Screenwriting : What are your writing habits like? by Anne Miles

I clear my schedule, blast Pandora, and write, write, write!! My best work has been done during power writing like this.

I tend to write everyday. All the important stuff I do everyday. Work, eat, run etc. So I figure if writing is important, I should do it Daily. I don't have much of a process. I just have an idea and write until the idea has enough clarity that I know what I'm writing about. :)

Anne, I like to write when everyone is asleep at the early am hours is my creative time. Other than that, when something hits me I write on whatever is available a napkin , paper towel, and transfer it immediately on to my laptop and usb drive and print it as a hard copy.. yeah, all that!..loll I love weekends in the local library if they have study rooms.. it's the perfect place to write without interruption and you're on a time limit so it pushes you to complete it within a time frame which is needed in this business.

I apologize that it won't delete my incessant comments.. :/ I tried. :(

@Ryan, no problem. inadvertant spamminess happens. :-P It's really interesting to hear what you all do. I can't believe some of you can listen to music while you write, I can't seem to do that. For now. I've found that a pen and notebook work best for me.My whole life, I've filled up blank books. I've found software that sort of enchants me right now though, Scrivener. I am using it and I love it. I've set myself a time to write daily. I think I have to. I too like to write when everyone sleeps Have never tried writing in a team, but I did go see Sir George Martin speak once and he talked about the team process between Lennon and McCartney. They basically competed. Thats why their songs can have vastly different ideas/themes within them (like two songs stuck together) I can imagine that team writing could be like that, it must be a really wonderful thing when it flows well though.

in total darkness and complete QUIET!!! :p

I use Final Draft, hide in my bedroom to avoid distractions from the kids, I have Pandora on the TV and have a soft drink (sugarless) at hand or a HUGE cup of coffee if I start early!

Oh and I find that music REALLY helps set the mood for what I am writing. Pretty inspiring.

I write while listening to old R&B slow jams... I put my television on Music Choice and go at it! It calms me and puts me in the mood to complete a writing in one sitting...

I write. I encompass the theory and attitude of writing far beyond most writers... Yet, as I read the replies, the only one that stood out for a potentially true writer was 'Ryan Ann Johnson' and not for what you would think... For over 20 years I have been pushing the pen professionally, while make a damn decent living. The only writer here, who actually put things out, while too busy to auto-correct, is the person that showed their desire to write. Yes, a fuck-up dictates someone who is willing to go to where I am, spending too much of my time, as well as the ability to encapsulate the idea and not quite a bit enough to auto-correct. A writer writes. That is what we do. Would you like a basic list of the crap that most writers screw (no, I'm not subtle - actors, directors, make-up artists get that, as a writer we do not have that luxury) A when they approach writing? Neither does a director, producer, or talents. Here it is from a real writer. (claiming writer - Owns a 36' motheryacht that can fit 2-dozen on a bad day, rides a motorcycle to meetings, lives in OC (rather than the LA), plays golf as a part of my job, drinks like an Irish fish, yet still can produce a solid full first draft of a screenplay in less than 24 hours, or a TV 13 episode arc in just over an hour. Most people at this point would be going, "What is the point of this" and they would be right, but here is the thing... If you got the project, then you should have already had a basic outline, as it took me a bit to write this message. If not, then you need to pay me a reasonable fee (based on food, liquor and cash) to show you how to develop your entire project, ready for FinalDraft and do it in less than an hour. Yes, I am that damn good. I can give references. The thing is this... Do you actually want to write,or do you see writing as a mere step to another phase? Yes, this entire message was about process. The overall message was, if you don't pay me to show you how, then you should figure out what you can offer to teach you how to go there. I have professional writers that are making real money working my teachings.

And here is the wrap-up... I teach a lot of amazing writers. Not on punctuation, or any of that crap, as they should or can know it based on books, but rather on their ability to do their jobs as a writer. Read what you want in the way of books, but know that while you are reading, researching, or what have you, you are not writing. Your job is to write. Even though Ryan Ann Johnson is the only one actually riding that rail and stating who and what they are about. Give who you are to the ink, or don't waste YOUR time, as getting readers is easy and they don't matter if you don't care.

writting daily on specific time, may be one hour. it's much better for me

I tend to write everyday particularly if I am working on a first draft. I dont have a set time it does depend on how much time I have because day job happen. I do tend to take a break in between drafts or projects to clear my head.

first , i set up a specific time of the day , 5 pm - 11 pm every day monday to sunday , at that time i have to be in my permanent chair no matter the cost might be , or else my day will be with out any new line on my current project , and for project i don't usually work on specific screenplay till it done , unless when i have a dead line to meet , other wise if am working on my own pace , then i end up working on two of three , screenplays in a give period . .

The best advice I can give is set writing goals. Whether it's how many hours of sitting down uninterrupted, actually writing, or a setting a target goal of specific number of pages per day. If you make a deal with yourself, and then reward yourself. Make sure you don't leave your desk until you've completed that goal. The best screenwriters seem to follow this guideline and are successful when they get into such a habit. If you set a time make sure you try to adhere to it. You can always write more if the inclination hits you, but do at least the minimum you have comfortably set for yourself.

I usually start writing after any input coming to me from outside, that may be a song, a sound, a person crossing the street and a million other things, that is why I carry lil' books and a couple of pens with me all the time, if I don't have them I may use as well any piece of papare available, sometimes my cumputer, too. once I start writing about an idea I keep on going until I've finished what I am doing and then I forget about it for a couple of days, when i return to it it's all brand new and I may decide to chisel, advance or even erase everything I've done!

I can't make an outline to save my life. I have never been able to write a story of script using an outline. I know the story I want to tell. I know the plot points. And I know how to get from point A to point Z. I just sit at the computer and puke out the story and let it write itself. Some stories I've written took a completely different turn all because of some bit of dialogue. Sometimes I love to let the story write itself.... it takes me on a journey, unaware of what's going to happen at the end. There are times I just CANNOT sleep at night because of a story begging to be told... even if it's just a little 800 word short story I will sit up and write until it's done.

As a Christian filmmaker, I gotta give the cred to God. He brought me a Christian thriller script that hopefully I will finish this week. I've been working on this thing, which will as I see it be a pilot for a series, since 2008. God works best when man is at rest, so I let Him give me the ideas. And everything is falling in place as it should. God is good...all the time!

I tend to wake up in the middle of the night and write. I'll just go to town till sun up. That's when the best stuff happens for me.

Whenever the inspiration, story idea, element or component comes to me I pen/pencil it down. I am currently writing 2-3 hours every other day for a project. I use several coffee shops. Quiet or not, doesn't bother me, and I prefer using a notebook with Final draft.

I mostly write wherever I can. Inspiration most often strikes when I'm at work or when I'm in no position to write...I take a lot of notes. On anything. At any time of day or night. I can play with an idea in my head for several days/weeks before getting around to write down a rough outline, and then I go from there. Separating every idea, every scene on different pieces of paper really helps since I'm a visual person, which is why there are dozens post-its and notes glued to a wall right now. That way I can see the whole story, and it's easier to edit see if there's anything wrong with the plot, etc.

I prep for it. Like Kelta said, I use music to keep me on track. The very first thing I do when starting a new screenplay is I put the score together. As I think about the major scenes in the script, I carefully research the music that tells the story without writing a word. I put this together in an iTunes playlist that I modify as the scenes reveal their true direction. It's a great way to stay on track if you have to take a break from writing to earn a living.