Screenwriting can be one of the hardest but most rewarding professions and can take a lifetime to master. Many people watch great films and think, “I would love to write one day!” If this is you then the most important and sincere question you need to ask yourself is, why me? Do you have the signs you’re meant to be a screenwriter?
Every film or TV series starts with the script. It is an emotional plot that guides the director, actors and all other crew to solve the big puzzle. Only you, as a screenwriter, knows the full truth; every character in the story is on a journey of discovery without being aware of the full picture. To get this right is a true craft and takes someone intune with emotions, human connection and the intricacies of multi-dimensional characters.
So, if you have a story that you feel a burning desire to tell, then screenwriting may be for you. Forget about the long road path it may take to become a screenwriter. Any craft that may fulfil you is worth having in your life.
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10 Signs you’re meant to be a screenwriter
1. You’re always thinking
Overthinking is often referred to as a negative quality and something we should work to silence in order to find peace. Although this is true to some extent, it can also be used as a great tool for screenwriting.
Your thoughts don’t need to be all about writing. You could rethink conversations and wonder how they could have played out differently. You could constantly have unanswered questions, snippets of ideas or philosophies you want to talk about. Whatever, the thoughts are, they are loud and constant.
To be a screenwriter, you need to pull at the thread of many thoughts, conversations and ideas. You need to be able to think about many perspectives of truth, the grey areas and distort the original idea many times. If your head is loud with thoughts then hone in on these, start a journal and write, write, write.
2. You like people watching
People watching can fuel your script ideas.
It can provide valuable insights into how individuals interact and express themselves, which can help you create more authentic and realistic characters in your screenplays. It is important to study people other than yourself, those who are from a different walk of life and process the world in another way. By observing people from different backgrounds and contexts, screenwriters can gain a better understanding of societal norms, values, and the influences that shape individuals.
Doing this can expand the stories you tell and can open up new avenues for your characters. Although it is amazing to tell stories about characters you instinctively know, people watching can help you delve deeper and resonate with audiences on a profound level.
3. You’re captivated by storytelling
Storytelling is a fundamental part of being a human. It plays a role in our everyday lives without us being completely conscious of it. We share stories from our day, work, friendships and we always have an internal narrative to make sense of the world.
At the core, stories are the basis of emotional connection and how we gain a profound understanding of people’s experiences. It’s how we learn lessons and pass on knowledge to help others grow.
To be a screenwriter, you must see stories at a deeper level than genres or entertainment. Afterall, screenwriting is hard so having a deeper passion will help motivate you. If you are captivated by how people tell stories, the lessons passed on and the character/personal growth experienced then screenwriting could be for you. In order to persevere (sometimes for years) with a script, you have to believe in the story and the connection it is going to bring for yourself and others.
4. You like good communication
Communication can often fix a lot of situations, if it is understood and used correctly. Understanding communication, especially what is unsaid, is incredibly important for storytelling.
If you can sense what needs to be said or what is being unsaid, then it is a sign you can appreciate communication on more than just a surface level. Your characters may not always have the best words to convey their truth. However, as the screenwriter, you should always know the best communication and the end goal of their growth.
Clear and engaging communication through dialogue, narrative structure, and visual storytelling techniques, such as parentheticals, allows the audience to connect with the characters. Ultimately, they will resonate with the story being told.
5. You’re a mediator
If you are always thinking, empathetic and intune with emotions then you may often find yourself in the role of a mediator. You are able to sense tension before it has begun and reframe situations to alleviate pressure.
Screenwriters understand the power of storytelling to transform perspectives and create empathy. This understanding can be applied to mediation, where they can use storytelling techniques to help parties understand each other’s experiences and find common ground. By framing conflicts within a narrative context, screenwriters can facilitate empathy, understanding, and ultimately, resolution.
This skill is highly useful as the role of a screenwriter. As you are the creator of the characters and their complexities, you should also be able to resolve any stressful situations you put them in. Practising this ability in real life can enable you to advance your characters and story in ways that others cannot.
