#WritersQuick5 - Meet Screenwriter Jeremy Palmer

Welcome to week thirty-six of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.

This week I am thrilled to bring you screenwriter Jeremy Palmer. Jeremy writes for stage & screen and has been published by Next Stage Press. He also just received his MFA from USC School of Cinematic Arts. Congratulations Jeremy!

If you would like to check out some of Jeremy’s work, he wrote and curated the Cinevox webseries for Phamaly Theatre Company. “The Phamaly Theatre Company (formerly known as The Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League) produces professional scale plays and musicals year-round throughout the Denver Metro region, cast entirely of performers with disabilities across the spectrum (physical, cognitive, emotional, blindness, deafness…etc.).” Its mission is to “ inspire people to re-envision disability through professional theatre.” Learn more at http://www.phamaly.org

Let’s see what Jeremy has to say...

Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there?
I write at home, either on my laptop or desktop (which sits on a folding card table while I write from a folding camping chair) because I need mostly quiet and focus.

Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre?
I don't have a genre within screenwriting. I have intentionally cast a wide net over multiple genres and have yet to find one I like above all others. I do like to insert disability issues whenever possible assuming it fits in with the story naturally.

Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves?
I recently realized that lots of people put apostrophe s onto words as a contraction for "is". Like they'll say "Billy's crazy" rather than "Billy is crazy" when the 's should ONLY be added to pronouns to avoid confusion with possessive 's as EVERYONE KNOWS!!! But that's about it.

Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work?
​Once I have a complete first draft, even though I know it will need lots of revision.

Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process?
I think there's never any one right way to do something, from outlining to rewriting and everything in between. One person's wrong way is another's breakthrough method.

Thank you Jeremy for these lovely answers. And I agree - there’s no right way to do something. From time to time, I get feedback about this writing series, saying you can’t learn about your own writing from someone else. But for me, it’s the opposite. I learn so much from hearing about what other people do - even if it’s nothing like what I am doing myself. Publishing these interviews fuels my writing. One could say #WritersQuick5 has been a breakthrough for me. Thank you Jeremy for being a part of that!


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If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well!

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