In our annual Backmatter-only episode, Stu and Chas indulge themselves by offering personal opinions on the life and work of emerging screenwriters based on their own personal experience.

To that end, they discuss: what is and is not in your control in relation to an emerging writing career; choosing what project to develop next; using the Black List site to gain traction; the difference between treatments for pitching as opposed to for development; and the difference in writing style when writing on spec as against work for hire.

We also unexpectedly have a guest: David Wappel kindly joins us to share his thoughts on anchoring nouns.

RUNNING ORDER

Intro
What is in your control? (@ 05:27)
Choosing what to develop (@ 28:58)
Using the Black List site (@ 33:24)
Treatments for development vs for pitching (@ 59:47)
Writing on spec vs work for hire (@ 01:23:23)
Backmatter on backmatter (@ 01:37:37)

EPISODE LINKS

Wordplayer.com: WORDPLAY/Columns/55. "Time Risk" by Terry Rossio
M. Night Shyamalan on His Failures, His Successes, and Glass
The Black List site: www.blcklst.com
Julio Olivera's script reading services: www.wearethecontrarians.com/Julio-reads-your-script
Stranger Things pitch bible: http://www.zen134237.zen.co.uk/Stranger_Things/Stranger_Things_-_Bible.pdf
Can't watch a rough cut lady song: https://youtu.be/4MNg3sSZ9F8
Write Along Podcast on Planners and Pantsers - www.writealongpodcast.com/2018/11/09/ep-2-planners-and-pantsers/
David Wappel is @davidwappel on Twitter and his website is www.davidwappel.com

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Many thanks to Daniel, Chris, Sandra, Jack, Jessie, Nick, Khrob and Theis for being top-level patrons. They're good humans.

DZ-64: Backmatter - Controlling your Work, Treatments, and Writing Styles

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast