5 Things all Screenwriters can be Thankful for

It can be all too easy, especially around the holidays, to get negative about your career: how much you’ve achieved this year, whether you have an agent or not, if you’ve sold a script yet… we can all fall into the trap of focusing on what we haven’t accomplished, rather than recognizing (and appreciating) where we are. 

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are 5 reasons to be thankful you’re a screenwriter (whether you’re currently employed as one or not):

1. You’ll Never Ask Yourself, “What If …”

Choosing to be an artist, a writer, takes courage. You’re doing something most people are too scared to do: go after a dream. Most people get a stable job, find a partner, have a family, and before they know it they’re at the end of their life having never pursued their passion. It sounds morbid, but it’s true. As a writer, hustling to make a living in Hollywood, you will never be one of those people. You are one of the rare (and brave) individuals who won’t look back and say, ‘What if?’… because you’re actually going for it.

2. You Get to Work in Hollywood

Everyone loves to complain about how hard it is to work in Hollywood - traffic is terrible, cost of living is high, and trying to get noticed in a town FULL of writers can seem next to impossible. But Hollywood has no pre-requisite; you don’t have to attend a special school, or come from a specific background to have a career here. Anyone, ANYONE (if they’re talented, want it bad enough, and are willing to work their butt off) can make it. The same can’t be said for a lot of other professions: like working in finance, being a professional athlete, or an airplane pilot. In Hollywood there are many ways to find success, and, while it can take time - sometimes a long time - that success can be achieved by anyone. So instead of thinking of this town as a place full of endless struggle, try thinking of it as a place where there are very few rules and endless possibilities to rise up as a writer.

3. Watching TV is part of your Job

If you’re a writer you probably love writing, reading, and watching stories. Well, guess how you become the best writer you can possibly be? Write, read and watch a LOT. You have a lifelong excuse to go to the movies, bury yourself in a great book or screenplay, and binge on TV shows — it’s literally part of your job. 

4. You Get to Feel the Ultimate Creative Thrill

Some people bungee jump or deep sea dive to get a rush of excitement, you can get that feeling just from sitting in front of your laptop. You know the feeling I’m talking about, it’s that intense pleasure you get when inspiration comes: when you’re struck by a new idea, when you finally crack part of a story you’ve been struggling with, or when you come up with a great new character. Those moments are no small thing. Don’t get so hung up on wanting your script to “just be finished already” that you forget to enjoy the rush of discovery as you go along.

5. You Might Change Someone’s Life

It might sound hokey, but it’s true. Movies and TV can have a deep affect on people. They can make someone feel less alone, give someone a much needed laugh, they can push us outside of our comfort zone and teach us something new about the world and ourselves. Take a minute to think of all the movies and TV shows that have had an impact on you over the years. Maybe a show you always watched after school made you feel understood, maybe there’s a movie that always comforts you when you’re sick, or a certain fictional character who always makes you feel like you’re going to be okay. No matter what genre you write in, remember you’re not just writing for you, you’re writing a story that people might watch one day and that story might impact someone more than you could ever imagine.

Why are you thankful to be a writer this Thanksgiving? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!