Every time I teach my Beginner’s Guide to Screenwriting workshop I get asked these same questions and they’re almost always prefaced by the statement “this is probably a dumb question but…”
However, if no-one has told you about this stuff, how would you know? And I think knowing what you don’t know is actually kinda smart.
So let’s jump in and clarify some basics…
Continue reading The Best Dumb Questions About Screenwriting
I want to write a screenplay/book/play BUT I don’t have time.
I want to finish my book/short film BUT can’t because I have children.
I want to apply for that writer’s grant I heard about BUT there’s probably no point.
I want to enter that short story competition BUT only real writers ever win.
I want to write a book BUT I’m afraid I’m not good enough yet.
I want to write short stories BUT I worry I’m too old to start now.
I want to write BUT I worry I’m too young and that people won’t take me seriously.
I want to write for TV BUT I don’t know other writers or industry people.
I want to write plays BUT I have to spend most of my time making a living.
I want to write one day BUT I’m waiting until I retire/until work calms down/until the house is renovated/until I’ve done one more workshop /until the kids have left school etc, etc, etc, etc.
And the list goes on.
I hear variations of these excuses all the time. And sometimes I hear one or two coming out of my own mouth – goddamnit. But there are always numerous, perfectly freaking logical reasons for not investing your time in writing and, um, so what?
