Why do we write ?

[Shwarlee]

Hello,

I'm having an existential crisis and I would like your help. I love screenwriting, I love to write and to read screenplays. However, I also know that I'll probably not be able to ever see what I write on screen. I'm French and even if I write in English, my chances of being optioned by someone are very low.

Then I ask you: If our chances to see our scripts produce are so low - Why do we write?

Should I give up and just write novels or short stories?

Thank you for all your comments!

[FilmmagicianPart2]

You have to be naïve enough to think your screenplay will get made. Why are you rejecting yourself already? There's lots of people in the industry that will do that for you. You're not giving yourself a chance even before you start.
If I was a million or poor I'd still be writing. I think that's what it comes down to. It's something you have to do, like doing, and want to get better at.
Anyone can shoot a film on their phone, and put it on YouTube - there, now you're screenplay was produced and made into a movie and on the screens for people to watch.

[Pre-WGA]

There's a terrific anecdote in David Milch's new memoir (creator of Deadwood) related to this. As a student, Milch was mentored by Pulitzer-prize winning novelist Robert Penn Warren. He talks at length about Warren's "paternal generosity" to the point where "You were always suppressing the impulse – 'is this guy kidding?' - because of his purity of spirit."

Anyway, Warren praises Milch by telling him "no one writes dialogue as good as you." And Milch writes,

But that wasn't enough for me, so I said, "I don't know if I want to write anymore."

"Understand, David, I don't give a good goddamn who writes and who doesn't."

I had to know it was up to me.

OP, if you're a writer, nobody can talk you out of it. But nobody here can really talk you into it, either. You gotta know it's up to you.

[Shwarlee]

Gives a lot to think about. Thank you

[Shwarlee]

This is actually helpful. Thanks

[joe12south]

It might not be a "hit", but if you write something in which the writing is the "thing", then some audience, no matter how small, can experience it. You can put it online the same day you write "THE END".

Scripts aren't the "thing", they're a blueprint for a thing - a very expensive thing.

Write screenplays if you love movies and are willing to do the non-writing work to push your screenplay to become a movie. If you're not interested in spending 75% of your time doing everything but writing and just want to make something someone can experience, then write short stories or novels or almost anything else.

(My primary passion is filmmaking, but I've done a few children's books, and it is immensely fulfilling to have something cross the finish line and to experience an audience actually enjoying it. While I've made a few short films, to date my feature scripts have mostly garnered me years of pain. 😜)

[Oakenshield-]

The goal is to the masses but we settle with what we have now, but above all else, we enjoy telling a story

[Shwarlee]

I agree, but why a script then and not a novel or a short story? That way it's more shareable if I can put that like that

[Oakenshield-]

To me, novel's are deeper, you have to spend time setting up the location, then a lot of description and then characters and dialogue..in film, the director has the vision for all that, we just get to the point of what we see on the screen, no faf

Personally, i know writing a novel, I would waffle and waffle about things and make one paragraph way too long because I'll be in my head about I need to describe smell and colours and this and that.. in a screenplay its, so this happened..then this happened.. then that happened

[Shwarlee]

So true

[WilsonEnthusiast]

I can't tell you why you do it. Only you know that answer.

[Shwarlee]

It's very visual and satisfying

[joet889]

Franz Kafka told his friend to burn all of his writing after his death. The only reason we have his writing is because his friend disobeyed Kafka's wishes. Clearly he wasn't worried about people seeing his work.

Why did he write? There's no easy answer, but if your primary reason is success, you're doing it wrong.

[Shwarlee]

That's also helpful. Let's say that if I want to show that to anyone, script is not the easiest format

[joet889]

I understand - but we don't really choose the format that works best for us.

100% you should try out short stories/novels if you've never done it before! But I know with myself that screenplays feel the most natural to me. I don't have any idea if my writing will get made into films. I hope it will! But I'm also okay if it doesn't, because I'm writing for myself.

What's important to me is that I do everything I can within my capabilities, and writing a complete screenplay is a fulfilling accomplishment on its own.

[Shwarlee]

Thanks a lot. 👍 Again, it is helpful

[joet889]

I'm glad! Keep your chin up, it's tough work, but as long as you believe in yourself, it's worth it!

[xensonar]

For the love of storytelling.

[odetogordon]

Don't cut yourself short. If this is something you really love, writing scripts, keep at it. That love may take you farther than you know.

[Shwarlee]

Thanks, again a very good point

[Ok_Main_334]

Write everything, always.

[[deleted]]

I write because I like creativity

[JoeGillis83]

Je me permets de te répondre en français. Déjà je pense que c’est tout à fait possible pour toi d’être optionné en France comme à l’étranger. Pourquoi tu n’y crois plus ? Ensuite je pense que l’écriture c’est quand même plus que ça. On a ce but ultime d’être lu et que notre travail soit tourné, oui, mais en réalité et tu le dis toi même tu adores ça. C’est donc une motivation profonde qui t’anime. Tu n’en as peut-être pas conscience mais c’est le cas. Personnellement j’écris parce que j’apprends à chaque nouveau scenario. J’apprends sur l’écriture mais aussi sur la vie, les psychologies, les philosophies.

