Screenwriting - Clutter

We all have clutter in our lives. It is amazing where it can accumulate... our houses or living spaces, our offices, our minds, even in our writing. What do we do about all of this? When we take the time to simplify and clear out this clutter we free ourselves. We then have a clear slate on which to create the masterpiece of our lives.

Am I willing to clear the clutter from my life?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Daily Passion

Living with passion for all that we do may seem like an impossibility... it is something to contemplate. Passion brings depth to whatever our focus is at the moment. When we are most alive and most engaged with a current project or screenplay there is a type of magic that happens. Characters come alive in ways we never dreamed. The story twists and turns and deeply engages us, almost telling itself. Words begin to jump off the page. Today we can begin to practice living with ultimate passion.

Do I have passion for something each and every day?

MDJ

Screenwriting - My Greatest Accomplishment

As screenwriters, our occupation is one in which much of the work takes place in isolation. Many jobs provide the opportunity for day to day praise from others, we do not have this luxury. We need to build ourselves up as screenwriters in a healthy way. One way to do this is to remember our greatest life accomplishments. It could be something regarding our writing or it may be in some other area of our lives. The key is to be the CEO of our own lives. This is not about inflating our ego. It is about providing consistent appreciation of ourselves in order to build confidence.

What is my greatest life accomplishment?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Wanting To Be Somebody

We all want to be somebody. As screenwriters, wouldn't it be great to be the next Shane Back, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Christopher Guest or Judd Apatow? We would be working all the time. We would be able to pick our projects and who we wanted to work with. We would be able to attract top agents, managers, studios, producers and the like. We would be able to demand high salaries. What a life... What if in wanting to be somebody, we most wanted to be ourselves? When we put our focus on being who we our 1000%, we will always be a success!

Am I comfortable being myself?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Change & Patience

When we make the decision to change something in our lives we need to honor ourselves with patience. It is a process and we need to remember that lasting change is something that takes time. When we are consistent in our life changing practices they become integrated into our lives. We may commit to write more. We can start out by increasing our daily writing goal by 10% and build over time. If we miss a day we need to forgive ourselves and try again tomorrow. Over time, the small changes we make become a big part of our lives.

Am I patient with myself when I commit to make life changes?

MDJ

Screenwriting - What Makes Me A Better Writer?

Today we can take stock of our writing abilities. We allow ourselves the courage to look objectively at our screenwriting. Where are we strong? Storytelling? Structure? Plot? Dialog? Characterization? Etc...? We can then look at the areas in which we need work. After an honest evaluation we then devise a plan to assist ourselves in becoming better writers. Seek out a mentor. Take a workshop. Enroll in a class. We can do many things to improve our writing. It is our career after all and we deserve all the help we can ask for from those who have gone before us.

What do I need to do to become a better writer?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Getting Ahead of Ourselves

It can be challenging to live 100% in the moment. We are consumed with thoughts about our day, future tasks, financial problems, relationships, etc... These types of thoughts take us out of the moment and cause us to get ahead of ourselves and our present tasks. It takes discipline to live for this moment. When we write our best work comes from being present totally and completely. Appreciating the present moment has many gifts for us and allows us the opportunity to focus on the task at hand.

How do I practice being present?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Setbacks

They come in all shapes and sizes and last as long as they last. We all experience setbacks in our lives, writing careers, health, etc... The key is what we do during and after those times. One of the greatest things we can do for ourselves in times of struggle is to commit to take ultimate care of us with good food, exercise, meditation and the like. Beating up on ourselves when we should be practicing self-love isn't the answer. Knowing that setbacks are temporary is key. We will come back and maybe stronger than ever. Some of the greatest successes came after a setback.

What do you do with a life setback?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Unwavering Faith

Today we can take the opportunity to examine our belief system. We all have struggles in our lives from time to time, be it with our careers, major life decisions, relationships, health, and the like. During these challenging times we can draw on our unwavering faith that all will turn out for the best. We ask as much of our movie characters. Maybe those powerful characters that we create can teach us something during our most challenging times.

In which areas of my life do I have unwavering faith?

MDJ

Screenwriting - My Greatest Fear

We all have fears. When we look at the things we fear in life we can rank them and discover that one thing we most fear. We may want to focus on our greatest fear regarding our writing career. Am I afraid of success, failure, exposure, risking...? We can identify this #1 fear and commit to make a change knowing that many are not willing. We show ourselves self love by looking at our fears, knowing... It takes courage to look at them. It takes honesty to accept them. It takes action to change them.

What is my greatest writing fear?

