Screenwriting : Do you think you write enough? by Joleene DesRosiers

I think I write as much as I can, while still trying to maintain a balanced life. I have a dayjob that occupies 44-46 hours of my week, I'm very into fitness and health, have a sig.other, kids, pets, friends and extended family nearby, all of which take up time as well. I usually get in 7-10 hours a week of writing, unless I have a deadline in which case I cram 20 hours into one weekend (usually the weekend before it's due, lol)

I stubbornly refuse to subscribe to the notion that you have to let certain aspects of your life go in order to flourish in others. David Sedaris likened it to a 4-burner stove top. Each burner represents part of your life. Family. Friends. Health and work. The idea is that in order to flourish in one important area, 1-2 of the others must be allowed to burn out. I won't do that. Sometimes other parts of my life get placed on a low simmer, but I can't neglect any of these important facets of my life altogether.

If you are serious about screenwriting you pretty much have to work at it seven days a week. That's easy for me to say because I am recently retired. It's not just the writing. When you have a completed, well-edited script you have to market it. For me that means sending queries to my list of producers, which now is over 1000 pages long. It can be discouraging.

Jody Ellis , I love your response. You're life sounds like mine! Married, a child, exercise, other stuff. I have my paid writing (which I have to get done to pay the bills) and then my personal scriptwriting, which is very important to me. Some writers function just fine a few hours a week. Others definitely do it more.

@Michael Fawcett, I'm serious about it, for sure. I don't know that the amount of time I put in defines my level of seriousness as much as it's a matter of balance right now. But I do need to put in more time, no question. And I do market it, pitch it, and even go to TV festivals, but I guess I didn't consider that as "time put in." Thanks for that insight. :)

There's "your Time" - a time you close the door and tell the world to leave you alone. Yes I know it's hard when life surrounds you - but you must do it. I'm retired so I thought I'd have all the time in the world - wrong. My wife gets up early so she can make out my day's to do list. Just make your time (an stick to it.)

I don't think there is a "set" amount of time you need to write every day. You could sit, facing your computer for hours and get nothing done, or write 5 pages in 20 minutes. What I do is make sure I'm always thinking about my characters and the story when I can and to make sure you are staying productive :)

@Brian. I agree. I can write three pages a day for four days during the week and feel productive. Or I can write 15 pages on one rainy day. When I'm out running, I'm rewriting scenes in my head. Either that, or I'm listening to a podcast or interview from someone in the biz. I can't decide if I'm too hard on myself, or what! I like your answer, tho. As long as we're thinking, writing, pitching, and growing, we're good.

Joleene and Jody.....do what many others have done in your situations.....and run away from home!

A strangle every second I can get out of each day. I use iPad and phone apps so I can write when I get a spare minute. I never have enough time to write. Never.

John I don't see anything wrong with doing it for both reasons.

It's not about money. I LOVE writing. I run a business as a writer. I'm just wondering what "a lot" is for each writer. For me, say I work on my scripts for an hour at least 5 times a week. Some would say, that's decent...at least you're moving forward. Others would scoff. Now let's say I don't get to that 5 hours the next week, but am able to pull all 5 hours into one Saturday. I'm still writing. Everyone is different. Like Aray Brown Aray Brown, I get pissed at myself if I don't put enough time in. But if I'm making an effort and still going after that brass ring, isn't that enough?

If you're good at something, why do it for free? I don't see LeBron James playing street ball for free.

Writing is a job, same as playing basketball, fixing cars, walking a dog. Pros get paid.

surround yourself with working people, form filmmaking allies.

Don't stress over writing hours. Worry about results. Small goals for your confidence.

For most writing is a hobby. When writing becomes your livihood, that is when Hours & schedules really matter.

Why do it for free? Because helping others brings personal rewards (so I guess it's not really free after all.)

Oh Dan M, but I bet he has. As a junior in high school, with his friends. He was born LeBron James by name only, everything else was practice.

I'm an ex-athlete. Most athletes not only did it for free but they practiced for years. If you factor in childhood and college, some did it for free:7 to 14 years as children. CHILDREN. I need to adult-up and focus on my craft! Eyes on the prize. PS: Many paid to do it for free! Eye on the prize, peeps.

If you write anything, it's more than writing nothing.

My goal is to become a paid television writer, so the time I put in is me honing the craft. If I never sell something, I won't cry, but I won't give up either. My primary goal is to DO IT RIGHT. I have a writing coach that has sold scripts and has taught me a ton. She keeps me on task, too. So I can turn out a solid, 60-page episode in four months. I agree with David...it's better than nothing. And there are some weeks it's more than five hours.

On the flip side, I am a ghostwriter and content writer. That's my paid work. Sometimes I struggle with giving that more time than my scripts. The content work and ghostwriting pays the bills. The scriptwriting fills a passion.

Good luck, Joleene! You're on the right track! Not delusional. Lots of journalists have crossed over to Entertainment writing . Build a track record. One of my college guest Instructors was a NY crime Reporter, he wrote a successful crime novel and the folks at Law-N-Order gave him a staff job, taught him how to write TV. I think he was like 45-years old at the time.

Thanks, Dan MaxXx!! I reeeeeally appreciate that. I'm one hell of a stubborn woman, so something's bound to come from it!

I'm spending on average about 12 hours a week. Sometimes longer with at least 2-4 hours doing research and study. I take breaks but no more than 2-3 days max at a time!

I think I write almost everyday with new material since I do stand up comedy. But as for screenwriting, I don't know how much I put into a project. When I feel like taking a break from stand up comedy writing, I get into the next screenplay project and, depending how my schedule in life goes, I think I can spend a week doing the project if you add it up. Maybe more depending how I change things in the process of writing it.

I write when I'm inspired and in long blocks. No point in wasting time feeling guilty. Better to write when you're feeling it. Or when someone's paying you to meet a deadline.