When it comes to who wields the most power in Hollywood, it seems screenwriters fall near the bottom rung. Let’s be honest: we’re beholden to the gatekeepers, whether they’re script analysts, producers, or studio execs, who will greenlight the passion project we’ve toiled on for years. For a lot of screenwriters, writing life can feel like an eternal state of limbo. Wondering whether our beloved script will see the light of day can be heartbreaking. So how can screenwriters take their power back? There is much we cannot control in the business, but there is much we can.
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<h3>Produce your own script</h3>
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Granted this might not be the most easiest route – there is money to raise, hire a cast and crew, shoot, edit, find a distributor, and not to mention all the other ins and outs of producing – however producing your own script might help give you the edge you need to get noticed. So whether it’s a short film, a full-length, or a web series, explore your options.
Conduct an audit of your resources. What equipment, cast, crew and locations do you have access to? What favors can you call in?
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<h3>Turn your script into a podcast</h3>
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It seems like everyone has a podcast these, so why not you? Yes, it’s a competitive industry and, yes, it’s difficult to make actual money from a podcast (unless yours is incredibly successful and popular) but podcasts aren’t going anywhere. In fact, podcasts are probably one of the most important and relevant mediums out there right now. So if your script can adapt to a podcast, then yours might be the next “Serial.”
Podcasts can be interviews, a speech, a discussion, or even the new trend of scripted podcasts.
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<h3>Initiate networking </h3>
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Don’t wait for your script to magically land on the right producer’s desk or leave it to your agent and/or manager to find a home for your script. This is your career, so it’s ultimately up to you on which direction you want to take it in. So, don’t be afraid to step up your networking game. Go to industry events, use social media, like LinkedIn, to follow up. Start by asking people what you can do for them. Build goodwill. Good things will follow.
While there’s a delicate balance to be found – it’s great to be ambitious but you also don’t want to come across too strongly – it’s way more important to go after what you want rather than waiting for someone to come to you.
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<img class="wp-image-22813 aligncenter" src="https://creativescreenwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/boxed-water-is-better-1464060-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="485" srcset="https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/boxed-water-is-better-1464060-unsplash.jpg 640w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/boxed-water-is-better-1464060-unsplash-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/boxed-water-is-better-1464060-unsplash-250x167.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />
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<h3>Events</h3>
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This could mean mixers, conferences, or workshops. Join a writers&#8217; group. Someone might know someone who knows someone who can introduce you to someone who can advance your career. You never know who you might meet.
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<h3>Use social media</h3>
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Social media isn’t go anywhere, and it’s a powerful tool not only to connect with the higher ups, but also to connect with fellow screenwriters as well as potential fans. Build a digital footprint. Get creative with your social media. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through, including your POV and sense of humor. You could even test out jokes on Twitter or Instagram (we wouldn’t suggest posting actual pages of writing because, you know, copyright laws and all). Start a blog or a website, and give people an idea about who you are and what you like to write. Keep creating content, and interacting with others, and you never know what kind of traction you could make.
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<h3>Keep writing</h3>
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Writing is a tool, and if you’re a serious screenwriter, it’s a tool you keep sharpening no matter what the state your career is in. Which means you’re always working on the next spec script while training yourself to work on deadline and learning how to take notes as well as honing any other skills that you need to work on. Because if you want your script produced – and we know you do – you need to be prepared as a writer. You need to be ready. And being the best and most skilled screenwriter you can be is the superpower you already have within you.

