Are YOU the Biggest Obstacle to Your Success?
When I was graduating from college, I thought I wanted to go to law school. I was an English major after all and so many of us planned on being lawyers. My big dream was to right the wrongs and injustices of the legal system.
The night before my LSAT I went out to have a drink to settle my nerves for the test... and then I had many more drinks. Not surprisingly, I overslept and missed the exam. While it turned out to be a good thing that I didn’t become a lawyer (because I love the work I do now) I was really angry at myself for sabotaging my chances of getting into law school. Sadly, this kind of self-sabotage isn’t reserved for college kids who are nervous to take the LSATs — I’ve seen it in a lot of screenwriters I really like, and being a professional screenwriter in Hollywood is tough enough.
Between finding representation, meeting impossible deadlines, and battling LA traffic, there are countless obstacles on the road to success. Don’t let one of those obstacles be yourself.
It’s that self-sabotage I was talking about — those negative thoughts and destructive behaviors (like drinking too much before a deadline) that kill your confidence and wreak havoc on your writing career (often without you even realizing it, self-sabotage is usually unconscious).
Here are some of the most common ways screenwriters self-sabotage and tips on how to stop them:
1. “I’m talented, but I’m not worthy of success.”
If you feel unworthy of success, you might be dealing with “Impostor Syndrome”. This usually manifests as a nagging feeling of self-doubt (even if you have clear evidence that you’re skilled and successful). It can also show up as a relentless inner critic telling you, you’re a terrible writer and a fraud. (You’d be surprised how many accomplished, in demand screenwriters suffer with this.) Left unchecked, this destructive mindset can make you constantly search for proof that you’re doomed to fail. For example, you might get a smart note from a fellow writer that would mean a huge rewrite for your screenplay — so you stop sharing your work altogether. Or you see a movie pop up on Netflix that seems similar to a script idea you’re currently working on — so you abandon the idea completely. It can paralyze your creativity and stall your career ambitions.
What to do about it?
When self-doubt creeps in and you feel like a fraud, take a moment to recognize those negative thoughts for what they are: Fears. Not reality. A simple reality check can make your feelings of being an ‘impostor’ easier to ignore. If your inner critic won’t be ignored, challenge it. Take a moment to reflect on all the successes you’ve had in your career and list all of the reasons you’re not a “fraud”. If positive thinking doesn’t do the job, it can help to say those ‘positives’ out loud or write them down; Maybe journal it out or even pep talk yourself in the bathroom mirror or while driving alone in your car. Telling yourself how great you are might feel silly, but if it works to take away your inner critic’s power, it’s worth it. Only you can decide to stop diminishing yourself. Please do.
2. “I’ll finish my draft… tomorrow.”
Writers can be expert procrastinators: Doom scrolling on social media instead of working on a personal spec, making a snack or doing unnecessary chores instead of practicing for a pitch, going out for dinner with friends when you’re behind on a deadline… Sound familiar? (Personally I’m a big fan of cleaning out my junk drawer and any other draw that’s even a little messy)
Procrastination might seem like “taking a break” or “relaxing,” but it’s not. When you procrastinate, you’re burning up a lot of time and energy trying to avoid work. Which is why, after hours (or days) of procrastination, you end up exhausted and discouraged — the worst mental space to be in to get good writing done — so you procrastinate all over again, and the cycle continues.
What to do about it?
Find an “accountability partner”. Just like people have running partners or gym buddies to stick to their exercise goals, find a ‘writing buddy’ to help you stick to your writing goals. You might agree to both get ten pages done by the end of the day. Or, if you’re working on different projects, maybe you agree to have your pitch ready by Friday and they agree to have their outline done by Monday. Whatever system helps you both stay on task. Sometimes having someone work towards their goals alongside you is all you need to keep your head down and get some good writing done. Just check in with them before you start work, tell them what you’re going to do, and then check back in and let them know you’ve finished it. I use an accountability partner for any big – or daunting – tasks I have to do. It really makes a difference.
3. “No one can read my script until it’s perfect.”
While it’s true that scripts have to be excellent to get anywhere in Hollywood, there’s a big difference between excellent and “perfect”. Holding yourself to impossibly high standards can stop you from finishing drafts and delay your work from getting out into the world altogether.
What to do about it?
Strive for excellence in your work, not perfection. When you write a first draft of a script, do your best, but mainly focus on getting it done. Also known as the “vomit draft”. There will be typos, character inconsistency, and clunky plot points. These are all fine. You’re going to fix them later. (There’s a reason people say writing is about rewriting.) Then in future drafts, make it excellent, but don’t get stuck trying to make it “perfect”. What do you do if you don’t know the difference? Get feedback! Send it to your reps, your writing group, a mentor — whoever you respect and trust to give you an honest assessment of whether your script is “Hollywood ready”.
Self-sabotage can be tough to spot, but once you do, it's important to tackle it head-on. Overcoming these negative habits can give you more confidence, a greater sense of worthiness, better focus, and more momentum in your writing career. Being a screenwriter is tough enough; don’t let the biggest obstacle to your success be you.
How do you overcome self sabotage? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!
For more industry info and tips check out these additional resources:
For the ultimate guide to pitching a TV show that sells, check out my e-book, The Ultimate Guide to a Killer Pitch
To learn how to create your “personal logline” read my free e-book, Tell Your Story in 60 Seconds.
For my in-depth video course on breaking into the business go to: Carole Kirschner’s Hollywood Boot Camp.
And you can find my book, Hollywood Game Plan on Amazon or at Michael Wiese Productions (MWP).