I have spent the last weekend thinking about this bizarre battle of words with Josh Olson.  I’ve talked to writers of all levels: amateurs, professionals, writers in different mediums.  Some people agree with Josh; some people don’t.  Others agree with me; others don’t.  Some think Josh was right on the money; others think he was too extreme and unnecessary.  I have reread Josh’s original post, as well as all the responses on The Village Voice, across the web, and in my personal inbox.

But the comment that helped me the most came from a conversation with a friend, a professional TV writer, who said…

“The first time I read Josh’s post, I thought he was an arrogant prick.  The second time I read Josh’s post, I thought he was an arrogant prick.  The third time I read Josh’s post, I thought, ‘He’s not being a prick, he’s begging for mercy.  He wanted to do the ‘right’ thing, help this acquaintance, and he got shafted.  He wants us to understand why he can’t do this anymore.  And yeah—it’s painfully frustrating.  He would LIKE to help this guy… and others like him… but every time he does he gets hurt.’”

Now, keep in mind—in my original post, I agreed with almost everything Josh said.  I said, “It’s unprofessional, and a massive imposition, to ask strangers or acquaintances to read your work.”  I said, “Part of your job as a professional writer… is to be able to gauge relationships and know when to ask favors.  If you can’t do this, you’re not ready to work professionally.”  I even agreed with Josh’s anger toward the “inappropriate screenwriter.”

My ONLY issue was: I have no problem encouraging people to write for the sheer sake of writing.  I have been soundly smacked for this, by Josh, Kay Reindl, and a host of other people… but I stand by it.  I wish more people—talented or not—DID write… and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with encouraging this.

Having said that… when reading Josh’s piece through my friend’s lens, something interesting happened…

I didn’t see Josh as someone who wanted to discourage people from writing.  I saw him as someone who constantly WANTED to be encouraging-- or at least honest and supportive, even if that honesty and support came in the form of hard-to-hear criticism-- but every time he tried, he got hurt.  He would give feedback, advice, suggestions… and in return, he got insulted, screwed, rebuffed.  Reading his “friend’s” treatment was the last straw.  He just couldn’t be encouraging anymore.

And as I thought about this more, here’s what struck me:

Josh's article has dredged up scorn and resentment on both sides... 

Some people are resentful that Josh has “forgotten where he came from.”  Others, those who champion Josh, feel emboldened to wield scorn or resentment toward aspiring, unprofessional writers.

They’re both wrong.

I don’t think Josh is trying to convey scorn or resentment at all.  I think he’s trying to convey the agony and frustration of a man who feels tortured.  A man who wants to do the right thing, help, support, and even-- when appropriate-- encourage other writers, and can’t.  Because whenever he does this favor, he winds up feeling abused, insulted, taken advantage of.  This experience with his "acquaintance" is just the latest incident.  He's begging us to understand his position and let him off the hook.  “Please don’t ask me to read your script.  It’s unprofessional, it damages us both, and I can’t do it anymore.” 

He’s angry... but he's also HURT.

People on BOTH sides have misread him.  Again, some have viewed Josh's piece as a personal, scornful attack… and others have taken his piece as a permission to BE scornful. 

Kay Reindl on her blog: “…You suck as a writer. How do I know this? Because I've read your fucking script. I read it when you submitted it to an agent or a TeeVee show or, God help me, a screenwriting competition.”   HankG in the Voice's comments: “Here's a strategy all for you bitter little screenwriter wannabes… if you're interesting and generous and not too annoying, maybe, just maybe, that professional [screenwriter] will OFFER to read your shitty, pathetic script.”  Michael Zavis: “Enjoy crawling over each other in the Valley of Obscurity, losers.” 

