Hi, everyone! I've been screenwriting for a few decades but in the last few years have finally gotten closer to my goals and improved my skills greatly. In the meantime, I've managed to land jobs writing transmedia scripts (check out the OTT/Transmedia room, it's a cool place) as well as news articles, blogs, white papers, press releases, etc.
So after working my butt off writing everyone ELSE's ideas all week, how do I find the energy to write my own? I've been struggling with this the last few weeks after a couple of particularly grueling projects. I need to get my writing samples ready to go ASAP so I can solicit a manager, but where does the time go?
A couple of ideas:
- Start my day earlier, write my stuff first before diving into paid scripts
- Treat my own projects like work, because that is what I'm training to do. Set deadlines for myself, say with my husband or writing buddy, and meet them.
- Set aside a block of time every week that I can look forward to and see my personal projects as an oasis. (Even though I love my day job)
Any other ideas? In the hustle and bustle of life, where do YOU find time to tackle those scripts?
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Well, I think with any job it's easy to experience burnout, and not want to dedicate your time to a project that could end up going nowhere. I'm certainly not an expert but I find that for me I try to make myself do "something" every day. Perhaps every day I don't have the energy to write a whole scene or edit the third act etc etc. But, there is SOME action you CAN take every day - maybe as simple as writing the OUTLINE of a scene, etc etc etc.
I think what you suggested about setting deadlines for yourself is also helpful - personally, I have a much easier time motivating myself if I've set a deadline, even if the only person I'm beholden to is myself.
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I am in a similar situation. I set aside two days, back-to-back, to work on my own projects every 6-8 days. It's comfortable for me and allows me to make real progress on my own stuff rather than only looking at it once a month, for example.
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Where does time go? I think a lot of it scurries under the bed with the dust bunnies. I spent an entire career writing - business reports. I understand the burn out and I don't have an answer. I try to not let it get to me - I just try to relax ang go with the flow - remember, this too shall pass.
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Hi HB. I feel you. I wake up extremely early to write, and stay up late in front of my computer. It's become a necessary routine. I work in medicine full-time so I have to write when I can. I've been diligent about it for the past several years. I imagine if I worked on other people's scripts and watched their visions materialize by my hands I would be more motivated to finish my creations.
Here's what has helped me when faced with exhaustion from full-time work while also feeling pressed to dedicate time to my passion projects. I constantly tell myself that I pursue my passion because I'm pursuing what brings me happiness, is a great release, and most of all, is "fun". I keep a notebook handy while I work and keep my scripts in my mind as I go throughout my day. I come up with fresh ideas this way and jot them down constantly. I've trained my brain to do it. 'Not sure if it will work for you, but I thought I'd add my two cents. Best of luck to you! :)
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Great points Catherine Martin! I know that not all projects will get made, but oddly enough that has never been a reason for hesitation. In the past I had luck doing something every day, even if it's just a sentence or outline - thanks for reminding me!
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Chaun Lee I too keep a notebook that is filling up fast (I've got a collection of them) I really admire your dedication - and yes, isn't it important to remind ourselves of WHY we write? Thanks so much for the encouragement!
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Wow Barry John Terblanche you must get a lot done, good for you! What do you mean by "writing while you sleep?" Do you mean that your subconscious does a lot of figuring stuff out for you? My best ideas come when I'm busy doing something else and into the notebook they go!
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Donnalyn Vojta Thanks for sharing your process! <3
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Great point Doug Nelson - this too shall pass! Best of luck to you on your writing journey!
I too have been screenwriting for longer than I care to admit, with no commercial success
Wow Dan, that must have been cool having a mentor like that.
I would recommend setting up a big note-board or something where you can have your plot-outline, character information, and whatever gets you juiced about the story you are writing on 24/7 display...somewhere near your normal writing area. The wall behind my computer is almost always a gigantic field of color-coded post-it notes with anything and everything about my current project. Notes on a computer or note cards or outlines in Final Draft or some other software are not the same. You need to walk by your ideas every day, often. There are two very different sides to our mind...the conscious and the subconscious. You know how people say that their best ideas or solutions come when they are out walking around or doing something else? That is your invisible subconscious doing its own thing without conscious direction. It's just like when you cannot remember someone's name or whatever, and all of a sudden it will pop into your head out of nowhere while you are doing something else. That is your subconscious, and you can make it a valuable ally in the writing process, but you need a sort of constant immersion in your ideas for it to really bear fruit.
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This is why I have always avoided writing as a day job and found a manual labor job to pay the bills before I began selling screenplays and getting assignments.