Pursuing a screenwriting dream and career as a professional screenwriter can be difficult. It’s often a perilous journey at first, wrought with rejection after rejection that can last for years. But for those who stick with it and brave through the adversity, trials, and tribulations, make no mistake, the dream can come true. It happens to many each and every year. 

You just need to persevere through the difficult times — and use the knowledge and experience gained to evolve as a screenwriter. 

Every hero’s journey has a rite of passage. Take solace in knowing that these difficult times are necessary to make those screenwriting dreams and career aspirations come true. 

With that in mind, here we present some helpful tips on making sure you don’t succumb to the frustrations and quit before you prevail in your screenwriting journey. 

Why Do Screenwriters Quit?

Screenwriters end up quitting their screenwriting aspirations for a number of reasons. Here are some of the major ones. 

Fight or Flight Instincts

There’s a psychological switch embedded in our DNA. When we face something difficult, our body and mind go into survival mode. We have a choice when faced with survival situations. 

1. We can switch to fight mode, where we’re ready to do whatever it takes to overcome any conflict or resistance we face.  
2. We can switch to flight mode, where we cut our losses and run, avoiding all conflict and resistance thrown at us. 

What do you think is the easiest thing to do between the two? Flight. 

Here’s some screenwriting truth — every single screenwriter, no matter at what level of success or lack thereof, will face rejection a majority of the time. It’s difficult to face challenges. It’s even more difficult to face such challenges over and over and over again. Most can and will quit the pursuit of this dream with ease. 

But for those truly destined to be professional screenwriters, we often find that we can’t quit. 

You Feel That You Don’t Have the Necessary Time to Write

You can’t simply just quit school and quit working to focus on screenwriting 100% of the time. And you’ve likely read misleading quotes in screenwriting books that say you need to be writing for eight hours a day (this is false). 

This misconception can be soul-breaking for many screenwriters — until they (hopefully) learn that you can find the necessary time to write with more ease than you would think. 

Pro Tip: Focus less on writing for a certain amount of time. Instead, focus on writing sessions. Whether it’s 45 minutes or 3 hours, try to write 10 pages per session. 10 writing sessions with 10 pages written during each equals 100 script pages (give or take a few). Lastly, remember that you don’t have to be typing to be writing. You can write in your head and visualize anywhere and whenever for that upcoming next writing session.  

You Believe the Competition Is Too Difficult to Overcome

You read the trades (Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety) and see the types of screenwriters selling scripts and getting high-profile (and highly desired) assignments. You look those writers up and see that they have high-profile reps and maybe even some amazing credits and achievements. And then you feel that you can’t catch up to and compete with those types of resumes. 

However, the truth is that there are new screenwriters every year who break through without any major contacts, credits, or representation. In fact, every screenwriter that you read about in the trades started where you are right now, today. 

It’s important to know why screenwriters quit so you can reject those embedded notions when they appear in your mind upon self-reflection. Now let’s look at what you should be doing instead of quitting. 

Sylvester Stallone in 'Rocky IV'

5 Things to Do Instead of Quitting Your Screenwriting Dream 

1. Challenge Yourself

Sometimes you get bored without even knowing it. You get locked in your safety niche and continue to spew out script after script in the same genres you’ve grown more accustomed to over the years — or maybe you find yourself taking too much time to finish scripts (six months or more) and you just can’t bring yourself to start another only to seemingly face more rejection. 

Try challenging yourself. Get out of your niche. Get out of your comfort zone. 

• If you’ve been writing comedy scripts, try tackling a horror concept or thriller.
• If you’ve been writing horror, try taking on something a little lighter. 
• If you’ve put off a challenging script for years because you didn’t know how to handle it, maybe it’s time to give it a shot. 
• Try tackling a genre that scares you. 
• Try tackling subject matter that has seemed too difficult. 

Whatever the case may be, maybe you just need to take on a new challenge to not only jumpstart your creativity, but jumpstart the passion you need and have had in the past. 

Don’t quit. Find something that will challenge you in a different — and maybe even more exciting — way. 