NONE of these seem to echo Josh's initial attitude, when he agrees to read his acquaintance's script, give some feedback, and offer suggestions.  He doesn't necessarily want to do it, but since he agrees, he wants to do a fair and honest job.  In fact, it's a big leap from Josh's "Do you have any idea how hard it is to tell someone that they've spent a year wasting their time?... You want to make absolutely certain that it comes across honestly and WITHOUT CRUELTY" to "You suck as a writer"... "your shitty, pathetic script"... "the Valley of Obscurity, loser."

In other words, people on both sides have picked up on the same element-- a tone which, whether you call it "arrogance" or not, is certainly in the piece.  And whereas some have taken it as a personal affront, others have taken it as the RIGHT to arrogance.

So whose fault is it, if fault is to be given, for misunderstanding?  Is it readers’ fault, including mine, for not reading Josh's piece closely or thoughtfully enough?  Maybe.  Josh’s piece was clearly meant to be provocative, to elicit a strong response… but maybe people ran with their instant reactions of hurt, indignation, or righteous superiority and didn’t bother to read further.

Is it Josh’s fault?  If the piece didn’t accurately convey what he was feeling/thinking, then it certainly didn’t fulfill its intent.  And I’m not saying the piece DIDN’T fulfill its intent; I’m just saying that Josh has taken a lot of heat and continues to defend himself, and—at some point—you can’t just claim, “People are missing my point.” 

(And if Josh’s detractors are missing the point, so are the supporters who use his piece as license to mock and disparage other people.)

So where does this leave us?... 

I will admit: I have a new understanding and appreciation of Josh's post, even if I don’t necessarily agree with how Josh said all of what he said… and I think his tone sometimes muddies his message.  (Josh claims he's only on the "receiving end" of arrogance, but it's certainly been easy for readers, both Josh's detractors and supporters, to find arrogance in that piece.  It may not be intentional, but even his "friends" seem to find it.)

I also stand by what I’ve said this past week.  More people SHOULD be writing… and should be encouraged to write… and many-- perhaps sadly, even mistakenly-- took Josh’s piece, or parts of the piece, as a massive, personal “fuck you” to all aspiring writers... or as permission to echo a "fuck you" to aspiring writers. 

I don't think this was Josh’s intent, although I certainly think this was the intent of some of those who responded in support of Josh. 

And if Josh is going to take issue with people who misread his piece in one way, I hope he takes issue with those who misread it in another.  Using his words as a license to spit on, insult, and mock aspirants is as much a bastardization of his thoughts and intent as anything else.

So ultimately, I think Josh’s piece… or parts of Josh’s piece… were misread because they were so easily capable of being misread.  I don’t know if that’s a writer’s fault or a reader’s fault, and it’s probably a bit of both.

(And two final thoughts:

1:  Attacking Josh for a best ADAPTED screenplay nomination (or for doing Peter Jackson's Halo adaptation) is ludicrous.  Adapting someone else’s work-- whether a graphic novel, a short story, or a video game-- is just as difficult—and sometimes MORE difficult—than writing something original.

2:  Josh—attacking me, however subtly, as a teacher is also ludicrous.  We can disagree and debate the points and topics in these writings, which your piece launched in a very public forum… we can even disagree on the merits of McKee or screenwriting classes in general… but having never taken one of my classes, it’s not fair or relevant of you to suddenly comment on my qualifications as a teacher.  I may be the best teacher you’ve ever seen… or the worst… but you certainly don’t know.)

Monday, September 21, 2009 5:02:32 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [3]

First of all, huge thanks to Mary for her comment pointing out Kay Reindl’s Seriocity blog post “ripping me a new one!”  (Kay wrote a response to my response to Josh Olson's Village Voice piece, "I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script.")  Josh Olson then posted a response to this blog in Kay's comment section. Click HERE to read Kay's response and Josh's comment (once you're there, scroll down a bit to read Josh's comment).

Secondly, huge thanks to Kay and Josh for reading this blog and responding… even if you gave me a whipping.  I genuinely appreciate you guys taking the time to respond, even as you’re kicking my ass.

Having said that…

KAY — I think you misunderstand me as much as you contend I misunderstand Josh.

