MegaZone wrote:

Two very basic things that always set me on edge:

[1. Bad formatting.]

2. Script formats.  While I have seen some very good work done asa script,
for me they are usually a hallmark of bad stories.  It seems to be a way
for authors who aren't good at building a scene to duck that and dump it
all into stage direction blocks.  

[cut example]

BUt I did it to (hopefully, likely in the morning I'll cringe when I 
remember doing this) illustrate the lack of depth in the script format.

Hmm.  I saw a greater lack of depth in the prose format there -- for
the simple reason that you were "hiding" a not very substantial scene
by using a flowery prose style.  It's the scene itself that needs
work, not the format.

(Also, if you want to give a fair example, you should write both prose
and script to the same standard.  It's easy to write bad script, but
it's just as easy to write bad prose:

	She sniffled.

	"It's ok," he said.  He put his hand on her shoulder.

	She turned.  She sobbed and embraced him.  He returned the
embrace.

This is the level you were writing your script example at.)


I write in both formats.  I find that script works much better than
prose when the emphasis to the fic is on dialogue and character, and
when there are few "action" scenes involved.  In fact, the bareness of
script format forces a greater focus on character in a successful
script, because the opportunities for introspection are more limited
than in prose.

For me the real work in telling a story is writing the narative - building
the imagery with words.  

Hmm.  I suppose that explains it, then; one thing script -isn't- good
at is imagery.  It does rely more on the readers' imaginations than
prose should.



Scott Schimmel                http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~schimmel/
Ex ignorantia ad sapientium;  "You really aren't normal, are you?"
ex luce ad tenebras.              -- Miki Koishikawa