The new year is just getting underway — 2009 is the best ever for our writing careers.
And for many, that means thinking about your writing in a brand new way.
In my forthcoming book, Save the Cat! Strikes Back, my favorite chapter is the last one. It describes the summer I became a “professional writer.” The idea that it is a profession seems to offend some people. These are the folks who believe that creativity should not be subject to the same rules as every other venture in life. And I admit, I was like that too, until the summer I gave up being a “bullhead” and began figuring out how to channel my creativity in a way that might be pleasing — and useful — to someone other than just me.
As part of that transformation, I discovered how “keeping business hours” — a set time and place and goal for my work — instead of being restricting, is actually freeing, and far more productive than I ever imagined. I also learned how maintaining a positive attitude, and finding a silver lining in every pitch meeting, phone call, contact, and hiccup in my progress, kept me on track to the ultimate positive outcome.
But my most important discovery was “Focus.” This is the idea that I have a specific goal — and even pick a specialty that I make it my business to master.
By choosing a specialty — e.g., I write rom-coms, or horror, or action — it becomes easier to find you, and see you as someone offering a service. Of all the important tools in achieving any goal, this is the key to finding your focus: knowing how others “see” you and trying your best to deliver better every time out.
What’s your service? And how is your focus on getting better at it getting you results?
By focusing on what you want to achieve this year, you raise your odds of doing it.
And I will be there with you, rooting for you every step of the way!
p.s. Thanks again to Screenwriters Online and Tony Greco and Mark who made me look so brilliant in the chat room in last night’s event. And stay turned for Monday when we announce our biggest, and most fun, contest yet!
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Blake…I always love your advice but I often wonder about the “focus.” Is it a bad idea to write different kinds of scripts? Sometimes I think I have a good comedy script or action idea while I’m working on a drama. Is it really rare for a screenwriter to succeed in different genres?
Cody
I can see your point. If Joe always writes cheesy horror it will get to the point where every time someone mentions Joe’s name there will be someone who says, “I know him. Isn’t he that guy that writes cheesy horror?” Then one day when someone says, “what we need is a cheesy horror movie” and someone else will say, “Isn’t Joe the guy that writes cheesy horror?”
Blake, I just to say that I love your books. I’m looking forward to the next one. Keep up the great work on your blog. I enjoy reading it. You always offer great advice.
p.s. Thanks again to Screenwriters Online and Tony Greco and Mark who made me look so brilliant in the chat room in last night’s event. And stay turned for Monday when we announce our biggest, and most fun, contest yet!
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Blake! It was a blast chatting with you at the SWO gathering! I’m quite sure Tony and the gang at SWO only do what you do for so many of us: chipped away some rough edges to let the screenwriting guru shine thru!
looking forward to another Also-Ran in the next grand contest, and whatever follows…
write on!
Do I sense a disturbance in the Force, Timothy? Just because you get good at something doesn’t mean it’s “cheesy.” Quite the opposite. We could also say: “Give me that Judd Apatow comedy” or “Give me that J.J .Abrams thriller.” Indeed that’s how both those writers built their credentials and clout — by finding their unique service! But I’m sure that’s what you meant to say, right?! Thanks for commenting and keep coming back! Great to hear from you!
Instead of such limiting terms, why not focus on a particular kind of movie. Okay I know that doesn’t make sense but if you become a great “dude with a problem” kind of guy, then there are thousands of different ways to tell that story. that can be a thriller, a rom-com, an action-adventure, a sci-fi.
I say focus on the type of films that Blake breaks down and master one of those. I’ve been wrestling with the idea of focus because I love writing both thrillers and fantasy, high, hard core, elves, dwarves and muscly fantasies. but if we focus on the theme we want to tell, the part of the script that people really CONNECT with, then we become better story tellers and we become “Joe” who always rights Dude with a problem scripts. “I wonder if he has any fantasy dude with a problem scripts, or thrillers for that matter.”
just my 2 Canadian pennies, which I think make about 1.4 American pennies right now.
