My 2021 writer’s self-improvement project is chugging along nicely, and is proving to be quite the experience.
At least two rewrites in progress, along with a slew of specs to read, including those for the purpose of giving notes, as well as a few potentials on the horizon. All in the name of becoming a better writer.
(Incidentally, when you offer to to give notes on a script, be prepared for a deluge of material. I’m almost halfway through with the ones I got at the start of the year.)
And honestly, the whole “no contests” thing has proven exceptionally helpful. A lot less stress, and my bank account really appreciates it.
I sincerely hope that all the time and effort I put into this will pay off. Some days it seems like it’ll never happen, and some days it feels…I don’t want to say inevitable. Let’s go with “very possible.”
Part of this year also involves me trying to not put as much as pressure on myself and simply try to enjoy the whole process. As much as I’d love for things to work out sooner rather than later, I can’t force anything to happen. Beating myself up over things I have no control over is a pointless exercise. Better to sit back and have fun with it.
In the meantime, I’ll keep pushing onward and upward.
I’ll get there yet.
Maximum Z 
Hey, Paul, you say: “And honestly, the whole “no contests” thing has proven exceptionally helpful.” I kind of know why, but I wonder why you thing so! Sorry, I missed what you discussed prior.
just as it says – don’t have to stress about deadlines. I can take my time with each script. And have saved a significant amount of $ by skipping them
Paul,
Maybe you don’t want to reveal your secret, but how did you develop you script-editing business? I’m trying to start an editing business, and I’ve got a couple of novelists as clients, but I don’t know how to get into the script-editing side of things.
Thank you,
P James Norris
No secret to it. You just read A LOT of scripts, so you eventually get to know how to identify what should & shouldn’t be on the page. You also learn how a page of a script should look compared to one in a novel.
Paul,
No, I understand what should and shouldn’t be in a script. What I meant was how do you go about getting clients?
Have a care,
P James Norris
got it. I’m not a produced writer, so don’t feel comfortable charging for reads/notes. I keep busy interacting within the screenwriting community via social media, so others get to know me that way. I imagine once they check me out – mostly through this blog – some might feel I know what I’m talking about and come to me asking for my two cents. A lot of the time they’ll offer a swap, which is always nice. In the end, it all comes down to promoting yourself however you can. Does this help?
Paul,
Yes. Thanks.
Have a care,
P James Norris