Finding time to write a script can be a daunting task. I've often struggled with finding the time to sit down at my desk or get to the nearest Starbucks before the best tables fill up. But then the baby happened. (Cue ominous STING.)
I didn't realize how luxurious a table at Starbucks was until the demands of fatherhood had me longing for the days when I could just use the drive-thru. My wife and I were lucky enough to get some time off from our jobs when our baby girl was born, but just about every moment was spent tending to her needs because we had no family in town to help with our precious little package. And after we both had to go back full-time, whew! That has been tough. For those of you who manage it without even taking time off work or doing it solo, a million kudos to you!!!
This is not to say that we don't all have challenges when it comes to finding time to write. You may have an extremely demanding job, or even two or three demanding jobs. You may have health issues, you may be couch surfing at friends' places, you may have transportation problems... The list goes on and on. But I am here to tell you with absolute certainty: YOU CAN WRITE A FEATURE SCRIPT!
I wrote an 81-page screenplay in a couple of months by breaking up the process into manageable chunks. Want to know how to do it?
Embrace Micro-Sessions.
Stop pining for long stretches in the nearest pub or coffee shop. Daydreaming about a life sitting under a palm tree with your laptop, tapping out beautiful prose while your toes peek out from the shade to wiggle in the sunlight, is out! Fantasies will only distract from your goal. You need to make up your mind that you're going to write a script come hell or high water. So...
1. Capture Ideas on the Go:
Keep your laptop or phone handy to jot down ideas whenever inspiration strikes. Sometimes I had a few minutes to pop open my laptop and jot something down in a Google Doc, and sometimes I had to mumble into the voice recorder on my phone while I fed the baby her bottle. Whether it's during a smoke break, while the baby naps, or taking the bus, RECORD YOUR THOUGHTS! You'll be amazed at what you end up with after a few days or a couple of weeks of exploring the random things that pop into your head.
2. Use an Outlining Template:
You'll know you have a great idea when it's the one you can't stop thinking about. At this stage, an outlining template is your best friend. Yes, some like to "explore" their script, like Tarantino writing long-hand on a legal pad, but you don't have time for that right now. You need to get something done!
In this case, the template isn't there to teach you how to write. I've written many scripts before and can practically recite many templates from memory. The idea is that when you're physically tired, emotionally down, or even emotionally volatile, the template takes a lot of thinking out of the process. You just fill in the blanks. I used the 8 sequence method, which allowed me to explore my script in broad strokes. I wrote a paragraph for every sequence, taking about 8 days, dedicating 10-15 minutes each day.
I can hear you saying, "But Paul, how can you weave a beautiful story in just 10-15 minutes a day? I need twice that just to warm up my fingers."
You're not looking for perfection here. You need to get the clay on the spinning thingy before you can start to sculpt, so just slap that gray goo down. If it somewhat resembles the story you had in your head, you're good to go.
3. Fleshing Out the Outline:
After I had something that resembled my story, I then changed my template to Save the Cat. This allowed me to get a little more detailed and smooth out the rough edges from the 8 sequence method. The good thing about the detail in Save the Cat is that you can again approach it in 15, 10, or even 5 minute chunks to fill in the blanks on your template.
4. Consistency Over Quality:
I can't stress this enough: You're still not looking for perfection here! Get it down and get it done! This version will be a little better than your last outline, and each subsequent version will get better, I promise or your money back! I aimed to spend several short sessions each day and eventually had a 10-page outline in about 10 days. It's amazing what you can do in just a few minutes when you're trying not to think too much.
5. The Actual Script:
Now it was time to buckle down. I was nervous, remembering how I would sweat over previous screenplays--the B stories, the motivations, the cardboard villains, the emotional rhythms... But to my surprise, most of it was already there in the outline. In my constant fog born of sleepless nights and take-out food at almost every meal, I had managed to write something down that made sense. Every beat was laid out and my main character, although not complete, was pointing in a discernible direction. I just needed to do a little molding.
This will be you, too! When you force yourself to write no matter what, you may not have that juicy session where you're sobbing at your own beautiful words, but you'll be amazed at what you do have: structure, character, and story.
At this point, I did manage some longer writing sessions, sometimes as much as an hour. But that wasn't often. I was frequently sitting on the couch as my daughter and exhausted wife slept and tapped out a quick scene in 10 or 15 minutes. But after about a month of doing this, I had a first draft!
Bonus Tips
1. Screw Identifying Specific Writing Windows:
You're looking for any pockets of time in your daily routine where you can fit in micro-sessions. Always carry with you the tools to write when you can--your phone and/or your laptop. You'll find time during your lunch break, before bed, or if you're like me, you'll find time to mumble into your phone at dawn while you're still groggy from a night of feeding the little one.
2. Set Clear, Achievable Goals:
You're not setting hard deadlines with this method because if you're super busy, your days may not be predictable. Your achievable goals aren't word counts, pages, or scenes. Your goal is to find 5 minutes to write a few times a day.
3. Leverage Technology:
Use writing tools like Google Docs and your phone's voice recorder to catalog your ideas. I love this because it always feels like a purge of the things constantly floating around in my head.
4. Make Any Space Your Workspace:
You don't need to design a cozy writing nook that encourages creativity. Your phone and laptop are your lightsaber and blaster; they're at your side and ready to use at any moment, in any place. You can write while waiting at the doctor's office, tapping your foot while the microwave counts down, or at a cantina in Mos Eisley.
5. Celebrate Small Wins:
Acknowledge and reward yourself for meeting milestones, no matter how small. This keeps you motivated and on track. Doing that first outline is a big step, as is the second outline and the first draft. You may not feel like Amy Heckerling or Tom Stoppard while you're writing in this way, but you know what? Sometimes they don't either.
I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS! I am not special by any means, and if I can do this in 5-minute chunks, so can you! By breaking your script-writing process into very small sessions, you can steadily bring your midnight masterpiece to life. Balancing your passion with a busy schedule is tough but possible, and with these strategies, you can achieve your creative goals one micro-session at a time.
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