I'm curious as to how many people on here actually make a living out of screenwriting. I don't mean that you've made money from selling one or two scripts, but sell enough or have a regular screenwriting job, so you earn enough money to live from, without having to supplement it in any other way. If so, how did you make the jump? When did you realise you could quit the 9 to 5 and write full time? And for those that still have 'proper jobs', do you want to make the jump, or are you happy writing for fun and the ocasional project?
Screenwriting : Anybody actually make a living out of screenwriting? by Heather Greig
Anybody actually make a living out of screenwriting?
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I haven't made the jump but am waiting ever so patiently... :)
I'm trying to make the jump. The only issue is in Florida everyone is so quick to do work for free. I myself won't write for free, I will consult and teach for free just help people, but I won't write for anyone for free.
I started writing several years ago. I have 5 novels out, but as for the screenwriting I began by writing shorts and giving them away to small indie production companies. I've had several of those produced. People began contacting me to write for hire for them and currently I have three feature length films in production or pre-production. I've got more than a dozen spec scripts that I've curculated around some are posted here under logines/screenplays. I'm also an organizer of the 5th largest film meetup group in the world (2000 + members) which has given me access to a large segment of the film industry and through them I've picked up coverage and scriptdoctoring gigs. I also teach a creative writing and screenwriting class here in Houston.
You made a living from assignment work. A spec may get sold, but the bread and butter is being a working writer. You have to take the leap of faith and focus all of your energy on writing and the universe shall provide.
Right now I make my living writing TV commercials and corporate/educational type videos. I hope someday soon I'll be making money writing movies!