Making A Screenwriting Schedule

June 21st, 2010 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Featured Posts | Screenwriting

In light of all the projects and scripts I’ll be working on throughout the next few months, I decided it was time to return to a technique I don’t use enough.

The Writing Calendar

It pays to look ahead and really plan so that you aren’t overwhelmed when deadlines start to approach.

I suppose a massive benefit to my current situation is there are no deadlines. This doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be doing everything possible to stay on top of things. This is where a screenwriting schedule comes in handy. It’s a way to set goals and make sure there is always forward motion… Progress.

So, I fired up a new Excel document and made a list of all of my screenwriting projects. I also included my film, web, blog and development work.

It’s a big list.

Stepping back and looking at all of the projects I care deeply about is fun for about 4.5 seconds. Then it becomes challenging to try and figure out how to get everything done.

The next step is to write down rough ‘due dates’ for each project. It’s important to look at each item and make sure to allow a realistic amount of time to complete.

This is where problems you start to see a clear picture of what needs to be done.

After that it’s on to micro managing.

I started with the feature screenplay I’m currently writing. I’d like it to be finished by September. I’ve already written about 60 pages and the entire story has been developed and outlined. So I’ve set key dates over the next few months with page goals so that I can realistically meet that deadline.

I do this for every single project I’m working on.

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The Result?

I now have a list of weekly targets to hit. Each week I have a major goal to reach and several minor projects to complete.

Obviously major projects include feature screenplays, editing our new short film and my new book. (Details on the book are a secret.)

Minor projects include featured blog posts, graphics, web updates and short scripts.

I’m now running my home office like a business with a certain amount of dedicated hours per week to get things done.

The beauty of my new schedule is that it allows me all the free time I need to be a normal human being. Like I said, not having any big deadlines allows me to leave myself as much time as I want to complete my work.

The lesson is simple. No matter how many goals I reach, progress is always being made.

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