Thread by @TripperClancy

Since I have a lot of pre-WGA writers in my Twitterverse and it’s the end of the year, I was thinking it might be good to talk about the year-end analysis and next year goals so many of us do and how it relates to your own sanity. Short thread.

First off, your writing career is not on an annual calendar. It’s not a tax return. Jan 1st is an arbitrary date. Don’t look at an individual year as an important timeline. Writing careers much like scripts are full of sequences and surprising act breaks.

This is a marathon, not a sprint, and there is room for tons of writers to cross the finish line at their own pace. Don’t compare your year or your accomplishments/setbacks with any other writers. Very very unhealthy and will crush your creative energy #sanity.

Focus on what you can control: your writing. Don’t set goals that require divine intervention or relies on the courage of an exec or an agent. Your goal for 2021 shouldn’t be: I’m going to sell a spec. You don’t control the minds or actions of those who purchase specs.

But you CAN make a goal to write a spec that you yourself would want to see on the big screen (let’s be honest, small screen). You CAN make a goal to query a certain number of reps or apply to a certain number of fellowships or contests. These are within your control.

It’s actually my favorite thing about being a screenwriter. All I need is my laptop and even if no one will hire me, I know I can always (theoretically hopefully) write my way back into a career #sanity.

Same goes for the year-end post mortem. It’s not: Did I get an agent like I wanted? But rather: Did I write my dream pilot or feature spec? If the answer is no, then figure out why not and try to solve that issue with the next one.

Last thing. Life is hard and weird and there’s a pandemic and massive unemployment. Stress is everywhere. Goals you set are not etched in stone. You do your fucking best to hit them but you also have to cut yourself some slack if you miss. Deep breath and then try again. #sanity