Screenwriting : Have you ever thought about giving up? by Juli Henry

If you enjoy being creative, stick with it. I approach every new project with the understanding that the odds of selling my script are slim to none. But I have a story that I want to tell, so I tell it. Write for yourself because few of us actually make it in this business.

Sometimes it feels that way like what's the use, your script gets requested and then those people go silent on you. It's bs.,

Stop paying money. Keep writing.

Then how do you get it out there then?

Hi Juli, I can really relate to this question. I’m currently adapting my own published true-life memoir into a screenplay, and one thing this journey has taught me is that it can be very easy to feel like every step forward has to involve spending money.

I’ve decided to take a different approach for now. I’m focusing on learning the craft, developing the screenplay, participating in conversations with other writers and filmmakers, and building genuine connections while I continue strengthening the project.

I don’t think every opportunity has to be measured by how much money we spend on it. Sometimes the most valuable progress comes from learning, writing, receiving thoughtful feedback, and finding the right people to connect with.

I’m still early in my own screenwriting journey, so I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve learned that feeling discouraged doesn’t necessarily mean the story isn’t worth pursuing. Sometimes it means we need to pause, reassess how we are approaching the journey, and decide where our time, energy, and resources are truly worth investing.

Wishing you clarity as you decide what the next step looks like for you.

Juli Henry I know the feeling all too well. We sink so much of ourselves into writing that we hope to be acknowledged. Ache to breakthrough and see our dreams realized. I recently posted about value. What value do I gain by stopping? None. It may ease the heartbreak and soothe the soul to find an ordinary life. But a quote that helps me through those low moments is "You miss 100% of shots you don't take." Now, I'm not rich. I can't throw tons of money into this either. I'm just selective. I've also found a community for support to keep growing my skills. Support is free.

I see you also live in the PNW. I'm just outside of Seattle and I participate in a couple of groups to improve my writing and support other writers. I'm going to leave the website in this post so you can visit. They host a free scene analysis read every Wednesday at 6pm. We read 10 pages of a writer's script and provide feedback and notes to help them improve. We can usually get through 5 sets of pages every session. They also do an in-person full script read every 3rd Saturday of the month called MUSTER. This read picks one full script to read and give notes and feedback to the writer in person. These events have helped me a lot to improve. It allows you to see perspective. It also allows you to see how others write and it may give you ideas how to rework something you might be stuck on.

I hope this helps.

https://www.northwestscreenwritersguild.com/

If you can really stop writing, then stop. Try it. I did and I only lasted about a week…. Sounds harsh but you’ll get your answer.

It should always come down to you. Sure, you can garner success and money from writing, but at the end of the day, if writing isn't bringing you happiness in some form, then by all means stop. What you tend to find is that writers can't stop; it's like breathing.

That's an honest question, and getting yes responses to send your script means you're already doing better than most writers. What's the one thing that made you fall in love with writing, and does it still feel true?

I understand the frustration Juli. I have worked in the industry for 30+ years with several narrative and doc features under my belt. I even have an MFA in screenwriting, yet have received zero momentum from paid pitching. My next feature is being produced because I am heavily involved with the local film scene. I attend group events, work on local productions (small and large), and have developed the kind of relationships over time where, when I asked, people agreed to read my work. One of those people liked it enough to get behind it and EP. We begin filming in December. I tell you this to illustrate the value of immersing yourself in the industry wherever you are. It will take time and you may never get your screenplays made this way, but you will build valuable contacts and friendships.

I did! For quite the some time I thought there was no room for me in the industry. One day, my now ex wife told me to leave my "hobby" and focus on something worth while. Then my best friend found a contest and reached quarter finalist. Im still a long way to go but I keep writing every day and I think that's important. Small victories count too!

There have been times when I've felt like giving up, like when I was writing a horror movie. It was difficult for me and unlike my other projects, there was barely any motivation for me to keep writing, but I had to remind myself to keep going. So I did. I would do some research on horror movies, watch a few to understand the structure, common tropes used, and so on, then I would go back into the script and continue writing. After the first draft was completed I was relieved and even until to this day, I'm making edits to it so maybe one day it'll get ready for contests or a professionals eyes on it.