How Does A Writer Know What They Are Good At? - Shannan E. Johnson

[@veradragilyova3122]

I LOVE THIS SPEAKER! She is always so articulate and helpful. PLEASE have her back all the time! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@CalWillify]

Yes, I agree 💯!!!

[@chopstyx141]

Omg, i love her. She is very intelligent, concise with her words and straight to the punch.

[@anthonywheeler2082]

Shannan E. Johnson is freaking amazing! Every video I've watched of hers (incuding hour long streams/interviews) have had the most thoughtful and straight forward writing advice I've ever seen in on the internet. And I've watched a ton of writing videos!

[@ShannanEJohnson]

Thank you, Anthony!

[@benjaminnewton8859]

Straight up. Never clicked on a Film Courage video so fast haha

[@uscitizen3252]

Agreed!

[@anthonywheeler2082]

Shannan E. Johnson You're welcome Shannan!

[@reginayfavors]

I absolutely found Ms. Johnson by accident. I have no idea how I subscribed to Film Courage, but thank God I did. Ms. Johnson is the most helpful teacher on this topic, especially considering I am a newbie to this field. Thank you Ms. Johnson. Thank you Film Courage. God bless you both.

[@filmcourage]

Cheers Regina!

[@Thenoobestgirl]

You probably clicked the subscribe button. That's usually how it works 😉

[@c.sexton4819]

She does have a teaching spirit. A pretty amazing one!! I love listening to her. Great interview.

[@yapdog]

I get a mom vibe from Shannan. She be schoolin' folks. She may not see that as a compliment, but it is :^)

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Yesssss! She tellin' it how it is, no sugar coating.

[@JonathanBlandino]

I did the move to LA to pursue TV writing. I'm working on my second script with Script Anatomy and its been great. Similar to how she stated, the feed back as questions is helpful without discouraging new writers

[@camronchlarson3767]

Being honest with yourself is ALWAYS good advice :) Thank you

[@diegooland1261]

I am loving this series. Keep them coming.

[@ExistNNature]

Great encouragement. She's on point.

[@robotgeorge2896]

This was super helpful to hear. Sometimes I just need to hear a calm, commonsensical voice to get me out of my weird, spiraling fugue of procrastination.

[@videogra5645]

How I love this channel for inviting wonderful professionals who tell so correct and clear! I've begun a fun of Shannan, she's amazing, I'd love to learn from her experience!

[@yapdog]

Out of curiosity, I just went to Shannan's site and as soon as I read: _" _*_You need my help, and I need my coins._*_ "_ I was lmao!!! :^D

[@Thenoobestgirl]

That's fair 😂

[@howardkoor9365]

Thank you Film Courage

[@Thenoobestgirl]

I like how your videos always slide to other subjects from the one advertised. It's like a little bonus nugget of wisdom that you only get if you watch past the answer you're looking for! :)

[@akuemkoutop7151]

She's right I needed her all the way from when I started writing but I didn't know she existed I'm glad you here SHANAAN

[@GMarco-qc2dp]

I also feel you're what I have been needing this whole time but I just didn't know you existed ❤️🎵🎶✨

[@homer_thompson5090]

I'm good at writing the great American story, about a futuristic amusement park where dinosaurs come to life through advanced cloning techniques. It'll be called Billy and the Cloneasaurus.

[@shine7228]

It would be a cool idea if they escaped and if there was a t Rex roaring

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Lol

[@dreamrushfilms]

Shannan is a great speaker. It seems that she gives awesome advice. May give her a call.

[@jmlucero2]

This is so helpful!!! I have Been told the Same " Go be a teacher!!!" advice and I don't want to lol👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💗

[@kristallogan133]

Brilliant woman!! Thank you for sharing your insight and knowledge . So helpful as a creative.

[@Darfaultner]

I definitely write what I like to write and watch, but it's generally very high concept pieces, so it's all about which ideas hit me and then from these ideas I choose which to start writing simply by which I feel ready to write, which idea I have connected with the most in my mind. The idea I am writing at the moment isn't the idea that my friends told me was my best idea, but I wasn't quite ready for that story, yet. Now, three quarters through this story I definitely feel ready to write the "better" idea once I'm done here.

