Screenwriting : Keeping a writing schedule in the real world. Any ideas. by Melissa Tate

For us, you carve out time, find time. I know several whom will write for 30 minutes before bedtime when all's quiet even if it means going to bed 30 minutes late, or waking up one hour early to get some writing in.

Well, the truth of life is that creativity is either done by rich people who don't need to work or the unemployed.

Write what works for you; the only competition is yourself; dont worry how others do. A writing friend is now a WGA union writer; she wrote specs before her kids start school and after midnite when kids slept. You want to do this for a living, you will figure a way

Melissa Tate - Everyone's life is different so it's a question of what needs in your life exist, like Dan MaxXx and Lindbergh E Hollingsworth are both saying. Carve it out when you've met the present needs that matter more. Then keep in mind that it's not always about quantity but about quality. If you've thought out a well structured/formatted scene that flows and adds value to the script, you've done a good thing even if it took you 10 minutes to type it out after formatting it in your mind for the previous 2 hours.

Happy New Year, @Melissa Tate! Great advice in the comments. Lindbergh E Hollingsworth said "waking up one hour early to get some writing in." I've been doing that lately, and it really helps me get pages done. Even getting up 30 minutes early helps. You could also brainstorm ideas/scenes and write during lunch breaks and other breaks (a paragraph, a few paragraphs, etc.).

Melissa Tate Besides finding the actual time in space to write, I find that setting attainable weekly goals helps keep up the momentum and not get discouraged. Even if that's one page a weekday starting out... or one scene - anything that you can bite off and chew. Those gains will add up and soon you'll be working on editing your second draft or packaging it up for submission…

When I started I would write late at night. It doesn't matter when as long as you keep writing.

Try doing it for money...you'll see how "extra time" pops out :)

The irony of this situation is that forcing a schedule can set expectations that actually lock up your creativity.

Each one of us is actually a motivation engine that needs an upward cycle of inspiration and validation. You say it's about setting with those pro writers Melissa, but like Kiril, I'd say it's more about money, opportunity, and performing for others.

I can work full days and churn out scripts in record time when the motivation is there.

Best trick I ever learned: Schedule other things around my writing time instead of trying to schedule my writing time around everything else. It's too easy to procrastinate or just skip it when I try to jam writing time in between everything else. It's a frame of mind.

Obviously, when you have a job, kids, etc... there are some things that just can't be moved around. But if you can carve out some time for your writing each day and write it in your schedule/calendar, giving it the same level of importance as everything else, and then guard that time jealously, it helps to assure that you get that time.

Writing time is one of those things that is far too easy to push aside in favor of the unexpected other things that come up. But if you can mentally treat it like a non-negotiable, it helps a lot. For example, when I was teaching riding lessons full time, I needed my mornings for my kids, and then once they were at school and all my horse chores were done, there was a couple hours before lunch that I wanted to use for my own goals so I could get it out of the way for the day. So, when clients would call to schedule a lesson, if they requested that time slot I would just tell them I'm already booked. They didn't question it like they would have if I'd said, "Sorry, that's my me time." Booked is booked. Not available during those two hours. Period, end of story. No one questioned it, they'd just pick a different time when I was "available." At first, I'd feel a little guilty because I knew I could schedule them into that time slot if I wanted to. But I also knew if I did that, the day would get away from me, or something would come up, and then my stuff that I wanted to do in the process of working toward my personal goals, wouldn't get done. So, I just X'd out that time slot on every day of my calendar and disciplined myself to schedule everything else around it. It was the only thing that worked for me, because I have a tendency to be far too accommodating to everyone else's needs while pushing my own goals aside. LOL

Don't downplay the significance of "unofficial" writing time for both full time and "part time" screenwriters. The times in the shower, in the car, in a boring meeting, when you think of dialogue snippets or say, "hey, this would be a great scene." To me, those moments are so invaluable and often more productive than sitting at my desk typing.

So true, Michael David!

Great advice Sallie Olson I really like the idea of making writing time an official part of your schedule because it is ....or it never will be. You've changed the way I look at my writing now! Happy New Year!

Melissa Tate Yay!!! Happy New Year to you as well! :)

James Patterson said he started getting up at 4am so he had an extra 2 hours a day to write.

When I am chatting to people here I am not writing. But that is okay, I use it as thinking time.

I write every day first thing. I'm a full time teacher and mother of two and found that when my children were in the house the only quiet time was early in the morning before everyone was awake. So I get up a couple of hours before I have to leave for work. I started doing this many years ago and now have 8 published novels, multiple screenplays and poems, and blog posts. It's a lovely time to be creative.

Melissa Tate

Hey Melissa and everyone! So, when it comes to keeping up with writing amidst the chaos of work, side jobs, family, and deadlines, I've stumbled on some awesome tips. Forget the glamorous home offices and gourmet coffee – we're talking real-life hacks here! It's easy to let weeks slip by without writing, but here's the scoop on staying on track. My go-to? Embracing the early morning vibes with a solid 10 minutes of writing to kickstart the day. Now spill the beans, what playful and practical tricks do you use to stay in the writing groove? Let's swap ideas and keep the creative party going! You'd be surprised how much morning time we get when you go to sleep at a reasonable time rather than getting hooked into distraction. Writers need focus and that means mindfully reducing distractions and shifting focus.

Thanks for sharing Mario Leone and Laurie Woodward that's great and impressive - especially with that kind of schedule! I need to get crackin' (lol)

There's a lot of great advice here: using the "unofficial time" like @Micheal David mentioned, using those early morning hours (I am a night owl but realistically I tend to concentrate better in the morning) and of course as Sallie mentioned, changing how I view my writing projects - I should view them as something to be part of my schedule, not as something lesser to be crammed in when I can. I'm sure I will feel like I'm accomplishing my goals - and that alone is encouraging.

Melissa Tate Think of it this way... Every distraction you eliminate buys you more writing time. :-)

Sometimes I'll write random scenes to stay in the writing groove, Mario Leone. Writing random scenes is fun and there's no pressure. After I'm done with the random scenes, I go back to my main project.

I've found that maintaining a consistent writing schedule can be a real challenge, especially with the demands of life. One thing that has helped me stay on track is setting small, achievable goals every day. Whether I write for 30 minutes or hit a certain word count, it holds me accountable. Also, finding free time during the day, such as during my commute or lunch break, helps me write extra. And hey, if you ever need more support or inspiration, check out resources like MasterPapers.com https://www.masterpapers.com/ They offer some helpful tips and tools for writers.

If it matters to you, you'll find an hour or two. You can find lots of excuses, like how people find excuses to avoid going to the gym.

I write late at night when the world around me goes quiet. Prime writing hours are 11pm - 2am for me :)