Does anyone have advice about working with a writing partner? If successful, how did you meet? If a mistake, what warning signs were there? I'm open to the idea but it's a new frontier for me and I was hoping for some guidance.
Screenwriting : Writing team pros and cons by Gary Armstrong
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Hey Gary! Personally, I've discovered that actually finding a compatible writing partner quite difficult. I'm still in film school, and whilst I have several amazing friends who are fantastic writers and I get on with extremely well, we don't work on the same creative wavelength. It's two months ago I found that I work well with someone who goes to a different film school I knew from our first year at University before he changed to a different Uni. The reason we work well is because we're interested in the same genres, themes, tonality, and share the same goals with what we want to achieve with the screenplay. If I can give any kind of advice, it would be to find someone who ticks as many of the same boxes as you when it comes to how you work creatively and with your writing. This is all still a learning experience for me too, so I might be right to some extent, I'm not sure how it applies universally. But I'm working collaboratively well with someone now because of these reasons! Maybe search for a writer to work with you by sharing your interest in what you like to read, write, watch, listen to, and such alike. I hope this is some sort of signpost to being helpful!
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I would really try to work with a professional rather than a convict.
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I've found my Writing Partners/Producers on S32. We talk about our current project on the phone as we beatup drafts I send them. Without fail - they always remind me - synergy is where it's at... scripts are gettin' good :) I LOVE Writing Partners/Producers.
These are all interesting insights. Some of you hit on the challenge: do you choose as a partner someone that sees the world through the same lens, or do you augment your self-perceived weaknesses with someone that has those missing strengths? I have a very distinct writing style and vision, but I know I could use someone that masters structure to keep me in line and moving toward the endgame. Lastly, would it have hurt or helped to have met in person prior to working together?
I've been a staff writer on a few well known TV series where you are essentially part of a writing team. My experience has been good & not so good. I've worked with a few writers on some projects over the years - some good, some no so much. Now I write solo but with a lot of input from editors, readers and anybody I can con into reading my stuff. I'm happiest flying solo. It suits my compression ratio better.
I think rooms work great for some things. The BBC don't use them, but they 100% in use in the USA. The WGA is the only thing stopping them becoming common in Features.