Jomana Miller: Screenwriter in Valley Grove, West Virginia.

Hey Everyone! Ryan here from Pittsburgh! I missed the first two classes because of internet issues. But, I should be there this Saturday and the remaining classes! Enjoy your week!

Hello Ryan! I'm not that far from Pittsburgh! I also had to miss a couple of classes.

Nice to meet you Jomana! Wishing you all the success.

Hi Jomana Miller Welcome!

Howdy from Alaska. Which genres do you prefer?

That's my intent with Coffee & Content, Jomana. Thrilled that it hit the mark for you. Best wishes with the pilot and thanks for commenting!

Hey, Jomana Miller! Happy New Year! Great to see you again - how have you been? How goes the writing?

Good luck with your projects, Jomana!

Hey, Jomana Miller! Long time, no see! How the heck have you been? I'm not sure if you remember me from the Writer's Room, but I'm now the Community Manager here at Stage32!

Are you looking for feedback on that pilot? Don't forget you can reach out even in the Screenwriting Lounge for a script exchange - https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting We've actually started doing a "Coverage Report" every other Monday in the Writer's Room, so you can get notes on your first 10-15 pages and members can learn how to give notes!

What's the feature about?

Hello Kay!

Yea I've been in and out of the Writer's Room this whole year. Things have been very crazy but should be settling down now so I can spend more time dedicated to my writing. I actually submitted my pilot for coverage and got notes back on it, so I am currently working on my rewrite. I might actually be interested in the coverage report in the Writer's Room. I'm weird I actually love feedback on what needs work.

My feature is still working progress I don't have that many pages yet, but it's a sci-fi action about a group of warriors from space called the Zodiacs. They find themselves on Earth and have to find their way back to each other to battle their enemy.

I'm doing okay. My day job is paying full wages even though we're put on a two day a week rotation. (Essential personel) so I've had time to finish a reworking of a script I'm writing with my partner. I almost had an option on Dead Wake but the producer is very new and wanted to keep it optioned for FIVE years. I had to ask her to wait until the industry starts up again and contact me then. It was a $1 option with production bonus. I can earn more in royalties on the published version in five years than I could letting her sit on it that long, plus I have other people reading it.

So other than that, I have more time to write new material and maybe get some improvements done around the house.

Yeah, Dan M, I'm in an area hit as well, but our numbers in WA seem to be slowing somewhat our state has responded quickly. Those of us who are parents or have other family members to care for suddenly have additional stresses and extra-things to juggle right now. Plus worry about other loved ones, friends, careworkers, all the heroes working the front lines of this pandemic everywhere, the human toll and suffering, the oncoming economic woes, etc, etc, etc. Motivation and focus on creative endeavors are not top of mind. But I'm trying, though. I work on something every day. ;)

Starting to push back against rejections (mainly out of anger and to show I'm no longer accepting BS) - the catalyst? Another rejection, stating it is unprofessional to contact one directly with a pitch, and in future, I must use Virtual Pitch Fest to do so. I also got the standard "no unsolicited pitches" response (it would be very nice if people were consistent with that term instead of flying it around as a "Because F you, that's why" card). Well... I'm not using VPF if I can help it, because there is no way that I am going to pay a single penny more than I have to in order to pitch my work! VPF is expensive and there's no guarantee of a response, either (I've been using it for over a decade and I've spent over £1,000 - around $2,000 - on pitches ALONE). If they think me contacting them directly is "unprofessional", then I'm sorry, but I have little money and even fewer choices. Should I ever become successful, then I will found a company, an agency, dedicated to helping writers hone their work and then help them submit to pros.

Eric, it's my privilege! I'm excited for your piece!

Thank you Jomana. Yes, and I think if you take a look in the vault and watch my first pitch, you'll relate and maybe detach from the anxiety surrounding your work and connect to the creativity and vision. It's what I ultimately had to do. Also, try to register for a few courses if you can, it helped me so much.

I will definitely check that out! I actually already take screenwriting classes online...I just have to get past the general classes first. But I bought a couple of books and watched a bunch of videos so I could learn the format. I will feel more confident once I have those screenwriting classes.