Take Your Screenwriting Power Back

habit (noun): an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.
Habits are often perceived as something negative (a drug habit or a gambling habit comes to mind) but it’s important to realize we would be nothing without our habits. Think about it. Most of the actions we perform each day aren’t decision, but habits. The morning coffee we drink. The route we take to work. The food we eat. Watching TV over going to the gym (or maybe vice versa). These are all habits. That’s why it’s so crucial to ensure that we are creating the most positive and productive ones, especially when it comes to our writing.
Because, let’s be honest, it’s really easy to choose our next Netflix binge over two hours of writing (especially if we’re not feeling inspired). Writing is hard work. Cranking out one screenplay, let alone a three or four, per year seems like a near impossible task at times. But the screenwriters who do are able to do so because they’ve developed effective writing habits.
When we implement a “good” habit like, for example, waking up a little earlier in the morning to write five pages instead of hitting the snooze button, and keep doing it consistently, then, over time, the habit develops into something that feels like second nature to us. Eventually we won’t feel like we are “forcing” ourselves to write those five pages in the morning, and instead, they’ll feel as ingrained in our routine as our beloved coffee.
So what types of habits should you try to adopt into your writing routine? Here are some ideas to help get you started:
<div id="attachment_22704" style="width: 613px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22704" class=" wp-image-22704" src="https://creativescreenwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/andy-hall-516690-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="603" height="402" srcset="https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/andy-hall-516690-unsplash.jpg 640w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/andy-hall-516690-unsplash-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/andy-hall-516690-unsplash-250x167.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 603px) 100vw, 603px" />Photo by Andy Hall</div>
Have a Goal
Prolific writer Stephen King has said that he tries to write six pages a day. Six pages might not seem like a lot (or maybe it does) when you’re aiming to write a 400-page novel or a 120-page screenplay. However, it’s enough to feel both manageable as well helps you feel like you’re making actual progress towards your project. Maybe it doesn’t have to be six pages. Maybe for you it’s five pages a week or ten pages a day. It doesn’t matter. Just set a goal that you can easily achieve (setting the bar low is okay!) and get it done. Setting a goal helps you stay focused and keeps you accountable.
Carve Out Your Writing Time
When is the best time for you to write? Meaning when is the peak period when you’re not likely to be distracted by roommates/partner/kids and when you’re feeling your most energetic self (because chances of you hitting your target page count if you’re feeling sleepy, cranky, or hungry are slim). Is it early in the morning? Lunch hour? Late at night? Once you realize your ideal time of day, decide how long you will write for. A few weeks will tell you how many pages you can crank out in a given time period. From there you can allot yourself a specific time period in which you will write. For example, maybe you learn that writing at 5 am for two hours allows you enough time to produce your daily page count. Once you decide on your writing time, set it as an appointment like it’s your job. Pre-dawn raids are considered to be the creative sweet spot when your writing mind is gushing with less censoring.
Set Your Boundaries 
Author Susan Sontag once wrote that she “will tell people not to call in the morning, or not answer the phone” and “will answer letters once a week.” Enforcing boundaries keeps our habits safe and secure. It tells your friends and family, and yourself, that your writing time is important. It’s not just for fun; it’s essential alone time that you require in order to be productive. Maybe for you, that means telling your loved ones not to disturb you in the morning whether in person or via text. Maybe it means putting your phone in Airplane mode or refusing to check emails until after your pages are complete. Knowing and setting boundaries around your writing habits will keep them intact, and by honoring them, you’re honoring yourself and your craft.
<div id="attachment_22705" style="width: 589px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22705" class=" wp-image-22705" src="https://creativescreenwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/kira-auf-der-heide-475626-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="579" height="387" srcset="https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/kira-auf-der-heide-475626-unsplash.jpg 640w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/kira-auf-der-heide-475626-unsplash-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/kira-auf-der-heide-475626-unsplash-250x167.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px" />Photo by Kira auf der Heide</div>
Implement a Reward System
We’re human – we like to be rewarded for a job well done. Granting yourself a reward after you complete your daily writing goal gives you the incentive to complete it, as well as telling your brain that whenever you do this particular habit, you receive something that makes you happy. The brain likes to feel happy. Maybe for you, that means rewarding yourself with a trip to the gym. For example, you can’t work out until you work on your pages. Or maybe it means you get to walk to your favorite coffee shop to treat yourself to a latte. Or maybe it means you get to watch Netflix for an hour. Whatever it is, find the thing that will make the habit worth keeping.
Other than building a successful screenwriting career, of course. Before you know it, writing will automatically become part of your daily routine.

