Screenwriting : How can I be a confident writer? by Zorrawa Jefferson

Your scripts aren't trash, and you're not a failure, Zorrawa Jefferson. I suggest getting professional feedback on your scripts, reading and studying scripts, and watching webinars on here to make your scripts better and become a better screenwriter. As your scripts get better and you become a better screenwriter, you'll be more confident in yourself. And don't worry about writing a perfect script. There are no perfect scripts.

People say trash and we begin to rush to prove them wrong. That's motivation. But don't sprint, as the marathon is long.

Keep grinding! Learn. Try to read at least one screenplay a day! Also read screenwriting books. While still learning write for yourself. If someone reads your screenplay and has upbuilding critic, take it. Learn.

P.S. Loved your last blog post!!

Grow, and keep growing!

All the best,

Rutger

My advice would be to increase your knowledge of your craft (writing). I read a book a month and articles all the time - on writing, mental health, "Hollywood," etc. Take advantage of script feedback through PROFESSIONALS. For example, I utilize WeScreenplay for all of my script coverage services and am willing to learn from them. The best thing you can do is to keep an open mind with critiques. Also, I love to download some of my favorite scripts and see how they are structured. Sample scripts are a great tool to use to learn. Networking through Stage 32 has been a great help. Add people to your network and view their profiles. Those are the keys that I used to improve my confidence. If you want, I can message you a list of books I read/am reading to help my craft (writing). I'll add you to my network, and you can check my profile.

Wal Friman I love the advice you left above. I'll have to remember that advice myself.

Do that Karmin and those trash talkers will be at the same street corner, saying the same things, when you'll be making thank you speeches.

It's a lot easier to destroy something than it is to create something. Anyone who is telling you that your screenplays are trash is just lashing out at their own insecurity with their ability to create. Don't listen to them. Keep writing because the more you do the better you'll get and the more you'll enjoy it. Keep creating.

Norman Vincent Peale wrote one of those self help books back in the 80’s. There was one sentence from that books I have heard over and over.

“If you believe you are a failure or you believe you are a success, you are correct”.

The point he was making was based on how you present yourself to the world. This is then fed back to you.

So, if we all praise you and tell you how wonderful you are, you’ll feel better. Then when we stop, you are back where you were. So you need to find a way of finding value for yourself. Perhaps do someone one on one mentoring with a less experienced writer. Seeing you have things to offer may help you see value.

Dear Zorrorwa,

The only people who opinions matter regarding your screenplays are any good are script readers for producers and studio execs and most of all YOURS. I don't know if you're apart of a writing group or just ask for feedback by people you know but one thing I can tell you, I never fucking cared. Getting feedback and criticism is apart of this game but taking vitriol and negativity isn't. Don't allow anyone to make you feel bad to the point you don't believe in yourself. Those people or so called friends aren't for you. I know I've been there- I had a friend who told me I wasted time by studying film because she was making her own movies without a degree; now I'm in a Master's program out in Los Angeles creating a network of people to shoot my first feature film. You know where that friend of mine is? I don't know either because I cut her ass off- she was making me doubt my abilities and trying to control my life. That's what toxic people do, put doubt in your mind and try to control you because they don't want you to get the things they might want before they do.

It's a hard lesson I had to learn so I'm passing it on to you so you don't have to go through cutting off a bunch of zombies who can't support me or be happy for me when something great happens. You'll know who those zombies are bc you'll feel it in your guts, it's instinctive. I don't know if those criticism you received is from a professional reading service or whomever, try another one because you seem to be experiencing toxicity on a level where you're personally defining who you are from it. Nothing in this business is worth you feeling bad about yourself- none of it. Keep your head up high. I hope this helps.

Join the club! I find everything I do sucks. But I also find it's getting easier for me to spot problems. Maybe if I wash away enough of the suck there will be something beautiful underneath.