In response to my notion that “you should encourage everyone” who wants to be a writer, Kay writes…

“I do NOT believe everybody should be encouraged. That kind of thinking leads to what we have now, which is a grandiose societal sense of entitlement. THIS IS BAD. No, you DON'T get encouragement if you suck at something. And if you are desperate to keep doing it, then you GET BETTER AT IT. You prove them wrong. And guess what? The win is greater. People treated you like a capable adult. They didn't lie to you and hold your hand and tell you that even though you have no talent at this, YOU STILL DESERVE A SHOT JUST AS MUCH AS SOMEONE ELSE. That's bullshit.”

You are totally correct.  That IS bullshit.  And that’s also not what I said.  (Or as Josh suggests, I never said we should “encourage people to do what they can’t.”)

I don’t believe in telling someone their crappy script is gold.  I don’t believe in telling someone who’s talent-less that they’re talented.  I don’t believe we should give overall deals to people who win reality shows.  AND I DIDN’T SAY THAT.

What I’m saying is…

IT DOESN’T MATTER IF THEY’RE GOOD OR BAD… AND YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSITION TO FIND OUT.  As Josh would say, “Don’t read their fucking script.”  (In fact, I'm pretty sure I agreed with this, saying, "You don’t have to read someone’s work… and, to be honest, I think you’re perfectly right not to," and "It’s unprofessional... to ask strangers or acquaintances to read your work," and even-- "Part of your job as a professional writer... is to be able to gauge relationships and know when to ask favors.")  BUT…

You can still applaud them for writing.

Most people leave high school or college and are TERRIFIED of putting pen to paper… as perhaps they should be, because it’s FUCKING HARD.  Like Kay says, “it's a CRAFT, people. And a craft needs to be practiced and perfected. A craft does not just happen out of nowhere. The anonymous writer who sells the big spec probably did not crawl out of a swamp with 120 pages of magic in his flippers. That guy's got ten other scripts that didn't sell. He's been working in the business for awhile, either as a writer already or in production or development.” 

You are totally right, Kay.

But those that can’t hack it will fall to the wayside with or without your encouragement.  Hell, not a day goes by that I don’t think of falling to the wayside.  This business SUCKS.  It kicks the shit out of me.  But I also can’t imagine doing anything else.

Having said that, every struggling screenwriter out there was US not too long ago.  And by “us,” I don’t mean A-list screenwriters, because I’m certainly NOT… I simply mean anyone who has ever made their living with their words: TV writers, screenwriters, journalists, non-fiction writers, novelists. 

I also say that as someone who—quite honestly—would love to have either Kay OR Josh’s career.

(Not to mention, every struggling wannabe could be us AGAIN.  How many great screenwriters have been at the top of their career one day, then pounding the pavement, begging for a job, the next?)

And the truth is: I DO want more people writing.  A) If they’re good, I want as much great writing in the universe as possible.  B) If they try and fail, maybe they gain a new understanding of exactly how hard it is, both creatively and professionally, to succeed as a writer.  And C) Whether it’s aspiring screenwriters, brilliant journalists, unpublished novelists, terrible poets, or private diarists… YES—I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE WRITING. 

I don’t care if you fail.  I don’t care if you succeed.  JUST WRITE.  Put your thoughts on paper for your kids, an agent, an editor, your husband, your mom—I don’t care.  Express yourself through a screenplay, a short story, a song… whatever puts a little truthful piece of you into the world.  And if you’re terrible—FINE.  Do it again.  And again.  And again.  Whether you sell something or not, you’ll get better at understanding your own thoughts and how to convey them through words.  You’ll develop a love and passion for playing with language.  You'll start to understand why stories are told the way they are and characters work the way they do.  You’ll learn hidden secrets about yourself you never before knew.

