Characteristics of a good Screenwriter
Characteristics
of a good Screenwriter
Thick Skin
You won't go far as a scriptwriter without being thick-skinned.
Much as you'd like to send your scripts off and have them well-received every
time, it's not going to happen. Whether you're aiming for an agent, querying
producers or waiting for your first review, prepare yourself for rejection and
criticism. The best scriptwriters embrace criticism because it enables them to
learn and identify their weaknesses. Don't take rejections or analysis of your
screenplay personally. If you feel that's difficult, here's a trick: stuff the
critique in your closet and don't pull it out for another day or two. You can
be more level-headed when you look at things after you quiet your initial
emotions.
Solid Writing Skills
You may think that this goes without saying, but successful
screenwriters have great writing ability. And that writing ability goes far
beyond understanding the foundations of writing that you learn in school, such
as grammar and sentence structure. Good scriptwriters create intriguing
characters, develop an interesting plot and understand how and when to create
drama. Movies and books -- masterpieces and poorly received ones alike -- serve
as excellent tools for honing your writing ability and the way in which you
approach a script. Watch for how all the elements, from character personalities
to plot pacing, come together to create that perfect or not-so-perfect piece of
work.
Creativity
You probably won't find too many successful scriptwriters who lack
creativity. Without creativity, your script likely won't grab the attention of
anyone. It's true that just about every general story idea has been done
before, so to succeed as a scriptwriter, you need to execute those ideas in a
different manner, similar to a novelist. For instance, consider "Star
Wars" and "Harry Potter." Both share a common foundation: an old
man lends his knowledge to a promising young character who then goes on a
journey outside of his comfort zone to defeat an evil that threatens the world.
Same basic idea, but the execution is so wildly different that you don't think
of them as the same.
Ability to Work Under
Pressure
Once you have a steady supply of projects, you'll also have a
steady supply of deadlines. You turn in one script and another comes back with
revisions that you need to make within a week, which is also when another
script is due. Good scriptwriters don't have the option of floundering under
pressure: they deliver or they don't find work.
Discipline
Good scriptwriters sit down, pump out their work and don't
procrastinate, browse the Internet for hours and waste portions of their day.
You're going to have days where you don't feel like writing. You're going to
encounter times when the words aren't flowing. If you want to excel at your
craft, you need to write no matter the circumstances.
Passion
Passion drives the best screenwriters. They write scripts because
they're in love with movies or TV shows. Script consultant Ray Morton believes
that you can't possibly write an effective script if you don't learn about,
understand and appreciate the industry as a whole. And without passion, it's
difficult to bring everything else together.
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Kristen Hamlin
Updated August 07, 2018
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Job Descriptions •
Most people can identify good writing fairly easily. Words that
compel them to keep reading; that create clear visions of people, places and
situations; or simply produce strong emotions or create connections are often
mentioned when the discussion turns to great writing. But what is it about
people that make them great writers? Although, technically, the characteristics
of creative writing and the definition of “good” creative writing are
subjective – as evidenced by varying opinions on the same piece of work – there
are some qualities that great writers share that can increase your chances of
success and of being deemed a good writer yourself.
Desire to Write
The most important quality in a writer is the desire to write.
Writing takes time and dedication, and if you are going to put in that level of
work, you have to love to write. Writing well isn’t easy for everyone, and if
you don’t really want to do it, you aren’t going to enjoy the process or put in
the work necessary to develop your craft and constantly work toward becoming a
better writer. Being a good creative writer requires discipline and commitment,
and if you don’t want to write, that’s going to be next to impossible.
Vivid Imagination
It probably goes without saying, but good creative writers have
vivid imaginations – and aren’t afraid to follow their daydreams wherever they
may lead. Writers allow themselves to be guided by “What if?” and seek answers
to that question. That doesn’t always mean creating mystical, magical worlds of
fantasy. With imagination, even a mundane dilemma like, “What if a man took a
different route to work one morning?” or “What will drive a customer to buy
this product? “can lead to a compelling and creative story. Writers look
everywhere for inspiration, and are willing to let their minds wander when they
find something interesting. Carry a notebook with you, and jot down things that
you see and hear, or sparks of ideas that come to you throughout the day. You
might be surprised at where your imagination goes – and how it will help you
become a better writer.
A Love of Words
Good writers have a love for words – and the vocabulary to show
it. Creative writing is all about using words effectively, whether you are
bringing a story to life and transporting readers into another world or trying
to convince them to use a different brand of soap. That requires understanding
the subtle differences between words and their connotations, and knowing when to
use them. Your word choice is a significant contributor to your style and how
well you paint a picture for your readers, so it serves you well as a writer to
develop your vocabulary and experiment with how you use words.
Self-Discipline
You may have heard several people say, “I would love to be a
writer. I have all of these ideas in my head, but I just don’t know how to put
them on paper.” Or they make excuses: They don’t have time; they are not good
at spelling; their handwriting is awful.
The fact is, as with any craft, creative writing requires ongoing,
regular practice if you want to perfect it. This generally means just sitting
down and getting to it. Bestselling novels don’t write themselves, after all,
and the only way you are ever going to bring your great ideas to life is by
actually dedicating the time to writing. Successful writers devote themselves
to their craft, and commit to a writing schedule – usually every day. Some opt
to produce a certain number of words each day; others aim to write a specific
number of pages or for a predetermined length of time.