Hi Zorrawa Jefferson. Not much I can say that has not already been said here. Hard truth side of it is a lot of writers are just not good. But, on the flip-side of that, you can "get good." Experienced writers did not start out with million dollar scripts in their hands. They wrote garbage, let people look at it (more on this in a moment), took the notes and made changes. Maybe even reached out to writers who were more experienced than they were. Then, doing that over and over, their skills got better, honed. Their scripts changed. Their style changed. After a time they could recognize when it was time to toss the paper in the bin because it was just not going to happen with that particular story/plot/idea, and when it was time to dive deeper into the script and hammer it into an even better story.

When it comes to people looking at your work, you need to be selective. First, they should be folks familiar with the process in general. Second, the more experience the better. Third, you keep moving along the line until you find someone who says, "I've seen better, but let me tell you what does work in here and what you should change." Takes some time to find that crowd but it is well worth it. Some people just don't want to be helpful. Other people don't want the competition. And then there are those who want to share in the magnificent joy of being a Creative and help others to really enjoy their passion.

Passion is what it is all about. You will get a stupendous amount of rejection as a creative, but never let that push down your passion. Write to write. Not for the paycheck, not for the possible success. Write to satisfy your own passion. In that, make part of your passion simply getting better. A master swordsperson started out with nicks and cuts everywhere. They just worked on getting better. And so can you. Embrace what you love most about writing. Recognize those elements in your script that make you smile, make you feel like "I nailed that one." The rest, just be ready to put it on the chopping block for the next draft.

You're a writer. If you've ever written more than two words on paper, you're a writer. You want to be a paid writer? Well, then you have a long-term goal.

Lastly, for myself, I always judge my first draft as garbage. Only makes sense. Around draft 4 or 5 it looks more like itself. So I would say on your first draft don't expect the winning ticket. Just keep writing. No matter what.

Hello from Downunder, Zorrawa Jefferson! I agree with Wal - personally I've found screenwriting to be a marathon. There's absolutely no time limit, other the limits you place on yourself. The last thing you want to do is compare yourself to anyone else. We're all travelling along our own unique road. If it's any consolation, I had someone call a particular script 'crap'. I was numb for a few days but picked myself up and wrote the current draft that I'm happy with. It took 3 rewrites in 2023 alone and who knows how many over the years. Keep pushing through and don't ever give up.

I agree with Maurice. You and I may not be perfect, but I would never refer to my work or even allow someone else to describe it as trash, all scripts need fine-tuning, and I am confident that whoever used those words to describe your work is either jealous or lacking in their own right.

Confidence is something that you can work on - as it is different from arrogance. You have the confidence to say that you are horrible and want to improve. I'm a really good writer, but I have a difficult time completing projects.

I'm 66 and just completed my first short script. I've been working on ideas for decades.

Figure out what your strong points are. Can you come up with great stories? Are you a plot twist queen? Maybe you just need an editor? Maybe you just need to take some writing classes? Maybe you need a mentor? Maybe a writing partner? There are lots of things to think about when thinking about building your confidence and becoming a better writer - and it's a lifelong project. As are scripts. You can always rework a script. Just because you've finished one doesn't mean it's finished. You can't write a second - ad infinitum draft (same with novels) as it's a constant editing project until it someday goes out the door and takes in a life of its own in a director, actor's and crew's hands.

Keep at it.

It's like Henry Ford said...if you think you're going to fail, you will.

It is a learning process for all of us that have decided to do this kind of work or play. You have to study what has worked for other features. I would suggest reading successful scripts, which you can find online. I used to purchase scripts from Script City... These are production scripts, so they will be a bit more worked for production purposes, but concentrate on the dialogue and the flow of the feature. Identify the structure, the various acts, I-III, etc. There are also excellent books out there on writing screenplays...I remember reading some of these early on when I first started writing screenplays.

I agree with getting feedback, I have entered many, many competitions and have paid lots of screenwriters to read my work. I have also spent a lot of money on one hour consultations to improve my work...you may not be able to invest that kind of money, but it is an option. I am a firm believer in eyes on...you have to get people that are experienced to read and comment on your scripts. That's how you get better. There will always be negative comments about your work...it very much is part of the process. The key is to distill the negative and positive comments into something that you can apply. Not everything that is said that is negative about your work is correct...or even worth paying attention to. You have to decide...