[@wearemuchdifferent]

I love the concept of a Writer's room! I want to play with other people and our collective ideas.

[@curtiscaliber]

I feel like she be right on point with what she says. I love it.

[@natedoggg2002]

Excellent interview. Shannon is amazing!

[@Diviine_xoxo]

She really is an Outstanding Teacher!! 😃

[@einsteindarwin8756]

Thanks This is excellent!!

[@wearemuchdifferent]

I know when my characters show up in my dreams and speak to me about what they want me to let them say or do. I free them.

[@akuemkoutop7151]

You made my day fr 😂😂 we are imprisoning our characters we don't wanna let them speak we don't wanna free them its time for them to speak

[@Bepeze]

That's exactly what a former colleague of mine told me about her characters. I was like what the. You sound crazy. Lol. But I love her and it helped me understand some of the quirks of real writers who are married to their writing.

[@omgitzmetiya]

this is the best speaker ever. pls have her back

[@theplaylab9336]

I would enjoy working with her, I think. I love people who speak as fast as I do, it calms me.

[@haynesrobert2830]

Shannan, I think in my opinion is a writer is good at his own experience mostly before social media was developed and also the time you have find something that's more imaginative during the time of early and mid times of gen x then in the midst of millennium generation that it maybe come cohesive based on your upbringing, but for other naysayers like mostly parents and some friends they try to hard to add your additional efforts on their opinions to manipulate your options which may dislike others in your attempts to go what you're reaching for in your outcome in your daily life. But always remember to choose your path wisely there will never be any circumstances that a naysayer makes a mistake in wanting to have the things that you want they should left alone and wanting to see you come through.

[@tusharsonar963]

Great conversation. I like the suggestion of having multiple scripts as a writer.

[@jacquilekambo]

Both: I am writing what I like to write and like to watch :) As a Director/Writer the vision must align with the writing too!

[@CaptainSoftboy501]

I am in school for film, but I absolutely forgot workshops exist for screenwriting *googles aggressively*

[@5656bigsteve]

I’m in England and the tradition here is that TV writers work alone. There is no room. There are some comedy writers who work in twos but they are mostly alone.

[@joannkelly7994]

Thank you for sharing.

[@genoking223]

Learned a lot from this video AGAIN, thanks! Your biggest fan Ernesto Figueroa...🙏🏾😍

[@lmnop7098]

I don’t need a script consultant to tell me my script is hot fiya 🔥 Sike. Maybe she can polish a few things in scripts with her service. Might check her out.

[@CoD4Disturbed]

Here's a question for film students/teachers, filmmakers, and those in the industry, that's been frustrating me - What IS "good"? Perhaps it comes down to different philosophies from one person to another, but - Is a script/film being "good" or "bad" not an extremely SUBJECTIVE thing? That's what I have heard over and over - that there is no scientifically correct way to do it - it is art. So who gets to decide the quality of your script? Isn't it up to whatever given individual is reading it or watching your film based on it? Isn't there simply no "correct" answer in terms of a film or script's quality (characters, plot, etc.)? Sure, there are conventional things like structure, but I'd argue you can bend some of those "rules" as many successful filmmakers do. So what is the deal?

[@moniquejohnson59]

Shannan is so good

[@howardkoor9365]

Shannon tells you how it works. Listen up…. Great interview

[@anothercharacter]

Another great video! I guess I’m not sure if I write what I like to write or watch... really good question! I guess I’ll find out eventually. 😁

[@deeburks]

lol..her mother said get the teaching certificate!! Every writer's mother is the same.....

[@howardkoor2796]

Very interesting

[@ekyagonzacharles9589]

Thanks for this. Specifically, I do write for film. I have tried changing the sub-genre but I can't. Every thriller I write makes my audiences laugh to the end! My works turn hilarious at night! What shd I do?

[@finallyanime]

Shannan you ever wonder if your mom mentioned teaching certification because it’d help you write or interpret movies better because film is a teaching process in a lot of ways too. And if you can simplify complicated things & then distribute to students, it might help you learn to write better & even come up with new content. Parents sometimes have good things to say even though they seem like they’re not. Doesn’t mean you gotta be a teacher, but maybe try a class or two. Could give some inspiration

[@GameArts1]

Sounds legit.