Successful Habits of Screenwriters

Got writers&#8217; block? Not sure what scene to write next? Not in the mood&#8230; to write? Waiting for inspiration to strike? Sound all too familiar? 
These questions have passed through the minds of most screenwriters at some point. While it is true that most professional screenwriters aren&#8217;t afforded the luxury of writers&#8217; block or the privilege of waiting for their creative muses to strike, creativity malfunction can strike at the most inopportune moments. Creative Screenwriting Magazine&#8217;s Brianne Hogan explores how to get those creative writing juices flowing again.
As a screenwriter, you know creativity can be an elusive thing. No matter how hard you try to tap into your own, there are times when your brain remains a blank vessel. You end up staring at the computer, the blinking cursor taunting you. While your creativity is an unlimited resource (seriously, it is) sometimes it needs a little coaxing. So if you’re struggling with brainstorming the next big idea, here are some helpful tips and tricks to help get you started.
1. Take a Shower
Honestly, I don’t know what it is about taking a shower – the soothing sounds of the running water, the steam, the heat, the time alone – but I tend to find my best ideas in the shower. Showers also get you clean and prepares you for write mode.
2. Go for a Walk
Sometimes taking a break from the screen and going for a walk outside (especially in open green spaces) will distract you from your thoughts while also inviting the space for new ideas to come in. Exercise releases endorphins, which triggers positive, relaxing feelings, which can only encourage us to feel better about our creative ideas.
<div id="attachment_22597" style="width: 625px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22597" class=" wp-image-22597" src="https://creativescreenwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/natasha-kasim-677210-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="615" height="410" srcset="https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/natasha-kasim-677210-unsplash.jpg 640w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/natasha-kasim-677210-unsplash-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/natasha-kasim-677210-unsplash-250x167.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" />Photo by Natasha Kasim</div>
3. Laugh 
Sometimes we can take ourselves way too seriously. Laughing releases dopamine, our natural feel-good hormone. Depending on what is making us laugh – a TV show, a movie, or even an embarrassing memory – can help inspire some hilarious ideas.
4. Take a Risk
What’s the most far-out idea that you can come up with? Often we stick within our safety zone, including the age-old “write what you know” box. Bust through conventions and dare yourself to think of the craziest ideas. &#8220;Write what moves you.&#8221; From there, you might find the nugget you’ve been digging for. The greatest ideas are often hidden in your discomfort zone.
5. Rest up 
We can be too hard on ourselves. Pressure = stress, and stress rarely makes us think clearly. Instead, make sure you’re getting plenty of rest. <a href="https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/neuroscience-relaxing-makes-you-more-creative.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Science</a> says we’re more creative when the mind is at rest. So get some solid ZZZs and don’t be afraid to walk away from the computer for a catnap or to take a breather. The rejuvenation will serve you well. A rested screenwriter is a productive screenwriter.
6. Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself 
Often we feel stuck with our ideas because we’re too focused on “getting it right.” There are no right or wrong ideas. There are only ideas that resonate with you as a writer. We have no control over which ideas will sell or not. We can only choose the ideas that light us up and excite us. So whichever idea that might be for you, go towards that one. Yes, you probably will need to finesse it later but don’t worry about that for now. Failure is a stepping stone to screenwriting success. Who knows, a rejected story idea might reappear in another screenplay.
7. Look Back at Old Notes 
Most of us writers have notebooks and/or files of ideas that spoke to us at one time or another. Maybe it wasn’t the time to flesh them out then, but timing is everything. Maybe these old ideas will feel fresh and relevant now and spark something within. They may even transform into new ideas.
8. Go Somewhere New 
Maybe that means traveling to a new place and being inspired by the new locale, culture, and people there. Can’t take a vacation right now? Even going to a new neighborhood in your area or checking out a new coffee shop can inspire new ideas. People-watching is a favorite pastime for writers for a reason.
<div id="attachment_22598" style="width: 677px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22598" class=" wp-image-22598" src="https://creativescreenwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/bruno-wolff-801611-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="667" height="443" srcset="https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/bruno-wolff-801611-unsplash.jpg 640w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/bruno-wolff-801611-unsplash-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/bruno-wolff-801611-unsplash-250x166.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" />Photo by Bruno Wolff</div>
9.  Try Some Positive Affirmations 
We often feel stuck because of a played-out self-defeating record we can play in our mind. Maybe we think we can’t think of a good idea or maybe we don’t trust our ideas because we’ve been rejected before. Try flipping the script (no pun intended) and come up with empowering affirmations like, “Brilliant ideas come to me all the time,” or “creative energy flows through me at all times.” Choose one that speaks to you and gets you fired up. I know it sounds New Age-y, but it works!
10. Free Write
Censorship and self-judgment negate our creativity. Free writing opens up your consciousness to receive ideas without your inner critic saying, “Nah.” Set a timer for 10 minutes, and allow yourself to receive and write down any ideas that come to you. It doesn’t matter how “messy” they might be – don’t stop, don’t edit, don&#8217;t criticize, don&#8217;t evaluate. Just write.
Bonus tip:
11. Music
Many screenwriters create playlists of music that augment their screenplays. What music captures the attitude, genre, and mood of your script? The healing power of music has been long established. Now let music unleash your inner creativity.

Take Your Screenwriting Power Back

Successful Habits of Screenwriters

10 Tips and Tricks to Boost Screenwriting Creativity

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