This week, I’ve been challenging myself to learn more about the tools, apps, and systems that help keep our creative lives running smoothly. Between personal projects, professional deadlines, and everyday responsibilities, it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks, which is why I like to revisit my organization systems every few months to see if there’s a more efficient way to manage it all.
Right now, I rely heavily on Todoist for daily and long-term task tracking, Google Calendar for meetings, events, and travel, and Google Sheets for project management and ongoing records. But with 2025 coming to a close, I’m challenging myself to research new ways to optimize how I plan, track, and prioritize, so that I can step into 2026 with an even stronger foundation for success.
How about you?
What are you doing (or hoping to do) this week that challenges you to grow?
What systems, apps, or tools do you use to stay organized and focused as a filmmaker or creative? Have you found any that have truly changed your workflow for the better?
Even if you’re unsure or in a period of reflection, your voice belongs here. Drop a reply, we’ll be here to cheer you on and celebrate your progress.
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Congratulations on challenging yourself to learn more about the tools, apps, and systems, Ashley Renee Smith!
I use Microsoft Word to stay organized. I like the way you stay organized better! Thanks for the idea.
I'm rewriting a feature script for Stage 32's November Write Club, and I'm challenging myself to really make the scenes better. I mean make the script so incredible, producers and directors won't be able to put it down.
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That's awesome, Ashley Renee Smith. I still don't even know many softwares lol I only use Trelby for writing.
My challenge to myself for the week is song lyrics lol. Even though I used to write a lot of (bad) poetry in my teens, song lyrics weren't something I seriously tried until Finding Elpis. It's really difficult lol and of course being me I now have to do it for three other bands, not just Elpis xD of course, I'm still refraining from writing entire lyrics and just the odd verse or two so the spirit of the songs are conveyed, since down the line I fully intend to leave it to whoever does the music.
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Love this reflection—it's so easy to keep using the same systems without questioning if they're actually serving us anymore.
I'm in a similar boat right now. I use a combo of [tool/system you use] for [purpose], but I've been feeling like I need something that ties everything together better. The challenge for me isn't finding more tools—it's actually using fewer of them more effectively.
This week, I'm challenging myself to helping 15 writers get their first meeting. It's not groundbreaking, but it's progress, and that's what counts.
One thing that's changed my workflow recently: I've had more in-person meetings. Nothing can replace that real, human-connection.
Looking forward to hearing what you discover as you optimize for 2026!
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Great reflection, Ash! I actually found out yesterday that last term in school I made the Honor Roll and if I make Honor Roll again at the end of the current term, I will make The Dean's List, so my plan is to finish 2025 strong and steam into 2026 like a freight train with a heavy load. Time management is huge but also making the time to care for myself with things like exercise because it's very important not to put self care on the back burner. Having a phone that I can set alarms for to yell at me and remind me to do things like drink water and stretch helps so I'm going to play around with that and see how I can leverage that in other ways. I agree with Geoff though...I'm not so much working on finding more tools as much as I'm working on leveraging the tools that I already have.
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Ashley Renee Smith Moving into the use of AI agents for lots of my organization and support. Its time to get into the new millennium for me... our workload at Diamond Shadow Productions / FilmPod / SSI is only becoming more intense and can't do without it really.
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I think it's awesome to see you continuing to challenge yourself. Finding streamlining tools is so helpful for those with a lot of irons in the fire. Hope you find what you are looking for!
This week, I am challenging myself to do better about networking. I'm very, very introverted. So this week, I'm determined to put myself out there. Try to show a bit more of who I am. Boy oh boy, it's a struggle! I posted a first page today and shook for an hour after hitting post. The anxiety is so real. I'm used to private reads, so I was very nervous
But I did it. And I'm going to keep at it until I can do the peopling thing without the anxiety. That's how I'm going to grow.
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Love this Ashley Renee Smith! I’ve been focusing on simplifying my workflow heading into 2026 - less tools, more intention. Between producing projects and running day to day of Stage 32, I rely on Google Drive for team coordination, and I’ve been experimenting with Chat GPT for creative development tracking. The biggest growth challenge right now is carving out focused, distraction-free time each day for deep creative work.
