How to Survive when the Industry Contracts

Last week a client sat across from me, frustrated and tired. He’d staffed for two seasons — first as a staff writer, then as a story editor — and hadn’t had a single staffing meeting in two years. He felt stuck, desperate, and even a little ashamed.

He told me he was thinking about going back to get an MBA. Before writing he’d worked in finance and liked it, but loved writing more — so he’d followed his passion, and it landed him in a writers’ room. Now though, there was with no work on the horizon and his savings was dwindling fast.

We talked it through and came up with a plan. What he needed most — to feel sane and creative — was financial stability. We agreed the odds of getting staffed in this climate were slim, but he could still sell a pilot or feature spec if the script was blazing hot. So he decided to take a job that paid the bills but still left time to write evenings and weekends.

I told him it was okay to pivot. His mental health came first. He agreed, and once he accepted that staffing probably wouldn’t happen anytime soon, the pressure lifted. He felt calmer, more hopeful, and now he’s applying to grad school. He’s not leaving writing behind — he’s being strategic and building a new, more sustainable path forward. 

 All he really wants is to sell a script or two a year. He said he doesn’t need to be “Hollywood” rich so the extra money from a script sale would just be for a financial cushion, an ego boost, and a way to stay connected to his creativity. 

Unfortunately, his story isn’t unusual — the whole industry has contracted. Work is scarce, rooms are smaller, and many talented, experienced writers are facing silence. The kind of silence that makes you question if you’ll ever sell anything again.

But while you can’t control if and when the industry opens back up, you can control how you move through this moment. Because surviving this stretch of uncertainty isn’t just about crossing your fingers and waiting it out — it’s about staying grounded, creatively fulfilled, and honest with yourself about where you are and what you need, no matter what the business is doing. 

Here are a few ways to keep writing (and stay sane) when nothing’s selling:

1. Focus on what you can control

I tell every writer I talk to that during this time of uncertainty and contraction, there are still two things within your control: improving your craft and expanding your community. Do both. Log those 10,000 hours of improving your craft and meet more people — the more connections you make, the more chances you have of getting an opportunity (and if you’re constantly honing your skills, the more confident you’ll feel if and when that opportunity shows up). You can’t control the market, but a wider network and blazing hot writing are the “magic” ingredients that can lead to good “luck and timing”. If nothing else, focusing on what’s within your control can create a sense of momentum, optimism and possibility when everything else feels uncertain.

2. If you’re unmotivated, build a writing ritual

If this industry slowdown has left you drifting around in your pajamas, telling yourself you’ll “start later” — create a ritual that signals to your brain: it’s writing time (think of it like putting on workout clothes to convince yourself to exercise). Maybe light a candle on your desk every time you sit down to your laptop; write at the same coffee shop every weekday at 9am; or create a “writing playlist” you put on in the background that keeps you focused. Whatever small act gets you to open your laptop and just “begin” — do it. Don’t wait for motivation. Start, and let motivation catch up. (This is the number one thing over which you have control.)

3. When you need to, take the side job (with zero shame)

For some writers, this “lull” will last months. For others, much longer. And for some, it might mark the end of one chapter and the start of something new. That’s hard to say, but it’s true — and there’s no shame in it. If you’re burning through your savings, take the side job. Teach. Consult. Copywrite. Wait tables again if you have to. It’s not giving up — it’s keeping yourself afloat. Sometimes stability is the most creative thing you can give yourself (it’s hard to concentrate on a script when you’re worried about making rent). And if you do decide to step back or step away from screenwriting for a bit, that’s not failure either. A writing career doesn’t have to look like a straight line. You might leave and come back stronger — or find a new way to tell stories altogether.

4. This isn’t down time, it’s prep time

That “void” between gigs can be stressful, but it can also be time and space to focus on what you care about. No exec expectations or studio deadlines to meet, the only person you have to answer to is you. So, what do you want to work on? Maybe dust off a passion project; or write the script that isn’t “on trend” but keeps waking you up at night with ideas; or maybe you use this time to take a class or practice pitching. This isn’t wasted time, it’s “prep time” — so when execs do come calling again, you’ll have fresh work and sharper skills to show for it.

5. Reconnect without the desperation vibe

When you’re buried in deadlines, it’s easy for relationships to slip through the cracks. Now’s the perfect time to circle back. Grab coffee with a writer friend. Send a genuine, “Hey, thought of you when I saw this article” email to an exec you clicked with. The key word here is: genuine. People can smell a “got any work?” email a mile away. This isn’t about begging for favors (or a paycheck);  focus on how you can help them. This is an opportunity to refresh connections and strengthen your network (which, again, is something you have control over). It sounds harsh, but when the industry does “uncontract”, only the most talented people with strong relationships are going to get work. I’m not saying this to panic you, I’m saying it to encourage you build and maintain valuable connections. 

6. Make writing fun again

When you haven’t worked in a while, the pressure to write your “next big spec” can suck the joy right out of writing. So, drop the idea of “marketable” for a minute and write something just because it’s fun. Maybe it’s a short story that’s totally ridiculous, a weird short film, or even just a 2-page scene in a genre you’ve never tried. It doesn’t have to sell, it doesn’t have to be good — it just has to remind you why you love writing in the first place. (And, who knows? I know a horror writer who wrote a comedy feature spec, sent it to her reps “just for a laugh” and it turned into her next big script sale).

7. The industry will evolve — and so will you

This business is changing. Some writers will find their way back into rooms; others will build new paths entirely. What matters is staying connected to the part of you that’s creative and loves to tell a great story — even if the professional part may have to shift. This industry might not return to what it was before, but it will evolve and so will you.

How do you keeping going between gigs? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!

For more industry info and tips check out these additional resources:

If you're interested in finding out more about my one-on-one coaching, go to: carolekirschner.com/options

For the ultimate guide to pitching a TV show that sells, check out my e-book, The Ultimate Guide to a Killer Pitch

To learn how to create your “personal logline” read my free e-book, Tell Your Story in 60 Seconds.

For my in-depth video course on breaking into the business go to: Carole Kirschner’s Hollywood Boot Camp.

And you can find my book, Hollywood Game Plan on Amazon or at Michael Wiese Productions (MWP).