The one thing I've repeat so far with this blog is that hard work is essential but there is also the element of sacrifice. Some people don't like what I'm about to say but I think it's important so please read it, if you disagree then that's ok but don't come complaining to me anytime soon.
You've heard the stories, like Robert Rodriguez selling his body to science and spending a month locked away from his new wife in order to make his first film (btw his book "Rebel without a crew" is an amazing read) or Kevin Smith maxing out several credit cards to make "Clerks"... but what about you? Have you made any sacrifice for your art? Don't tell me that you have a full-time job and need time to relax when you get home, you'll have plenty of time to relax when you win an Oscar.
When I started screenwriting I did it when I was unemployed, so yeah it was easy to spend my whole day at the computer. Unemployment didn't last long though and pretty soon I was back to working eight hours a day, but I was also used to writing for most of my day and I would always try to get at least eight hours sleep a day... the only solution? SACRIFICE! First thing I did was extend my waking hours, instead of going to sleep at 11pm I'd stay up until 1.30am , and instead of waking at 7am I'd get up (reluctantly) at 6am. With my change to my sleeping pattern I had given myself an extra three and a half hours a day, enough writing time? Not for me it wasn't so I cut the amount of time I spent watching the tv in half, suddenly I had an extra five hours... nearly done.
The next thing to go was social interactions, not entirely but they were reduced greatly. At one point a few of my friends were convinced that I had moved to LA without telling them! The sacrifices I made don't seem that much to me now as I look back on them, especially because they were for the greater good, and the future of my career. I still have trouble convincing my friends that a teleconference about screenwriting is more important than a night out, but they are coming to the stage where they accept my choices.
My sacrifices lead to me having a full time job, screenwriting like it was a full time job and sleeping the right amount of hours. I wouldn't change it for the world, I'm making new strides in my film career everyday, I'm making great contacts all the time, my friends still love me and my writing is better than it ever was. If I hadn't made my small sacrifices I wouldn't be anywhere near the place I am now and I like where I am right now.
Since that initial change in lifestyle I have grown as a writer so much, as a filmmaker and as a person, right now I have a project that I'm developing from a feature script into a tv pilot, a graphic novel and a possible web-series. I have three projects cooking nicely that will become public very soon, I have a nice new blog that I write everyday and I have another short film in production... oh and I'm submitting and promoting my short films to festivals worldwide too... So the fruits of MY sacrifices are really coming good.
So heres the question, are you making the sacrifice for your career? Are you making enough time? Or are you simply making excuses as to why you can't make the time?
My advice: Sleep less, "relax" less, work hard and then double your efforts, read scripts, take classes, join a writers group, drink more water and feel good about being a writer, it's not something you should be ashamed of.
Remember, any comments, questions or suggestions just email me to dthescreenwriter@aol.com
Write On!
Dave The Screenwriter
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