For most of us here we are wannabes...trying to land our first feature. It is a long and tough road and many won't get there, so you also have to ask yourself why you are doing it. Do you have visions of becoming a famous screenwriter? Are you hoping to do this as a profession? Are you doing it because you are passionate about writing, regardless of the outcome? These are questions we all have to weigh in various degrees. For me it is more of a bucket list adventure... I have published 2 novels, over 76 medical articles and textbook chapters, etc. So, it is an extension of something I have always done, which is to write. I have to write. It's just part of my constitution. Best of luck! Keep your spirits up and write, write...write!

Such great advice and support from the community here. A prolific screenwriter I know once told me something that I've never forgotten... he said that the goal is to be a part of a movie that millions of people see. But ultimately, only a small handful of people ever read a screenplay. In success, it's maybe 500 people including the crew and the cast if it gets into production. Sometimes it's less than 100 as a writer goes through notes and pitching and sharing with friends, reps, producers and executives. His point was that he realized at a certain point that he needed to make himself happy with the work and not worry about making others happy with it. If others get happy with it, on a professional level, then it will bloom into a movie (or TV show) with a lot of collaboration and artistry doing their thing. But as a screenwriter, you can of focus on your craft and doing work you are proud of. Keep doing your craft, Zorrawa Jefferson. And know that you are always in a safe space here to share your journey.

Hi Zorrawa! Don't let those negative voices in. Just recognize that it's self sabotage, and keep going! One thing I find helpful is to NEVER stop and reread what I've written already. I just power through that first draft. When I start a new day of writing, I don't read what I wrote the day before, because there's no doubt that I'll want to tinker and/or be disappointed and then the doubts start to take control, instead of me. Just keep going until the end, even if you know something isn't working, or you can do something better - that's what the next draft is for! If you get a thought about a change, or just a doubt about something, make a note if it, but don't stop your forward progress. Keep writing until you get to the end. Then once you have a finished draft, you can go back in start to shape it and analyze it.

I think confidence is something you pick up over time. I wasn't necessarily confinement in anything I wrote till I got a good score from a script reader on one of my scripts, and told my story was strong and compelling. It's always nice to gain validation from someone else, but I think gaining validation from one's self is the most important. Believe in yourself and your stories, and your confidence will come.

Sam Sokolow This gave me a lot to think about. Lately, I've been struggling with script revisions and severe self-doubt. But I'm trying to push through to create a story that both me and the audience want. I'm still trying to find that silver lining, but I know I'll find it (hopefully sooner rather than later).

The thing that really unlocked it for me was to accept that my first draft was going to be garbage. Just putting your idea down gets most of it out of the way. Then you go back through it and you'll see how to improve it and the next script will come easier. You'll develop your confidence. But the first step is accepting a starting point and growing from there.

This doesn't work for everyone, but you might as well give it a go!

All those destructive, toxic, abusive insults had nothing to do with you Zorrawa Jefferson or your abilities or your screenplays, and had everything to do with the character flaws of the person who went on a mission to destroy your confidence because it was the only way they could feel powerful and superior. Now, you're helping them continue to abuse you every time you beat yourself up or doubt yourself and your own abilities. Stop. Who are they to do that to you? Unless they're willing to go into your coffin with you when you die, they're nobody. YOU know that you work hard and give your best effort and learn from your mistakes and strive to improve daily, I know you do because that's what we do when we've been treated that way. We push ourselves harder than anyone else ever could...and it never feels good enough. When that destructive negative voice starts whispering in your subconscious, pause, take a deep breath, make a mental list of all the things you do in your quest to do your best and then pat yourself on the back because 99% of the people in the world don't even have the guts to TRY. Then tell that voice to piss off, because his/her days of running you ragged are OVER. And in those lowest of low moments, remind yourself that no matter how certain you are that you're not good enough...at least you don't go around trying to destroy other people like they do, so you're always better than THEM.

It's a mean world out there and boy did I struggle myself for years. In many ways, I'm going through it all again on a different rung of the ladder now that I have a few films out.

The core problem is that our pursuit of validation exposes us criticism, and while that's always going to be the case, it's worse in our form of the creative arts because the kind of people who are keen to read our material are generally the last people we should expose ourselves to, because their motivation in doing so is often to knock others down in the bid to build themselves up.

