Balls of Steel™: When You Do Everything “Right,” But Still Can’t Break In

Is it possible to be both practical and an artist? Most would say not a chance. There’s absolutely nothing practical about pursing art as a career. Art inspires, stretches your imagination and instills a sense of awe in those who aren’t capable of creating.

Artists are special. At least that’s what we’re told.

You can dream of being a writer, pursue it with every ounce of creativity and energy you have, but what if you pour 10 or 20 years into it, wake up and realize you’re now middle-aged with no savings, and … no closer to selling a screenplay?

Let’s put money and starvation aside for a minute—or not. Finances are practical and necessary. There’s something to be said for getting a solid job with a 401(k) that frees up your creative mind so you aren’t worried about paying the electric bill or having your internet cut off.

But what I really mean is … what if you do it all right? You do everything the pros tell you to do. You write these amazing screenplays, win screenwriting competitions, get repped, have generals, you’re “good in the room,” you get optioned, come … this close … and then … nada.

Screenwriting is a ruthless and competitive industry. You can do everything “right,” yet seeing your name on the big screen evades you.

Why is it so hard?

Truth is … success in this field has very little to do with meritocracy.

There are a million reasons why your passion project went down the crapper. Maybe your timing was off. Another studio just optioned something similar. Your script was undeniably well-written, but the topic didn’t have international appeal.

Yes, I’m speaking from experience. Been there, done that. Not everything is within your control.

Should you take it personally? Should you quit? Maybe. Or maybe waltz to the mirror and have a come-to-Jesus chat with yourself.

To stay in the game, you must remember why you love to write.

What is it about storytelling that drew you to the pursuit in the first place? Be specific. Post that list where you can see it on the days you want to give up. Then make a list of what you’ve done so far to succeed—you might notice actions you're missing.

What could you do differently that might nudge you closer to success? Be honest. Rip off the blinders.

Let me help. Take it or leave it, but keep an open mind. Maybe one slight shift could change your trajectory.

Take the time to write a killer script.

Obvious, right? But I’ve seen people rush a draft, not get enough notes, and push it out into the world waaaaaaaaaay too soon. This is a long-haul game, and nothing kills your odds faster than putting out mediocre work.

Learn the business side.

Being a professional writer isn’t just hiding in a hole and churning out amazing stories. Yes, your rep wants those scripts, but your relationship with any Hollywood exec would benefit from a deeper understanding of how the business process works. Too many writers believe that once they get a rep, the hard part is done.

Oh, my dear writer, it has only just begun.

That mindset reminds me of my naiveté before I got my first black belt. When I started in Chung Do Kwan, I thought that was the goal—THE belt. Through all the bruises and broken bones, I learned the first black belt was only the beginning of the journey. It’s not about doing a perfect form. It’s about learning. Growing. Getting stronger in your skills. Strategizing. Beating your opponent. Predicting their moves.

Being the best you can be, both mentally and physically.

It’s the same for writing. You must write the best scripts possible, but you also must understand the “moves” of the industry. The realities. Learn how to stay calm in adversity. How not to double over in pain, but to use that pain as a challenge to grow in both your craft and business mentality.

Brainstorm as many new ideas as you can.

Yes, you have “the” script that got you repped, but now what? Spend some time each day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, brainstorming ideas. No filter. Set a timer and just write things down and save them in a file.

99.9% of them will be horrendous, but you might be able to merge some of those crappy nuggets into a bigger, multi-layered and stunning storyline! Hone that creativity.

Write loglines. Lots of loglines.

We’ve preached this endlessly on Symposium panels with execs, and it’s worth hitting that hammer time and time again. Loglines are key to luring a rep’s interest! When queried, their eyes often jump straight to the logline. If it doesn’t grab them, is too generic, doesn’t have that “it” factor, you’re done. Delete.

However, your story may truly be everything they're looking for, even though your logline isn’t. Hence, you must learn the skill of writing a great logline. (Shameless plug: Merridith Allen leads a Logline Workshop for Symposium every quarter … it’s gold … and confidential!)

In fact, take those stellar story nuggets you brainstormed and workshop loglines before even writing the script. Make sure you’re writing the story idea that can advance. Successful people understand how to best manage their time. Work smarter, not harder.

Try a writing partner.

It’s not easy to write with someone, but there are a million benefits … and some negatives. You can read more details on finding partners and how to work with them in my past articles on the subject. If you choose wisely, writing with a partner can be a master class in collaboration—a much-needed skill for a screenwriter.

Become a multi-hyphenate.

Try something new … not just a new story, but a new medium. Or even indie filmmaking or playwriting.

Take that low-budget script you wrote and direct it yourself—start with a short film, not a feature. Or pull out a character-driven screenplay and adapt it into a novel or short story. Embrace being a multi-hyphenate!

When you cast lots of nets, you increase your odds of success. Plus, you might actually love being a novelist, director, or playwright! Why not give it a shot?

A simple reminder.

If you’re doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting a different result, that’s the true definition of insanity.

This industry is hard enough. No need to push your nerves over the cliff. Instead, remember why you love writing. Guard that love by making smarter choices.

Diversify. Pivot. Evolve. Make changes. That’s what all powerful entrepreneurs do … and artists are entrepreneurs, like it or not.