THREAD: I've seen a few threads on this topic bouncing around lately, so thought I'd share my experience.
Three @austinfilmfestival's ago, I was at one of those roundtable things and received some wisdom from a screenwriter that totally changed my life. This is what she said:
Three @austinfilmfestival's ago, I was at one of those roundtable things and received some wisdom from a screenwriter that totally changed my life. This is what she said:
Start a WRITERS GROUP --
1. Keep it SMALL. ~5 people.
2. Meet EVERY WEEK to workshop each other's writing.
3. Everyone submits at least ONCE A MONTH.
4. SHUT UP AND LISTEN while you're getting feedback.
And
5. Don't go to draft until the GROUP APPROVES THE OUTLINE.
1. Keep it SMALL. ~5 people.
2. Meet EVERY WEEK to workshop each other's writing.
3. Everyone submits at least ONCE A MONTH.
4. SHUT UP AND LISTEN while you're getting feedback.
And
5. Don't go to draft until the GROUP APPROVES THE OUTLINE.
Then, she delivered THE CLINCHER, which imprinted itself immediately onto my brain...
She told us that FOUR out of the FIVE writers in her group, which had been doing this for the past nine years, had WON The Nicholl.
She told us that FOUR out of the FIVE writers in her group, which had been doing this for the past nine years, had WON The Nicholl.
So of course, I immediately went back to MY writer's group, which at the time was a group of aspiring writer friends who met every other Saturday or so to drink beer, and asked if they wanted to do this. Everybody agreed that it was probably time to up-level.
And so, we did.
And so, we did.
Since AFF 2018 we have been meeting 3x a month to review each other's work. In that time, we have workshopped 140 pieces total, from pitches to pages.
We don't do everything exactly as outlined above, but we've developed a rhythm and methodology that works for us.
We don't do everything exactly as outlined above, but we've developed a rhythm and methodology that works for us.
But most importantly, we're consistent.
We've met during vacations, from different time zones, after 14-hr days on set, from the hospital waiting room after the birth of a child, and through an entire fucking global pandemic.
If someone can't make it, we reschedule.
We've met during vacations, from different time zones, after 14-hr days on set, from the hospital waiting room after the birth of a child, and through an entire fucking global pandemic.
If someone can't make it, we reschedule.
Over the past 2+ years, this group has become my brain trust and dev team. They know what kind of stuff I write, understand my strengths and weaknesses, and see all my writing before anyone else does, from the malformed fetal idea blobs I usually start with to the finished thing.
Working with other people regularly has improved my craft, made me faster and (hopefully!) made me better in a room.
But most of all, it has helped me mentally...
But most of all, it has helped me mentally...
I went from writing in a vacuum and being constantly worried that my dreams were delusional to being a repped writer who is pitching original ideas, getting paid to write (a little!), and starting to get put up for staffing, etc. Other people in my group are on similar journeys.
I have by no means "broken in" but things feel possible now and that feels dope. Forever grateful to that AFF screenwriter who inspired me to get my shit together!
So if you're thinking of starting a writers group...DO IT! DO IT AND BE HAPPY! (not advice. just enthusiasm.)
So if you're thinking of starting a writers group...DO IT! DO IT AND BE HAPPY! (not advice. just enthusiasm.)
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