The answer is to become self-validating, where you are your own key motivator, where you have enough evidence to conclude you have something to offer. This isn't the same as simply believing in yourself in a pure spiritual sense. It's about looking at things objectively by gathering supporting evidence.

For me, this consisted of;

Engaging exclusively with screenwriting communities where I could do my due diligence on others. This showed me that those with opinions I agreed with were typically building careers.

Keeping a log of all the positive comments I received. This worked like cognitive behavioural therapy, consistently reminding me that some people liked what I was doing.

Getting my craft advice from books and not feedback. This gave much clearer guidance, and caused me to work out how to improve my writing myself, without my work being ripped apart by others.

Reading up on my heroes. This showed me that some of the most fawned over artists in history were typically hated by many peers in their early days and struggled through the same anguish.

Learning how things become popular. This taught me that we have a niche audience to serve and that the general audience tend to love and hate things based on what's considered cool and uncool.

Networking with filmmakers and actors, not other writers. This gave me an audience who admired my material as a recipient rather than a competitor.

Starting at the bottom. This meant that I started optioning short scripts to student filmmakers and showed that there were people willing to get up in the morning and turns my words in reality.

While this has worked well for me, it's like the antithesis of what screenwriting communities collectively advise doing, which is to get peer feedback, enter competitions, read pro scripts, and query established prodcos.

I've butted up against a few trolls in my time, some of whom managed to ruin entire communities by going around insulting other writer's work, and I can assure you that I've not seen a single one succeed in the slightest. Just be glad you're not them.

One of the best tips of advice I've ever heard, Zorrawa: Write as if nobody else is ever going to read it. Phew - takes the worries out of every first draft, IMO. :-) Don't reread each line (action or dialogue) as you write - get it all down, and that's the clay you'll mold in rewrite, after rewrite...

Zorrawa, I've read some of your scripts here on Stage 32.

I like what you've done...and all those people who've told you that your scripts are trash are absolutely wrong. (Where are THEIR TV scripts and movie scripts?)

You've got this.

The one thing that motivates me in my own efforts at screenwriting/TV writing is FUN. No...I'm not the best at it, I've never won a contest with any script of mine, no producer working through Stage 32 has ever picked out anything of mine for an OWA. (Yet.)

But as long as being able to write puts a smile on my face, I keep going...and I keep learning.

You've got a whole lot of stories and a whole lot of insight to offer as a writer.

NOBODY has any business stealing your dreams. Period.

So glad you're here on 32...and here's wishing you all the VERY BEST!

Zorrawa Jefferson perfection is the enemy of the good. Always be careful with whom you share your scripts with and always take their opinions with a pinch of salt.

Hey Zorrawa Jefferson. First off, you're not alone. Most, if not all, of us creative types have had the same exact feelings, doubts, etc. It's perfectly normal. You look pretty young, too. Screenwriting + youth can be really difficult. Rejection is no fun. Harsh critics are no fun. It can take a heavy toll on the ego and leave you feeling like, "Man, I must really suck." Totally get it. Totally understand. Unfortunately, this is a business where rejection and "No" sits in the 95+% range. And that's just something that aspiring writers have to come to terms with and find a way to embrace/accept/tolerate. There's simply no getting around it. If you end up sticking with screenwriting, "No" will become the most common word you will ever hear. And that will also not change when you've sold projects, gotten representation, or when everybody has told you how amazing and wonderful you are. That's Reality 101 of screenwriting. It's hard. Really friggin' hard.

Few questions for you to ponder. Why are you writing? Who are you writing for? Do you believe that you have stories inside of you that matter? Do you have stories inside of you that if you never got paid a dime, you would still do everything in your power to try and see them come to life?

