Screenwriting : The Importance of Writing Everyday by Kenneth W. Wood

I agree. My father was a musician and composer. He used to say don't practice one day he knows it. Don't practice two days and your family knows it. Don't practice three days and the whole world knows it.

It is SO important. The more you do, the more you are able to do.

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I'll admit to being a bit hardline with people about this. So many people claim the title of writer but spend little time actually writing. If you're a writer you're writing. To paraphrase Hemingway, anyone who says they want to be a writer but isn't writing, doesn't.

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I'm going to agree with Terri Viani on this one. Way too many people claim to be writers and yet do no actual writing themselves. It's hard to sit down in front of a computer and actually write sometimes but, just as the original post said, it's exactly like any type of professional training, you only get better with practice and dedication. I've seen and spoken to way too many people who just sit down and then just start playing around with anything but writing. It takes discipline, hard work and focus. I like to use the FOCUS method: Follow One Course Until Success and it's been one of those things where you sometimes hate what you are doing while you are doing it, but you love it any other time. Stick with it, keep writing and set goals. If you are writing a novel, set out to write 1,000 words a day. If you are writing a screenplay, try to do 4-5 pages. Don't go too far and try to finish anything faster than it wants to be finished. Forcing it makes it bad. Also, as an additional note to people writing novels: Your first draft is going to suck. It's supposed to suck. Just get the idea down and on "paper" then refine it and make it into something worthwhile.

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It's crucial during your everyday writing; endeavor to write well.

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That's why I will never claim to be a writer, I'm a story teller.

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Erica: Writing is a skill-set that can be taught – even to an old dyslexic such as I. Story weaving is a creative art form that is a rare commodity. We all have some creativity but few have sufficient to string a story together. Creativity can be enhanced but I'm reasonably sure it can not be taught. I have read some well written scripts that were completely devoid of story and I have read poorly written scripts that contained riveting stories. To be a successful screenwriter – you must do both. Think of creativity as just life with the dull parts left out.

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Oh I agree Doug, you can learn to write and even become fairly decent at it. I too am dyslexic sot it's always a challenge. There are always ways to overcome those challenges. I've always been a creative storyteller, that's why I say that's my strength and not writing. I think though my writing (minus spelling and grammar which can always be fixed) is getting much better over the years.

Erica - Jus' keep on keepin' on. All the best.

Use it or lose it. Everyday, everywhere, write, sing, act, direct, create magic! Been doin it for 55 years, wrote my first book, made the hard back cover too! God Bless

Sorry Steven but it's 'hear, hear'.

I didn't want to say anything... or is that "nothing"?

Well it sounds the same. And I always say it after they state the 12th Tradition. But thank you. I will try to not make that same mistake again. HEAR!!! HEAR!!! Better??

Dan, I understand what you're saying – I don't actually write on a script everyday either. But when I'm not, I'm working on my Northwest Filmmaker's Showcase TV show or I'm watching films or I'm reading about screenwriting or prepping to teach screenwriting or working on my latest story in development or... I'm sure you understand – I'm thoroughly enmeshed in the filmmaking universe, all day, every day. I think it's my personal need driven dedication and I'm pretty sure others are not quite so fanatical as I.