One for the Ladies

Dear female screenwriters:

I can't speak for my male colleagues, but if you think it isn't obvious to readers of both genders that when you write a story about a husband cheating it's always about a selfish man hurting a sensitive woman and when you write about a wife cheating it's always a journey of self-discovery you would be incorrect.

It is obvious. Very much so.

Just because Firefox spell check doesn't recognize misandry doesn't mean your readers don't recognize it. We sure see it often enough.

Buried Under 50 Feet of Gild: A Lily

True, we readers are often a tired bunch. We read at five in the morning to avoid exercise. We read on planes to avoid talk about 'the game last night.' We read when other people's children scream because other people's children are screaming. We can miss things. Been known to happen.

That is no reason to highlight a joke WITH CAPS! AND BOLD TYPE! AND UNDERLINING! AND ITALICS!

This is the screenplay equivalent of Myspace sparkle font. It makes me recoil from my screen. I can't tell if you think I'm dumb or if this is your one good joke and you're worried I'll miss it.

I respect you. I've been where you are. I know it's a hard job. Throw a little respect back to your reader and the process works better for everyone. Especially you.

/the four exclamation marks alone would have sufficed

They Don't Sell Pretty at the Wal-Mart?

Yes, describing a happy, nice-looking person who lives in a poor part of town with the phrase 'she clearly doesn't belong here' is insulting. There are good looking people in lower-income families. *SHOCK* some of them even laugh from time to time.

If this is a newsflash you should really get out more. There's, like, trees and sunlight and stuff out there. You could enjoy it.

Even if you're not middle class.