I needed this video today. A few years ago, I paused my screenwriting aspirations due to financial/family obligations and the pandemic. At that point, I had worked on some sets, got some writing commissions and a few produced shorts under my belt, but nothing that found real traction. I've spent the last decade working abroad in multiple countries as a teacher, and while I've stabilized my family/finances again, a part of me wondered if it was too late to pivot back into the screenwriting/filmmaking industry one day. I felt guilty towards my younger self for putting it on hold, but it felt good to hear that one can always reopen the door on your dreams.
Really glad to hear that this helped you feel a bit better about making the choice that you clearly needed to make. Wishing you the best if you choose to follow that dream again!
Solid video brother. Moved to LA in 2017 and got hit with the reality of how expensive it is to just survive and have a life here. Took a day job doing blog writing with a 1.5 hour commute and tried my best to write on evenings and weekends but would find myself super burnt out. I never thought the job would be long-term so I did just enough to keep it. And my screenwriting felt so insurmountable that I felt unaccomplished in both fronts. Eventually I decided to focus on the "viable" career and found financial success. However, the pull of doing something creative now that I've got a decent financial foundation is still there (and never left). Will be getting back into consistently writing again this weekend.
There is just nothing wrong with doing what you gotta do to make ends meet. Awesome that you're getting back to it, though. Wishing you all the best with it!
I write for myself. I am the first audience. I have no idea if I will make it or not. I'm just working hard and doing my best. But believe it or not I can relate with you. I wrote some screenplays and got some very bad and disrespectful reviews. So I quit for around 5 years. Then suddenly I got some ideas, and one idea I got some great feedback for. So it gave me a new start at writing again But the problem was it was like starting all over again. Imagine if I had not quit...I'd have gotten even better, but I did quit. And here I am still writing. So I'm not quitting again, but my focus is just to master it and not force anything. If it's gonna happen it will. People don't owe me anything.
Sounds like you have a healthy attitude about it. It’s also okay to want to write for an actual audience. Sharing our work with others is a big part of the artistic process. But if it’s not making you happy first, it’s not worth it.
Nate, I love your perspective! i'm only 24 and have Autism and ADHD. I have found writing helps with me with my mental health (especially with what i call covid-fatigue) and creating stories is my favorite or passionate thing. I write for myself right now. I have multiple Works in Progress and definitely have been wanting to get back into writing (I use to write a lot as a Teenager but since 2015-2016 when I was maybe 15-16 around that time that I stopped reading and Writing but have always loved History and English). I am trying to work on myself which also refining my love to writing, dabbling in graphic design, Photography, Music Production, and Videography/editing. I guess you could say I'm a jack of all Hobbies. I just work on keeping the dogs alive, work on keeping our house nice and Tidy (I still live with my parents) and just read/write when I can.
Nathan’s story really resonates with me. I took a 7-8 year hiatus from screenwriting, just living life, traveling, meeting new people, mourning the loss of loved ones, connecting with nature, starting a garden, going to therapy, and developing my photography hobby into a business that now supports me full-time. I recently started writing again and the ideas have never flowed so freely-remarkably devoid of anxiety about what an eventual reader will think-and while my technical writing skills are not as sharp or sophisticated as they might be if I had steadily kept up with writing these past years, the time I took away from it to grow as a human being was more valuable to me than any amount of technical skill I could acquire. Also from photography I’ve had the experience of receiving critiques and suggestions about my creative work and incorporating notes to satisfy clients, which I’ll be more prepared for if my writing ever reaches that coveted professional level. I had no idea if and when I’d circle back around to screenwriting and no way of predicting where life would take me in that time, but I’m glad I took a long break to really sink into my inner and outer world. Now I’m halfway done with the first draft of the first script I’ve written in 7 years, with rough outlines for a few scripts I’d love to write next. I guess I’m just echoing the point: don’t be afraid to take detours or unknown back roads in life!
Another good one. You have to love writing. Like you I left for a bit and came back. I found that I'm never truly happy unless I'm scratching words. When I die, they can take the pencil from my dead, clenched hand.
Well said, Nathan. I gave up on this dream after spending over 1 year working full-time on it (learning from scratch and writing two featured scripts and two shorts and joining over a dozen of paid competitions) while waiting for COVID to pass. What I dislike the most about screenwriting, other than the chances of succeeding is like winning the World Series, is my scripts will not see the light of day. They now sit on my digital shelf collecting digital dust. If I build something online or even an app or upload TH-cam videos, I would still get a few views or downloads, which grows organically. But not scripts. Having said that I still tinker with the scrips on my head and want to improve on them. I still have two more scripts that I want to write. I just hope that this trade grows with age and as I mature and see more of the world and how people behave, I could revisit this dream again. Your videos help to inspire us and also help to keep us down to earth. Thanks for the honesty!