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Good one, Boss Lady! I'm taking your advice on experimenting with ChatGPT on task related things and it's worked out well so far.
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Good for you Elle Bolan!! I manage our Member Help team and we're always here if you need us. Reach out by sending an email to support@stage32.com if there's anything we can do for you. Our Success Team might also be a great touch base for you as well. Pat manages that group and he's great at fine tuning advice on how to get the best out of Stage 32 for our community. You can reach that group by sending an email to success@stage32.com. And the Lounges are a great place to dip your toe in the water around here. You get to interact with the entire community and may even connect with someone who is more introverted like you and may be able to offer tips and tricks on how to manage many things in your life. You're doing great just as you are and I hope you know how glad we are that you're here. Cheers!
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@Brandu Camille thank you. I really appreciate you guys and all that you do.
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My biggest hope right now is to write my first screenplay.
Even though I don’t have a solid background in it, I’m learning anyway.
Sometimes I wonder how I even reached this level — how I keep coming up with all these ideas.
But here’s the twist: I’ve already gone far in thinking… now it’s time for writing.
It won’t be perfect in the first draft, but that’s okay — I’ll rewrite it again and again.
I still remember my old Arabic book; it took me four years to finish writing it.
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That's awesome, Meriem Bouziani! You're in the perfect place to learn, grow and hone your skills as a screenwriter - if you've written a book you know you can rock a screenplay. Have you looked at joining the Writers Room here (https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/portal) and at the Screenwrtiting Education (https://www.stage32.com/education/collections/screenwriting)? It's bar none and can support you at every phase of your screenwriting trajectory.
In terms or organizing projects and workflows, I've been managing a large slate of projects, tasks and presentations/pitches my whole career and my approach has evolved over time... these days, I rely on Google Docs and Calendars to keep everything front and center and before I go to bed each night I review the calendar and set reminders on my phone for the next day I so I get consistent nudges throughout the day as Zooms, meetings or tasks are approaching. I make sure to schedule in blocks of quiet time for emailing, creating documents and reading scripts so those tasks all get done each day. That allows me to start each day with clarity and stay present throughout the day fully focused on each task at hand as I know that I'll be reminded when the next activity is coming up. It's pretty simple I guess but keeps my many trains running on time.
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Thank you very much for your encouragement. I’ll try to learn from those resources. Sam Sokolow
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Just got my first feedback on Rulers Of The Islands.
Appreciate everything you're doing, Geoff!
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Hi Ashley,
This is such a timely and important post! Reorganizing for the new year is essential to maintaining momentum.
My current challenge is entirely focused on packaging and pitching my action-thriller feature, THE SAFE HOUSE, to hit my goal of being submission-ready by the end of November.
To streamline this process, I’ve been heavily challenging myself in two areas:
1. Pitch Deck Visualization: I'm learning to move past simple text documents and create a highly visual, professional pitch deck (using Canva/PowerPoint) that truly sells the tone and scale of the film, not just summarizes the plot.
2. System Integration: I rely on Google Docs/Sheets for all my outlining and budgeting, but I’m now using specific Task Management (similar to Todoist) to track the detailed, step-by-step requirements of different producers and contests. It's about moving from creative development to focused, logistical execution.
Finding that balance between creative flow and logistical organization is always the hardest part! Thanks for posting this—it’s great motivation to tighten up the systems before 2026.
Best,
Salisu Abdullahi
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Oh, what a great idea to share progress!
I spent August and September studying a new approach to screenwriting, and it was tough. It felt like I was just wasting time and nothing would come of it. But I did it!
My goal for November is to finish my script and submit it to a competition, because I feel like I've reached a new level.
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That's great good luck
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That’s such a fantastic challenge to take on, @Maurice, and what a perfect goal for November Write Club! Rewriting with the intention of making every scene irresistible is such a powerful mindset. It’s amazing how much clarity and energy come from approaching your own work with that level of purpose.
