Thread by @leah_from

I’ve had a few people ask, so here is my 🧵 on things that I did this last year to stay focused on my writing output and quality.
Note, I’m still a rookie at this and by no means a professional, but if even one person gets something good out of this I’ll call it a win. 1/10

The biggest thing for me with writing has been making time. I work full-time outside the home, travel a lot for my job, and have a 3yo, so finding time I was willing to sacrifice for this was key.
What gets scheduled gets done, and for me that means 10pm-midnight, M-F. 2/10

I’m a creature of habit, so I make sure everything is as predictable as possible when I sit down to write.
Mute phone, tell my SO that I’m writing and not to disturb me, I even go so far as to play the same exact music each time I write (also works as an informal timer) 3/10

My anxiety keeps me from working on one project at a time, but even still I always take time to mentally prepare WHAT I plan to write each night: get through this one scene, edit this chapter, outline this project. Makes it easier to sit down and maximize my time. 4/10

I set arbitrary goals for myself too: have a manuscript polished and ready for #PitMad for example, or focus on submitted to a screenplay contest. I have a writing partner that also helps me stay accountable: we meet weekly via Zoom to brainstorm, encourage, vent. 5/10

In addition, I have a screenwriting group that meets bi-monthly to help me stay accountable and get steady feedback. This has been the biggest breakthrough for 2021: regular, constructive feedback to give me the fuel to dig into edits and see projects thru to the end. 6/10

Putting in the time is part of the battle, but so is understanding the WHY. I try not to fall in love too hard with anything I write.
I accept that not everything I write will be great, but it should always 1) teach me something, and 2) be something I'm proud of doing. 7/10

I wanted to write A LOT in 2021 so I could try more things:

I wrote a rom com.
I wrote a children’s feature.
I wrote a sci fi novel.
I wrote a pilot.

Are they going to go anywhere? Probably not, but they have taught me a lot about myself, strengths & weaknesses alike. 8/10

People will tell you to write each day, but what that really means is be intentional about being a writer every day. Observe people. Experience new things. Wade into the uncomfortable fears in your mind.

Write the stories you want to read and see and hear. 9/10

I don’t know if I’ll ever get published, produce another script, or “break in,” but at least I’m having fun.

Writing is the highlight of my day, and spending the past year with it as my “part time job” has only showed me this is something I will never grow tired of doing. 10/10