Aspiring screenwriters hear a lot of bad advice, but one of the worst is repeated almost daily:
“Write every day.”
I hear this mantra all the time. And while I understand why people say it, I believe it’s completely counterproductive.
Do You Really Need to Write Every Day?
There are two types of writers:
For professionals, writing daily is a job. As I said before, they see deadline pressure as just another part of the process—they’ve learned to work under it. For aspiring writers, though, forcing the process can kill creativity.
The “Write Every Day” rule exists to prevent procrastination. But here’s the truth: forced writing rarely leads to good writing. At best, you end up with a pile of uninspired pages. At worst, you burn out and start hating the process.
Write When You’re Inspired—Not Out of Obligation
Instead of forcing yourself to grind out pages every day, focus on writing when you’re energized and excited about your story. That’s when the best ideas come. That’s when you find moments of unexpected beauty in your work.
When you’re inspired, you write faster. Instead of spending hours struggling to come up with a single sentence, you’ll be flooded with ideas and write far more in less time.
But what if inspiration doesn’t come? First, remember that if your story excited you once, that excitement will return. Secondly, that doesn’t mean you’re wasting time.
Writing Is More Than Typing
Even when you’re not actively writing, your brain is still working.
· Research. Dive into books, watch films, explore real-world details that will make your story richer.
· Character & Backstory Development. Write bios, outline motivations, side stories, figure out what makes them tick.
· Polishing & Revising. Writing isn’t just about putting words on the page—it’s about shaping them.
And sometimes? Just living your life helps. Spending time with friends, going to concerts, watching films—all of this feeds your creativity. Your brain is always processing, even when you don’t realize it.
Final Thought: Writing Should Be Fun
If you’re not enjoying the process, your audience won’t either.
The muse doesn’t show up on command. But it almost always appears when you’re in an elevated mood—when you feel excitement from new experiences, a sense of joy, even euphoria.
That’s why your first priority should be working on that.
I talk about this—and more—in my upcoming book, First Draft Survival Guide: Practical Steps From a Working Screenwriter, out in March 2025.
“Write every day.”
I hear this mantra all the time. And while I understand why people say it, I believe it’s completely counterproductive.
Do You Really Need to Write Every Day?
There are two types of writers:
- Professional writers – They’re paid to write and must meet deadlines. They don’t need this advice. They already know what it takes to finish a script. Also, they’ve developed their own tools to re-ignite themselves when they’re uninspired.
- Aspiring writers – They write because they love storytelling. They’re still learning, experimenting, and developing their voice. They have more doubts and fears, for sure.
For professionals, writing daily is a job. As I said before, they see deadline pressure as just another part of the process—they’ve learned to work under it. For aspiring writers, though, forcing the process can kill creativity.
The “Write Every Day” rule exists to prevent procrastination. But here’s the truth: forced writing rarely leads to good writing. At best, you end up with a pile of uninspired pages. At worst, you burn out and start hating the process.
Write When You’re Inspired—Not Out of Obligation
Instead of forcing yourself to grind out pages every day, focus on writing when you’re energized and excited about your story. That’s when the best ideas come. That’s when you find moments of unexpected beauty in your work.
When you’re inspired, you write faster. Instead of spending hours struggling to come up with a single sentence, you’ll be flooded with ideas and write far more in less time.
But what if inspiration doesn’t come? First, remember that if your story excited you once, that excitement will return. Secondly, that doesn’t mean you’re wasting time.
Writing Is More Than Typing
Even when you’re not actively writing, your brain is still working.
· Research. Dive into books, watch films, explore real-world details that will make your story richer.
· Character & Backstory Development. Write bios, outline motivations, side stories, figure out what makes them tick.
· Polishing & Revising. Writing isn’t just about putting words on the page—it’s about shaping them.
And sometimes? Just living your life helps. Spending time with friends, going to concerts, watching films—all of this feeds your creativity. Your brain is always processing, even when you don’t realize it.
Final Thought: Writing Should Be Fun
If you’re not enjoying the process, your audience won’t either.
The muse doesn’t show up on command. But it almost always appears when you’re in an elevated mood—when you feel excitement from new experiences, a sense of joy, even euphoria.
That’s why your first priority should be working on that.
I talk about this—and more—in my upcoming book, First Draft Survival Guide: Practical Steps From a Working Screenwriter, out in March 2025.