7 Secrets to Keep You Motivated While Writing a Screenplay

by Bernard Landau -

When you start writing a screenplay, especially if you are new to the profession, perhaps start with a great idea with great enthusiasm and great expectations. You know if you sell that script you could earn several thousand dollars and the chance of becoming famous and obviously a next opportunity to write another screenplay. You can enjoy with your family the benefits of success in Hollywood, your friends will respect you and you will be satisfied for the work you just made. But until that happens you have to get revenue from somewhere else that is probably not the film industry, you have to pay the bills and keep writing while you have a screenplay ready to send to a filmmaker and then wait weeks or months hoping for a response. But your “other” job is absorbing, fatigues you and occupies a large portion of time, therefore one day you do not want to write, and dropped it, and that is repeated day after day until suddenly start writing becomes very challenging task.

So months and months pass and those expecting to hear of your success with a screenplay and yourself will soon cease to expect and what was a dream fades… sometimes forever. How to stay motivated, despite the activities that have to do for your livelihood, while you get a good income as screenwriter? How to stay motivated despite the tiredness and fatigue? How to maintain the enthusiasm enough to remain on the crest of the wave despite not seeing the results of your efforts? Here are 5 secrets that let you maintain that enthusiasm while writing the screenplay, although still you not see the success:

1. Identify the niche for which you write. – It is not the same audience that sees an action movie than a children’s movie. It is that obvious, right? So why write a screenplay and then put it on a table waiting for “anyone to buy it”? Learn about the interests, desires and motivations of the audience for whom you write and your script will be guided, and quickly get the attention of an agent or producer.

2. Make a list of agents or producers who might be interested in the script you are writing. – Identify potential buyers of your screenplay; identify their names and faces, workplaces, curricula, etc. By doing so, you do the Lose Weight Exercise to imagine in an interview with them, presenting your screenplay. You will know what to say and how you would respond to their questions, and so on.

3. Write a complete picture in one sitting.- No matter if it is a perfect idea, no matter how badly is written, no matter that is incomplete, what matters a lot is writing a story. Do not edit anything at this time; just enter your idea, if possible on one page.

4. Let stand for 24 hours and decide whether it is worthwhile. – It is psychologically important to discard for a moment the issue and restart to see if possible as a stranger, what do you think? Do you like? Is it worth writing about that idea? If so still with it, if not discard it and repeat the procedure until you have a draft that you like.

5. Make an appointment to pitch your idea.- If you have a valuable idea and can develop a whole story about it, perhaps you are able to pitch it and also would avoid the time to write a complete screenplay and could make a good profit, so why not try it whereas keep working on the theme?

6. While waiting for those appointments write a screenplay treatment that does not take you more than a week.- If you get an appointment soon to pitch your idea do it!, But as is often the case that appointment is not soon, then write a treatment from your first draft, which will serve for 3 purposes: a) present instead of just pitching the idea b) try to sell it to other agents if you have not signed a contract c) as a blueprint to write the whole screenplay

7. Write your screenplay in 30 days.- Whether you managed to sell the treatment including writing the full-length screenplay as if you were not able to sell it at all, build an agenda to write the whole script before thirty days and… Stick to the agenda!

Empower your talent to write a complete screenplay in 30 days and sell it before 60. Do not be just a spectator watching other less talented screenwriters are successful only because they have a strategy to write and sell screenplays. Working intelligently in a year you could get that juicy contract that would pay your debts and give pride to you and your family and friends. The talent that Hollywood hopes could came from you but to learn the powerful techniques you need to do visit How to Get Rich Writing Screenplays.