I always mean to sit down and write; but my girlfriend kind of resents the time I spend doodling on the computer.

Relationships are tricky at the best of times... and I definitely don't want to get into a "Dear Abby" advice column here. But it is possible to participate in a meaningful relationship and still write. The key is careful apportioning of your time.

First of all, ARE you doodling on the computer or are you actually sitting and writing? This is an important distinction as much for your girlfriend's peace of mind as your own, as a writer. Everyone has days or nights when stuff just doesn't flow. But at the same time, IF you did thorough planning prior to beginning to write you should know what needs to be done each and every time you sit down to write. AND, you should do it.

What you write on those nights may be crap. Crap happens. At the same time, it is NOT our job to judge as we write. OUR ONLY JOB, in the first draft, IS TO FINISH. Ask your girlfriend (or boyfriend) to embroider that for you as a wall hanging. That IS your only job this time around; to finish this draft.

The other thing you should DO is make a commitment to writing; to WRITING TIME. Screenplays don't write themselves. So book an appointment with yourself - and take it as seriously as if it were the big ticket opportunity you hope your screenwriting may become some day. Take it seriously now, to BE taken seriously later.

And your girlfriend? Well, you might try engaging her in the process. Try READING some of your work to her; get her involved. Be careful though.... she may start canceling dates if she likes what you're writing in order to keep your nose to the grindstone. Involving loved ones in our quest can become a double-edged sword.

I hope this helps. And I do wish you luck with your screenplay. Let me know when you've completed your script. I'd love to read your work!

Recently I participated in a 'COLD READING' night and then my script was critiqued by a panel of judges...

The overall verdict was that I was a smart writer and the script had real promise but no 'heart'. What does that mean?

First of all, congratulations are in order! #1 - You finished a script. #2 - You risked submitting it to a 'cold read.' Wow, that's fabulous. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a 'cold read' is a gathering where a group of actors meet, are handed a script and within about 30 minutes are acting it out. Often it's just the opening act of a feature length screenplay that's read. And it's one of the scariest and most exhilarating rides on the planet. Hearing your words come out of an actor's mouth is one of the BEST WAYS to gauge the effectiveness of your dialogue and pacing of your writing.

And as you found out, a cold reading can also reveal some of the weaknesses of your script that might have slipped by some of your other critiques. From the comments you received it sounds as if you might have been shanghaied by the LEFT side of your brain while you were writing. As many of you know, who follow this screenwriting blog, I believe any really good story (but especially screenplays) are a balancing act between RIGHT brain creativity and LEFT brain structure.

Really well plotted thrillers and heist movies delight us with the mastery of the turns and twists of their plot (left brain). But if they contain heart-wrenching scenes of loss and betrayal - those deeply rooted emotions come from the right brain. Right brain function is all about universality. Check out Jill Bolte Taylor's fabulous and passionate TED talk http://www.ted.com/index/php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

which gives a beautiful & passionate explanation of the relationship between the TWO brain hemispheres and the impact on us as individuals.

What's probably missing in your script is that moment (s) where the camera focuses on the hero/heroine and we get to SEE their pain/reaction/ emotional response to whatever is happening to them. We need emotional connection to the main character to actually care enough to plow through the next two hours of their life with them. EARLY on in your script give us an emotional LINK to your heroine/hero and then reinforce the connection periodically throughout the film. Those EMOTIONAL ties will keep us cheering your character through to the bitter or sweet finale of the film.

I hope this helps. And I do wish you luck with your screenplay. Let me know when you've completed the rewrite.... I'd love to read your work!

Are ADAPTATIONS easier than regular screenplays? I found a FANTASTIC BOOK in a bargain bin; and want to write a screenplay from it.

Adaptations are to screenplays as unicycles are to bicycling.  The vehicles have similar characteristics, but it also takes a rare set of skills to master the unicycle with any panache. Ditto adaptations.  A couple of great adaptations that you might READ and then watch is The Hours (Michael Cunningham) and  Wit  (Emma Thompson adapted from a play).

Here's some quick pros & cons concerning adaptations.  PRO:  You don't have to make up the story - it's ALL there.  CON: In fact, that's the rub with adaptations, especially from novels. There's often TOO MUCH story.  Novels sprawl, like Mexico City, they take up and infinite amount of space, just because they can.  Especially some of the genre novels, like family sagas or historical fiction (Ken Follet - World Without End almost was).  It's practically genetic that these babies clock in at 500 pages or more.  Whereas, screenplays are more like Venice; self-contained and restricted to a very particular area because of limitations put on their size.

PRO:  Producers often like the idea of adaptations because they feel the book or comic book brings with it an automatic audience and it's popularity is a harbinger for the film's eventual success.  CON:  If yo loved the book and thought it would make a great screenplay - there's a chance other screenwriters thought so too.  If you're talking about a best seller; the rights will NOT be easy.  Some agent is going to want some serious coinage for the rights to a best seller or even a mediocre seller if it comes from a big publisher.

What about the rights? Well, I always advise, WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE.  So if you are deeply, deeply smitten; then break down the story, make your story choices and start writing.  I also always say 'No writing experience is ever wasted.'  At least yo will learn just how challenging in it's own way an adaptation can be for a screenwriter.  At the very least, by the end of it, you'll have a 'spec'  adaptation for your writing portfolio.  But beware, on the way to completion if you fall madly, madly in love with the script and cannot live unless you acquire the rights to your bestseller - here's hoping you win the lotto.  Because without the rights, no producer will probably touch it.

I hope that helps.  And I do wish you luck with your adaptation - let me know when the screenplay is completed.  I'd love to read your work!