Ask the Coach: 7 Tips for Getting Back to Writing After Summer – On Script Mag

August 18, 2023 by Leave a Comment

With the start of school and fall on the horizon, there’s this energy many of us naturally connect to that feels motivating and inspiring to start new things, take action, get organized, and make things happen. Lean into this energy and let it buoy you toward the momentum and progress you’re wanting.

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m addressing a question regarding getting back to writing after summertime.

“My kids are starting school again. (Whew! Ack!) Truth be told, it’s been hard to write this summer with so much going on between family vacations and organizing summer camps. How can I regain my momentum after a rocky summer, writing-wise?”

Hey, good question! Many screenwriter-parent types are asking ourselves similar questions right now. Whether you’ve been writing intermittently, or not at all, the good news is that as your kids head to their classrooms, you can tap into the “back-to-school” energy they’ll be experiencing too.

And this is true whether or not you’re a parent. There’s a natural activation energy that arises in the fall and spring in particular, so this is a smart time to revisit your writing practice and give it a refresh if needed.

Here are the 7 steps I discuss in my response:

  1. Remind yourself to treat writing like a pro.
  2. At the same time, allow writing to be fun and joyful.
  3. Lean into the back-to-school activation energy.
  4. Revisit your writing practice.
  5. Remember, you can ramp up gradually.
  6. Keep going to keep going.
  7. Be ready to adapt.
Want the full scoop? Get all the details in the full article on Script Mag:
 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
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Ask the Coach: On Finding a Manager & Meeting Producers (After the Strike) – On Script Mag

May 19, 2023 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m addressing two questions regarding finding representation and connecting with producers (and some notes about navigating these appropriately during the Writer’s Guild strike).

Here are some of the action steps I discuss in my response:

  • Do the research to find the companies and individuals that are a good fit. (With recommended resources.)
  • Look for ways to connect.
  • Nurture relationships over time.
  • Build your own overall network of industry contacts that may naturally lead to an introduction at some point.

Focus on genuinely connecting with managers you think could be a good fit for you and your work. Follow them. Read what they post. Respond authentically when appropriate. Help out with something they’re looking for. Relationships evolve organically when nurtured over time. Keep an eye out for an opportunity to work together to arise, naturally.

Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: On Finding a Manager & Meeting Producers (After the Strike)

 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
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Ask the Coach: Finding the Line with Scene Descriptions – On Script Mag

April 22, 2023 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to two questions about writing scene descriptions, including seeing it as an opportunity for your voice to shine, and where to draw the line with what to include and what to leave out.

Here are the main points I discuss in my response:

  • Scene descriptions can be a delightful way to design your pages.
  • Scene descriptions are a place where your voice gets to shine.
  • Include thoughts and emotions in scene descriptions sparingly.
  • Focus on what’s truly important to the story when writing descriptions.

Writing scene descriptions offers a unique opportunity for screenwriters to feature their voice, style, and creativity. Allow it to come through with all the choices you make, while striking the balance between creating the blueprint for the visual, cinematic world of your story, keeping your writing open and flowing on the page, and giving your readers and audience insights into the depths of your characters and the critical information they need to follow the story.

Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: Finding the Line with Scene Descriptions


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels
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Ask the Coach: Deciding Between Writing Ideas + How to Edit & Get Feedback – On Script Mag

March 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to two questions about choosing projects and getting feedback.

“I have four different topics that intrigue me. All could be short non-fiction books. How do I commit to one? It seems like each day a different one appeals more. I start on one, then wonder if another would be easier or more fun.”

Here are the main ideas I discuss in my response:

  • Reflecting on what kind of writer you are, and the kinds of challenges you face.
  • The “grass is greener” feeling 
  • Using your inner knowing to pick the project you want to work on first. 
  • Using “decision criteria” to identify a list of criteria to litmus test your writing choice. 

And this is the second question I answered:

“What do you do after you have finished writing your script — how to edit, get feedback, etc.?”

Here are the steps I suggest in my response:

  1. Set your script aside for at least a few days.
  2. Read through your draft and make notes.
  3. Make a short reverse-outline of the script. 
  4. Make notes about what’s working and what’s not.
  5. Tackle the big stuff first.
  6. Correct smaller items as needed (but not in scenes you might cut!).
  7. Set it aside again, then read and repeat.
  8. Once you have a draft you feel good about, then look for feedback.

 

When it comes to choosing projects to work on, to finishing and getting feedback on your scripts, trust your inner knowing about what resonates and what doesn’t.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: Deciding Between Writing Ideas + How to Edit & Get Feedback


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo from Canva
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Ask the Coach: How Can I Keep Up My Confidence In Myself as a Writer? – On Script Mag

February 18, 2023 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a question about how to keep up confidence in writing:

“My biggest challenge is making regular time to write and work on a script. My question is about keeping my confidence up that I can do this.”

Here’s the high-level overview of my response:

  • Being confident means feeling self-assured, believing in yourself and your abilities, and trusting that you can rely on yourself.
  • Build confidence through experience and by taking action.
  • Protect your confidence by making smart choices about who you interact with and with whom you share your work.
  • How you talk to yourself really matters.
  • Taking consistent, regular action to write builds confidence.
  • Starting and finishing scripts makes a big difference.
  • Facing and solving tough story challenges teaches you that your storytelling skills are improving.
  • The evidence you take in matters.
  • Choosing to believe in yourself ultimately comes first — it’s a choice.

