Anything Goes : I'm as stuck as James Franco in 127 Hours by Radu Preotescu

Radu Preotescu

I'm as stuck as James Franco in 127 Hours

Hello, my name is Radu. I am a writer/screenwriter, i am 22 years old, I am in my third year of law school and I live in Romania's capital city Bucharest. My dilemma is this: Writing OR Screenwriting. Let me elaborate: I wrote and re wrote one script (120 pages) and half of a second script (same length) like everyone i was terrible at the beginning ( my first, first draft was 220 pages long and I didn't see anything wrong with it at that point =)) ) but over the years, by reading materials and attending webinars, I got better, a lot better, and I think now with enough time I could write pretty good script. The reason I don't is every time i sit and begin writing I am bombarded by the thought "Wouldn't this time be better spent writing / learning how to write a novel" I always was more of a movie person than a bookworm, but recently my passion for reading has grown a bit. I am familiar to the answer "Don't bother yourself with this, just write what you love most" I tend to think writing novels or short stories would be more fun due to the fact that I am allowed more freedom with the story. But just putting the screenwriting aside, a craft I was getting better and better at, is not a decision I should take without consideration if I want to eventually become a known and respected writer and screenwriter ( and I do want that). So, is it a mistake to think about how this decision might affect my goal? Is it recommended or possible, in general, for someone to craft his skills in both screenwriting and writing, while also going through law school? Is it a good idea, since I don't feel I read enough books to begin with, to focus on writing screenplays for now and maybe switch to writing novels when the books I read have grown in number? I think this last idea might be my best option. Any opinion, answer or recommendation would be greatly appreciated. This question has haunted me for long enough, stoping me from enjoying my creative process, making it hard for me to relax and even, in part, distracting me from making connections on stage 32. I ask you all to help me terminate this dilemma and if you need any more info, just let me know. Thank you!

D Marcus

I know the last thing a 22 year old wants to hear is what I'm going to say. But I'm going to say it anyway because I was told this at 20, ignored it, and by age 30 realized it was good advice. Set aside 2 hours each day to write. Not as difficult as you think it is. Difficult, challenging and you'll miss out on some things but it can be done. Writers write. So write for 2 hours each day. Saturday and Sunday you write a short story and you finish one a month. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday you write your novel. Finish 3 to 5 pages each day. On Thursday and Friday you write your screenplay. Finish 3 to 5 pages per day. When you're 26 years old you will have 48 finished short stories. You will have 1,000 to 2,500 pages of your novel (or novels). You will have 12 to 20 finished screenplays. No need to chose one or the other. Writers write. Do you have it in you? Cut the page count in half and you'll have 20 short stories, 500 to 1,000 pages of a novel and 6 to 10 screenplays. Still too much? Write just one page a day every day. When you're 26 you'll have 10 short stories, 575 pages of a novel and 4 completed screenplays. Can you set aside 2 hours each day to write?

Radu Preotescu

Thank you Marcus, your advise really shed some light over my problem. Two hours a day is and will be a fair amount of time for me.

D Marcus

I'm glad I could help a little. Writers write. And we can write both novels and screenplays. The "finish line" isn't a sprint - there really isn't a finish line. Spend a little time on each. One may take of in your creative mind so the other takes a back seat for a while. Many times I've been writing a TV episode and a short story pops into my head. I take a few hours of my day to write the story and then I'm back to the assignment.

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