MDJ

Screenwriting - What's My Niche?

When a new product launches and it is the first of its kind and useful it will tend to do well. If it is the first of its kind, useful and the very best it will tend to do exceptionally well... As individuals we work our entire lives at finding out our true identities... What we believe, what we stand for, our core values, life mission and the like. This type of work adds value to all other areas of our lives. When it comes to our writing and the stories we tell, what do we do that no other writer does? Or... How do we do it in a way that no other writer does? Are the characters we create so unique that people who read our work say... "This must have been written by_ _ _ _ _ ?" These are things to keep in mind when discovering our writing niche.

What is unique to only me and my writing?

MDJ

Screenwriting - An Imperfect Day

What's an imperfect day in the writers life? On a perfect day I write ten pages, an imperfect day I write one. On a perfect day I eat three healthy meals, an imperfect day I eat two. On a perfect day I help three people with their dreams, an imperfect day I help one. On a perfect day I option or sell a screenplay, an imperfect day I get no interest in my material. On a perfect day, I know that in the big picture all is in order. An imperfect day I know the same. I am human, imperfect and in that I am perfect. Every day that I am able to be part of life is a perfect day.

MDJ

Screenwriting - Self-Sabotage

It isn't always pleasant to look into the cracks of our being. When we have the courage to fully examine our lives we may discover areas in which we sabotage ourselves. As a writer, where do I possibly do this? Maybe I am working on too many projects at the same time. Maybe I have several unfinished writing projects. Maybe I am not taking care of my health and am not able to work at my optimum capacity. Maybe I sabotage my mind with negative thoughts. These are only a few ways that we could possibly be fighting against ourselves. If I am willing to take some time to look at the possible areas where I may be sabotaging my writing, I will then gain awareness and with that awareness I can do something to change.

How do I sabotage my writing?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Wishing Things Were Different

We all have periods of time when we wish our lives were different. We wish we had more money, a better job, better health, a sold screenplay... Wishes and dreams are part of life. We can wish and dream all we want with possible results. The best way to make things different is to take ACTION. Our small daily actions lead to big results. Each day that we live life to the fullest and take one small action towards making our lives as we have dreamed makes for a successful life.

How can I begin to make my life different today?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Life's Questions

When we own our lives 100%, we are often more adult, more secure, more responsible and more content. We all have questions about our lives and the direction we should take at any given moment. If we take the time to slow down we will find the answers. They may not come when we want them. If we practice patience and awareness, the answers will arrive. -- We are the answer to the questions of our lives.

MDJ

Screenwriting - 7 Day Challenge

We hold off on making changes in our lives our of fear. Fear of change, fear of growth, fear of success... Today we can commit to try out a new behavior, incorporating it into our lives for just one week. We commit to this new behavior one day at a time for seven days. This frees ourselves from a lifelong commitment. In taking a new behavior for a test drive we may just find that we want keep it around for longer.

What new behavior can I challenge myself to try for seven days?

MDJ

Screenwriting - One Thing At A Time

How often do we overload our lives with multiple projects? When we take the time slow down we are able to sort out our life priorities. We work on the one project most important to us and follow it through to completion. Easier said than done. This is something that takes practice. We find when we are able to accomplish one project at a time, we actually are more productive in the long run.

Do I bury myself in multiple projects? Am I willing to do something different?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Taking Action

As writers we may be challenged when it comes to marketing our own material. We may or may not have an agent or manager. If there is a piece of our work that we have great passion for and it isn't selling... then maybe we need to be the advocate for our material. Maybe it's time we took some action to make a sale happen. -- It is amazing about how so much of life is just showing up.

Success doesn't come to you…you go to it.
--Marva Collins

What action can I take today to market my own material?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Likability

Much of the movie business centers around relationships. Talent is a key component to success. Another major component is the "likability" of an individual. Today we can take the opportunity to check in with ourselves and those closest to us and seek honest appraisal regarding our "likability." We can ask ourselves the following questions: Am I kind to strangers? Am I sincere? Do I take feedback well? Am I professional? Do I have an engaging personality? Am I flexible? Do I respect deadlines? Am I truly talented?... These are some questions that can help us get in touch with our level of likability.

Am I willing to look at how likable I am and be will to make changes where necessary?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Delayed Gratification

When we write on spec we tend to do it because we have passion for the story we want to tell. For most of us, screenwriting offers us the opportunity to practice delayed gratification. When writing a spec piece, no one is specifically waiting for it. We write our story with high hopes for it upon completion. We take our time and make our screenplay the absolute best it can be. This can often be a challenge. We are excited to show the world our creation and yet we need to be patient and trust the writing process. We will know when the script is ready.

