Screenwriting : How do I know I'm writing in a way that can be considered 'disciplined' or 'motivated'? by Otello Calvert

That's actually quite a lot of hours dedicated to writing for someone who has study and a job competing for their time. If you can afford to put that kind of time into writing then that is great , you must be really churning out some scripts. I have a full time job and family/house duties so apart from making notes during work, I also dedicate one to one and a half hours writing over lunch but sometimes I take a break from that as well. You have great discipline and no doubt great motivation but it comes down to what you're comfortable with. If you can maintain that without anything else suffering, then that is great but be prepared to ease off on what you can afford to ease off with should the need arise. You have more discipline and dedication than most writers I know so, well done.

Thank you so much Pierre! It's great to hear that it sounds like I'm on the right track. I'm working as much as I can to get projects finished, but I really tend to take a lot of time over what I write. I've recently come very very close to finishing my first feature screenplay called 'Broken Piano' which I posted on my profile the other day. I've got 2 more in the works now, as well as a second drafting of my first novel which I wrote this year too. I'll keep cracking on the way I do!

The only thing that caught my off guard is the networking part. What exactly do you mean? But it's good that you have a schedule and stick to it. I like to wake up early and enjoy some coffee while no one else is up. That's when I get a bulk of my writing done. Develop at night and meet with a writers circle once a week.

By networking I mean going to the lounge page and looking at what people have posted, commenting, liking, looking at profiles and generally just interacting with the writing community. Not only on Stage 32, but also on Instagram and online blogs too. I find it useful for learning and discovering writers and people who interest me, and might offer opportunities. It's good for spreading my name and having a larger online presence!

Very nice! I would try your hand at twitter and reddit too. People are openly more critical on reddit than here which in the long run is useful. Also there are a lot of good podcasts I recommend. Currently I'm making my way though On the Page.

Yes, you are disciplined enough.

I'd say you're quite disciplined, Otello! I would love to be able to say that I'm at that level with my work. While I'm not screenwriting, I am working on a book about silent film stars. There is a lot of research involved, so even though I work on it close to every day, it's slow going. Factoring in day jobs and family can make things challenging. And I know that we creatives tend to feel like however much we do, it's not enough. On those occasions when my mind slows down to a less-frantic pace, I can hear my therapist say, "Not enough for what?" That helps put it in perspective. You sound very dedicated, and I wish you the best!

Thanks guys! Minda, I wish you the best of luck with the book. I know from experience that it is a behemoth task! The novel I wrote was based on the bible, as well as alluding to other religions, so I had an extensive amount of research to do as well; I know how you feel about the research! We do get there in the end, though. And you must know the proud feel of when you finally have the weight of the pages you've poured your heart and soul into - I always keep that feeling and mind and work to feel it again!

That's cool that you worked on The BFG. Congrats! That must have been a great experience. Since you're in school and pretty busy with your thesis, and have already exhibited the ability to be analytical, I'd concentrate a bit on identifying and analyzing the specific elements of story. Obviously you have access to that path, so I'd really hammer down on those elements; watch some of my favorite films/read some of the scripts of those films; and really grasp at how they tell their stories and utilize those elements. One of the almost-magical areas of screenwriting is learning the ability to be a tight, concise writer. Literally every word counts. The story must move forward. The characters have to be pretty multi-dimensional and paradoxical in ways. The pacing has to be spot-on. The dialogues have to be meaningful to the story. The complications have to be plausible. Characters have to be memorable. New writers struggle in those areas, because, well....they're new. Happy writing and great luck!

Thanks for the advice Bill! Duly noted! I've been focusing a lot this summer on the story and the structure of it, as you've suggested, and I'm really enjoying it! And The BFG was incredible to be on set for. I had a conversation with Janusz Kamiński which was totally surreal. I've been reading 'Building Imaginary Worlds – They Theory and History of Subcreation' by Mark Wolf and it's really fascinating. My main area of writing is drama and fantasy, but mainly fantasy. I've also re-reading 'Story' by Robert Mckee, and 21st Century Screenplay by Linda Aronson. All of these books I'm finding are biblical in the writing world and I'm making notes constantly. I've posted a few screenplays recently, although since reading a considerable amount to do with formatting recently, and story structure, I'm going to be re-uploading them soon with a new and improved edit! But if you have a moment, feel free to browse and see if anything catches your attention; any feedback would be wonderful!

Otello - keep in mind that there are a dozen-ish structural theories (Aristotle, Field, Hauge, Snyder, McKee, Truby, Seger, Phillips & Huntley, etc.). They are all pretty similar in their main plot point areas. There are also a few different Act theories (three-act, six-act, eight-act, etc.). Some writers follow them to the T, and some don't. But they are good to know, at the very least. Don't know if you saw Sicario, but that is a very interesting story that doesn't follow any theory to the T, but certainly has a beginning, middle and end. And Aristotle never even saw a film! I will check out your story when I have the time. The synopsis for Broken Piano looks very promising and intriguing to me.

I will definitely keep them in mind! I'm quite familiar with Field, Aristotle, McKee, Aronson, Snyder and a couple others. But as you've suggested, I've only just scratched the surface! I know I have a long way to go, and it excites me a lot that there is still so much undiscovered territory for me! Sicario is on my watch list and I'll get around to it this summer. Thank you again for the advice! Highly appreciated!

My family and I just saw "The BFG" last night. Beautiful film. Spielberg is at his best when steps into the wonder and magic of a child's mind (and the mind of a small giant), in my opinion.

Otello I would say you are disciplined, passioned and dedicated with your work. It's great you manage to "juggle" the time like that, along with your other job, it must be no mean feat! Keep it up. Happy Friday .

Thanks everyone for the kind words! Definitely pumped to carry on!

Othello: You heard it from one of the best, BILL(all in caps because he's that good) I did something really wrong at the beginning which I hope you don't do, I was stuck on the same screenplay for years, I had finished it, but was getting too many mixed reviews from different sources, so when I finally decided to let that one be, thanks to S32, I completed 5 screenplays in less than three years, seven total. My point, let one single passion project hold you back from writing. Hope I help you a bit. Write, write, write. Hope never quits.

If you are writing more than two hours a day you have a lot more discipline than I ever had.

I haven't actually done any today Dan, which is a first in a long while! I have been reading a screenwriting book about formatting and story for about 7 hours though...

Is that for professional writers or writers that have other commitments such as family, job, or education? I'm the latter (education and a part-time job), so would if I'm to call myself a writer, would I be expected to be writing two a year? I stated above somewhere that in the last year, I've written a feature, a short, and a novel. So I'm guessing that's equivalent?

Jorge - thank you for the compliment. I wish I was "the best"....just parted ways with a producer that I've re-written one of my scripts for several different times, and at his suggestions. And I also just found out that another producer who was considering one of my other scripts decided to go a different route because a different location and set became available to him, and I unfortunately don't have a family farm script and don't know the first thing about horses. Oh well....writing life goes on.

Bill: It's their loss. In my book, you are the best, here on S32, always giving detail, concise, excellent advice that even I understand, remember I'm no brainer, and I'm getting old, yet I learned from you, something new on each of the lounges you participate. So thanks for always being here. You give alot of yourself, your time, and Beth, Dan G. You keep us all interested in the lounges and always look forward to what you have to say and always alot of information. Hope something better comes your way, now that you parted ways with that producer and I sure it will. You deserve the best. Cheers.