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The Athletic Nerd: Screenwriting

After this post, I thought it would make sense to ACTUALLY follow my own advice and write.  Not just talk about it…

So, I woke up, checked out my daily websites and got right to it.

It turns out, it’s easy to write screenplays when you sit down and… write.

I decided to go with a family/drama I’ve been considering for a while.  It’s a concept I’ve been working on for ages but until a few weeks ago, I didn’t know what to do with it.

Then I had one of those shining moments when I knew exactly what to do.

Why didn’t I write it?

I didn’t feel like I had enough time.

I was 100% wrong.

After about 2 hours of work, I completed a 10 page script that could definitely make an interesting short film.

Note: All that development work definitely pays off.

I feel like a screenwriter again.

Writing a script is such a rush and there is nothing better than finishing a new story.  What surprised me was how emotional this story became.  It evolved as I wrote it and became a touching story about losing a loved one.

These types of breakthroughs can only happen when you’re actually typing pages.  You can develop stories forever but the little details will never emerge until the pages stack up.

Every writer should push themselves.  There comes a time when you have to tell yourself to shut up, sit down and write!

Yesterday was that day for me and it couldn’t have worked out any better.

Next I plan to return to my feature script.

I suppose what I’m trying to say is:

I enjoy writing screenplays.

The Athletic Nerd Screenwriting Blog

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Finding Time To Write

September 16th, 2009 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Screenwriting - (0 Comments)

Finding Time To Write Screenplays

One of the advantages of taking a bus to work is having time to read.

Currently, I’m reading a book called Alone In A Room.  It’s a screenwriting book by John Scott Lewinski about the working habits of professionals in the industry.

The lesson is simple.

Everything begins with the writer actually sitting in the chair and writing.

It sounds simple but I’ve learned over the last year that it’s anything but simple.  It got me thinking though.

Working screenwriters FIND time to write.

Facing a white screen is simultaneously the coolest and scariest feelings you can have as a writer.  But that’s not my problem right now…

My issue is sitting in the chair and working on my new script.  It’s a feature film that’s been in my head for about 3 years and I’m about 40 pages deep right now.  What bugs me is how much I love to talk about the story yet I can’t seem to locate a few hours a day to get the work done.  Until now…

Over the last few weeks I’m been actively challenging myself to sit down and type.  It started with a re-write of my new short screenplay Ti amo.

For a long time I felt pretty guilty about not writing as often as I used to.  In my defense, I was directing a movie but I now find myself with a lot more free time to create new material.  The one thing I noticed is how much better I feel when I write.  It’s practically connected to my moods.

I’m easily agitated if I’m not being creative in some form.  Not the case when I’m writing something new.

I haven’t been this excited in a long time.

Hopefully the momentum continues.

The Athletic Nerd Screenwriting

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