None of that is “insulting” the profession.  I think we have the greatest profession in the world.  It’s hard, it’s painful, it’s brutal... but if you have the talent, passion, and perseverance to succeed, it’s totally worth it.  And “success” is not defined by making a million dollars.  If you publish a poem—AWESOME.  If you sell a magazine article—CONGRATULATIONS!

Success if USING YOUR WORDS TO MOVE SOMEONE.  And more people need to do that.  (If you can move someone enough to pay you-- even better.)  Sure, more people need to respect the craft and hard work of professional writing… yes, I go crazy when I hear someone say, "I think I'm gonna pound out a spec script this weekend"... absolutely, it’s unfair to misguide someone by telling them writing’s NOT hard… but people also need to NOT BE AFRAID OF THE SIMPLE ACT OF TRYING TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES-- whether that's in a story, an essay, a haiku, or a screenplay.

I also don't believe that simply asking someone to read your screenplay means you're a crappy writer.  It's a faux pas, definitely.  It's a sign of immaturity, sure.  It means you're not yet professional enough to navigate this business, without a doubt.  But it doesn’t mean you don’t have talent and can never make it… it just means you’re GREEN.  And being green shouldn't earn you the scorn and derision of your “superiors,” people you admire. 

I mean, come on, Kay-- "...You suck as a writer. How do I know this? Because I've read your fucking script. I read it when you submitted it to an agent or a TeeVee show or, God help me, a screenwriting competition."

Sure, these aren't the best or most professional ways to break in.  But not everyone doing this is-- as you say-- an "asshole" or "liar" who simply "wants that million dollar check."  There are certainly assholes and liars out there, yet I think most people are just green... or over-eager... or live in Topeka... or don't mind trying any dead-end route they can to realize a dream.  But does entering a contest mean they "suck as a writer?"  Does that mean we should condemn them for TRYING?  Is their mere attempt really that "fucking insulting" to you?  I mean, hey-- maybe they haven't learned their craft, but maybe they were inspired to try by watching or reading something YOU wrote.

So by saying to someone, “Great job-- I applaud you for simply sitting down and WRITING,” you’re not saying, “Hey, kid—I think you deserve to be in the game.”  You’re simply saying, “I know how hard this is… so whether you make the team or not—and frankly, I don’t give a shit—I hope you come to try-outs.”

You can even say, "Listen, kid-- I won't read your script.  And when you ask strangers and acquaintances, you look like an immature amateur.  I'm telling you this not to be a dick, but because if you're genuinely talented, I truly hope you make it.  God knows the world need more good writing... and maybe you're the one to provide it."

If saying THAT to someone is insulting or threatening, your issues might run deeper than simply taking pride in your craft.

JOSH — re: your comment that I have a “lack of respect [you] find to be common among people who think a little success qualifies them to teach.”

You’re right… I only have a “little” success.  However, you are COMPLETELY WRONG to suggest that “success” has ANYTHING to do with teaching ability or qualifications.  And to borrow a concept from Kay, THAT is insulting to the profession of teachers.

Writing and teaching are two completely different skill sets… and I have to believe that you know that. 

Writing is writing; it requires structuring skills, dialogue skills, knowledge and experience and hard work in plot and character development, joke-writing, etc., etc., etc.

Teaching requires an understanding and appreciation of a subject—whether it’s biology, history, math, or screenwriting.  You have to know how to articulate ideas… make them understandable and applicable to novices…  you have to inspire people to try things. 

I have taken screenwriting classes from professional, top-notch screenwriters who couldn’t teach to save their lives and had no business being in a classroom… but they’d been hired because they had impressive writing credits.

I’ve also taken classes from people who had meager credits as writers… but had a MASSIVE talent for connecting with people, conveying complex ideas, inspiring students to try new things.

Robert McKee has barely worked as a screenwriter… but it’d be tough to deny that he’s an AMAZING TEACHER.

Personally… I teach because I love it.  I love helping people, I love passing on knowledge and experience, and I love talking about a subject I adore: writing.  And frankly, I’m pretty good at it.

