Tips to avoid the hell of chasing screenplay notes…
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by Scriptcat
4d ago
Okay, so you just finished your latest spec feature screenplay or TV pilot. Congrats! You’ve probably been on a long journey of insecurity, criticism, and possibly rejection, but you also experienced creative highs and breakthroughs that you’ve never imagined before. When the writing became difficult, you didn’t avoid the work, but marched head on through the trenches and communicated your complete vision onto your pages. During your latest quest to conquer your inner demons, you may have solicited feedback from your trusted inner circle: your group of screenwriting friends, a consultant, you ..read more
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What to do when feedback equals disappointment…
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by Scriptcat
1w ago
First rule of screenwriting: Do not end up like screenwriter Joe Gillis in Billy Wilder’s classic movie Sunset Boulevard. We don’t want to find you face down in the swimming pool of a Beverly Hills mansion. Joe was disappointed with the reaction to his screenplays and it caused him to make a series of bad choices that lead to his demise. Unfortunately, disappointment is part of a screenwriter’s journey, but make sure it does not lead you to make choices out of desperation. It’s only a screenplay and you will write a new one that will offer you another opportunity for success. All screenwriter ..read more
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A screenwriter’s duty? Live outside your comfort zone, observe, and be fully present for authenticity…
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by Scriptcat
3w ago
A full life is a vital part of any screenwriter’s ongoing journey and this requires you to constantly take chances and push yourself out of your comfort zone. This is particularly important regarding the material you write. You’ll grow as a person and as a screenwriter if you continue to challenge yourself. It’s okay if you fail miserably because it’s a learning experience and you get better each time out. I’m working on two projects, a screenwriting assignment job and a web series, and both are new challenges for me. These projects are vastly different in subject and tone, but I’m enjoying t ..read more
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Humility goes a long way on your screenwriting journey to success…
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by Scriptcat
1M ago
Humility? It’s respecting the reality of your journey and the mountain we all climb daily to reach any level of success as screenwriters. It’s knowing you’ll never be bigger than your craft, as screenwriting is a lifelong learning process. It’s accepting there will be massive sacrifices to get even one movie produced and distributed. It’s accepting the journey is not a sprint with shortcuts, but a long haul marathon with no guarantees of success. It takes about three or four scripts just to learn the format and find your voice, and it may take ten scripts to sell your first one. Do yourself a ..read more
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Scriptcat’s end of the year checklist…
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by Scriptcat
3M ago
Who can believe the year is almost over? It will be 2024 soon. It is always a powerful tool to reflect upon the previous year and critically analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly choices you have made on your screenwriting journey. We all take our lumps, our rejections and criticism, and we keep moving forward. It is the only way if you want to succeed in this difficult business. I hope you have been able to find some success during the past year and can build upon that momentum into the new year. I was blessed earlier this year to sell an original pitch that I was hired to write, it was my ..read more
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Consider your spec a showcase of your ability and not your first million dollar sale…
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by Scriptcat
4M ago
When I started out on this crazy screenwriting journey, I made the same mistake many beginning screenwriters make when they complete their first specs — believing that everything they write will sell and sell for a million dollars. When you consider that on the average about one hundred specs or fewer a year sell at the studio level and less than half of all Writers Guild members report income in any given year, your specs should really be considered the necessary training tools for you to become a better screenwriter — not chances to win Hollywood’s lottery. Trust me, I know it’s hard to acc ..read more
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Three more survival tips for your screenwriting journey…
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by Scriptcat
6M ago
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, first of all—THANK YOU! I truly hope you’re busy creating new projects and forging ahead on your screenwriting journey. As you may know, I’ve been adding short posts (nothing is EVER short on this blog!) and sharing various survival tips. I do speak about these tips in my book “A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success“, but this feature will be a quick reference to glance over a few to consider as you navigate Hollywood’s trenches. Follow me for more on X (@scriptcat) and on Instagram. As always, I’ll be posting new articles here when my time allows. T ..read more
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Screenwriting survival tip for today: Never allow your script to be read before it’s ready.
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by Scriptcat
6M ago
I’m guilty. I used to do this too before I learned how damaging it can be to a screenwriter’s mind, image, and the screenplay. You finish your screenplay and you’re surging with a natural creative high that you want to share with the world. This is the time to step back and take a pause. Allow your script to sit for a few days and do no read it. You’ll be tempted to give it to any of your friends bugging  you to read your script when it’s done. Do not let anyone read it. Fight the temptation to share it at this point. It’s your first draft and it will definitely need more work ..read more
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What’s your idea of “making it” in Hollywood?
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by Scriptcat
7M ago
I’ve known people who would only consider themselves a success if they became an A-list talent. It wasn’t worth the tremendous effort to them to end up only making a living at their craft and not being on top. They only wanted to be superstars and nothing less. The longer you pursue this profession you will learn there is hardly any fame, fortune, or glory in the screenwriting game. It’s just years of writing. When I was pre-teen kid and making films with my friends, I only ever wanted to make a living getting paid to do what I loved to do — to make movies for my job. I’m happy waking up ..read more
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A screenwriter’s duty to the craft? Live outside of your comfort zone…
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by Scriptcat
11M ago
Many screenwriters seek out wisdom about the craft from books and that is an important part of the learning process, but your experiences in life are equally important. As a screenwriter, you need to constantly take chances and push yourself out of your comfort zone. This is particularly true with regards to the material you write. Never stop challenging yourself because this will keep you growing as you master your craft. Even if you fail miserably with a screenplay, use the experience to learn and grow to become better the next time. This is how you will fill your creative well with gr ..read more
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