Tips to survive the highs and lows of your screenwriting journey…

I always experience these emotions as I finish a new screenplay: A downhill steamroller toward the final scene, followed by a powerful feeling of accomplishment because it’s been my privilege to unleash another story upon the world. I hit a writing milestone last December having completed my twenty-fourth screenwriting assignment that was my forty-second feature screenplay written on my long haul journey. My characters have guided me through their story and now it’s over with me typing FADE OUT—THE END and turning in the first draft to the producer. We know it’s never truly over until your script is produced and the movie released, but it’s over for this draft. It may just be the first of many drafts during the rewrite process, but an accomplishment nonetheless. The creative highs help me through the writing process, and I have to bid a sad farewell to these characters — the ones I’ve known so intimately for the past 105 pages. When I finish the script’s final draft and it goes into production, the actors bring my characters to life under the clear vision of the director. That’s the time writers need to let go and watch the magical process of filmmaking as your other collaborators take over.

As I’ve mentioned before, when I finish a script, I print a hard copy, let it settle for a few days, and then go to a coffee shop with a pen and start my polish. I agonize over the structure, punctuation, characters, and dialogue throughout my first pass. I look for typos and those pesky “widow/orphan words.” My creative high still burns as fuel to get me through this first pass of the script. Many times, I’m shocked at how good the first draft reads as I figure out ways to make it better before I deliver the second draft to the producers by my contracted deadline.

The next step? Wait for notes and hopefully move onto a different project during the producer’s reading period. When the notes do come in, I finish the rewrites and turn in my final draft and that’s when I notice that my creative high begins to crash and the previous month of creative energy quickly fades. As my noisy mind grows louder, I slip into the “creative lows” and urgently need to fill my mind with new stories and more writing. I feel the overpowering need to start my next project, or I’ll slip even deeper into the creative lows — a rough place to land after a successful month of screenwriting.

When I’m not writing, I notice the creative void in my life and miss those creative highs. They can become addictive as I enjoy seeing the story unfold in my mind as if I was watching the actual movie. When I’m working on a script assignment, I’m committed to finishing it because I’ve signed a contract and have been paid to finish the job. Many times it feels like when I’m away from the script, the characters sit waiting for me to get back to the keyboard so they can move forward on their journey. Even if the idea wasn’t originally mine because it’s an assignment job, I make it mine and embrace the story as my own as I’ll need that same conviction to finish.

If I don’t immediately jump onto a new project, I find myself needing to be creative, so I start working on new ideas and pitches or treatments and outlines. The key to a stable and healthy creative mind is being aware of the creative lows and doing your best to avoid this dangerous place. The lows can make you procrastinate as fear may creep into your mind and you avoid working on your next project because you might be afraid it will not be good enough or perfect. The “writer’s fraud” syndrome could also emerge as many writers experience the feeling they only achieved their success by chance and not from their talents. Avoid this soul-sucking place by immersing yourself in works from other artists for inspiration.

You can catch up watching movies or TV series that you have always wanted to see and study. I’ve recently been on a western movie tear and have watched nearly a dozen classics of the genre. I watched a masterpiece film that was brought to my attention and its story structure was an inspiration. This film energized me to work on my old action spec that I’ve been tinkering with over the years. There is nothing quite like being inspired and energized by seeing a classic movie that makes it look so easy.

Other things you can do to fight back against the creative lows is listening to music or attending a concert, poetry reading, musical, play, art exhibit, or museum to keep your mind fresh and feed your creative soul. Try your hand at drawing or painting. Venture out and connect with like-minded people and work on their creative projects. If you have an agent or manager, have them schedule you a lunch or coffee with their other clients or professional contacts in all aspects of the film business. Soak up their knowledge and use your newfound experiences to fuel your forward momentum. Also attend workshops with professional guest speakers and catch screenings of upcoming films or become involved in local film festivals to surround yourself with creativity.

Do not underestimate the powerful inspiration that nature offers creatives. I love hiking in the mountains or taking long walks in nature and always find something to inspire me. I have been on countless hikes where I figured out a story issue or came up with a missing plot twist as a result of freeing my mind in the wild. As a screenwriter’s full life becomes a vital part of any ongoing creative journey, the process requires you to constantly take chances and push yourself out of your comfort zone. This is particularly important regarding the material you write. You’ll grow as a person and as a screenwriter if you continue to challenge yourself and experience new adventures that you can draw upon for authenticity in your work.

If you find yourself coming down from the creative highs of finishing your screenplay and slipping into the lows, do something creative. You never know where you’ll find inspiration and that’s why you should constantly expose yourself to the arts. This discipline will also help you keep a full creative well and a screenwriter’s arsenal ready for use. If you catch yourself early enough before the creative lows cloud your outlook, you’ll stay upbeat, your creative energy will flourish, and you will return to screenwriting again sooner than later.

