So Long 2020! (Thank Goodness!) 4 New Year’s Resolutions for Screenwriters

Hi All,

This time last year I wrote a post about setting intentions for the New Year (I like “intentions” rather than “resolutions” - takes the pressure off a bit). Well, with 2020 being… a lot, I think a new post about intentions for 2021, is a good idea.

Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean forgetting 2020 completely. Last year was challenging, but it taught me some great lessons (when setting intentions for the future, I always think it’s useful to reflect on the past).

So, what did 2020 teach you? (Besides that you can have a meeting wearing your pajama bottoms?) How can you carry those lessons into the year ahead to better serve yourself, our world, and your career? What do you want to try in 2021 that you’ve never done before?

Here are 4 New Year’s resolution/intention ideas for screenwriters:

1. Step out of your comfort zone

This intention is one of my personal favorites, and I think it’s more relevant now than ever. Most of us spent the majority of 2020 indoors, seeing only our immediate family, or in some cases - no other real live person for months on end. It was easy to stay in our comfort zone - because we quite literally couldn’t go anywhere. But, the greatest rewards (both personally and professionally) usually happen when we step outside of our comfort zone. So, for 2021, when most of our interactions are still relegated to Zoom calls, how can you push yourself a bit beyond your limits? Maybe it’s putting your work out there by entering an online script competition? Or joining an online writing class? Or maybe going outside of your comfort zone means trying something that scares you in your actual writing? Do you usually write feature scripts? Why not try writing a pilot? Doing something outside of your comfort zone (in your writing or in your everyday life) can help strengthen your weaker skills, make you less afraid (in more ways than one), give you a shot of confidence, and expand your creativity. My trip outside my comfort zone is beginning to write short stories. Daunting, but fun.

2. Write something you love

A lot of beginner writers get obsessed with the idea of ‘writing a script that will sell’ rather than pursuing an idea that they love. Don’t get me wrong, I hope everyone reading this writes many scripts that sell, but when a writer creates a story based on marketability rather than passion, when they chase the marketplace - it usually falls flat. If you’re writing a script to sell, chances are you’re basing it off of something that already exists, that’s already a proven commodity - so your script will never feel fresh because it’s not new, or uniquely yours. A script is exciting to a reader when it communicates passion and a unique voice that has a unique point of view. A script written “just to sell” rarely has those qualities. Maybe resolve this year to stop trying to deliver what you “think” the market wants, and put your focus on delivering what makes your heart and soul happy (and funnily enough, you might just findit’s that authenticity that sells your script).

3. Get involved

Another big reminder 2020 gave me was that I can make a difference. Whether it’s getting out to vote (or getting out the vote), getting involved in social activism, volunteering to help out in my community, or even just joining a writers group - when you get involved you can have an impact. So much positive social activism started to gain momentum this year - how can you do your part to keep that momentum going in 2021? How can you use your skills to help those that need it? What causes do you believe in that you could add your voice to? Activities like volunteering in your community (even if it’s over Zoom) can make a difference and, believe it or not, have a positive impact on your writing.

4. Continue to be resilient

If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that we all have more resiliency than we maybe ever thought possible. There were a lot of challenges, hardships, and scary moments this past year that, yes, we are all thankful to hopefully leave behind, but that showed us how much strength we have. Consider setting the intention, both for your career and your personal life, to carry this sense of resiliency forward and operate from a new-found place of strength and determination. So what if one exec doesn’t like your script, or you can’t seem to land a rep - you made it through a global pandemic - you have the capacity to pick yourself up and keep going!

Looking for more New Year’s intention ideas? Check out my post from last year, and I wish you all a great start to 2021!

What intentions have you made for 2021? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!