Screenwriting is perhaps one of the strangest and most counter-intuitive careers in all of writing. Learning the ropes of that industry can be a challenge for anyone. John August, the screenwriter behind, Go, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish and Charlie’s Angels writes an excellent blog about screenwriting and the film industry. This week he gives advice to a relative newcomer who wants to know whether or not to direct his own script.
Should I direct my Spec?

Why can’t people follow the instructions?

The good folks over at Freelance Switch have put together a nice set of advice for people applying for freelance gigs. Their central pint is that most people don’t get the job because they don’t follow the rules. I’m not talking about the “unwritten rules” I’m talking about the guidelines the potential client has clearly laid out. As someone who has hired freelancers in the past, I completely agree. My requirements were relatively straightforward, about a half dozen clearly stated requirements, and inevitably the applicants would fail to follow these rules. This is one of the reasons there are so many unsuccessful; freelancers in the world, and the reason why anyone with a little common sense can succeed.
How NOT to Apply for a Freelance Position

The Ferris Effect

Marketer Alex Goad hasn’t Read The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich week yet, but he is seeing the effects. Two of his business partners abandoned a new project to stick to their more low-maintenance income, and one of them decided to live abroad. They’ve even put autoresponders on their email. If none of this makes any sense to you, then you should probably read the book. Paradigm Shift: Work Smart, Play Often

Get an Early Start

One of the keys to success as a writer is to start a project as early as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute. Paris Hilton showed up at jail two days early. That allowed her to get an early jump on her jail term, just as you should jump on projects as soon as possible. How many projects have you gotten off to a poor start on, simply because you put them off? Make sure to tackle projects in a timely manner so that you can make the most of the results. You, like Paris Hilton, just may be rewarded for it down the line.

Look for Creative Solutions

Rather than turn herself into jail at the women’s facility, where everyone was waiting for her, Paris cleverly turned herself into the men’s facility. This allowed her to be processed much more quickly and with fewer distractions than if she had attempted the same thing at the women’s facility in front of the hundreds of paparazzi and interested bystanders. How many times have you struggled with a project only to figure out an easier method later. Take the time to look at your options before you start. Good planning can eliminate needless work.

Make Sure Your Presentation is Attractive

Unlike other celebrities, who failed to prepare for their mug shots, Paris Hilton showed up in an attractive outfit with impeccable hair, makeup and a smile on her face. Take a look at your portfolio, business cards and web site. Could they be more attractive or professional? Take a look at your work. Have you been cutting corners on presentation?

Make Space for Yourself

Paris Hilton made sure to get her own special cell. This allowed her time to think about her life and her options. Without that private space, her three days in jail may have been substantially less productive. If a prisoner can find space for themselves, surely you can find a place to put your home office. Having a quality workspace helps you perform quality work.

Don’t settle for less than you deserve

Most prisoners would have simply eaten the food that was given them, no matter what the quality. Paris Hilton refused to settle. Rather than eat food that wasn’t worthy of her position, she simply chose not to eat. Not only did this prompt the facility to release her, it allowed her to shed the extra weight she has been carrying since Christmas (she was up almost two pounds). How many bad clients or low paying jobs have you accepted simply because you felt you needed the work? Sometimes you need to hold out for something better, just like Paris Hilton.

Create Specific Times in your Schedule for Writing

One of the differences between an amateur writer and a professional is the way they treat their writing time. If writing is something you do in your spare, unscheduled time, then your productivity will always suffer because most people never really allow themselves to have spare, unscheduled time. When they do, they plop down in front of the television set because they are “tired” and they need to “unwind”. Productive writers set aside specific times to write and they use that time.

Divide Your Project into Manageable Parts

Sitting down to write a novel is a daunting task. Sitting down to write a chapter is a little better and sitting down to write a scene seems much easier. Large projects aren’t finished in one session or even a dozen. Setting daily goals with specific targets makes it easier for you to keep control over what you are writing and gives you a greater sense of accomplishment.

Increase Your Accountability

If you set a specific date for completion of a project, or even a project phase, it will motivate you to work harder in order to meet that deadline. Making that deadline public is an even greater motivational tool. When it comes to writing, peer pressure can be an excellent motivator. If you join a writer’s group in which you need to present and discuss what you have been writing on a regular basis, it gives you a reason to keep working even when the project gets tougher.

Relocate

When your work space is the same as your living space, it can create problems. People like to associate home with relaxation. When you add an element of work to your home life, it blurs the lines between work and relaxation, which generally results in less work AND less relaxation. You may want to find a space outside the home to write. If you can’t afford an office, you can try your local library or a restaurant / coffee shop with a wireless Internet hotspot.

Consider Other Types of Writing

In many cases, people choose projects that aren’t suitable for the amount of time they have to devote. For example, a person who only has three hours a week set aside for writing, and who has to divide that amount of time into two or three sessions, is probably going to have trouble writing a novel. Novels are extended, time-consuming efforts and the delay between beginning a novel and completing it can make the entire effort seem wasted if something goes wrong. That same person may do quite well writing poetry, short stories or personal essays, all of which are much more manageable on a tight schedule.