So, it’s been a month since my last post – it has been an incredibly busy stretch of time working at school, in the real world, which has left little time for any screenwriting endeavours.
In saying that, though, there has been time enough to get more done, but when work is so busy it is hard to maintain motivation to write. I suppose it highlights the importance of routine, of committing to sticking to that bum to seat writing time.
Those who succeed commit to their endeavours with more diligence and perseverence than those who don’t. Sure, talent helps, but give me a diligent plodder over an ill-disciplined talent any day. It is easy to see this rule at work in my students – those who commit to study usually beat those who are more naturally gifted at a subject but don’t spend the time to revise.
The last few months haven’t been a waste, even if little screenwriting was done. A friend and I completed an advertisement for our school which is screening on TV. It is regional TV, but at least we have created some content that others might watch. I have finished reading Anatomy of Story and The Moral Premise, so my screenwriting knowledge has been expanded (watch for a breakdown of what I have learnt from these in the coming weeks). I have jotted down plenty of ideas in my notebook, so there is plenty more fuel for the creative fires. I just haven’t done much screenwriting.
So, will the next month bring with it more time to write? Probably not. There are lessons to prepare, a school magazine to design, end of year exams to create and mark, reports to write, and the list goes on.
What needs to change? Me – I need to ensure I commit to spending time everyday writing, even if it isn’t much. Even half-an-hour a day leads to over three hours of writing a week – which is about two hours more than I’ve averaged the last month 🙁
What about you? Are you doing what you need to in order to fulfill your dreams, or, like me, do you need to recommit and make some changes?
Whatever the case, good luck and God bless in your efforts!