I’ve had the honor of being a moderator on the Screenwriters Network discord for over 2 years. I’ve lurked through other online writing communities even longer. One thing I’ve noticed as a near constant is the evolution of the internet screenwriter – something I went through myself. A four-stage process that follows roughly:
I made this meme as a throwaway joke a few months ago, but it has stuck with me. Moderating our discord server, you tend to see the same conversations over and over again. The use of fanfiction. Marvel vs DC. And of course, the inherited rules of screenwriting passed from generation to generation on the internet.
These things linger and spread like the schoolyard rules for Ms. Mary Mack. No adult has to teach you how the game works – you just know courtesy of the other kids. So too goes the rules of the internet when it comes to writing. Absolutes that tell you what is allowed and what isn’t. Death to “we see”! indeed.
Some Guesses on Why
I think these rules come from two impulses. The first is that beginner writers do tend to overuse or misuse certain elements. They see “angle on” in a professional screenplay so they just toss it into their script without understanding the subtle how and why of its use. At that point it’s easier to just say “don’t do it.” Force the new writer to learn how to make do without, and then slowly introduce it into their toolset once they’re ready.
The problem, in this situation, is you’re talking about a bunch of randos on the internet passing advice based on chance of who’s online that precise moment. Maybe with a guided syllabus over six months you can manage the addition of new skills, like the power curve in a video game. But without that, everything becomes binary. And the easiest, simplest, loudest answer wins. Don’t do it.
Which brings us to reason two – the comfort of certainty. It feels good to know absolutely whether you’re right or wrong. Firm rules that say “do this, don’t do that, and you’ll be successful,” provide a sense of security. It takes all the risk out of the effort. So long as you follow the rules, you can’t really blamed for what happens. Besides, subtlety and nuance is hard.
Unfortunately writing is hard. There are no rules for your writing except is it clear, is it concise, and is it in service of the story you’re telling. It’s a big umbrella, one driven by personal taste and intuition. And that’s fucking scary, man.
The Take-Away
Like we said in the statement of intent for this blog, we’re not here to tell you the rules. (In case you haven’t been paying attention, it’s because there are none). We’re here to share what works for each of us, in the hopes it gives you an idea of what may work for you.
So learn the foundations, so that you can ignore them with purpose. Practice moderation, except if excess would be better. And write and read and watch like a motherfucker so when the time comes you know your taste and can say with certainty what works for you.