by Jenna | Aug 18, 2023 | ScriptMag Articles
With the start of school and fall on the horizon, there’s this energy many of us naturally connect to that feels motivating and inspiring to start new things, take action, get organized, and make things happen. Lean into this energy and let it buoy you toward the momentum and progress you’re wanting.
In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m addressing a question regarding getting back to writing after summertime.
“My kids are starting school again. (Whew! Ack!) Truth be told, it’s been hard to write this summer with so much going on between family vacations and organizing summer camps. How can I regain my momentum after a rocky summer, writing-wise?”
Hey, good question! Many screenwriter-parent types are asking ourselves similar questions right now. Whether you’ve been writing intermittently, or not at all, the good news is that as your kids head to their classrooms, you can tap into the “back-to-school” energy they’ll be experiencing too.
And this is true whether or not you’re a parent. There’s a natural activation energy that arises in the fall and spring in particular, so this is a smart time to revisit your writing practice and give it a refresh if needed.
Here are the 7 steps I discuss in my response:
- Remind yourself to treat writing like a pro.
- At the same time, allow writing to be fun and joyful.
- Lean into the back-to-school activation energy.
- Revisit your writing practice.
- Remember, you can ramp up gradually.
- Keep going to keep going.
- Be ready to adapt.
Want the full scoop? Get all the details in the full article on Script Mag:
by Jenna | May 19, 2023 | ScriptMag Articles
In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m addressing two questions regarding finding representation and connecting with producers (and some notes about navigating these appropriately during the Writer’s Guild strike).
Here are some of the action steps I discuss in my response:
- Do the research to find the companies and individuals that are a good fit. (With recommended resources.)
- Look for ways to connect.
- Nurture relationships over time.
- Build your own overall network of industry contacts that may naturally lead to an introduction at some point.
Focus on genuinely connecting with managers you think could be a good fit for you and your work. Follow them. Read what they post. Respond authentically when appropriate. Help out with something they’re looking for. Relationships evolve organically when nurtured over time. Keep an eye out for an opportunity to work together to arise, naturally.
by Jenna | Apr 22, 2023 | ScriptMag Articles
In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to two questions about writing scene descriptions, including seeing it as an opportunity for your voice to shine, and where to draw the line with what to include and what to leave out.
Here are the main points I discuss in my response:
- Scene descriptions can be a delightful way to design your pages.
- Scene descriptions are a place where your voice gets to shine.
- Include thoughts and emotions in scene descriptions sparingly.
- Focus on what’s truly important to the story when writing descriptions.
Writing scene descriptions offers a unique opportunity for screenwriters to feature their voice, style, and creativity. Allow it to come through with all the choices you make, while striking the balance between creating the blueprint for the visual, cinematic world of your story, keeping your writing open and flowing on the page, and giving your readers and audience insights into the depths of your characters and the critical information they need to follow the story.
Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels
by Jenna | Mar 25, 2023 | ScriptMag Articles
In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to two questions about choosing projects and getting feedback.
“I have four different topics that intrigue me. All could be short non-fiction books. How do I commit to one? It seems like each day a different one appeals more. I start on one, then wonder if another would be easier or more fun.”
Here are the main ideas I discuss in my response:
- Reflecting on what kind of writer you are, and the kinds of challenges you face.
- The “grass is greener” feeling
- Using your inner knowing to pick the project you want to work on first.
- Using “decision criteria” to identify a list of criteria to litmus test your writing choice.
And this is the second question I answered:
“What do you do after you have finished writing your script — how to edit, get feedback, etc.?”
Here are the steps I suggest in my response:
- Set your script aside for at least a few days.
- Read through your draft and make notes.
- Make a short reverse-outline of the script.
- Make notes about what’s working and what’s not.
- Tackle the big stuff first.
- Correct smaller items as needed (but not in scenes you might cut!).
- Set it aside again, then read and repeat.
- Once you have a draft you feel good about, then look for feedback.
When it comes to choosing projects to work on, to finishing and getting feedback on your scripts, trust your inner knowing about what resonates and what doesn’t.
Photo from Canva
by Jenna | Mar 17, 2023 | Science Fiction, ScriptMag Articles
A new article over on Script Mag featuring my discussion with Eric Heisserer, the series creator and showrunner of Shadow and Bone, and the screenwriter behind Arrival and Bird Box, about how he came to work on the show, his approach to the adaptation, how he runs the show, and world-building in fantasy.
“The important thing to focus on is preserving how the source material made you feel when you read it, and to hold on to that feeling and making sure it’s preserved in your adaptation.” -Eric Heisserer
[read the article on Script Mag]
Photo courtesy of Netflix © 2022
by Jenna | Feb 18, 2023 | ScriptMag Articles
In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a question about how to keep up confidence in writing:
“My biggest challenge is making regular time to write and work on a script. My question is about keeping my confidence up that I can do this.”
Here’s the high-level overview of my response:
- Being confident means feeling self-assured, believing in yourself and your abilities, and trusting that you can rely on yourself.
- Build confidence through experience and by taking action.
- Protect your confidence by making smart choices about who you interact with and with whom you share your work.
- How you talk to yourself really matters.
- Taking consistent, regular action to write builds confidence.
- Starting and finishing scripts makes a big difference.
- Facing and solving tough story challenges teaches you that your storytelling skills are improving.
- The evidence you take in matters.
- Choosing to believe in yourself ultimately comes first — it’s a choice.
When you take creative risks, however small, and build on your successes, you gradually learn where and how you can trust yourself.