Blake,
You are welcome to replace “cheesy” with just about any adjective and my comment still stands. Joe might be recognized for dark horror or uplifting horror or whatever and when someone is looking for that, he will be the goto guy. I chose to use “cheesy” because I was looking for an extreme in which it is unlikely that Joe will sell his script unless someone really is looking for what he writes. But if we want to make money, I think it is better to make our focus closer to what we know people want, though we will still have our own special flavor.
Timothy,
No no no. If you’re writing on spec you should always write for *yourself* – never for other people. If you write well, there will always be a market for your writing.
Cheers.
You make a good point, Terence! But I hope this is not about certain fallacies that have built up in which we think “Commercial” = “Uninspired” or Hollywood = Bad. Just not true. However you find your inspiration, I want you to win! 50,000 screenplays registered with the WGA last year, and what, 200 sales? I want you to be one of the 200 — no matter how you approach it. Especially when starting out, experimentation is great, and if you don’t have a particular idea of what your speciality might be, trying it all, looking for the type of story that grabs you — and you love to write, and ultimately finding a “voice” that is uniquely yours, is what it’s all about. Thanks for a great reminder!
Blake, two hours of firing questions at you last Tuesday night on Screenwriters Online really turned the lights on. I totally get, Theme and B Story now, like never before. A whole weekend seminar would rock. Looking forward to Monday’s creative challenge.
Hi Blake,
Couldn’t agree with you more. By the way, remember that web video discussion we had two years ago? Well, that initial work evolved into a new comedy series called Couch Cases. We’ve been in USA Today and this week we’re The Toronto Star Editor’s Pick (above a show written by a Seinfeld writer). Thought you’d like to know, and thank you for the inspiration!
P
Blake, I totally agree. For 2009 I’m focusing on my Victorian historicals (I’m a writer) and setting my screwball paranormals aside for now. The market is better for historicals, I’m totally adoring the story I’m working on, and I know when I get established, I’ll be able to bring those paranormals out and balance them with the historicals. To me, it’s a perfect solution.
This week I signed up for the RWA National convention (please tell me you’re going again!!!) and I’ll be pitching my book there, so my smaller focus is to have my book spit-shined and ready to go. And then I’m going to start my next book, so my service will be dark, sexy historicals once a year–great books that my editor can count on!
Blake,
As always, your advice is spot on! I write so much better when I allot professional hours for writing. Stephen King wrote about writers having a specific place to write, that’s just for writing. (His book, On Writing, is one every writer should read and reread.)
As far as genre focus, I concur on finding a niche. As a writer, I have a voice that is best lent to a specific kind of writing. Honing those skill sets, specific to those certain genres, strengthens that voice.
I have a request. If possible, could you make a list of recent box office successes, and list them by genre? List which films are Dude With a Problem, Golden Fleece, Monster In the House, etc. That would be a great addition to your website. It would also help other writers to find which genre they are most successful with writing, and give them actual box office successes of their genre from which they can learn.
Thanks again for being an inspiration to other writers. Your advice and books are a major positive influence on many, many writers. Keep up the great work!
~Nia
Talking of focus, is it good to pursue multiple formats (script, novel, pdf download, etc) when seeking maximum opportunity for exposure, discovery and take-up?
Or, should the maximum exposure come only from maximum number of different stories you produce, sticking to single format?
Thanks for the focus on focus, Blake!
The “professional” attitude and habits you describe have indeed been the only way — when I can maintain it — of my getting any meaningful work done. The muse needs to know where she can find you before she can visit. I refer you to a great little book that beautifully articulates this idea, “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. If the name is familiar, it may be because he wrote both the book and and the screenplay, “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, as as well as some kick-ass historical fiction. “The War of Art” is a great help for any writer dealing with resistance, procrastination, etc. esp. since most chapters are less than a page long. Also great for reading in the smallest room in your home.