2. Remind Yourself That ALL Screenwriters Have Gone Through This Adversity

From a personal perspective, I’ve “quit” more times than I can count over the years — or at least wanted to quit. Why? The rejection and adversity can be overwhelming. But what got me through those difficult times was always remembering that all screenwriters — even the ones whose projects have garnered Oscars and millions of dollars at the box office — started where I was. 

I’m now 15 (and counting) paid contracts in, with 12 (and counting) produced and distributed feature-length projects (1 miniseries). I share this not out of ego, but to prove the point that if I can make it, I know that so many of you reading this can make it as well.  

All screenwriters have had their own adversity that they had to deal with — and most of that adversity is the same as what you’re dealing with now (or will so in the future). 

Remind yourself that this is the screenwriting journey — and every screenwriting journey is wrought with rejection, failure, obstacles, trials, tribulations, and heartbreak. 

Don’t quit. It may suck, but take solace in knowing that you’re on the very same journey Oscar winners and box office champs have been on. 

3. Move On to A New Script

We get caught in a cycle when we first start out. We spend time developing and writing a script — and then we spend time trying to market that script to get it repped, sold, and produced. 

One of the best ways to avoid quitting is to move on to a new script. Put the latest one on the shelf and stack in on your deck of scripts that will later work as your much-needed samples to share. 

You can always submit the latest script to higher-profile contests and fellowships like Final Draft’s Big Break Screenwriting Contest. You can always send more queries out to production companies and management companies. 

But the best thing you can do is move onto the next. That will keep you moving forward. It’s when you find yourself feeling stuck in a rut when those quit whispers begin to haunt you.

Don’t quit. If you’re always moving forward, you won’t be dwelling on the rejection and obstacles. 

4. Create an “I Won’t Quit” Attitude and Mindset

It’s all about the perspective you take. Too many screenwriters succumb to the pressures and begin to look upon the industry with cynicism. The moment you do that is the moment where the notion of quitting will seem less about defeat, and more sticking it to the industry that rejected you. Don’t fall into that trap. 

Instead, create an attitude and mindset that is much more productive and empowering. 

I. Won’t. Quit.    

Read that aloud — “I won’t quit!”

The Oscar winners, the box office champs, the screenwriters you read about in the trades, the blue collar screenwriters like me, and the legendary and iconic screenwriters of yesteryear all had this type of attitude and mindset where no matter what rejection and adversity we faced, nothing was going to stop us from succeeding and making this crazy dream come true in any way possible with varying (but triumphant) degrees of success.

Don’t quit. When you create this I Won’t Quit attitude and mindset, it will shield you from self-doubt, cynicism, and despair. You’ll be protected from the whispers.  

5. Watch Cinematic Perseverance When Down, Doubting, and Frustrated

Sometimes you just need a quick fix of hope and inspiration. You can certainly go to YouTube to find inspiring interviews and quotes, both from our industry or others. But since we’re cinematic cinemaniacs, my go-to was always watching cinematic characters persevere in inspiring and relatable scenes. 

Watch a character defy the odds and see their success unfold before their (and our) eyes. 

The Pursuit of Happyness (8/8) Movie CLIP - Final Scene: Chris is Hired (2006) HD

Watch a character face rejection after rejection…

Football Practice and Rejected By Notre Dame | Rudy | Now Playing

… only to see them finally get the acceptance they’ve been working so hard for. 

Rudy Clip

You can watch a character share their self-doubt and name the only thing they want out of their upcoming fight…

Rocky (1976): “I just wanna go the distance”

… and then watch as they achieve that goal. 

Rocky (10/10) Movie CLIP - Adrian! (1976) HD

Don’t quit. Just go watch some inspiring moments. 

Make no mistake, if you’re meant for this screenwriting dream, it can and will happen. The rite of passage is inescapable. You need to pay your dues. But those dues will help you to become a better screenwriter, so when the opportunities come your way, you’ll be ready. 

The military has a term that I’ve adopted when facing any type of adversity in my screenwriting career — Embrace the Suck. 

When you’re dealing with rejection, obstacles, trials, and tribulations, embrace them. Welcome them. Learn from them. 

Enough talk about this nonsense of quitting. Do these five things and get back to work (and have fun). Life is short. You’re doing what most people never have the courage to do, and who knows what the future holds? If you don’t try, you’ll never know.