I'm glad you found this one helpful and relatable. It is a very weird thing to create art that no one will ever see and it can be quite frustrating. For me, the realization of that dream has definitely felt worth it, but it was hard to know if it would be until that actually happened. Writing in other forms and doing other things -- and just allowing my identity to extend beyond my screenwriting -- was a big help.
yeah. I still write but only blog posts and pitch deck for my startups. 😂 Boring stuff and nothing can beat the feeling of screenwriting that often keeps me awake at night imagining my film. 😊
You need to make your own sheet..write script then take that of producer to get money and director to make it and perhaps even actor in main role or side role. You need to make the whole produxt-the movie- in start. Only when you put a final product can you impress customers out there and later specialize in one, either acting,directing, protecting or screenwriting. Trying to specialize in begining will get you nowhere.
I think I'm in a sort of limbo when it comes to this question I'm starting to write for myself more now and trying different avenues as well. I love to create stories, worlds, and characters and feel totally in the zone when I'm doing it. At the same time, I do still get discouraged and depressed from time to time though (Have yet to place in any contests and I get stuck on how to progress) but still working on that. I have tried other job alternatives but I'm usually left unfulfilled or miserable. Trying to change my mindset but writing, or at least creative areas is where I feel I need to go.
It's not abnormal at all to get discouraged or depressed when you're chasing something like this one. But in all seriousness, the best way I know to deal with that is to allow your identity to extend beyond your writing. At least for me, when I fail to separate my writing from who I am as a person and then that writing doesn't actually go anywhere, it's brutal, because it's hard not to take that as a reflection of myself. When I think of it as simply a facet of who I am and one of myriad things that I'll create over the course of my life, it's a lot easier to stay grounded.
I think they might actually be in the guild, now. They were definitely repped back then and had optioned something. I *don't* think they're produced, but I could be wrong. Anyway -- all good. Like I said in the video, I was in a place where I pretty much wanted someone to say that to me.
I needed this video today.
A few years ago, I paused my screenwriting aspirations due to financial/family obligations and the pandemic. At that point, I had worked on some sets, got some writing commissions and a few produced shorts under my belt, but nothing that found real traction.
I've spent the last decade working abroad in multiple countries as a teacher, and while I've stabilized my family/finances again, a part of me wondered if it was too late to pivot back into the screenwriting/filmmaking industry one day.
I felt guilty towards my younger self for putting it on hold, but it felt good to hear that one can always reopen the door on your dreams.
Really glad to hear that this helped you feel a bit better about making the choice that you clearly needed to make. Wishing you the best if you choose to follow that dream again!
Solid video brother. Moved to LA in 2017 and got hit with the reality of how expensive it is to just survive and have a life here. Took a day job doing blog writing with a 1.5 hour commute and tried my best to write on evenings and weekends but would find myself super burnt out. I never thought the job would be long-term so I did just enough to keep it. And my screenwriting felt so insurmountable that I felt unaccomplished in both fronts. Eventually I decided to focus on the "viable" career and found financial success. However, the pull of doing something creative now that I've got a decent financial foundation is still there (and never left). Will be getting back into consistently writing again this weekend.
There is just nothing wrong with doing what you gotta do to make ends meet. Awesome that you're getting back to it, though. Wishing you all the best with it!
I write for myself. I am the first audience. I have no idea if I will make it or not. I'm just working hard and doing my best. But believe it or not I can relate with you. I wrote some screenplays and got some very bad and disrespectful reviews. So I quit for around 5 years. Then suddenly I got some ideas, and one idea I got some great feedback for. So it gave me a new start at writing again But the problem was it was like starting all over again. Imagine if I had not quit...I'd have gotten even better, but I did quit. And here I am still writing. So I'm not quitting again, but my focus is just to master it and not force anything. If it's gonna happen it will. People don't owe me anything.
Sounds like you have a healthy attitude about it. It’s also okay to want to write for an actual audience. Sharing our work with others is a big part of the artistic process. But if it’s not making you happy first, it’s not worth it.
Nate, I love your perspective! i'm only 24 and have Autism and ADHD. I have found writing helps with me with my mental health (especially with what i call covid-fatigue) and creating stories is my favorite or passionate thing. I write for myself right now. I have multiple Works in Progress and definitely have been wanting to get back into writing (I use to write a lot as a Teenager but since 2015-2016 when I was maybe 15-16 around that time that I stopped reading and Writing but have always loved History and English). I am trying to work on myself which also refining my love to writing, dabbling in graphic design, Photography, Music Production, and Videography/editing. I guess you could say I'm a jack of all Hobbies. I just work on keeping the dogs alive, work on keeping our house nice and Tidy (I still live with my parents) and just read/write when I can.
