Tough Times in Screenwriting Call for Increased Tenacity

My dad was the most tenacious person I’ve ever known. Born in South Philadelphia to Russian Jewish immigrants, he had to quit school in 10th grade to sell fruit off carts to help support the family. He then enlisted in World War II and flew 50 missions as a ball turret gunner on a B-24 bomber. For those who don’t know, being a ball turret gunner was considered the most dangerous position on the plane, with an extremely low survival rate.  But he fought on and survived with sheer tenacity.

After the war, he didn’t really know what to do. He was brilliantly creative and a naturally gifted wordsmith, but he was also unfocused and without direction, in large part due to his lack of formal education. But he had street smarts to spare and always did what it took to make ends meet: from selling hot dog stand franchises…to creating an advertising newspaper business…to designing his own brand of costume jewelry with interchangeable gemstones.

When he was in his eighties, my dad started writing humorous books with funny famous quotes and accompanying illustrations done by an artist friend of his. And even though he had lost 90% of his hearing by that point (partly due to old age, but also going back to the extreme noise in the ball turret), he managed to sell thousands of copies of his books in hospital gift shops and Barnes and Noble bookstores. And he did it all by cold calling and querying vendors and publishers via handwritten, snail-mailed letters.

I remember cleaning out his apartment after he passed away. On his desk, I found a stack of rejection letters from publishers. Several letters included the standard line: “Thank you for submitting your work, however, at this time we’re going to have to pass.”  Circled in red marker by my dad were the words “at this time” accompanied by handwritten follow-up dates.  In other words, in my dad’s mind, the publishers were just saying that the timing wasn’t right – so he’d get back to them down the road, when the time might be right.  If that’s not tenacity, I don’t know what is.

Postels never quit

My dad always told me growing up that “Postels never quit.” Whether it was school, sports, chores, preparing for my bar mitzvah, or anything else I did, he’d repeat those words. He also urged me to always keep a positive attitude no matter what. Actually, he pronounced it “at-ee-tude.” That was the South Philly in him. Regardless, those words ended up making such a positive impact on my life, including my screenwriting – and even a battle with cancer.

How to Remain Tenacious During These Tough Times in Hollywood

There’s no doubt it’s hard times out there for writers and others in Hollywood. But if you follow the advice given to me by my dad (and maybe one of your own parents), I believe we’ll all get through this together. 

Please consider:

• During the current lull, while industry adjustments are made, remain tenacious in your writing. Let these tough times inspire you to write with more empathy and emotion than ever before.  Turn your pain into purpose, dig deep, and infuse your work with meaningful and universal themes that will connect with your audience no matter what genre you write.
• Continue to be tenacious in your querying and never let rejection discourage you. Instead, let it make you more determined. Like my dad knew, it’s all about timing (perhaps something else he learned as a ball turret gunner). If your spec screenplay doesn’t sell today, it may tomorrow…or five years from now.
• When you do query (assuming you’re a non-produced writer), be diligent in your research and focus on independent producers instead of agents, managers, and studio-affiliated production companies. I’ve found indie producers not only to be more accessible, but they’re some of the scrappiest people in the industry who are willing to work relentlessly to get their movies made. Hopefully, you have some limited location/low-budget scripts that will be realistic for these financially challenging times. 
• Be tenacious in doing what it takes to make ends meet. Don’t quit your day job – and be as diligent as possible in your job in order to maintain (and even increase) your cash flow. You can always write on the side like I’ve done throughout the years.
• For talented young screenwriters waiting to break into the industry, learn a discipline like copywriting in order to flex and enhance your writing skills. There’s always a need for good copywriters, whether for SEO, advertising, social media, direct response, or corporate video scripts. I started in advertising myself and the tools and skills I learned as a copywriter have proven to be invaluable in my screenwriting.  Remember: Staying active at work and keeping the cash flow coming will help lower your stress and thereby make you more productive in your writing (and in life itself).
• Along the same lines, be tenacious enough to consider a move outside of LA if that’s where you currently live and are struggling to make ends meet there. For feature screenwriters like me, you can live anywhere. I know TV writing is different, but I’d still think it’s better to live comfortably – perhaps back in your hometown – where the lower cost of living and lifestyle may very well help you out of a rut.  Mind you, I’m not anti-LA by any means. It’s just that I know how expensive it is to live there – and I also know how depressing and discouraging it is to live in a place you can’t afford with limited career opportunities, at least for the moment.
• Most of all, be tenacious in living a full life with a variety of people and interests. Get out and volunteer, talk to others outside your circle, have fun, and stay healthy.  You can do all of this without giving up on your screenwriting dream. In fact, it will only help.

In closing, I’ll leave you with the poem below that my dad copied and gave me many years ago. It may sound corny and old-fashioned, but it’s always helped me – and I hope it helps you, too!                                               

The Victor by C. W. Longenecker

If you think you’re beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find

Success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re out classed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.