Maybe I’m not as good as Robert McKee… and as a writer, I may not be as good as Joss Whedon or Tony Gilroy… but if I keep plugging away, and don’t get discouraged… maybe someday I will be…

Friday, September 18, 2009 7:50:36 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [3]

A few days ago, I posted a link to screenwriter Josh Olson’s Village Voice column, "I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script,” in which he rails against an aspiring screenwriter who asked him to read his script.

Now, first, let me say this… Josh is fairly vitriolic in this column… and on certain points, Josh is right.  For instance…

It’s unprofessional, and a massive imposition, to ask strangers or acquaintances to read your work.  This is why writers groups are valuable… or a tight group of friends, fellow writers, whom you can always go to.  Part of your job as a professional writer (whether you’re getting paid or not) is to be able to gauge relationships and know when to ask favors.  If you can’t do this, you’re not ready to work professionally… no matter how talented you may be.

Josh is also right that most people trying to be writers will never make it.  But so what?  If everyone could make it as a writer—or painter or lawyer or bricklayer or soldier—it probably wouldn’t be a goal worth pursuing.

I also think Josh is justified in his anger toward this inappropriate screenwriter.

However, there’s one place where Josh is wrong.  100 percent WRONG.

He writes: “…not only is it cruel to encourage the hopeless, but you cannot discourage a writer.”

And while you can’t discourage a real writer, I disagree that you should discourage ANYONE.  In fact, I think you should ENCOURAGE EVERYONE.

A)  Today’s shitty writer could turn into tomorrow’s Ernest Hemingway… but only if they keep writing.  At some point, Michael Chabon, J.J. Abrams, Virginia Woolf, and Josh Olson were all terrible writers.  But they kept at it.  Relentlessly.  And to do that they needed encouragement.  Or at least, they didn’t need DIScouragement.

B)  You could be wrong about someone’s script.  Years ago, I was working at a TV production company and my boss handed me a feature script for a teen comedy called Grand Rapids.  It was one of the WORST things I had ever read… I couldn’t even finish it.  A few months later, it came out as a movie—American Pie—and it was one of my favorite movies of the year.  I had been totally wrong about the script… not necessarily because it was a bad script, but because scripts sometimes need to be read by someone with the right eye to understand what they are.  Clearly, I had the wrong eye; Chris and Paul Weitz didn’t.

C)  Why would you NOT encourage artistic expression?  Whether it’s a screenplay, a novel, a magazine article, a poem, or a personal diary—why would you not want to encourage someone to WRITE?  To express themselves creatively?  Personally, I think MORE people need to write!  Who cares if they never get published, produced, bought, or read?  Isn’t the simple act of writing, of plumbing our inner-most fears and desires something everyone should spend more time doing?  In fact, more people—and it sounds like Josh especially—need to write for the sheer joy of it, for the fun and thrill of exploring who they are.

Personally, Josh, if you think writing is something best left to the professionals, or the “non-hopeless,” you’ve forgotten what writing is all about.

So you don’t have to read someone’s work… you can turn them down when they ask… but it’s an insult to your craft and your fellow writers to DISCOURAGE them… especially people who admire and respect your work enough to ask your opinion.  You don’t have to give it to them—and, to be honest, I think you’re perfectly right not to—but how hard is it to say…

“Unfortunately, I can't read your script.  If I read every script handed to me, I wouldn’t have time to eat.  However—the fact that you’ve taken time to FINISH a script… and that you have the courage to put it out in the world… says you’re already miles ahead of your competition.  So if this script is meant to get made, it will.  And if it’s not, it won’t… and you’ll sit down and write another one.  Immediately.  Because that’s what real writers do… they never stop writing.  And I can tell you’re a real writer.”

So you’re right, Josh.  Aspiring writers have a responsibility to act professionally.  But professionals have responsibilities, too… and one of the main ones is not to discourage people who want to be in your shoes.

Monday, September 14, 2009 9:04:01 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [6]