Join the screenwriters who write to me each week saying, "Your columns are so inspiring," "The light came on after reading this," "Great newsletter this week!!! Always seems to be what I need for my writing. It’s like you’re a mind-reader! Thank you!"
Terry Rossio's pep talk for screenwriters
Terry Rossio's pep talk for screenwritersWhether you're considering joining the Zero Draft Challenge or not, this story told by Terry Rossio (co-writer of things like Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean) may be just the pep talk you need today: “Director Robert Rodriguez said something profound to me once, talking one night about creativity. I believe he was repeating a story he had heard, though it could have been an original parable.
Paraphrasing, he said, 'So there is this pottery class, and the goal for everyone is to make the perfect clay pot. Half the students are told, make just one pot, so it can be perfect. So they research, they study, they design, they put all their effort into this singular focused attempt, trying to reach perfection, and the results are invariably dismal.
Now, the other half of the class, those students are told to simply make as many pots as they can as best they can in the time that they have. In that group, there are a bunch of terrible pots, but among them, invariably, there will be one or two pots that come out perfect.'
This is not to say, lower your standards.
It is to say, work to your highest standards in the time you have with the highest level of productivity.”
It’s very easy to get stuck in the “preparing to write” loop, and never start (or finish) the writing itself. But, as you’ve probably heard me say, we learn more by finishing one script than by starting (or not starting!) ten. So if we want to write, we need to write. And yet, I know the fear and pressure and doubt can be very real. My goal with the Zero Draft Challenge, is to ease that pressure, and make the process fun. If you want to write a screenplay — whether it’s your first, or your tenth — grab a seat on the ZDC Express and let’s get started. 🚀
(The earlier you sign up, the more time you'll have in the Slack group to get my help preparing your story idea before you start writing. 😊) See you there! Naomi |
Naomi | Write+Co. for screenwriters
Join the screenwriters who write to me each week saying, "Your columns are so inspiring," "The light came on after reading this," "Great newsletter this week!!! Always seems to be what I need for my writing. It’s like you’re a mind-reader! Thank you!"
Hey, it's Naomi with your weekly screenwriting memo! Today's topic... How to make plot and character work together One of the fastest ways to lose your audience is to let your plot and character drift on separate tracks. You see this most often in early drafts of screenplays, but sometimes it even slips into finished films. A protagonist is introduced with clear qualities and flaws, but then the events of the story don’t really challenge those traits. By the end, the character may have...
Why you still need to know your stuff, even with AI Right now, a lot of writers are asking whether and how to use AI in their writing projects. Where I land is this: AI can (when used well) be a useful creative assistant that helps with things like brainstorming ideas, offering options that get your wheels turning, or acting as a pushback machine that forces you to analyze, evaluate, and defend your story choices. But it’s just that: an assistant. You are the showrunner. The creative...
Hey, it's Naomi with your weekly screenwriting memo! Today's topic... Is your story idea actually ready to write? Story ideas are like seedlings. Some are ripe and ready to plant, others need more light, more time, or maybe they were never meant to grow into a full-blown screenplay. But many writers never stop to vet their ideas before they start writing. We get excited about an interesting or funny “what if?” We dive in — maybe even write 30 or 40 pages — only to hit a wall when we realize...