However, they measure their progress, though, they all carve out
time every day to get it done. On some days, it may seem difficult or
impossible to reach your goal, while on others you can keep going long after
the timer has stopped. In either case, maintaining that discipline and putting
pen to paper or fingers to keyboard is putting you on the road to becoming a
great writer.
A Thick Skin
Creative writing is often a matter of putting your heart and soul
onto paper, and you can feel very vulnerable when you allow others to read what
you have written. But being a good creative writer requires feedback from
others, and that feedback isn’t always going to be great. If you’re planning to
write professionally, you need to develop a thick skin and be willing to accept
feedback and constructive criticism, and the fact that not everyone is going to
love what you’ve written. Sometimes, readers and editors can be harsh, and you
need to learn to separate the useful criticisms from those that are simply
mean-spirited.
Professional writing also brings with it a fair amount of
rejection. Even best-selling authors have had their work turned down by agents
and publishers: J.K. Rowling’s pitch for Harry Potter, which included a
hand-drawn map of the Hogwarts grounds, was rejected 12 times before it was
picked up. Rowling even noted that she received a form letter rejection for the
beloved first novel the first time she sent it out for review, and an
especially harsh rejection when she tried submitting it under a pen name. A
great creative writer needs to be able to overcome that rejection, and keep
writing anyway, with an eye toward improving with every draft.
A Love of Reading
Ask writers about what they like to do in their spare time, and
most will say, “Read.” Being a voracious reader is a key part of building your
writing skills. When you read what others have done, you learn more about the
qualities of creative writing, what makes writing compelling and what doesn’t
work. You gain insight into how to use words, structure, syntax, tone and style
in your own writing. By gaining exposure to many different types of writing,
you can better hone your own style, picking and choosing from various techniques
to create characters and worlds that are all your own.
A Level of
Perfectionism
Rarely, if ever, is any piece of writing perfect on the first
draft. There is always something that can be fixed or improved, and a good
creative writer recognizes that and is willing to do the work to make her
writing better. This might mean cutting entire sections or plot lines, or
eliminating characters that aren’t moving the story forward. It might mean
adding additional paragraphs, or even entire chapters or sections, to clarify
plot points or deepen the story. Great writers are perfectionists, constantly
looking for ways to make their work better.
They are also demanding on themselves, and invest time and energy
into developing their skills by taking courses, attending workshops and reading
about their craft. You are never “done” becoming a writer, but are always
working on your skills and becoming the best writer you can be.
Fearlessness
Writers are fearless. Again, sharing your work with the world can
make you vulnerable, but you can’t be afraid of what the world will think. Be
fearless means not being afraid to write terrible first drafts (in fact, in her
best-selling guide to writing, Bird by Bird, writer Anne Lamott
actually encourages writers to produce terrible first drafts) and then throw
them out and start over. Being fearless means going deep into your characters'
psyches, and digging out the really interesting bits that can take your story
to the next level. Being fearless with your writing means knowing that some
people might be made uncomfortable by your words – especially when you’re
working on a memoir – and being willing to share them anyway. And, of course,
being fearless means sending your work out, putting in the effort to get
published, and sharing your creations with the world without fearing rejection,
which is inevitable and something to learn from.
Grammatical Knowledge
When you are writing early drafts, grammar, punctuation and
spelling aren’t all that important, especially when you are writing only for
yourself. However, if you want to become a professional writer, the nuts and
bolts of writing do matter. You don’t need to become the world’s leading expert
on commas, but you do need to put in the effort to proof your work and polish
it so readers aren’t distracted by misspellings and miss the flow of the story.
If you really struggle in this area, enlist the help of a friend who has
skills, or hire a professional editor to help you. And remember, the more you
practice, the better you will get, so keep learning and working to improve your
skills.
Research Skills
Many new writers are advised to “Write what you know” as a way to
get started. However, no one knows everything, and even a piece based entirely
on your personal experience is likely to require some research. If you are
writing creative nonfiction, or any type of nonfiction, you are going to have
to fill in gaps with your own research. Knowing how to conduct research and dig
out the details you need to round out your writing, is an important skill for
great writing. Readers will know when you’re faking it, and even a single
misstatement or overlooked detail can destroy your credibility and cause other
problems for you and your publisher.
Organizational Skills
Being an organized writer doesn’t mean you need a fancy office
with the latest computer and a container full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
After all, bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand writes the first drafts of all
of her novels in longhand on legal pads while sitting on the beach or by the
pool. However, being organized means being careful with your time, scheduling
in your daily writing sessions and keeping track of your progress. If you are
submitting your work to agents or publishers, you need to keep careful track of
your submissions and their status. If your hard work has paid off and you are
getting published, you need to keep track of your deadlines and the work that
needs to be completed. You must also catalogue your research, interview notes
and other important information. All of this requires organization. While you
might have an image of a disheveled and disorganized writer tapping away on a
keyboard while the world crashes down around her, that isn’t an accurate
depiction. Successful writers follow the creative spirit where it takes them,
but also take good notes along the way.
You Can Get Better
If you have the desire to write, the good news is that you can get
better. While some argue that the qualities of a good creative writer and
writing ability are things you either have or you don’t, the fact is that it
can be taught. With practice, determination and a willingness to make mistakes
and learn from them, it is possible to improve your skills and develop the
qualities of a good creative writer. You might never make it to the top of the
bestseller list, or even see your name in print, but when you are called upon
to write something, you’ll have the confidence of knowing you can string the
words together and accomplish what you set out to do. Commit to practicing,
developing your craft and learning about writing, and you can be a better
writer
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