as well as novelist, it sounds more like a manuscript review than a beta read. But here is their URL: https://www.betaread.com/

Thanks, Richard. I'll check back with you. Maybe you could do round two. Thanks, Robin! It's a free template, David. Thanks, Martin! I've since found a few. Good Reads finally produced a couple for me, and Fiverr had a couple. One was a complete waste of money. I'm going to get through this first round of notes and go for a second round of beta reads. So far, the response has been 100% positive, with very few actionable notes. Not sure how I feel about that. :p

It sounds like an interesting premise. Keep working on the log though, to tighten it up some.

Hey Mehul, great to have you as part of the community! Have you considered pitching your projects through our Script Services Pitch Sessions? We have a number of producers, studio executives, and literary reps who can give you feedback on your pitch and your project. You can find those sessions see: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/pitch-sessions

If you are looking to develop your project first, there are some great executives on our roster who specialize in developing television series. They have worked with HBO, ABC, NBC, FX and many others. Feel free to reach out to me at j.mirch@stage32.com and I will certainly help you out!

This is great info, thank you!

Hey Mehul, happy you are starting this project. I specialize in thriller/suspense type shows. If you need help shoot me a message. Good luck with everything.