When you take creative risks, however small, and build on your successes, you gradually learn where and how you can trust yourself.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: How Can I Keep Up My Confidence In Myself as a Writer?


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash 
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Ask the Coach: Should I Give Up the Writers Group I Started? – On Script Mag

January 21, 2023 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a question about giving up a writing group, or not, including looking at the larger issues buried in the question: 1) Losing enthusiasm for writing, and 2) having a writing group functioning as their “only outlet.”

In the article, I shared some reasons our inquirer might have lost enthusiasm for writing, so they could see what might resonate, including:

  • Nearing the end of a script, and resistance and procrastination rising to keep them “safe” from putting work out there.
  • Feeling burned out by running a writing group for others.
  • Being affected by other life responsibilities or challenges.
  • Processing feedback (positive or negative).
  • Taking a wrong turn with the script and having their intuition balking.
  • Tiring of the story or losing connection to it.

The article includes some thoughts about solutions for each of these.

I also addressed the aspect of having their group being their “only outlet.”

My ultimate answer to the reader’s question about giving up their group is that sometimes groups arise for a reason, or are with us for only a season. It’s okay to let go of experiences that are no longer serving us, redesign them to better meet our needs, or recommit with renewed intention or energy. A thoughtful inventory of what’s working and what’s not will most likely point us in the right direction.

Writing groups can be wonderful places to feel connected to other writers who get you, cheer for you, and encourage you to keep moving ahead with writing. Writing groups can also become performative, perfunctory, burdensome, or even become a substitute for writing.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: Should I Give Up the Writers Group I Started?


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels
Filed Under: Script Mag articles Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ask the Coach: How Much Do I Need to Develop My Script Before I Start Writing? – On Script Mag

December 17, 2022 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a question about how much to develop a story before starting to write pages.

In this article, I talk about screenwriter Jeff Howard’s take on the value of outlining and developing a story, particularly for screenwriters, including being able to: 

  • Get back into a script more readily if life interrupts
  • Meet contractual obligations to outline once working professionally
  • Layer a story more effectively (easier to do at the outline stage)
  • Maintain a consistent tone throughout the entirety of the script once you’re writing pages

My ultimate answer to the reader asking the question was: Yes, do the development work first, along with my reasoning based on their specific question and a recommendation on how to proceed. 

It’s always tempting to want to skip over the hard part of solving those issues and just writing what you know so far, but you may well be writing yourself into a corner.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: How Much Do I Need to Develop My Script Before I Start Writing? 


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Ron Lach
Filed Under: Script Mag articles Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ask the Coach: How Can I Prioritize Writing (And Get Others to Understand)? – On Script Mag

November 19, 2022 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a question about prioritizing writing.

In the article, I talk about what prioritizing writing means, where we run into trouble, and then how to prioritize writing.

Here are some of the key points to give you a sneak peek:

  • Think of writing as “important, not urgent,” aka something you invest in — taking action on writing is about being the leader of your own life.
  • Craft a workable writing schedule that helps you make your priorities actually happen.
  • Set writing goals for yourself so you know what you’re doing when you sit down to write. 
  • Set boundaries around your writing time with others — and yourself.
  • Match your attention, intention, and action — so you’re being the writer you want to be. 

 

Ultimately, prioritizing writing boils down to a collection of choices we make about ourselves and our lives that are reflected in our goals, actions, attention, and intentions.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: How Can I Prioritize Writing (And Get Others to Understand)?


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Ann H on Pexels
Filed Under: Script Mag articles Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ask the Coach: How Can Writers Deal with Procrastination? – On Script Mag

October 22, 2022 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a comment on Twitter about handling procrastination. This is a topic I never tire of talking about with writers because it’s so relevant and important to understand and navigate. Plus, I’ve recently reviewed some newer (and empowering) research about procrastination, which I’ve shared in the article. 

In the article, I review five high-level reasons writers procrastinate to help us unpack this common struggle. I describe each reason more fully in the article, but here’s the core overview: 

  1. We procrastinate because we’re afraid.
     
  2. We procrastinate because writing matters to us.
     
  3. We procrastinate to manage challenging emotions. 👈 the newer part!
     
  4. We procrastinate to get dopamine hits.
     
  5. We procrastinate to process intuition and information.

With this understanding of why we procrastinate, I also offer ways we can manage procrastination, including rewriting negative thoughts, creating community and support around writing with other writers, using deadlines and other external motivations, and more. 

 

The bottom line is that we procrastinate for very real reasons.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: How Can Writers Deal with Procrastination?


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
Filed Under: Script Mag articles Tagged With: , , , ,
calendar & coffee cup

Ask the Coach: How Can I Build a Consistent Writing Routine? – On Script Mag

September 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article I’m answering a reader question about how to build a consistent writing routine, even while managing work and family.

This is the high level view of the 7 tips I shared to help writers start to establish a consistent writing routine and rhythm. Each tip is described more fully in the article, but here’s the list to get you started: 
 

  1. Begin with sustainability in mind. 
     
  2. Study your own “resistance threshold.” 
     
  3. Explore your optimal time of day for writing. 
     
  4. Trim time from less fulfilling activities. 
     
  5. Design a writing schedule. 
     
  6. Build in writing associations or triggers. 
     
  7. Implement and refine.

 

In order to be consistent, a useful strategy is selecting a sustainable level of effort for each of your writing sessions.

 
Want the full scoop? There are more details in the full article on Script Mag: 
Ask the Coach: How Can I Build a Consistent Writing Routine? 


 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels
Filed Under: Script Mag articles Tagged With: , , ,
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