Create Writing Deadlines to Increase Output
Chances are, you know someone who swears they’re going to write a book, screenplay or poem, but never seems to actually get around to it. Those people aren’t writers. Writers have to write. They have to start projects and they have to finish them, or at least some version of them. But sometimes finding the motivation to put virtual ink onto virtual paper is difficult.
If you never finish your story, no one can tell you it’s bad. But if you never finish something, it can’t be good either. That’s a catch-22, which is ironic for this post because it took Joseph Heller nearly a decade to write and publish the namesake book that originated the phrase.
Rid yourself of that fear and embrace the bad, because I can already guess your script is terrible. It needs tons of work. But all first drafts do, and anyone who claims otherwise is either a genius or a liar. If you’re neither, continue reading.
In order to know what the aforementioned “tons of work” includes, you need to have something to work from. There’s a saying that writing is rewriting, but that doesn’t mean rewriting ACT I for three years. It means rewriting a completed draft. It’s too easy to get caught up in rewriting this scene, that act, or even just one conversation. You can always find a reason to NOT finish. There is always something to tweak or make better before you’re done, but it’s only when you have the full picture that you can go from making things better to making them best. Only when you and trusted peers can step back and take in your whole story, does what is and isn’t working within it become clear.
One of the best ways to commit yourself to finishing a project is to give yourself a deadline. Whatever version it is, just finish. It won’t be perfect. It probably won’t be good. But you can always do another draft or pass with a new deadline and move it toward greatness.
If you want to increase your writing output, always have a deadline. Here are five ways to do just that:
1. Give yourself a deadline
The easiest thing to do is simply give yourself a deadline. But then you have to follow through. Self-imposed deadlines are the most difficult to stick to and require self-discipline most of us don’t have. It seems that every time I use this method, I fail to finish on time. You might have more willpower than me, but to everyone else, keep on reading.
2. Sell a Pitch
From the easiest to the hardest. If you have the talent, savvy and relationships to land a pitch, your deadline will be set for you. Whether you sell an original idea or your take on a project in development, selling a pitch without a script means the buyer will give you a deadline to complete it. Sometimes these deadlines are ludicrous and lead to poorly developed stories, like the rumored 6 weeks David Ayers was given to pen SUICIDE SQUAD, but usually they’ll give you about 10 weeks for a first draft (although they’ll likely be inquiring before your 10 weeks are up). The best news is you’ve already sold the project and are being paid. It’s your job now, so you can afford to commit a full-time schedule to completing the project. And with Executives breathing down your neck and contracts written by scary lawyers, you’ll have all the motivation you need to complete things on time.
3. Enter a Contest
Whether you win or not, contests can help your writing. They provide a clear deadline and often incentivize it with tangible costs. Submit your script in time to meet the early deadline and it’ll cost you $40 to enter. Submit next month and it’ll cost you $60. It’s like they’re paying you $20 to be on time! Okay, not really, but it does help you finish your script and, if it’s great, gives you an opportunity to gain accolades, meetings, and other prizes.
4. Join a Writers Group
I already mentioned how trusted peers can provide insight into what is and isn’t working in your script, but a formal writers group can provide you a deadline too. If your group has one person go each week, then the smaller the group, the more often you’ll be up in rotation and the quicker your deadline will approach. If your group has everyone bring pages each week, then you’ll be pushed forward with weekly deadlines. Choose the format that works best for you and start writing with regularity.
5. Take a Class/Workshop/Lab
Writing education can be found at every community college, online, or sometimes even with local groups or governments. Take a class on creative writing, screenwriting, or whatever writing you can find and I guarantee the teacher will provide you some deadlines. Not only will you increase your writing output, but you might just learn something and build your network at the same time.