[@gamehero6816]

Oftentimes, I like to do horror movies that work on a low budget (some ideas I just can't pull off because they are big-budget). Most of my ideas are actually grounded in realism, so expect a film that shines a light on a highly misunderstood mental illness (Dissociative Identity Disorder).

[@wearemuchdifferent]

I'm a great hairstylist I do not want to do hair. Lol. Fighting that my whole life. I want to be a storyteller.

[@Bepeze]

But your current profile slick look like your a hairstylist. Or maybe I just love your hair. Idk. But I could completely see why ppl would say that. Just the vibe.

[@mjolninja9358]

Past experiences

[@ComicPower]

How much does Shannan charge for script coverage? I need to finish my script and get her feedback. And yes I will take the advice and not take it personally.

[@Darfaultner]

A question I have is if a script consultant reads a good script that has no real issues, do they feel obliged to find something to give their client their "money's worth" or would they just tell them straight that it's ready? Is it better to get script coverage first, then see a consultant?

[@ShannanEJohnson]

It depends on the reader. I will not make up notes for the sake of notes. If your script is polished and executing well, then that's what it's doing. A consultant is there for you, so use one in the way you see fit.

[@tracebrady7987]

@@ShannanEJohnson Always learn so much from your clips. How do I get you to be my script's doctor? (Seriously. Not joking.)

[@ShannanEJohnson]

@@tracebrady7987 You can take a look at my website and see what service works best for you in your current process, and we'll go from there. bit.ly/HolleratMe Looking forward to working with you. 💚

[@codacreator6162]

What does her reaction to the art and craft of teaching about the way we've structured education in America. I don't want to teach, either because while I've been told a multitude of times that I would be a great one (even by my teen and pre-teen sons). Why I won't: crummy pay, no respect, too many people with ideas about what "real" teaching looks like and the precise material that should be used to accomplish the goal, without room for variation of imagination. Grades aren't answers in a bubble, they're representative of understanding and engagement with the material and comprehension of the outcome. When the ultimate goal is to train and engage active, critical thinking skills, after the fundamentals (reading, writing, and 'rithmatic) we spend far too much time trying to teach kids patterns of thought for formulae for success in a job. But most jobs don't require that much study. Marketing isn't rocket science. It's creative art. Stripping away imagination in favor of tick boxes designed to get people to buy stuff will eventually result in too many unmemorable, ineffective ads that fit the accepted formula for this or that market. Ditto most other jobs that aren't medicine, law, or engineering. And even two of these are heavily reliant on imagination. Likewise, imagination without discipline, without a formal donation, is just a collection of fragments of brilliance that cannot be highlighted because they form no relatable context around them. Education is context. Imagination is the engine that drives progress. Can't have one without the other. But we need to get out of teachers' way. Look at the number of brilliant people the Socratic method produced vs the serious lack of them that corporate education has produced. Yeah, I wouldn't be a teacher to save my life. And THAT'S why we are left with only those who could do nothing else (passionate, defiant people with a calling) or who failed at something else (people with degrees they've been convinced are worthless) teaching our kids. Which only exacerbates the problem.

[@clydelance]

The three writers that gave the pushbacks were the ones who clicked the thumbs down rating.

[@marcelwolfe7495]

How do I find one day workshops?

[@ShannanEJohnson]

Bit.ly/ScreenwritingCourse

[@aaronmarq8387]

do you know those kind of people you could be listening to for hours straight?

[@insider_101]

Kindly provide me some e-books on screenwriting. I will provide you my email, if you're willing to support emerging writer.

[@insider_101]

2 years

[@daveindezmenez]

Kind of a flip answer about this moving to LA thing. I wonder how many starving writers there are in LA because of taking advice like this?

[@johnwcoletta]

Was this shot before the pandemic? If the unions are suggesting things like "virtual writers' rooms" does it really matter where you physically are? deadline.com/2020/06/hollywood-reopening-white-paper-unions-studios-producers-read-it-here-1202948491/

[@forbesmackay2350]

Axe instead of Ask? Phew.

[@codacreator6162]

Perfectly legitimate usage, linguistically speaking. Benefits of an advanced degree in English. Thanks.