This post was guest written by Script Quack. They offer professional script analysis and are currently giving readers of SellingYourScreenplay.com a special discount. Just enter the discount code “sellingyourscreenplay” (without the quotes) on the discount page which can be found here:
http://www.scriptquack.com/discountpage.html
In screenwriting, the protagonist should always have a clearly defined goal. This is a fundamental tenet of screenwriting, and one of the first rules beginning writers learn. The hero’s goal is imperative for a few reasons. Without it, your story will have no momentum or drive. But more importantly, the audience will have no way to measure the successes and failures that the hero experiences.
Think about it: If Indiana Jones didn’t want the Crystal Skull, how would the audience (or the hero for that matter) be able to keep track of the plot? Indie’s clearly defined goal fuels every decision he makes, and this keeps the audience locked in all the way until end credits roll.
But somehow, screenwriters fail to apply this maxim to their daily lives. They don’t set clear goals for their screenwriting careers. Thus, they’re unable to measure their own successes and failures. They’re unable to effectively pursue the career they desire.
Clearly defined career goals are imperative for success in screenwriting.
Without clearly defined career goals, it’s all too easy for writers to lose ambition and drive. Just like a hero without a goal, they’ll meander and stumble, failing to make progress in their journey.
Eventually, day jobs, hobbies, and life in the real world take over, and most screenwriters give up altogether. They quit writing because it’s too hard and they’re just fed up.
A loosely defined goal is easy to be disloyal to, and that’s why so many writers quit.
That’s why it’s important for every writer to really think about where they see their career going, and to establish BIG GOALS for their future in screenwriting.
Where do you want to be next year? How about three, ten or twenty years down the line? Clear, yearly goals are integral for success in any field. Especially in writing, where success can mean so many different things.
Don’t think any of this stuff really matters? Think about it from the perspective of an agent or manager: They want to work with writers that know who they are and what they want to become. An agent or manager’s job is to sculpt your career – the career you want – a task that’s decidedly difficult if you haven’t taken the time to think about it for yourself.
Creating Your Career Map
Prepare yourself for the career you dream of by planning for it now. Creating a career map is a great way to get started. Here’s how to do it:
First research your favorite movies. Who wrote these films, and what kind of careers have they had? If you can find a writer who has a career you admire, you’d be wise to model your career goals on what they’ve accomplished.
How did your favorite writers get their start? Who represented them? What are they working on now? And what might the future have in store for them?
Think… “Is this what I want for myself?” It’s helpful to find writers who work in your specific genre, so check there first.
Ultimately, try to pick one writer to model your career after. Keep looking until you find a writer you love that’s had your dream career. Trace their progress over time, and think about how you might be able to achieve the same. Find inspiration and stop waiting. Outline your goals. Then you can achieve them.
At the end of the day, writers are just like the heroes we create. We must pursue a clearly defined goal if we’re going to find success. If you’re on www.sellingyourscreenplay.com, you’ve already begun to think in the right direction. This site is an incredible resource to help you sell your script. But if you want a career, you need to plan past that sale. Think about what comes after that, and after that, ten years down the line, and you’ll have a much better chance at success.
Remember – every hero needs a goal. Go get your ideal career right now.
This post was guest written by Script Quack. They offer professional script analysis and are currently giving readers of SellingYourScreenplay.com a special discount. Just enter the discount code “sellingyourscreenplay” (without the quotes) on the discount page which can be found here:
http://www.scriptquack.com/discountpage.html