When I started screenwriting, I procrastinated over the usual things. The kids had to be picked up, the reports needed typing, the bills paying, the housework, the dinner, the DVR with my favorite TV show on it. I eventually realized that if I didn’t give screenwriting a central place in my life and its own […]
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Napoleon Hill’s 2nd Key to Success: Establish a Mastermind Alliance
Okay, time to get real. I’ve been dragging my feet on this key, because I didn’t think I had a Mastermind Alliance, which Hill defines as “… two or more minds working actively together in perfect harmony toward a common definite object.” Although I certainly appreciate the importance of forming a Mastermind Alliance, I have […]
Great article by David Mamet
In my opinion, what David suggests in this article is some of the best advice I’ve ever heard on screenwriting. I couldn’t wait to share the link: http://www.slashfilm.com/a-letter-from-david-mamet-to-the-writers-of-the-unit/ Ican’t wait to read some more of this blog by David Chen. It looks amazing.
Hill’s Key #1: Develop Definiteness of Purpose
I’ve always been a sucker for self-help. Many of the books I’ve read have helped me. As long as I was reading them, that is. But there are a few books that I have returned to over the years, gradually building deeper understanding of their principles, and adapting their usage into my own life. The […]
How Old is Too Old?
I was around forty when I received the gift of a dream: to be a paid screenwriter on a fabulous television drama. But first, I had to learn the craft. Of course I had the usual misgivings about being too old to start something so difficult, and what a tough industry it is. But my […]
TV Specs and How To Break a Series Down
When discussing TV specs, we are always told how important it is to break the show down, but in my experience, there’s not a lot of guidance about what that means. For the most part, I’ve developed my own procedures, which I am happy to share with you today. I spend a lot of time […]
The Decision I Make Every Day
When I first took screenwriting classes, I was expected to meet deadlines on outlining tools and drafts. It was impossible for me to schedule the work, because I hadn’t figured out how long things took, and I was constantly getting lost in my own perfectionism/procrastination cycle. So the deadlines would come and go, and I […]
SOME DAYS YOU’RE THE WRITER, AND OTHER DAYS YOU’RE THE EDITOR
The best days are the days we get to write. It flows, and the time allotted flies by. Those are the days we leave the computer wishing for more time, longing for the moment we can return. We think about it all day, and even sometimes write in our sleep. Those moments of reverie between […]
Hard Lessons for New Screenwriters
Since I am still early in the process myself, some of the most difficult lessons I have had to learn are very fresh in my mind. I’ve decided to share them in the hope that I can help someone. Sometimes we just need to know we’re not alone. SCREENWRITING IS A CRAFT AND NO ONE […]
“Thinking that way…”
I have this teacher who occasionally tells me, “I’m glad you’re thinking that way…” When I hear that, I know he’s saying I’m tuned in to the industry. To what’s hip and what’s happening. Just a few moments ago, I read the Page Awards eZine in which there is an article by John Truby. He […]
