When it comes to being a screenwriter, the creative process is a very personal thing; almost as personal as our voice. That voice is what distinguishes our script from the next, and when it comes to completing a script – no matter how inspired we are – getting all those words on the page can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task. 

Therefore, it’s up to our Creative Process, capital C, capital P, to get the job done! The story wants to come out: we’ve taken up the screenwriter mantle for a reason. Our Creative Process is the thing that will get us to that outcome, so we must invest in cultivating a solid one.

So when motivation is flagging, the muse has taken up residence elsewhere, the world is feeling heavy, and yet, that tiny little spark of I must write to keep breathing won’t let go of you—what’s a creative writer to do? 

One way to keep screenwriting while the world feels like it’s on fire is to set your intentions—and then follow through with them.

Why set screenwriting intentions?

We already set goals: I’m going to write a pilot in five weeks. I’m going to submit to five contests before the end of the year. I’m going to be a Big Break Finalist—or better yet, I’m going to win the competition. 

There are steps to be taken to achieve those goals. Brainstorming to indulge in and pages to crank out. And lots, lots, of revising. A solid way to accomplish it all? Routine. That’s where setting intentions can help you make headway and achieve your goals while also keeping an eye on the Big Picture along the way.

So what is an intention, and how is it different from a goal?

If Goals are the What, then Intentions are the How. 

They represent how you want to show up in the moment, and all the moments added together to reach your goals. They are the “you” part of sitting down to write, just like how your experiences make up your unique voice that puts the spin on why your story is different from the next person’s, even if it’s the same topic. 

Intentions are also a little bit of the Why. Why do you want to tell this story in this specific medium? This drives your intent to write and submit and champion your story.

Thus setting screenwriting intentions can be just as important as setting goals. They’re the fuel to ensure you finish those screenplays and reach those goals, like a really good outline with story beats to follow gives you guideposts to telling a well-structured story. Intentions carry you through the ups and downs of a screenwriter’s life, through the adversity and rejections and moments of doubt. When set and listened to regularly, when repeated as mantras and checked-in with to ensure you’re still on the path you set out to follow, they are the thing that can get you through. The very motivation you need to keep you moving towards your goals and dreams because they are so deeply rooted in your purpose and values. 

With this in mind, let’s set some intentions.

Reframing the Creative Game: 5 steps to setting your screenwriting intentions

Like exercise or eating healthy, once you fall off that bandwagon, getting back on can be even more difficult than starting it to begin with. So as with healthy screenwriting habits and setting writing goals with yourself, deciding how you want to show up and intend to get the job done can make all the difference. It’s the commitment to the job plus the action of doing that makes that crucial difference. 

And we’re not talking huge grand gestures! There’s your first step:

1. Perform small tasks with purpose, regularly.

Any good social media influencer will tell you: consistency is key! While posting fifty thousand times a day may not be your jam, the same dedication to consistent action goes for intention-setting. Small, integral steps performed with purpose on a regular basis have a far greater chance of helping you reach your end goal because you are already on the bandwagon. 

Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect! You don’t need a detailed plan like you might set up for getting a specific screenplay done for a submission deadline, but you do need to know:

You are enough.

Now is perfect.

Simply stating your intentions out loud, on a regular basis, can have a huge effect on your internal motivating forces. Over time, these positive seeds can overrun the negative narratives that might be ruining your motivation, or even inspire the act of sitting down to write especially when you don’t feel like it because it’s become so ingrained.

So set the intention for how you want to show up for your writing—for yourself—and repeat it until you do it. 

2. Practice makes perfect

Well, maybe not perfect, but we’re not shooting for perfection: we’re shooting for real. 

Setting intentions that work with your lifestyle make them more attainable. Don’t always have the same five minute window a day? That’s okay. Think them over while you’re brushing your teeth, or on the evening commute home; all that’s really necessary is a quiet moment to internalize and reflect. 

What will it feel like to dedicate yourself to your screenwriting goals and achieve them? Visualize that. Write it down and post it somewhere highly visible like a bathroom mirror, or make it an alarm on your phone to remind you periodically. Holding space for that image of what it feels like to achieve your goals will help you stay focused. 

3. Tell shame to take a hike.

The screenwriting game is hard enough without your inner voice holding you back, too. We’ve already touched on this one, but it’s so important, we’re going to repeat it. Strengthening your positive inner voice through intention setting will eventually start to drown out that negativity, and make room for positive writing routines in its place. 

My ten-year-old recently tried out for the district track meet in shot put and told me later that before it was even his turn, he’d told himself he wasn’t going to throw as far as his friend. He “knew” he wouldn’t make it. He didn’t—but only by point-two of a meter. My heart broke for him. I wanted to get mad at him for his “negative attitude” but instead we had a long conversation about my life as a freelance writer and aspiring screenwriter. I asked him if he thought it was good for me to assume that I would never make it before even sending out my scripts? Because then, quite frankly, why was I bothering at all? 

I don’t believe in toxic positivity; I believe in having hope, believing in oneself, and putting in the mental and physical work to get the job done. In my case, sitting my butt in the chair to write while setting the framework to do so through regular intention setting in how I’m going to accomplish that. In his case, practicing outside track season and building up his mental game.

Having such lofty goals as being a screenwriter can feel indulgent at times; like a complete and total pipe dream. Children grow up wanting to be race car drivers and basketball players, and we don’t shame them for it. So why should we shame ourselves?

4. Show gratitude

Practicing gratitude for the journey is part of successful intention setting. It’s part of that whole, how do you want to show up for the task? package. 

Giving gratitude for what’s already come your way can go far to help you focus on what’s next. Every little step counts. Finishing a script. Polishing the script until you feel confident in submitting it. A contest placement. A friend giving your name in a room you’re not part of. Some days, simply sitting in the chair and doing the work. Embrace the gratitude for being called to do it. It’s all important to motivate the next steps.

5. Pair intention setting with something physical.

Hear me out. In the end, Hollywood is a business that money makes go round, and as screenwriters who do so much of the ‘legwork’ for free and on a wish, it can be taxing. Moving your body while setting your intentions promotes a bunch of healthy side-effects to combat that: physical movement can help beat stress and improve overall health and your immune system. Moving those physical blockages in your body also makes way for mental sharpness and those ah ha! moments we’re looking for as screenwriters to improve a story we’re working on. In terms of intention setting, bringing your awareness to the body through physical movement is a grounding action that gives your intentions gravitas. You’re more likely to remember them, call back to them in your mind, and remember how good you felt afterwards. A sense of accomplishment can be a strong motivator! 

So go out and do something that feels like a win—walk, run, bike—while you’re setting those intentions and then, once your body has subsequently calmed, infuse your screenwriting with that energy. 

Then DO IT AGAIN.