Suck it up and keep writing
Screenwriting matters: In 2009 Josh Olson - writer of 'A History of Violence' - wrote a lengthy piece entitled 'I will not read your fucking script.' Harsh, right? Still, there are some lessons.
If you’ve never come across Olson’s rant, good. I guess you must have been busy writing, right? At the time, the article caused one hell of a stir, thousands of comments, pro and con, lovers and haters. All in all, it’s worth reading, because it’ll teach you a few things, regardless of what you may think of the man.
I hope that, after that outburst, Olson took a bit of time, maybe for anger management therapy. Maybe he also learned how to take himself not quite as seriously. Still, he did have a point. In essence, all he said was that he was a busy writer and people shouldn’t impose on him with requests for his opinion on everything from story ideas to spec scripts. In his rant, he makes that statement vigorously and uses lots of colorful words along the way. His writing makes you think he’s this one overblown asshole. Maybe that’s what he was (maybe still is) - maybe Hollywood got to him. And maybe he had really just had too many bad experiences.
If you’re a fresh writer, just starting out, you should take note. Powerful people are busy people - that doesn’t automatically make them assholes, but it makes approaching them difficult. If you actually do see an opening, use it only if you’re absolutely ready and absolutely sure that you’re not wasting that person’s time. Those doors are most unlikely to open twice. Hand that person, let’s call him Spielberg, a shitty story idea on smudged paper with spelling errors and a story that makes no sense whatsoever, you can kiss Dreamworks good-bye. Simply put, don’t burn any bridges before you get a chance to cross them.
Now for the most important bit of learning: If Josh Olson tells you that he won’t read your fucking script, suck it up. If Steven Spielberg say you don’t have any talent, suck it up. If Brad Pitt tweets that you’re the worst writer on the planet, suck it up. Learn how to handle rejection and learn to handle it gracefully, humbly. They may be right, you may indeed be a miserable writer. But if you let rejection turn you off writing, then you’re no writer to begin with. So take every rejection you get (and there’s plenty to be had), suck it up, learn from it and always keep on writing.
Hmn... makes you think, doesn't it? If you or I were in Josh Olson's shoes - would we be that way, too? I sincerely hope not. Yes, I wouldn’t be able to take the time to read everything - but I would, at the very least, find more positive ways of saying no. There, by the way, is another lesson - people like to work with people they actually get along with. So, possibly rule number one: Don’t be an asshole. On that eloquent note - back to writing!
Thank you for sharing Daniel. I went ahead and read Olson’s piece as well, and although as you say, more positive ways of saying no can be found, we know the potential exists for terrible writing. As a new-ish writer, I gained new perspective, and for that, I thank both you and Olson.