When it finally all clicks

I was reading an article by a writer who's finally getting noticed by Hollywood. And she said how all of a sudden she knew her scripts were ready when it just all clicked. I know that feeling and maybe you do too. But if you don't, that's okay too. It just means you're still at the learning point of your writing career. It's not something you can force. It's not something you can rush. Developing the tools to become a writer that will get you hired and sell your scripts is like a fine wine, it takes time. It takes studying the craft, learning as much as you can, and getting comfortable with breaking the rules you've learned.

I always wondered if I'd know when I finally "got it". Believe me, I felt many times before that I was there. But most recently I've rewritten two scripts, one for a producer and one with a writing partner. And both scripts, I just could tell I'd be able to figure out how to fix these rewrites. I could see it clearly. I'm not saying it came easy. Oh no. Especially the one for the producer. Since that was a page 1 rewrite, I was basically starting from scratch. But once I knew the new story, then I knew what had to be done. And I could tell what beats to hit and what would make the story flow in the best way it could.

And the rewrite with the writing partner, I could see it as clear as day what had to happen to make it a strong enough script to be ready to go out. I could just tell that something had changed in my writing. Maybe it's like hiting puberty. You don't really know you're in it while you are. But when you get to the other side of it, and you've got boobs or a hairy chest (hopefully not both!) then you realize, wow, I've blossomed!

So keep at it if you're not there. There's no waste of studying your craft, no waste of reading scripts, analyzing movies. It all helps you get to where hopefully you will be having meetings and selling scripts and seeing your ideas on the big or little screen. We can all hope it's sooner than later!

How many scripts does it take to be ready?

It's sort of like that question the owl used to ask in the 1970's Tootsie pop commercial. "How many licks does it take to get to the center of the Tootsie Pop? A-one, a-two, a-three! Crunch!" Well unfortunately it takes more than three scripts. Maybe you're thinking, "But wait, my first script is amazing! Of course I'll be ready after three. Or even after one! I'm a fast learner. Maybe it takes some writers a long time, but not me!" Well, let me tell you, that's most likely not the case.

I just read an article from Terry Rossio. He and his writing partner are the writers of the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, along with many other great films. He said it took he and his partner 13 scripts in five years before they felt ready to get anything out. Here's the link if you'd like to read it. http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp19.You.the.Expert.html And now he's got huge success. But it took him that long to be ready and good. You can't start out so-so and go to good in this business. When you hit the ground, you hit the ground running.

I even remember early on in my screenwriting career hearing a successful writer at a WGA event say it takes 10 years till you're ready. I remember thinking, oh god no, please not 10 years. I'm ready now! Well, I've been writing over 10 years and have at least 10 scripts give or take. But maybe only two that I would show, and the current one will be even better. So maybe I'll have three by then. Plus of course the indie that should be produced this year. But it really took me that long to be ready.

So before you panic and give up at the thought of it taking that long. Yes, it could take you less time. If you happen to not have a full time job. Or don't have kids or a spouse. Perhaps you are very fortunate to write 24/7 so you can devote all your time to studying your craft. Okay then yes, it won't take you 10 years. But for the rest of us, it's not going to be an overnight success thing.

I always thought of it as someone who wants to go to med school and become a doctor. They don't take one anatomy class and then feel ready to practice medicine. But for some reason, we know being a doctor needs the discipline and years to get good at their practice. But for screenwriting we think we can learn format and then, viola! Oscar worthy script! Sorry. Doesn't work that way. There's so much more to learn beside format. There's subtext. And plots. And high-concept ideas. And...the list goes on and on.

And no, I'm not saying being a screenwriter is as important as being a doctor. But they do say, "laughter is the best medicine". So it's a different kind of health care, right? Okay, maybe not. But it does take time to learn and study till you're ready to go out in the world with your skill, no matter what profession. And screenwriting is no different.

So take your time. Learn your craft. If you truly love writing. 10 years won't matter. You'll be doing it because of the love of writing. If you're looking to make an overnight success. Don't worry, you can, just after 5-10 years. See...I plan to be having my overnight success, any day now.

Strong hope

So my new writer's group, last night was our second official meeting. We don't have a name yet. I think we were going to talk about that last night. Oops! Oh well. Something for the next meeting. But what I have noticed, especially last night because I brought pages to read, is what a great and strong group this is going to be.

We all came from a previous group where I did learn a lot. But the four of us felt like it had run its course there, and as much as I still like the people there, it was just time to leave. So the four that are in our group, are all writers I really respect and can see that we are all really close to selling something, are all really passionate about writing, and really study the craft, a lot. That's not something you can find in your first writer's group, and I think it's something that perhaps as a writer takes time for you to mature and improve your writing, so you can notice that in other writers.

Heck I remember in my first writer's group we had no idea how to structure a group or what to really do. And then at one point that writer's group tried to join another, and the 2nd group was kind of like, what are you guys doing?! LOL So I guess we didn't know what we were doing! But you have to start somewhere. And each group I've taken something with me and grown and learned and gotten better. And now the group I have, I really do respect their feedback.

And after the outline I brought last night, I felt supported, and got great notes, and really felt they helped me understand what I need to do with my outline next. In other groups, that hasn't always been the case. I would of course learn how to find people that could help me out. But it's always such a problem when there's that other negative element I've talked about that just sort of ruins the stronger comments.

So I'm just glad I've got this new group. I really look forward to see what comes of them and us as writers. As time goes on, we hope to add other writers to the group. But only writers that are just as strong and passionate about their craft too. It's exciting.