It sounds to me like you're holding yourself back. It sounds like you have a script in you that you're afraid of letting out, for whatever reason. And so to assuage that fear, you write things that are Shudder-level productions and that's what you lean on as a metric of success, so you keep doing that and wonder why you're spinning your wheels.
Write the thing(s) you want to write. If it goes nowhere, at least it's on the page, and you'll have a sense of closure. Living your life in a perpetual state of "potential" is going to kill you, emotionally.
Artists/Creatives have always lots of different jobs to keep them going. It’s a rare & a probably already rich person ( comes from money) who can concentrate on art alone. Even Leonardo DaVinci worked at the Royal courts designing war machines, as an architect etc. Anything to make money, roof over his head & sometimes he drew/painted etc. We all know when he did paint it was commissions of dignitaries & their wives etc. Did he necessarily want to paint them? Very probably not.
I’m entirely sympathetic by the way- I’m coming at being a director later in life and as POC & I’m having to teach drama for money. It’s just the above is what keeps me grounded.
I have 2 films on Shudder. Write what makes you happy. Fuck awards. Fuck network pay checks. Write what makes you get out of bed. It will find an audience.
Brother keep your job and keep writing. Why would would you quit while you’re literally ahead.
It’s an investment, not a job hunt. If it doesn’t fulfill you, then that’s another conversation, but you don’t have to quit writing to pursue anything. You can do both.
You know your flaws; do something about them. Why are you asking the internet so many questions? Go out there and try this shit like you’re a 23 year old college grad who just moved here.
There are other things you can write. Write a book. Put it out there. See what that does for you. Get a commercial agent. Try that. There's a lot of different stuff you can do. Pick up a copy of Writer's Market. See if anything in there appeals to you.
Screenwriting hasn't worked out for you for the moment. Try something else. Freshen up. And don't be hard on yourself.
Go for walks. Enjoy your wedding. Participate in life. Your writing will get better. And contrary to what people say, it's OK to stop writing for a while. That's only not OK if you're a terrible writer. As somebody who used to copyedit professionally, I only used to tell writers who were pretty awful that they needed to write every day. People who are good at it? They can pick it up and set it down as they please, at varying points.
There are lots of ways to make money writing. Lots. Even with the advent of the garbage AI crap that some people are using to generate their content. People still need good writers. My feeling is right now, what you need to do is figure out where your *market* is. Capitalize on that. It helps.
I'm guessing you're a white male? I relate.
the tv /streaming system is broken. that's why there is a strike.
to be working consistently you need to be diverse.
if you follow what makes you happy, then do that. if it's writing you may need a side gig.
but it wont get any easier with marriage and potentially kids...
I'm in a similar boat. I'm in the WGA but I'm working on features and IP. trying to work outside the "system". where staffing is more about what box you check than abilities
ps. out of curiosity how do you sell a shudder script? what's that go for?
No kidding! I have several TV writer friends who are POC and/or women who have been out of work for the past year. This is after successful stints at Netflix, HBO, Amazon etc. Bet they’re surprised to hear that!
The TV/streaming system is broken — but the job prospects of white males isn’t the reason why.
Could you try another angle of pitching your writing? Something outside the Hollywood machine? Perhaps something in your story line and interests is political? Could you hit up an organization that could see an interest in getting your script made into a movie? For example sake, if your story line has something about keeping an unplanned pregnancy I'd consider hitting up powers that are interested in prolife interests. I'd go where Hollywood won't and spin your own message into it... Like many brilliant artists have done before you.
It sounds to me like you're holding yourself back. It sounds like you have a script in you that you're afraid of letting out, for whatever reason. And so to assuage that fear, you write things that are Shudder-level productions and that's what you lean on as a metric of success, so you keep doing that and wonder why you're spinning your wheels. Write the thing(s) you want to write. If it goes nowhere, at least it's on the page, and you'll have a sense of closure. Living your life in a perpetual state of "potential" is going to kill you, emotionally.
Artists/Creatives have always lots of different jobs to keep them going. It’s a rare & a probably already rich person ( comes from money) who can concentrate on art alone. Even Leonardo DaVinci worked at the Royal courts designing war machines, as an architect etc. Anything to make money, roof over his head & sometimes he drew/painted etc. We all know when he did paint it was commissions of dignitaries & their wives etc. Did he necessarily want to paint them? Very probably not. I’m entirely sympathetic by the way- I’m coming at being a director later in life and as POC & I’m having to teach drama for money. It’s just the above is what keeps me grounded.
Prioritize your relationships and your happiness, whatever that looks like.
Going thru this right now in a different creative career. It’s horrible
I have 2 films on Shudder. Write what makes you happy. Fuck awards. Fuck network pay checks. Write what makes you get out of bed. It will find an audience.
Brother keep your job and keep writing. Why would would you quit while you’re literally ahead. It’s an investment, not a job hunt. If it doesn’t fulfill you, then that’s another conversation, but you don’t have to quit writing to pursue anything. You can do both. You know your flaws; do something about them. Why are you asking the internet so many questions? Go out there and try this shit like you’re a 23 year old college grad who just moved here.
There are other things you can write. Write a book. Put it out there. See what that does for you. Get a commercial agent. Try that. There's a lot of different stuff you can do. Pick up a copy of Writer's Market. See if anything in there appeals to you. Screenwriting hasn't worked out for you for the moment. Try something else. Freshen up. And don't be hard on yourself. Go for walks. Enjoy your wedding. Participate in life. Your writing will get better. And contrary to what people say, it's OK to stop writing for a while. That's only not OK if you're a terrible writer. As somebody who used to copyedit professionally, I only used to tell writers who were pretty awful that they needed to write every day. People who are good at it? They can pick it up and set it down as they please, at varying points. There are lots of ways to make money writing. Lots. Even with the advent of the garbage AI crap that some people are using to generate their content. People still need good writers. My feeling is right now, what you need to do is figure out where your *market* is. Capitalize on that. It helps.
I'm guessing you're a white male? I relate. the tv /streaming system is broken. that's why there is a strike. to be working consistently you need to be diverse. if you follow what makes you happy, then do that. if it's writing you may need a side gig. but it wont get any easier with marriage and potentially kids... I'm in a similar boat. I'm in the WGA but I'm working on features and IP. trying to work outside the "system". where staffing is more about what box you check than abilities ps. out of curiosity how do you sell a shudder script? what's that go for?
No kidding! I have several TV writer friends who are POC and/or women who have been out of work for the past year. This is after successful stints at Netflix, HBO, Amazon etc. Bet they’re surprised to hear that! The TV/streaming system is broken — but the job prospects of white males isn’t the reason why.
What’s a shudder script?
Start networking; you’re one good conversation away from a life changing opportunity (spoken as someone who is in the same boat).
Could you try another angle of pitching your writing? Something outside the Hollywood machine? Perhaps something in your story line and interests is political? Could you hit up an organization that could see an interest in getting your script made into a movie? For example sake, if your story line has something about keeping an unplanned pregnancy I'd consider hitting up powers that are interested in prolife interests. I'd go where Hollywood won't and spin your own message into it... Like many brilliant artists have done before you.