Good Pressure & Good Screenwriting Advice

I've always been the kind of person who thrives under pressure. I always seem to be at my happiest when I'm busy, and pressure can be good sometimes by kicking you into action and making you be productive.

As you all know by now, the CBBC Q&A session on Monday made me realise that my completed script just wasn't what they were looking for. So I needed to start all over again. This was stress-inducing due to there being less than 2 weeks to complete and send it. I managed to come up with an idea pretty quickly - lightbulb flash occured at work one day - but I was unable to mull it over properly whilst I was so busy working. 

I also had a few other projects on the go - namely completing 4 wepisodes for a comedy web-show that I promised to send to the producer/director as soon as possible. On Wednesday evening I was incredibly tired - so much so that I joked I needed toothpicks to prop open my eyes - but I battled on. I worked from 6-11pm and completed the wepisodes, which were read and critiqued the next day ready for my touch ups Thursday evening. 

Despite being really tired, I felt so good after that writing session. It's so easy to succumb to being lazy and just read or watch the television or a dvd, but one thing I've really come to realise recently is that you have to be motivated and dedicated if you want to make it in this business. I know that the business won't come to me - I have to go to it. And if that means trudging through a muddy field until I reach the green pastures then that's what I'll do. 

The only way to become a successful screenwriter is to work your arse off at it. James Moran's latest blog post talked about his dedication and hard work. It's incredibly inspiring and I'd like to quote a few of the things he said to back up the point I'm making about dedication:

"I know how fortunate I've been - but I made that luck happen by working my arse off, and I continue to work my arse off to sustain it."

We all experience, and need, times when we chill out and relax. But we must be careful not to succumb to it too much. We'll never get anywhere in this business unless we work our arses off to make it happen and to then sustain it.

"Never stop moving, plotting, always have a backup plan, always think three moves ahead."

Here, James was talking about having several projects on the go at once. It's all very well expending all your time and energy on one competition script or one feature film that's been your "baby" for years, but what you really need in this business is to have ideas - lots of them - and the energy and dedication to get all of them moving. James is involved in many different projects all at once. I myself have many projects on the go with my writing partner alongside my own personal projects and projects for competitions.

"I'm currently doing my research and preparation, figuring out the format, coming up with pitches for my own stuff and for established characters, making contacts and working out who to approach. It's scary, different, and out of my comfort zone, which is why I really want to try it."

Here James was talking about delving into a new discipline - scripting for comics. He knows he needs to research his craft - and we must do the same with our screenwriting for TV and film. Having been to the CBBC Q&A I realised just how important it is to stay on top of the game, learn new things and to network. It may be daunting at first, but if we really want to be a screenwriter, then we'll jump in at the deep end in order to make it work.

"If you're not trying new things, scaring yourself, and making mistakes, then you're not learning anything."

I particularly love this quote. It tells us that we need to go for things - no hesitation. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. We'll learn so much by doing - and do we must.

"It sometimes feels like I haven't achieved anything solid by the end of the day, because none of it involves scripting or outlining. But it's all crucial, and needs to be done if I want to move forward."

This highlights just how important learning the trade is. You may be able to write a decent script, but do you know what to do afterwards? I'm planning on learning a lot about succeeding in screenwriting as a career at Adrian Mead's "The Screenwriter's Career Guide" on the 4th July.

"Ultimately, we're all in control of our own lives, and nobody else can get you where you want to be."

This means there's no time for procrastination! Want to be a screenwriter? So do it! Write, write and write some more. Learn, network, make contacts. We can all achieve our dreams if we are passionate enough about them.

With all this in mind, I feel fairly confident about my CBBC script still. So I only have a few days to do it in... No biggie... Professionals sometimes have very tight deadlines - certainly a lot tighter than the time we are given to complete competition scripts in. I know I can do it, so I'm gonna give it my all!

It wasn't until Friday evening that I sat down to think about my CBBC script and develop my idea. I had a world, the main characters and the baddies sorted, but I got stuck on the motives for both the goodies and the baddies' actions.

Pitching your idea to loved ones is always a good exercise, so I tried it with my fiancé today, who loved the idea but couldn't come up with any ideas for some more backstory and the motives of all the characters, good and bad, as groups.

I'm so close to completing my pilot episode plan now and it's incredibly exciting. I've passed on my outline/pilot plan so far to Neil, who will give his views and suggestions and will no doubt, as usual, spark off a string of lightbulb flashes in my mind that will set me on the road to completion. This evening I shall mull over the remaining obstacles in my plot. Tomorrow is my big write-the-script day. Exciting!

And what of my comedy web-show wepisodes? The producer/director loved them! Filming is due to happen at the beginning of July, so all going well, I may have my first ever writing credits soon!