6. You have the ability to see multiple truths and perspectives
In screenwriting, there always has to be some element of truth. It would be a terrible story if it only ever showed one truth. It is also not a real reflection of life; there are always multiple truths and perspectives.
If you can see the beauty of someone living the exact same day through a different lens, then you can lend this thought process to screenwriting. Most human interactions and complexities come from our own internal narratives conflicting with someone else’s. Everyone’s childhood and timeline impacts their perception of truth and understanding this makes for a beautiful story.
7. You’re always learning
Whether it’s studying yourself through therapy or researching storytelling techniques; the screenwriting profession is never mastered completely. It reflects the ever-evolving society we live in and expands our constricted thoughts. Therefore, no one is ever truly an expert of screenwriting.
If you have a thirst for learning and love challenging your own thoughts, knowledge and perceptions then screenwriting could fulfil you. You can put in the steps to practice screenwriting every day and thrive! Every single story you want to write requires learning, growth and research.
8. You have a passion for film and TV
Probably one of the most obvious signs on the list is that you have to love film and TV in order to write for it. You can have a passion for storytelling and turn to writing fiction books, theatre or poems and they will all connect with people in different ways. However, with film and TV, you are creating the scaffolding for a world that can be brought to life through magnificent sets, images and special effects.
Film and TV goes beyond imagination and creates a world for the audience to get lost in. A screenplay has to guide the filmmakers and actors through the writer’s end vision and inspire all production members.If you are blown away by a production from a carefully crafted script, then screenwriting could be the storytelling method to ignite you.
9. You love multi-dimensional characters
“I’m writing my story so that others might see fragments of themselves.”
— Lena Waithe
On first look, many films or stories seem to be about an event or complex situation. When you delve deeper, great stories are actually about the characters and how they overcome situations, process emotions and potentially grow as humans. Natural screenwriters know this and have a passion for multi-dimensional people that inspire their characters.
Exciting characters are those who possess a range of traits, emotions, and motivations, making them feel more like real people with complexities and contradictions. Deep individuals tend to have intricate and layered personalities and often grapple with internal conflicts, whether it be conflicting desires, values, or emotions. These inner struggles create tension and drama, which can be harnessed by screenwriters to drive the narrative forward and captivate the audience.
If you always crave deeper conversations beyond small talk and you hear both what someone is saying and not saying, then you are on your way to understanding complex characters. Writing real people and emotions takes an incredible amount of skill, so having a passion for complexities will push you forward to refine your characters again and again.
10. You crave constructive feedback
“The first draft of anything is shit.”
— Ernest Hemingway
Screenwriting is a very personal endeavour as you put a lot of truth and emotion into your story. Although it can be scary to share initially, screenwriters know that the end goal is to connect with an audience. There is no better way to test this than to get feedback from both peers and your general audience.
As the creators of their work, screenwriters can become too close to their material, making it challenging to maintain an objective viewpoint. Constructive feedback from others provides an external perspective, offering fresh insights and highlighting aspects that the writer might have overlooked. This objective viewpoint is invaluable for identifying blind spots and ensuring the screenplay is coherent and engaging.
Screenwriters are constantly studying a character’s growth and development with every rewrite. In order to do this successfully, they must also be open to their own growth and development and look to expand their skills and push the boundaries of their creative abilities. Once you push through the fear of sharing your work, it should be exciting to gain awareness of your strengths and weaknesses so your story can eventually have the biggest impact.
So, what screenplay will you write?
Screenwriting requires dedication, perseverance, and a deep connection to the craft of storytelling. Embracing these signs can guide you on your path as a screenwriter, helping you create meaningful stories that resonate with audiences and leave a lasting impact. Remember, the road may be long, but the rewards are immeasurable. Create a screenwriting portfolio to give yourself confidence and set yourself apart in the industry.
If you have a burning desire to tell stories, don’t hesitate to embark on this exciting journey of becoming a screenwriter.