TUESDAY'S BIZ TIP:
WHY WE WRITE
Writing is all about motivation. Why do your characters
behave as they do? What is their goal? What is their fear? What is the real reason they
are having these problems? What is the real reason they are afraid to resolve their
problem? We are often so focused on the problems of our characters that we may end
up avoiding our own problems. As we reach the end of summer, many of you may be
wondering why you haven't reached the end of that script you've been working on. You
made that New Year's Resolution to finish it, but it still sits there in your computer - half
finished. If this is your first script and you're having trouble getting it finished the
problem may not be with your story or your characters... the problem might be a lot
more personal.
What's your motivation? For writing?
Just like your protagonist, you may have an emotional problem that's getting in the
way of resolving your physical problem - getting that script finished. Today we'll be
looking at the reasons why you may be having trouble writing the two
most important words in any screenplay: The End. This isn't about writer's block - when
someone who regularly finishes scripts without any problem suddenly can't finish their
script - we're going to look at problems getting your first or second script finished.
If you're having a problem getting your scripts finished it may be tied to your
motivation - maybe you aren't writing because you want to tell a story, perhaps you're
writing because you want fame and glory. Guess what? There is no fame and glory in
the screenwriting world - name the three Oscar winning writers of CASABLANCA. You
can't, and you're the MOST LIKELY person who could (you want to be an Oscar
winning screenwriter). So if your motivation is fame, is having people acknowledge and
love you... you're in the wrong business. Screenwriters are either ignored or blamed or
crapped on.
If your motivation is "I like to write" or "I need to write" then it's
all about writing and writing is what you should be doing (actually,
you'll already be doing it). This is the motivation you want to have - the need or desire to
tell stories. That way your motivation is all about the work - not the rewards. I hate to be
a cold blanket, but this is a business where the rewards are few and far between and
usually out of our control. The only thing really in our control is doing the work. So
writing needs to be its own reward!
If your motivation is "I want to write to
prove I'm somebody important" or "I want to write to prove my enemies
were wrong" then it's not about the writing - it's about your personal
problems. If you are writing to solve personal problems (and trying to
solve them by changing OTHERS) your focus isn't going to be on
writing, so you WILL have trouble finishing scripts or starting them
or anything else that has to do with WRITING. If your motivation for
writing isn't "to write" you're going to run into problems because
those other motivations will get in the way of your writing.
If you aren't in the biz because you HAVE to tell your stories,
because you're PASSIONATE about writing, you're in for a future of
heartache. You don't see screenwriters on Letterman or Leno. You don't
see them interviewed on ET or Access Hollywood or any other TV version
of National Enquirer. Screenwriters just toil away in obscurity... we
write because we have stories inside of us that they have no choice
but to tell (knowing that the producer will put a singing dancing donkey in it).
GOTTA LOVE IT!
As an ex-forklift driver, ex-grocery clerk, ex-K Mart employee - I have to say there are two
kinds of people: people who love what they do, even if it's work... and people who fight their
jobs and are miserable. When I worked at K-Mart, I had a great time and enjoyed
the job. I loved doing the blue light specials and the closing announcements ("K-Mart will be
closing in ten minutes. At that time, the doors will be locked and the overhead sprinklers will
spray a powerful rhinoceros aphrodisiac on any remaining shoppers in the store, then we will
release two bull rhinos into the store for the night. So please bring any mast minute purchases
to the front check outs at this time, and thank you for shopping at K-Mart!") (there was also a
honey and Winnie The Pooh version and a bunch of others.) I had fun at a cruddy job - because as
long as I was there, I might as well enjoy it. At Safeway, I memorized as many prices as I could
so that I could be "Bill The Human Price Check" - and I was always right. Why not memorize the
prices? I had nothing better to do. I also had fun - guess the weight of your purse (on the
checkstand scale) and win a plastic harmonica (bought 'em for 15 cents, gave away about 3 of them
in 3 years at the Big Red S). I was also a speed checkout guy, though I never made it to the
national competition. Oh, and I did some simple juggling while bagging. I won't get into forklift
jousting - because I'm sure it's illegal and dangerous.
As Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young once said: "You can't always be with the one you love, so love the one you're with."
I write a bunch of specs every year that will probably not sell. I *want* them to sell, but I
can only control the writing part. I do it because I love it, and when I stop loving it...
If you must write and are having trouble making it to Fade Out, the
advice to give yourself a certain number of pages to write every day. Even if you only
write 1 page a day, every day, you
end up with 3 first drafts by the end of the year. Writing every day
is harder than it sounds, but it DOES get you in the habit of writing.
Figure out WHY you want to write... If you are writing for the wrong reason, that may be
why you're having trouble finishing that script. If you don't like writing, writing may not
be the best career choice. If you keep coming up with stories and like figuring out the
perfect line of dialogue... this is the job for you!
MY BLOG!
SCRIPT SECRETS STORE
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BLUE BOOKS - SWEET 17 The deal is back!
Okay, I'm the West Coast Editor, so I'm biased - but this is the best screenwriting magazine out there. Other magazines have articles *about* screenwriters, Scr(i)pt has articles *by* screenwriters.
Justin Theroux on writing IRON MAN 2 is the cover story for the new issue. There are a couple of articles on DIY filmmaking, including one from MOvie Maker Magazine editor Jennifer Woods.
Interviews with the A-TEAM writers (by me) and the TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE writer (how come I didn't interview her?) and WINTER'S BONE, article by the writer of JUST WRIGHT and the terror of WGA Arbitration, To Hell With Structure from Mystery Man, Contests, and an article by me on Method Screenwriting.
Scr(i)pt focuses on the actual writing rather than the deal making - this is a "how to" magazine.
Real nuts-and-bolts stuff! Oh, and I have at least one article in every issue.
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