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I'm putting my value as a writer to the test now for the first time. I just moved to LA and I sent out 270 queries Seth Lochhead style. Two producers asked to read my script and if they respond I'll find out just where I stand in the market, won't I?

I have always enjoyed writing. I've written numerous church plays and skits. But I've always wanted to write a full length screenplay. I've tried several times but have always quit a few pages in. I never tried much prep work. Until the Quest. It provided the structure I've needed. I now sit a few pages away from finishing my first first draft. And I've somehow managed to write almost 150 pages! That really surprises me. I look forward to rewriting and whittling it down. This blog has been invaluable!

Oh man, difficult questions. I hate difficult questions… :) What I do know is, I want to be writing more features than I am at the moment. So that's a start...

You'll find out where you stand with those two producers. That is not the be all and end all. All it takes is ONE SET OF EYEBALLS to change your life. It just takes the RIGHT set of eyeballs. thejakk2, my hope is you find that RIGHT set of eyeballs!

Tyler, your comment couldn't make me much happier. I have dealt with over 1000 writers through my teaching and most of the ones who have struggled to finish drafts have been because they didn't do enough in prep. As you've discovered, it's CRITICAL! Congratulations on this achievement. Believe me, getting through that first draft the first time is a HUGE thing. Be sure to celebrate!

Debbie, there's always this: 1 page per day. That equals 2 feature length screenplays per year.

where am i.... not nearly as "farther along" in my journey at the end of 2013 as I would have liked. On the positive side: - finished some decent revisions of one script, made a few great new industry contacts in the process - nearly done with second script for this year - nearly filled a brainstorming/idea notebook and confident there are at least a few decent ideas to run with for future specs in there... - reading a lot of scripts. Now, my critical side: - still struggling with focus & discipline - still worried too much about that scale of "mediocrity -- brilliance" when my aim should just be to write the best script i can and not assign such self-scrutiny to it. self-scrutiny bogs down the writing process!! - all told, I've written a lot of scripts, but I still struggle with calling my a "screenwriter" because of the stigma of still being "unrepresented" and "unsold". Dumb. Time to get over all my shit and DO THE WORK!!!!! Feels like the work I'm doing is GOOD, and solid and has potential --- just gotta do a lot more of it to build both confidence and momentum as I strive toward a body of work worthy of representation/sale.

Joni, you and I are very similar in our goals and feelings! I'm also struggling with focus and discipline, but I've found that if I just start writing (or even rereading something I've written before) I usually fall into the rabbit hole and start creating without even realizing I'm doing it. You are absolutely right about not trying to write to be great. Write the best you can because that's all you can be in control of. The rest is just noise. At least, that's how I get through the uncertainty day-to-day. My experience in contests this year and being able to read the majority of BL2012 screenplays taught me that writing is extremely subjective and, as Scott mentions in response to a previous comment, all it takes is one person to like your script. Good luck in 2014 everyone.

Joni and cgusmann, these struggles -- focus, discipline, dealing with the VON (Voices Of Negativity) -- confront every writer, I suspect. As I like to remind folks, Stephen King says the most frightening moment he experiences time and again is just BEFORE he starts to write a story. And this is STEPHEN KING we are talking about! I myself have written upward to 40 scripted projects and I confront the same issues. This is where my two favorite mantras come in handy: Trust the process. The only way out is through. In terms of focus, I concur with cgusmann: Just start writing. That is often the single biggest challenge. Once one DOES start writing something, at least in my experience, it becomes easier. A special 2014 brand of creative juju for everyone who responded to this post: WHOOOOSH!!!

Thanks, Scott. I've been a fan of the blog for over a year. Your Business of Screenwriting posts were enlightening.

Personally, the biggest thing I discovered in 2013 was a growing ability to NOT beat myself up over writing. How long between I work on scenes, outline a new story, how long it takes to finish a first draft, etc.,. As Scott said, it is very lonely and it is very difficult, and stewing in your own head, negatively, can create quite the slippery slope. This year, I was able to take more of a step back and go, "you know, okay, I'm not necessarily happy with only having written 3 specs. in the last 6 years; but I accomplished this while getting a college degree, starting a career job, and then completing a Master's while working full-time. But it's okay." I think this can be applied to others who maybe a result of family obligations, or work, or school, or simply life, who constantly beat themselves up (like I do) over perceived progress/or lack of. Take a step back, ensure the other aspects of your life are nothing but positive, to better wrangle and handle the ups and downs of writing. I think this was a huge step for overcoming personal trepidations, the daunting struggle of breaking in, and especially when reading interviews with people who talk about writing 2500 words or 10 pages or whatever, every single day, haha.

I am a newbie who just started pursuing screenwriting this year! My background is in finance which is currently my daytime career. I've always enjoyed writing and previously focused on fiction. Where I am right now is working to become a better writer and more adequately understand the art of film. I regularly participate in a local screenwriters group, write and get feedback, and look for opportunities to be involved in local film festivals or productions. Very hard with a primary, unrelated career but I LOVE every minute of it. You'll start seeing me around here :)

* Is this where I want to be as a writer? Not entirely, but I'm getting there. I am where I want to be in being available to help others, but I just don't get words to pages enough. * Am I writing what I want to be writing? The projects in my mind and close to my page are the ones I'm happy to be working on. * What do I want to write? I want to write thoughtful, exciting stories that will sell. * What do I need to write? Anything at all at this point. Get words onto the page. * Is there a particular story I have surfaced about which I am particularly passionate? I have several stories like that. * Has something important happened in my life this year which has shifted my writing perspective? I feel more confidence in myself as a writer. * Am I in touch with my Creative Self? Yes. I don't like forcing my Creative Self to work, but when it's working, I like what it produces. * What can I do to be a better writer? Put words on paper until I get to Fade To Black, and then rewrite after feedback. Once that starts happening on a regular basis, then we'll see about getting better than that.

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