Keep writing and keep the faith.

Scriptcat out!

Copyright © 2024 by Mark Sanderson on MY BLANK PAGE blog. All rights reserved.

Follow me on X: @scriptcat

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE screenwriting page where you can find 78 videos about the screenwriting journey.

Did you just complete your latest screenplay or finish a new draft? Is it time for in-depth consultation? Check out my services by clicking this LINK to visit my website.

Need help navigating Hollywood’s trenches as you pursue your screenwriting career? Consider my book available on Amazon with 56 FIVE STAR reviews! (click on book cover for link to purchase)

It’s a long haul journey to reach any level of screenwriting success. If your passion drives you to embark on this crazy adventure of a  screenwriting career, you’ll need to prepare for survival in Hollywood’s  trenches. Talent is important, but so is your professionalism and  ability to endure criticism, rejection, and failure over the long haul.  The odds may be stacked against you, but the way to standout in this  very competitive business is to create a solid body of work and build a  reputation as a team player and collaborator. The rest is just luck — a  prepared screenwriter who meets with an opportunity and delivers the  goods. “A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success” (2024 updated edition) will help you prepare for  your own journey with the necessary, tips, tricks and tactics that I’ve  developed over the past twenty years of working in the film industry.  It’s time to start living your dream as a screenwriter in Hollywood.

Enjoy some quotes for today… taken from my blog page QUOTE OF THE DAY…

“Writers, like most human beings, are adaptable creatures. They can learn to accept subordination without growing fond of it. No writer can forever stand in the wings and watch other people take the curtain calls while his own contributions get lost in the shuffle.”—Rod Serling

“The well is where your “juice” is. Nobody knows what it is made of, least of all yourself. What you know is if you have it, or you have to wait for it to come back.”—Ernest Hemingway

“I have no idea who the characters are, later, their personalities take over anything I might want to do. I end up writing not from my own will, but from theirs—they come alive as I write and make me do things that I couldn’t have planned.”—Akira Kurosawa

“There’s a powerful magic about being a writer that I still marvel at.”—Sidney Lumet

“As an artist, I feel that we must try many things — but above all we must dare to fail.”
—John Cassavetes

Paddy Chayefsky on cutting/editing:

If it should occur to you to cut, do so. That’s the first basic rule of cutting. If you’re reading through and stop, something is wrong. Cut it. If something bothers you, then it’s bad. Cut it. If you can cut inside the speech, you’re really cutting most effectively. It’s purifying, it’s refining. Making it precise. Precision is one of the basic elements of poetry. My own rules are very simple. First, cut out all the wisdom; then cut out all the adjectives. I’ve cut some of my favorite stuff. I have no compassion when it comes to cutting. No pity, no sympathy. Some of my dearest and most beloved bits of writing have gone with a very quick slash, slash, slash. Because something was heavy there. Cutting leads to economy, precision, and to a vastly improved script.

Scriptcat’s super screenwriting tips, tricks & tactics for your Hollywood adventure…

I hope you’ve been creating new opportunities that have pushed your screenplays closer to success. Trust me, I know if can feel like you’re banging your head against a wall hoping for a breakthrough, but finding the same results of rejection and criticism. I truly hope you’re busy creating a solid body of work and forging ahead on your screenwriting journey. I hope that I’ve been able to offer a few nuggets of advice that you’ve found helpful. In addition to my tips on Twitter (@scriptcat), my Youtube Channel . I’ll be posting new tips here every month in addition to new articles. Dig in as I’ve written over 180 articles on this blog. I’m also broadcasting live on the new app PERISCOPE. Check it out. Thanks for reading and as always: Carry on, keep the faith and keep screenwriting. Okay, let’s cut to the chase and get right to the action—here are a few more useful survival tips for your journey…

TIP #1

KEEP THE INTIMATE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR WORK TO YOURSELF.

I see too many screenwriters doing this and expending precious energy and opening themselves up to early criticism. Do not continually talk about the status of your projects, your “writing process,” or how each project is moving forward. Hollywood has a bizarre time warp that works on its own schedule. Every project will take longer than you ever expected and you don’t need people thinking that you’re blowing smoke when you talk about the status of your material. The truth is that it takes an incredible amount of time for any script to find a home and eventually get produced—if ever. Sometimes the less you say about your progress the better. We all have our own inner voice of self-doubt, but why give fodder to your critics and skeptics who will use it to squash your dreams? They’ll even taint any good news you share and use it to belittle your success because they didn’t have the guts to risk everything to pursue their own dreams. They enjoy raining on your parade instead. Protect your dreams and cut the naysayers out of your life. Keep your work close to the vest until it’s finished.