And thank you! I love finding new systems that make my workflow smoother, it’s definitely a constant evolution.
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Bana, I love that you’re leaning into songwriting even though it’s new territory for you! It’s such a different rhythm from poetry, but your background there definitely gives you an edge in capturing emotion and rhythm through language.
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Geoffroy Faugerolas That’s such a great goal, helping 15 writers get their first meetings is absolutely progress, and honestly, that kind of impact adds up fast. I couldn’t agree more about the power of in-person meetings, too. There’s something about those real, human moments that just can’t be replicated digitally, no matter how many tools we use.
And I love what you said about using fewer tools more effectively. I feel that deeply, sometimes the abundance of apps and systems can start to feel like clutter rather than clarity.
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That’s incredible, Brandy Camille! Congratulations on making the Honor Roll! That’s such an accomplishment, and I love how you’re already setting your sights on the Dean’s List. That mindset of finishing strong and carrying that momentum into 2026 is so powerful.
And yes, you’re absolutely right, time management and self-care have to go hand in hand. It’s so easy to put yourself last when you’re chasing big goals, but prioritizing movement, hydration, and rest actually fuels productivity and creativity.
You're welcome, Ashley Renee Smith. Thanks. I only have a few more scenes to rewrite in the draft, then I'll start another draft.
That’s such a smart move, Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg and it really sounds like the right time to lean into AI for workflow support, especially with everything you’ve got going on. I think it's something most companies are trying to figure out how to apply properly so that it's a value and not a hindrance.
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Elle Bolan, that’s such a huge victory! Seriously, putting yourself out there when you’re naturally introverted takes so much courage, and sharing your work publicly for the first time is no small step. That post wasn’t just about getting feedback, it was a real act of growth. You should be incredibly proud of yourself for pushing through the nerves and doing it anyway.
I love that, Amanda Toney, “less tools, more intention” feels like the perfect mantra heading into 2026! It’s so easy to get buried under systems that are meant to help but end up adding noise, so that focus on simplicity really resonates.
But I completely agree, the hardest part isn’t always organizing the work, it’s protecting that quiet, focused space to actually do the creative work. It’s something I’m trying to be more intentional about too, especially with how much we all juggle day to day.
Here’s to both of us refining those systems and making 2026 the year of clarity and focus, less clutter, more creativity! =)
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Meriem Bouziani, that’s such a beautiful reflection, and what a perfect mindset to bring into your first screenplay! The fact that you’re embracing learning, accepting imperfection, and trusting the rewriting process already puts you miles ahead of where most writers start.
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That's fantastic, Corey Hood! Congratulations!
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Salisu Abdullahi, this is such an excellent and strategic approach. You’re clearly thinking like a producer and a storyteller at the same time. I love how you’re challenging yourself to elevate your visual presentation and streamline your workflow. That balance between creative energy and logistical precision is tough to master, but you’re absolutely on the right track.
And since you’re focused on packaging and pitching, I’d highly recommend reaching out to our Stage 32 Success Team at Success@Stage32.com. They can share examples of strong pitch decks and connect you with additional resources or executives who specialize in action-thrillers.
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Kseniia Zhuravleva, that's amazing! It takes so much patience and trust in yourself to push through that uncomfortable “this isn’t working” phase, but that’s usually where real growth happens. Studying a new approach to screenwriting can feel disorienting at first, but it sounds like it’s paying off in a big way if you’re feeling that next-level momentum now.
Finishing your script and submitting it to a competition is such a powerful next step; it’s putting everything you’ve learned into action. When you’re ready, you should email our Stage 32 Success Team at Success@Stage32.com and ask what current contests in the Stage 32 Contest Hub might be the best fit for your project. They’re fantastic at helping writers find the right opportunities to showcase their work. You’ve earned every bit of that confidence and I can’t wait to see where it takes you!
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Thank you very much for your encouragement Ashley Renee Smith
I’m truly grateful to be part of this creative and amazing platform.
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Ashley Renee Smith Thank you so much for believing in me) It’s really motivating. I truly hope I can finish by the end of the month, everything looks good so far.