Screenwriting : A Plan to Succeed in Screenwriting in 2022 by CJ Walley

I can’t believe I am about to write this.

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

I'm planning to fail, that way I can't lose.

I’m planning to succeed in being happy during the process. :)

Being happy is essential and that's a big part of the article.

I’m plotting an outline for a plan. If the outline for the plan tests well in a room - then I’ll create an accompanying mood board and announce a (possible) future plan for 3Q22. (Dependant on current market trends in that period). If the plan eventually fails to bloom - I’ll blame an emotional cohesion failure between integral parts of the whole.

I love the "find your tribe" advice...It's difficult to do when you're alone in an apartment in Brooklyn, but Stage 32 and LinkedIn are great resources. Looking forward to selling a screenplay in 2022, and getting out of the house more!

Yes, I agree J R. In the section, CJ said the truth that “This is a world rife with imposters, bullshitters, and hucksters surrounded by bitter and deluded amateurs”! This includes industry people too. And being happy in the process means you have your career and life outside of trying to break in with a pipe-dream.

Great advice as usual! Thanks, CJ!

As I've grown older (& grumpier too) I realize that I can no longer suffer the unmotivated, ignorant and arrogant fools of today's 'screenwriter' tribe. So in 2022 I'll be joining the modest band of creative indie filmmakers.

Glad some of you have found this useful, and yes, finding the tribe that brings out the best in you is essential. This also means keeping the wrong people out of your creative life. Don't let the toxicity creep in.

Thanks CJ Walley. I appreciate your wisdom. I tried to follow the mantra "Live in the answer, not in the problem." As my tribe grows I'm finding positivity and support. Wishing you, and everyone here, a brilliant, prosperous, and rewarding 2022.

As always, I appreciate your thoughtful pearls of wisdom, CJ. It's funny sometimes how much we all tend to underplay the significance of common sense, pragmatism, patience, and planning. The latter could be applied to nearly every single professional environment in which I've worked. My biggest hurdle is a combination of time and self-loathing.

Time: There's never enough time to focus on what I love.

But, that's my life and all the personal responsibilities that come with it.

Self-loathing: Because I probably haven't spent as many hours as I can trying to improve, I often come to the conclusion that I'm simply not very good at this writing malarkey, and what's the point in continuing to make a mockery of myself, and then wasting what very little spare time I have on this journey. Yes, it's all very self-indulgent and precious.

So, when in one of those dark cloud days, I turn my attention to trying to help others in this space and do whatever I can to encourage, advocate, and every once in a blue moon, offer my own small pearl of wisdom. Hence, why planning also has to allow for curve balls. And when they come, try to ride them out by focusing on stuff that can keep you positive. Or, at least, that's what occasionally works for me. As for all of you, no matter where you are in this journey,

I wish you the best in 2022. And for those that do find themself feeling 'grumpy' from time-to-time with other tribes (as we all do, now and again), just remember Plato: "Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Wise words, Jeremy. I remember sitting in a hotel room in Van Nuys between shooting days, taking in a moment to reflect on the fact I was making a movie, and all I could think was, why did I make all those years of pain so much more tormenting by questioning if I could do this?