5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Screenwriting

There are many misconceptions about screenwriting, or aspects of it that aren’t often discussed. I’ve been a professional screenwriter for over 17 years and I knew next to nothing about my vocation when I first broke into the film industry. There have been many ups and downs in my career (as there are for most screenwriters), but it’s never been stagnant - and it’s always been illuminating.

Thinking over my nearly 2 decades of screenwriting, I can safely say it’s nothing like what I thought it’d be when I wrote my first spec script. If you’re reading this article, you’ll know more than I knew when I was first breaking in. Ultimately, it comes down to talent and tenacity. If you have what it takes, you have a shot and will learn the below things for yourself.    

Here are 5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Screenwriting.    

Typically when screenwriting is discussed in articles, it’s usually in terms of craft and how to navigate the marketplace. In other words, the focus is on how to write a screenplay that’s going to sell or, at very least, act as a “calling card script.” While there’s nothing wrong with this (I’ve written quite a few articles like this myself), it does sometimes feel like screenwriting is viewed as just a means to an end. 

However, screenwriting is an artistic venture and, as a result, there’s an opportunity for more than just a monetary reward or breaking into the film industry: it can also be very creatively fulfilling. Like any other kind of writing, you can express yourself with screenwriting. Not only can this help you develop a voice as a writer, if you’re stressed out, it can make you feel better to write things out. Many times in my life, when I’ve felt down or frustrated by certain situations, my writing has provided relief and catharsis.  

Also, there’s great fulfillment when you read your finished script: it’s something you created from scratch. This feeling will stay with you well after you’ve finished writing.

Another great thing about screenwriting is it can bring structure and order to your life. Even if you’re a beginner and not a professional screenwriter, you’ll have to develop a good work routine for yourself. Depending on what kind of day job you have, you might only have certain slotted intervals to write during, or maybe you simply find you’re more creative during certain time periods (e.g. some writers prefer to write in the day, others prefer to write at night). 

Regardless of the routine, by creating your own writing schedule and sticking to it, you’ll become more productive - and it might even carry over to other aspects of your life. When I was in my mid 20s, I was often floundering and lacked direction. Once I started screenwriting, however, I gained focus and built a life around my writing schedule. In general, it made me a more productive person: one whose life is shaped by creative pursuits and career goals.

Perhaps the biggest misconception about screenwriting is that you have to live in Los Angeles to do it. Between globalization and expanding technology, the film industry isn’t nearly as centralized around LA as it used to be. Most development meetings happen over Zoom and a lot of the major players reside in various states or even different countries. In fact, in a recent Zoom I had with a producer, I was told that none of the screenwriters they work with live in LA.

Even back when I first broke into the business (in the late 00s), I was living in Pennsylvania and had never visited the west coast. Thanks to an email query and strong screenplay, I started talking to reps and producers via the phone and email. This would lead to my first writing job and script sale. In fact, the periods I’ve lived outside of LA have always been my most productive and lucrative. Ultimately it’s about the script itself and not where you live. To a degree this was always the case, but these days especially.  

There are multiple ways screenwriting can open up your world. First, there’s the screenwriting community and the various workshops you’ll discover both online or in person if you live in LA. Once you start submitting your scripts to managers or entering them into screenwriting contests and it’s well received, you’ll be interacting with a new group of people. Most likely, your manager will give you feedback and notes, and it’ll give you a new perspective.   

If you’re fortunate enough to get representation and your script starts getting submitted to production companies, that's even more people who might enter your life. If your script sells, well, then your world will really expand. You’ll have meetings with agents, lawyers, studio execs, directors, actors, etc. Finally, if your script gets produced into a movie, you might travel to be on set and will be working alongside an entire film crew. Each stage will open up your world and you’ll grow and become a more well-rounded person. 

Personally, my life became much fuller as a result of being a screenwriter. I’ve met people I wouldn’t have met, and traveled to places I wouldn’t have been to if I didn’t put myself out there with my first screenplay.

Screenwriters sometimes get marginalized, especially when directors, actors and producers grab the spotlight during a film’s release and promotion. However, at the early development stage of a film project, the screenwriter is the star and main focus. This process can sometimes go on for months or even years and it’s extremely important: there’s no movie without a screenplay. Everyone in the film industry knows this and respects this to varying degrees. 

In a best case scenario, you’ll work with a director and producers that view you as a collaborator and vital part of the filmmaking process. Even at later stages of production, there might need to be last minute changes to a script due to logistical issues or a rewrite is needed after a test screening. The script is the blueprint for the movie and ultimately you’re the architect. Filmmaking is a collaborative medium and the most successful screenwriters understand this and are team players, but they’re the ones creating the world and characters. Every movie is written before it is produced.

It all starts with a screenwriter, and it can start with you if you just write your script.