Am I a patient writer?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Lifelong Learning

Our journey through life takes us in various directions. As students of life, we are always open to learning. With an open mind, we continue to learn in many areas; career, relationships, our craft, self-growth, love and the like. We give ourselves an amazing gift when we remain open to learning.

Am I willing to be open to learning in all areas?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Encouraging Others

We need to take the focus off of us throughout our lives. Making our journey all about us leads to an unfulfilled life. One way to shift our focus is to encourage others. Encouraging and supporting others in meaningful areas of their lives enriches our soul. Today we can pick one individual in our life. We can ask them how we may support and encourage them with a dream. The key is to commit and follow up with our encouragement and support.

How Do I encourage others?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Contentment

Happiness and contentment with today are gifts we can give ourselves. Goals, dreams and desires are part of life but consistently living in fantasy takes us out of the moment. This moment is all we truly have and we need to appreciate it.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
--Frederick Keonig

MDJ

Screenwriting - Asking

"The Answer is always 'No' until you ask, then it is either 'Yes' or 'No.'"

We may often make assumptions about others. We may think that someone will not want to help us regarding a given situation when often times they will... if we just ask. We need to let go of our fears when seeking help from others. Life is a joint effort.

Am I afraid to ask for help?

MDJ

Screenwriting - My Integrity

Webster's defines integrity: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.

The motion picture industry is filled with all types of individuals and personalities. Along with that comes individuals with varying values and moralities. When we cherish ourselves enough to continually self appraise we can check in with where we stand. One area to monitor is centered around our integrity. What does this word mean to me personally? How far am I willing to go for success? Am I willing to go for it at the expense of others? Am I willing to live an honest and moral life while I journey down the entertainment path? These are good questions to remind ourselves of from time to time.

MDJ

Screenwriting - It's Okay To Rest

One of the most powerful things to do from time to time is to take a break... even from writing. When we take a specified amount of time to rest, refuel and recharge we become stronger. Maybe it is the perfectionist inside that believes we need to keep pushing and pushing and pushing when what we really need to do is to stop. When our lives are so overloaded with projects and commitments our spirit begins to feel constricted and we move off course. It's okay to rest. Try it for one day, start with a nap.

How do I rest?

MDJ

Screenwriting - My Foundation

Our lives are built on many different types of foundations. Today we can take the opportunity to look at where our foundations are weak and where they are strong. When we look at what our entire lives are based upon, we look at things like... faith, strengths, beliefs, qualities, life missions and challenges, among other things. We can take the opportunity after reviewing how we have built our life to reinforce those areas that are weak. We may need to replace portions of our old foundation with something new, giving us more solid ground to stand on.

What is my life built upon?

MDJ

Screenwriting - What Enriches My Writing?

These are the things we do for ourselves or others that make our writing shine. It could be getting up early and writing as the sun rises. It could be taking a swim before our creative time. It could be teaching a class to a group of future screenwriters. It could be taking a writing class ourselves even though we know it all. Whatever it is, there are many things that can enrich our talent and it all adds to our complete writing package.

What can I do today to enrich my writing?

MDJ

Screenwriting - How To Handle Rejection

Rejection in the movie business can often seem overwhelming. We spend many months writing the great screenplay. We put our heart and soul into our work. We test it with colleagues, family, friends and strangers. They all love it! We send it out to buyers and it is rejected. Ouch. It is not a great feeling to have our work rejected. So what do we do? We need to remember that there are many factors working in Hollywood and to try and figure out the exact reason why our screenplay didn't sell can be a waste of valuable energy. It is a business and a complicated one. -- We need to remember why we write. Hopefully it is because we have passion for what we do. We need to pick ourselves up, do something good for ourselves and start that next screenplay. And just remember, "There is no shelf life on a screenplay!"

How do I handle rejection?

MDJ

Screenwriting - Learning From Others

Creative endeavors offer challenges from time to time. When it comes to being successful, there is often no specific formula. Each artist has their unique journey to success. So, what is it that we can learn from other writers that have gone before us? Finding a successful mentor or reading a writer's biography may be a good place to start. We can study successful individuals and through our own evaluation process test to see what we believe would be valuable to us in pursuing our dreams. What is often most valuable is learning from other's mistakes. We may want to take notes here. We also need to remember that the movie business is just that, a business and what others have learned in this arena may be extremely valuable.

What is it that I have learned from other writers and screenwriters?

MDJ