I think that's great! You're still quite young. It's *good* to be experiencing and enjoying a multitude of things. That can only help your writing.
Nathan’s story really resonates with me. I took a 7-8 year hiatus from screenwriting, just living life, traveling, meeting new people, mourning the loss of loved ones, connecting with nature, starting a garden, going to therapy, and developing my photography hobby into a business that now supports me full-time. I recently started writing again and the ideas have never flowed so freely-remarkably devoid of anxiety about what an eventual reader will think-and while my technical writing skills are not as sharp or sophisticated as they might be if I had steadily kept up with writing these past years, the time I took away from it to grow as a human being was more valuable to me than any amount of technical skill I could acquire. Also from photography I’ve had the experience of receiving critiques and suggestions about my creative work and incorporating notes to satisfy clients, which I’ll be more prepared for if my writing ever reaches that coveted professional level. I had no idea if and when I’d circle back around to screenwriting and no way of predicting where life would take me in that time, but I’m glad I took a long break to really sink into my inner and outer world. Now I’m halfway done with the first draft of the first script I’ve written in 7 years, with rough outlines for a few scripts I’d love to write next.
I guess I’m just echoing the point: don’t be afraid to take detours or unknown back roads in life!
That's awesome. Thank you for sharing and all the best with that new script!
Another good one. You have to love writing. Like you I left for a bit and came back. I found that I'm never truly happy unless I'm scratching words. When I die, they can take the pencil from my dead, clenched hand.
Ha - you DEFINITELY have the sickness. No doubt about it.
Well said, Nathan. I gave up on this dream after spending over 1 year working full-time on it (learning from scratch and writing two featured scripts and two shorts and joining over a dozen of paid competitions) while waiting for COVID to pass. What I dislike the most about screenwriting, other than the chances of succeeding is like winning the World Series, is my scripts will not see the light of day. They now sit on my digital shelf collecting digital dust. If I build something online or even an app or upload TH-cam videos, I would still get a few views or downloads, which grows organically. But not scripts.
Having said that I still tinker with the scrips on my head and want to improve on them. I still have two more scripts that I want to write. I just hope that this trade grows with age and as I mature and see more of the world and how people behave, I could revisit this dream again.
Your videos help to inspire us and also help to keep us down to earth. Thanks for the honesty!
I'm glad you found this one helpful and relatable. It is a very weird thing to create art that no one will ever see and it can be quite frustrating. For me, the realization of that dream has definitely felt worth it, but it was hard to know if it would be until that actually happened. Writing in other forms and doing other things -- and just allowing my identity to extend beyond my screenwriting -- was a big help.
yeah. I still write but only blog posts and pitch deck for my startups. 😂 Boring stuff and
nothing can beat the feeling of screenwriting that often keeps me awake at night imagining my film. 😊
Classic refusal of the call
Ha!
You need to make your own sheet..write script then take that of producer to get money and director to make it and perhaps even actor in main role or side role. You need to make the whole produxt-the movie- in start. Only when you put a final product can you impress customers out there and later specialize in one, either acting,directing, protecting or screenwriting. Trying to specialize in begining will get you nowhere.
Great video Nathan and is timely with Glenn Gars (Writing for screens) video today as well!
Was not aware of him but will try and take a look!
I think I'm in a sort of limbo when it comes to this question
I'm starting to write for myself more now and trying different avenues as well. I love to create stories, worlds, and characters and feel totally in the zone when I'm doing it.
At the same time, I do still get discouraged and depressed from time to time though (Have yet to place in any contests and I get stuck on how to progress) but still working on that. I have tried other job alternatives but I'm usually left unfulfilled or miserable. Trying to change my mindset but writing, or at least creative areas is where I feel I need to go.
It's not abnormal at all to get discouraged or depressed when you're chasing something like this one. But in all seriousness, the best way I know to deal with that is to allow your identity to extend beyond your writing.
At least for me, when I fail to separate my writing from who I am as a person and then that writing doesn't actually go anywhere, it's brutal, because it's hard not to take that as a reflection of myself. When I think of it as simply a facet of who I am and one of myriad things that I'll create over the course of my life, it's a lot easier to stay grounded.
I can recommend anyone who wants to screenwrite, to also consider penning some short stories.
I tweeted pretty much the exact same thing the other day. Couldn't agree more.
Yes. But also, yes.
True as always.
Nathan hitting us with the truth
Make your own movie
Whoever told you to focus on the app was probably not great at screenwriting lol. Boo them booooo.
I think they might actually be in the guild, now. They were definitely repped back then and had optioned something. I *don't* think they're produced, but I could be wrong. Anyway -- all good. Like I said in the video, I was in a place where I pretty much wanted someone to say that to me.
@@NGDwrites Boooooooo them boooooooooo