When I was a project, operations, and general manager in the aerospace manufacturing business, I had several occasions where I was required to submit a business or recovery plan for mine or my company’s plans to service customers such as Boeing and Lockheed. However, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit I don’t use any written business plan to set screenwriting or pitching goals or metrics to measure my success. Hell, I’m just winging it. That includes not following up with people who requested scripts and never got back to me. I always take that as a sign I’m not interested.
So here’s what I do. I create as much new material as I can, help other writers whenever possible, and look for any possible opportunity to showcase my work. My attitude is the more stuff in the ether, the better odds of success. I also haven’t done many live pitching room activities and have always gone the query letter route. Nevertheless, I may force myself out of my comfort zone to do the pitch room thing in the future.
My question for Forum dwellers is, do you operate per a specific written plan with objectives and goals, or are you improvising like Moi?
2 people like this
I don't make a plan for my screenwriting goals and pitching, but I keep these things in mind. It might be easier to type these things up though.
2 people like this
I tend to Bon Jovi it...livin' on a prayer.
3 people like this
I do have a well considered and somewhat written down plan.
There are two things I have been told and experienced about writing things down.
1) it shows holes in process and thought
2) if it is written down you don’t have to rely on memory. You can also reuse that thinking space for other things, like being creative.
2 people like this
Mark: Woohoo! Living on a prayer! I've said a stack of those. LOL
Great advice, Craig D Griffiths.
1 person likes this
Dan MaxXx:
Your optimism is inspiring. But I know you're just keeping it real.
3 people like this
I gave up planning when I retired (twice) - I don't need no stinkin' plan no more. Now I'm a hyphenate; Writer - Director - Producer, or whatever. You just got me thinking about it; I have a goal, so maybe I do need a plan. Thanx.
3 people like this
Phillip, I'm an improviser, too.
3 people like this
The best I learnt from numerous project management courses was “define what success is”. If you don’t have a defined finished line you will continue for ever.
How does that help with writing. Knowing what success looks like will tell you if you are getting close or heading in the wrong direction.
Once you reach the success mark. You can consolidate what you have and set a new goal.
Another way of looking at it is “you are better having 10 years experience, rather than 1 years experience 10 times”.
Knowing when to reset and refocus is a major part of a good plan.
3 people like this
Don't have long-term plan on life, let alone screenwriting...The other day I opened my laptop with intention to go half way through Shane Black's "The Last Boy Scout" ending with applying to a Berlin Short Script Workshop (for free of course, as most things in Europe are ;)
1 person likes this
As the super-enthusiastic Jacob Krueger said on one of his courses...set tangible goals.
2 people like this
i had a plan to make a plan if I can find where its kept : ) so onto small plans
1 person likes this
Dan G, mathematically I think it is the same. lol
4 people like this
I don't have a plan, I have an attitude.
In fact, I blogged about it back here in 2015; A Plan vs. an Attitude: How Dr. Webber Changed My Approach to My Career
You can't really have a plan in this industry (or any field of the arts) as it's just too chaotic and subjective. Reading about your heroes or how you favourite films got made is a good way to see that.
4 people like this
I've served time in a structured business setting as well, and for a moment you made me think geez, I should write down my plan. But then I remembered I left that environment so I could exercise the right side of my brain lol! I do have short term & long term plans, mentally, and they're fluid. If things get stagnate, I'll put things in writing. But they'll probably be scattered on various note cards. :)