5 Milestones a Screenwriter Should Aim For
What next step does your career need? These are the actually productive goals you should be working towards.
Happy Thursday, friends!
This week’s article is coming at you a day early. And you know what that means:
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What’s it about? Here’s a hint.
Today we’re talking about your career goals. More specifically, the milestones you should be working towards.
As a writer, it can be hard to know exactly what next step your career needs.
Especially if you’re working on your own, outside of the industry, and away from other creatives and entertainment professionals. It can feel like you’re working toward an ambiguous mountain peak in an isolated vacuum.
Not to mention, so much of the hiring and development process is out of your hands.
As a literary manager, I recommend that you focus your screenwriting journey on the following 5 milestones (in order).
What is beautiful about this list is that every single step is within your control. None of these action items requires that you get hired or appeal to gatekeepers.
Milestone #1: Find your calling card.
You should be developing your craft, educating yourself, and studying writing every day.
But what is the end game here? The goal is to write a piece of material that sums up who you are as a writer:
your voice
your themes
your genre
your personal story
This is a script that is the type of project you want to spend your career writing.
As you continue to write and refine your scripts, the milestone you are aiming for is finding a piece of material that you will use to put yourself out there.
This is your signature script that will start opening doors for you.
Milestone #2: Build a portfolio.
Once you have an amazing script (no easy task!) people will inevitably ask, “What else do you have?”
Before you look for an agent or manager, you should have a second piece of material that is just as strong as your calling card is. This second script expands your brand as a writer yet emphasizes the themes and tones that appear consistently in your work.
Don’t rush through this process. Don’t build a portfolio with too many scripts. It’s quality over quantity here.
Five scripts is your limit. But a portfolio ideally consists of 2 or 3.
Milestone #3: Find a champion.
This could be an agent or manager, but it doesn’t have to be.
A champion is someone in this industry with connections who has achieved more than you or is in a position to help you. This person believes in you and is willing to put their own reputation on the line to recommend you to anyone they can.
Find this relationship organically and nurture it with genuine care.
Milestone #4: Find a mentor.
This might be the same person as your champion, but it doesn’t have to be.
A champion is someone in your corner advocating on your behalf. A mentor is someone doing exactly what you want to be doing. A mentor is willing to talk to you and give you advice because they like you, believe in your potential, and probably even see a bit of their past self in you. A mentor is someone who has made the mistakes that you want to avoid. They can offer you guidance and advice.
Treat this relationship with care, and find it organically as you network. Don’t try to rush into a mentor relationship, and don’t try to force it.
Most importantly, when your mentor tells you something, listen.
Milestone #5: Make something.
Ideally with your rep (or champion) in your corner, and your mentor guiding you, you will take your calling card out to the town.
You’ll discuss the other materials in your portfolio with executives and collaborators. You’ll figure out what the next thing you’re writing is, you’ll pitch it, and you’ll sell it.
Best case scenario: Someone buys your script and makes it.
But don’t wait for the green light to come from this archaic, risk-averse system.
Once your material is getting out there into the world and you are working at getting hired, it’s time to start taking steps to see what you can make yourself. Scrape together financing for a short. Put on a play. Film a web series with your friends.
Don’t leave your fate up to the gatekeepers and corporations.
Once you have the material, once you have the network, do whatever you can to get something up in front of an audience.
Really enjoyed this one! It's so hard to figure out what to focus on to achieve screenwriting success - especially when there is no direct path. These milestones provide much needed clarity and encouragement.
Thank you, this is really great advice and I’m excited to get to 5 of 5.