Writing Is a Painful Passion When You Start Out

So, there was no question sent this week.

Which leaves me to come up with something to write. You would think that's easy, being that I make my living writing. Or, as I like to say, make things up.

But it's surprisingly often not - especially when doubt enters the equation.

Doubt doesn't go away. It just changes shape.

When there's no question to answer, you think: will this be the last time I ever get questions?

It's a similar doubt to when I hand in a screenplay. Will this be the last one?

To write well, you have to connect the writing to yourself. And because of that, it becomes personal. And then, if it doesn't connect, you take it personally.

I think that's one of the reasons people give up on this writing thing.

You have to suck at it first

Like anything, you have to do a lot of it to get good - and until you are good, you will suck at it.

But even if you suck at it, even if you cringe at your own writing, the only way to get better is to get it out there. Let people see it, so you can discover what works and what doesn't.

And a lot of it won't work.

And when it doesn't, it's going to be painful.

But you have to stick with it, until that magical day when it isn't painful.

You just have to put yourself out there, say screw it, and learn as you go. Imagine a nice future where you actually get okay - or dare I say good - at it. Where you can leave that beginner's feeling behind.

Unless you do something stupid, like start over

Unless, that is, you do something stupid - like I did this week - and try learning something new. Something creative, and inherently public.

So this is a weird, bleak announcement.

I have now become one of those people you see walking in circles in a parking lot, recording themselves talking.

Yes. I have joined Instagram.

You can go and watch me trying to learn something new, and for sure sucking at it most of the time: The Insecure Screenwriter on Instagram.

But hopefully there's going to be some good stuff there too.

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Stuck on something in your own writing? Send your question to Questions@theinsecurescreenwriter.com and it might be answered in a future post.

Related reading: Your Idea Isn't Ready. Write It Anyway.