Screenwriting is like anything else you want to pursue in life. It's about whether or not you really, really want it. How hard are you willing to work to get it? And are you going to allow the "Nos" and the tough criticisms to defeat you? To define you? To immobilize you? Or will you marshal on? Or are you going to choose to believe in yourself and the stories you want to tell? People around you who can support your dreams and efforts are also really important. They can help you keep going during the tough times. Hopefully, you have some strong supporters in your life. If you want to write, Zorrawa Jefferson , then you just have to keep at it. Keep going. And when the going gets tough, that's exactly when you need to keep going the most. There's only one you. And you have something unique and special. Put you in everything you write. Wishing you lots of strength and empowerment in 2024!

Zorrawa - I used to feel the same way. I signed up for classes and received a lot of paid and non-paid feedback. I joined platforms and read experiences from other writers. At the end, I find that you need to find the right person to say yes. I recently wrote a historical drama through a course with someone that has written many books on screenplay writing. His final assessment was that he would pass on the script because it is a topic few people in Hollywood would want. I researched directors and producers who are part of this community. I sent a few emails with only the logline. One of the producers contacted me and said he has been wanting to make this story for 2 years. Now we are working together to get others from the community on board and if made, this would be an indie film. So from my experience, find the person that wants to make your stories.

Thank you everybody. I'm not gonna give up, at least not now. I'm going to look for ways to improve my self esteem

It took me a long time to become an optioned writer. the moment I told myself I'm a good writer and wrote stuff I'm passionate about the success happened.

I saw a tweet (which I saved as a nice reminder when I get into moods like this) from @CryptoNature on Twitter which said the following: "Imposter syndrome is a sign you respect your chosen endeavor so much that you fear your skills won't honor it. So, it's a pretty strong indicator you aren't an imposter." It sounds to me like it applies...and that you're much better than you seem to think you are. Hopefully you have a good support system that will cheer you on and encourage you. Your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. I call my first draft of anything a "sucky first draft" -- that gives me the freedom to have it not be as good as I want it to be. Remember: A mediocre first draft that's written is better than a "perfect" one that isn't. Keep at it! You got this!

Stick to one line keep what you are saying on one line don't let it go to the next line.

Skip the line like this.

Your action has to be tighter then your dialogue

YOUR SCENES: WILL FLOW BETTER

Don't worry about shots use INSERTS:

Only 5 lines of action, then change it up

Your making a talkie so keep the flow and pace

THE END: I HOPE THIS HELPS

You're welcome, Zorrawa Jefferson.

Emotion could be holding you back you should know which mediums to convey deep messages and how to explain them.

Zorrawa Jefferson Baby Steps are a must! Take the time to learn from your mistakes. In 2014, I submitted my first screenplay to my fellow writers at the Virginia Screenwriters Forum and was ridiculed for not using the proper industry font. Yeah, that stung, but I learned well. Today, I'm the proud owner of Wins and Finalists stats awarded from national / international script competitions. Trust me, you WILL evolve as a writer. Focus, strive to learn, find your voice, and everything will eventually fall in to place. Welcome to the journey. Toss on the Nikes and starting runnng! : )

I hate everything I do and people keep buying it anyway. Give yourself the same courtesy and room you give others.

Exchange scripts and talk about them. You will see everyone has doubts. Keep running or you will get out of shape.

Hi Zorrawa,

It sounds to me like you have the makings of a good writer. From what I've learned they're all critical of their own work. I have the same doubts, so know that you're not alone, and keep writing.

Just an FYI, this seemingly unconfident, totally discouraged writer, one seeking advice from the Stage 32 community, MIRACULOUSLY rebounded within a World Record Time (!) of 72 hours to become an astonishingly confident and adroit writer of this uber-professional Stage 32 Blog...

https://www.stage32.com/blog/busting-3-character-development-myths-3607

And I don't buy any of it. But Zorrawa, or Zolene, if you'd care to explain in this thread how this truly remarkable turnaround came to be, please, do tell! I'd love to hear how you suddenly overcame all those difficult things you spoke about, which were crippling your ability to write and complete things.

There's no such thing a a perfect script. There will never be perfection because you can't please everyone. You write, rewrite, get feedback, and start again. You read and practice and get tips. If a majority of people like it, then you're going in the right direction.

Confidence comes when you know that you've done your best at trying improving your craft. That you have practiced and been critiqued and survived. If you can write something that evokes emotion in others, then you have succeeded as a writer.