TIP #2

PROTECT YOUR PRECIOUS WRITING TIME.

Time is a screenwriter’s greatest asset or worst enemy—it depends on how to you use it. Carve out a writing schedule and stick to it. You need to protect your precious writing time and treat it like a job because it will be exactly the same when you finally do get paid—but you’ll have the added pressure of being under contract, being paid and having the producer expecting “great things!” When you sit down to write, you’ve probably experienced the battle to defend your time against the forces of procrastination and interruption. Hemingway said, “Work every day. No matter what has happened the day or night before, get up and bite on the nail.” Working every day, even if it’s for a short period of time, creates discipline. The longer you write the more you’ll get to know yourself better as a writer.  You’ll discover your strengths and weaknesses, if you write fast or slow, and if you’re easily distracted or if you can work in a crowded coffee shop. When the writing gets difficult, time becomes your enemy as you never know each day if your creative juices will flow or dry up. Do yourself a favor and always protect your precious writing time from the forces of interruption and distraction. You’ll keep on schedule, writing will become a habit, and you will be acting like the professional you’ve become.

TIP #3

TALK IS CHEAP IN HOLLYWOOD!

You’ll learn the longer you pursue a screenwriting career that talk is cheap in Hollywood and people want credit for their good intentions. Too many times the words are empty promises that end up wasting an eager and hungry writer’s time. Money makes it real. Take everything as face value for talk is the cheapest commodity in Hollywood. Many times interest in you or your script and the endless talk is just that—interest and talk. Many times meetings are just meetings. Many times a producer’s upbeat attitude about your project can become infectious. You want to believe that others see your dream and can realize it. Why not? It’s what keeps us going as screenwriters—belief in our projects and the faith that success is just around the corner. I’m sure when producers and executives tell you that your project is going into production, they just might believe it themselves, but sometimes they tell a writer this to buy more free time. Producers want to keep a writer’s interest in hanging on until they “work out the pesky financing details” and it becomes the bait for more free work. If they can’t raise the money for the budget or they have no money in their development budget, there really is no money to pay the writer. Be understanding to a certain point and look at every situation through a risk/benefit filter. Are you willing to risk your free time with free rewrites on the possible chance a project “might” get produced? Get excited when a producer gives you a contract, you both sign it and you get paid. That’s the professional way—otherwise, you can’t live on the currency of good intentions. Now get back to your blank pages. If you stop writing you’re guaranteed never to have any chance at success.

Keep writing and filling your pages because if you stop—you’re guaranteed to never have any shot at success. This is a business with no guarantees even when you do sell a screenplay.

@Scriptcat out!

Also subscribe to my new YOUTUBE CHANNEL with weekly screenwriting video tips.

Do you lack focus or haven’t set goals for the year with regards to your career? Check out my on-demand webinar “A SCREENWRITER’S CHECKLIST — 10 Questions Every Screenwriter Must Answer to Stay in the Game.”

Part One & Two available for a streaming rental—$14.99 each.

(click on the icon below for the link to the streaming rental)

Did you just complete your latest magnum opus? Time for in-depth screenplay consultation? Check out my services by clicking on the blue icon below for the link to my website and more information.

“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“The time we have alone; the time we have in walking; the time we have in riding a bicycle; are the most important times for a writer. Escaping from a typewriter is part of the creative process. You have to give your subconscious time to think. Real thinking always occurs on the subconscious level.”—Ray Bradbury

“I never feel the need to discuss my work with anyone. No, I am too busy writing it. It has got to please me and if it does I don’t need to talk about it. If it doesn’t please me, talking about it won’t improve it, since the only thing to improve it is to work on it some more. I am not a literary man but only a writer. I don’t get any pleasure from talking shop.”—William Faulkner

“Deliberate practice, by its nature, must be hard. When you want to get good at something, how you spend your time practicing is far more important than the amount of time you spend. Regular practice simply isn’t enough. To improve, we must watch ourselves fail, and learn from our mistakes.”—Florida State University’s Anders Ericsson

“If you’re worried about failing, you ought to get into a different business, because statistics will tell you that sixty or seventy percent of the time you’re going to fail.  By fail I mean that the movie won’t make money.  Just do the best you can every time.  And if you’re going to stay in the movies, and you like movies—and I love them—you’d better love them a lot, because it’s going to take all of your time.  If you want to be in the movies, it’s going to break your heart.“—Richard Brooks, director of Blackboard Jungle, Sweet Bird of Youth, In Cold Blood, Looking for Mr. Goodbar

“Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure. But the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. [F]ailure means a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself to be anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena where I believe I truly belonged. [R]ock bottom became the solid foundation on which I built my life.” ~ J.K. Rowling