What's your focus?

We've heard many times in our life, whether it be from a school teacher, or perhaps a parent, maybe even a coach, "Focus!" Which pretty much means, use your thoughts and place them on one thing. As writers, we need to do the same thing. So I ask you, when you sit down to write, are you focused? Or are you all over the place? Are you allowing other things to get in the way of you writing? In order to succeed you've got to have one focus. We think multi-tasking is a good thing, but studies show that people who multi-task end up not doing anything well.

But being a writer takes a lot of discipline. It's not just sit down and type away. If only it was that easy. It means turning off the TV, not going out with friends on many occasions, and holing yourself up to get those words on the page. You've got to make your writing the most important thing if you want a career.

Then there's also focusing on one style of writing. Is it comedies, dramas, sitcoms? Sure you can expand as you feel like you've learned a style. I sure have. But if you don't get good at one genre, then you'll never have a body of work, which means you most likely won't get hired or sell anything either.

If you feel like you've focused on your writing, have you also focused on getting your scripts to the right people? I admit, that's one of my weaknesses. Yes, I'm admitting this to whomever happens to read this. I'm great at sitting down and writing, but getting it out? Not so good. But what help is writing a great script if no one is reading it but a writing group and a few friends? Are you better at this than me? Do you make a weekly or daily list of who to send your scripts to? Then do you actually follow through?

I just read an article on things that millionaires do for success. And one of the things it said was that every week they created a list of a few really key things they have to achieve that week. Then every morning or night of every day, they created a to-do list to help them reach those goals. And then each Friday, they do it again so that by Monday, they do it again! I really like that and think it will help me focus.

See, if we don't have a focus, we really have nothing. We're all over the map. And no career can reach success if we're not focused. So ask yourself if you're focused and if you're not then be honest with yourself and ask what can you do to get you there. I'm sure you can do it. It just takes well, focus.

Do you take chances with your writing career?

When it comes to genres, we writers tend to get stuck in a type or genre of writing. Especially when it comes to film and TV. We hear that we need to form a body of work in order to sell and to have a career. But what if other opportunities present themselves? I'm one who believes that you just don't know where the next opportunity is going to come from. So I'm the last person to not try a new genre. So although comedy features were my favorite thing to write at first, I'm game to write just about anything! So when I found out someone wanted to read a sitcom from me, I partnered with a TV writer. I learned that I loved writing sitcoms and in fact it seemed easier to me than features! Then I found out someone wanted to read animation, so I partnered with someone who was good at this, learned how to do it. Now we're pitching animation shows and features. Then I found out someone wanted a sci-fi. This definitely wasn't my forte, so partnered with some sci-fi writer friends. So as you can see, it's okay to try new things. If worse comes to worse you find out for sure it's not your thing. But you grow as a writer, and there's nothing bad about that. We're writers. We're meant to be creative and try new things. There's nothing worse than seeing a writer stop themselves from success because they fear that can't do something new! In fact, I've seen it many times where a writer will have an opportunity and they say, oh yeah, I don't do that. In my mind I'm thinking, really? You could get a deal out of this, but you don't do that??? Just recently my new manager wanted to submit me for a TV show. Although it's something I love to watch, I wasn't sure I could write it. But I figured, why not? I was up for the challenge! So I told her yes, I could do it. And guess what, I've learned so much about myself as a writer. And I can already tell I can write this! Just because as a writer we haven't tried a genre, doesn't mean we are incapable of it. SO please, don't shoot yourself in the foot till you've at least tried! If someone is giving you the opportunity, do it! Take it! We only live once. So go for it! You just may surprise yourself.

PItching to Disney - when you're "there"

So a friend of mine sent me a website from a writer, Stephanie Palmer, and her experiences about pitching to producers and what it's really like once you get to have meetings. As I read her experiences, I realized, oh yeah, that is what it's like! And it made me realize that at one point, I didn't know what it was like and I always wondered what it would be like once you do get to start pitching for "real". So I thought I'd share my experiences for those who are curious and getting ready to be at that point someday on their own. At first I thought I'd write them all in one blog post, but then I realized giving them each their own post might be better so you can see how they were all different and my experience with each.

So here's my first. Pitching to Disney. This was the short film I had sold. Luckily I had a writing partner at the time that had worked on several sitcoms so he had the experience already of being in these kinds of meetings. I noticed that at first I was intimidated by these nice producers. But when you first get that meeting you don't know if that's what your experience is going to be. So the first meeting I kind of just smiled and listened to my writing partner, a lot! LOL

Once the first meeting was over, I realized, okay, that was soooooo not a big deal. So the next time I was able to relax and shine as a writer. It was no different than any other meeting I'd had in advertising, where you really just talk, and share ideas, and listen. Listen! These producers are the ones that will hopefully hire you someday, so listen to what they want, what they feel strongly about, and be willing to take their feedback. You don't have to do everything they want. In fact, don't. They are hiring you for your style and your ability as a writer. So if you don't take their feedback, don't say that then and there. Take in all their notes, nod, do a lot of uh-huhs, and then next time you meet if you think there's a better way to address their notes, then tell them why and how you dealt with it. But only if you really see a better way. Don't do it to be difficult! If you are, they'll never want to work with you again. And you'll get a rep for being difficult.

My friend at FOX who works in research told me that once you get that rep of being difficult to work with, people will talk, and then you won't have meetings any longer. If you're a good writer and have a reason for not using their notes and can make the story strong, then yes, that will always keep you working.

So after a few meetings with Disney, I really started to feel comfortable. That's the key to working with producers. They want to know that you're someone they'd hang out with, be friends with. Let your personality shine. I write comedies, so I also like to joke around with friends. So making the room comfortable by being easy to talk to is how I handle working with producers. It's sort of like a date. If I can make them want to spend time with me, then there's a good chance they're going to want to work with me.

So as weeks went on, we found out that we were one of the few writers left out of like 60 teams. That was kind of cool! Then we had the meeting of, "yes, we're buying your idea!" Which was even cooler. Then got to go to the department where we sign the contract and get paid. Even cooler!

It never got made, as it turned out Disney Feature had two similar ideas being made. But that's okay too. It just showed that we had an idea worthy of their Feature department. And it was my first sale. All good.

So here's Stephanie's website on pitching. http://www.goodinaroom.com I think there's some pretty good stuff there. So check it out when you have a moment. Next blog I'll write about, my pitch to a big TV Network. Now THAT was cool.