Your beginning shapes your ending. That doesn’t just apply to your story but to your career as a screenwriter. When beginners decide to become a screenwriter, they often fall into one of two categories.
The most common pitfall is having a single idea for a story and focus maniacally on turning it into a screenplay. This often occurs when people experience a life-changing event and want to share that event with others.
The problem is that what feels life-changing to you may not feel that interesting or exciting to anyone else. This type of screenwriter focuses solely on turning their idea into a movie. As a result, they never take the time to master (or even learn) the craft of screenwriting because they’re too busy trying to get their story made.
When you’re focused on simply getting a story made, you’ll risk falling prey to people willing to take your money to “help” you get your story produced.
The second type of beginner is much rarer. This is the type of person who wants to become a screenwriter and isn’t focused on a single result.
This is the type of screenwriter you need to become. Focus on learning how to write dialogue, how to write short, active description. How to develop characters. In short, your best chance for success isn’t to get a single story produced but to develop the skill to write multiple stories that are good enough to get produced.
Study stage plays to learn dialogue.
Study movies to learn how to write action.
Study TV shows to learn how to develop characters.
In short, study everything you can and never stop improving. You’ll never know everything but by continually learning, you’ll gradually become a stronger and better writer.
Above all, never give up. You never know where your big break may come so stay focused on becoming a little better everyday.
You can do it. You know you can.
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