In Spite of Everything, There Are Things to be Thankful For

The WGA strike has been over for almost two months (and now the SAG strike is too!). Finally, Hollywood is getting back to business as usual (almost). That in and of itself is a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.

That said, November can be a challenging month for screenwriters in the best of times, and this year’s annual ‘industry wind down’ before the holidays might feel more frustrating than ever — it feels like writers just get back to work and now Hollywood is on the verge of another ‘pause’ until January?! It can be a maddening and anxiety-provoking time.

Any kind of career uncertainty can leave you in a downward spiral of focusing on what you don't have rather than appreciating what you do.

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are 6 things every screenwriter can be thankful for:

1. No regrets

I’ve written this before in Thanksgiving posts, but it’s worth mentioning again: One of the most common regrets people have on their deathbed is not following their dreams. I know, it sounds cliched, but it’s true. By choosing to be a screenwriter and following that path, you’ve done what most people are too scared to do. Don’t get me wrong, a screenwriter’s life comes with a lot of challenges, but at the end of it all, you won’t look back and says, “What if?”.

2. Your creative community

Whether it’s in a writers room, on the picket lines, or in a ‘laptop friendly’ coffee shop — as a screenwriter in Hollywood, you get to be constantly surrounded by people who are just as passionate and driven to create great stories as you are. So whether it’s screenwriter friends you’ve known for years, new actor friends you made this year on the SAG/WGA picket lines, or committed agents and managers who ‘get your writing’ and are always in your corner - take a moment to be thankful for your creative community.

3. Your family and ‘non-industry’ friends

Whether it’s your ‘non-writer’ roommate who washes your dishes while you’re on a deadline, a family member who helped you shoulder some of the financial burden of the WGA strike, or a spouse who takes your dog for a walk while you’re ‘in the flow’ — take a moment to be thankful for all the non-industry people in your life that keep you grounded, helped take your mind off ‘strike struggles’, and provide a much needed reminder that YOU matter (no matter how many scripts you’ve sold).

4. Your favorite writing spot

Whether it’s a local cafe with great wifi, your home office with a freshly brewed cup of coffee beside you, the public library (that’s me!), or somewhere unconventional like your bathtub, an ice skating rink or the beach — you can be grateful, not only for your favorite place to write, but for the fact that you get to choose where you want to work (Many office workers would kill for that luxury!)

5. You could touch hearts and change minds

No matter what genre you write in, you’re not just writing for a paycheck or for “commercial success” — you’re writing a story that people might watch one day. Which means you could change someone’s life. It sounds cheesy, but who hasn’t been changed by a movie or a TV show? I know I have. Great screenplays have the power to make people feel less alone, provide new understanding of unfamiliar cultures, give someone a much-needed laugh, or allow us to see things about ourselves that we might be too scared to face otherwise. Be grateful that just by doing what you love, you could affect someone’s life in a meaningful way.

6. Writing itself

Writing screenplays is glorious, exhausting, heart-breaking, frustrating, thrilling, crazy-making and absolutely wonderful. There’s nothing like it. Be thankful you get to spend your days doing one of the best jobs in the world.

What are you thankful for this holiday season? 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).