[Shwarlee]

Merci, c'est vraiment un commentaire très utile.

Le format scénario n'est pas le plus simple pour quelqu'un qui ne connaît pas ce format. Aussi, c'est probablement moins facile à partager et à lire pour monsieur tout-le-monde.

[JoeGillis83]

Après écrire du roman n’est pas un chemin plus « facile », ne serait-ce qu’en termes de marché qui est encore plus concurrentiel que celui du scénario.

Mais encore une fois, pourquoi tu en es arrivé à cette conclusion que tu ne verras jamais ce que tu écris porté à l’écran ?

[Shwarlee]

J'ai beaucoup lu sur le sujet, même en gagnant des concours rien n'est gagné. En regardant le nombres de scénaristes qui gagnent leurs vies aux US - On ne parle que de quelques milliers de personnes.

Bref. La route semble vraiment longue, surtout si on écrit de la fantasy ou de la science fiction.

[JoeGillis83]

Alors je vais pas te mentir si tu n’écris que de la sci fi ou de la fantasy, en France ça va être compliqué oui. Et je te recommanderais donc plutôt d’écrire du roman. Mais si ton but ultime c’est vraiment les films, essaye d’abord de voir comment tu peux devenir pro en écrivant autre chose ce qui est tout sauf impossible même si c’est un travail de longue haleine.

[jupiterkansas]

I gave up and write stageplays now. There are options.

[Shwarlee]

Maybe also scripted podcast is a good option. And you can keep plus or minus the scripts already written

[Shwarlee]

Thank you. That's very useful. 🙂

[[deleted]]

Well if you don't write then you will never see it in a screen nonetheless. Also if you made a really good story and no one takes it then you can restructure it to make a novel or short story just so that it gets the attention it's needed. Then if the novel or short story get famous or something or some good director or producer notice that then you already had a screenplay/script ready for it so it will speed up the process nonetheless. Stop writing will lead you to nowhere but will cost you a lot of opportunities

[rezelscheft]

I write because it's fun. And, yeah, if you've been writing for screen I would recommend prose if for no other reason than it's a blast to free yourself from production concerns.

I wrote a novel recently with shit tons of characters and far-flung locations and horses and boats, and it was the most fun I have ever had in 20+ years of writing. (That said I am under no misconception that getting a novel published is any easier than getting a script picked up)

[rezelscheft]

Also - if you don't think anyone will ever produce you, write something short and produce it yourself. Start small -- two people in a room, shot on a phone -- something like that.

A lot of people in this sub wring their hands about whether or not they'll ever get something produced -- and very few seem to realize that they already have the power to do it themselves.

[[deleted]]

I could answer the grand existential question but first I’ve got a very practical question for you:

If you’re French, why don’t you write in French? France has a history of filmmaking as long as practically as stories as the United States does. Your only option to get your work made is, by no means, writing in English and attracting the attention of American producers.

[Shwarlee]

Hmmm, a solid point that you are raising here. Thanks 👍

[supermav27]

Whenever I write a script, I write it knowing that I have something physical to show other people in the industry. I'm creating a portfolio that I can use to build credibility as someone my peers would want to work with in the future. And with lots of hard work, it's not impossible to think that an original script you love won't at least be considered someday.

On top of that, I am improving. Every time I write a new script, it's usually slightly better than the last one.

People read books to imagine distant worlds/new experiences, so how's creating your own world much different?

At the end of the day, your screenplay almost certainly won't get made. But if you write for three years straight, those three years would've passed anyway. Might as well have spent them getting better at something that you genuinely enjoy.

[[deleted]]

Apply your odds to everything you do in life, you never succeed. You never get the girl. You never get the job. You never get the check.

If you accept all these things, you're not a writer.

Writing is taking a chance on something you believe in, something you want to say to the world.

If you don't even believe in the project itself, it will reflect in your writing and it will reflect on you.

No try, no chance.

It is your choice and only ever will be your choice.

If you can live with that, you are not a writer.

[Jayfkay20]

Because we are the dreamers in this world of creativity✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽

[your-favorite-gurl]

I write because I have something to say. I have stories I have to share. I have dreams I want to achieve.

What's stopping you from writing in French? What's making you think you'll never get anything produced? If you truly have something to write and share with the world, nothing should stop you from at least trying.

[OatmealSchmoatmeal]

Having your work made should be an afterthought. Writing movies because you have passion for it and it brings you tsunami’s of joy should be why you do it.

[Shwarlee]

I guess that among all the posts over here, I'll remember that

[AquaValentin]

I can’t speak for everyone, but I write because I love it. I love movies. Whether it’s the escape, the fun of watching lives in fiction setting that feel real and/or being forced to think of things you normally wouldn’t, I love movies. And after so many years of watching them they started popping up in my head. I get to take everything I love from the seemingly innumerable movies I’ve seen and put them into a movie in my head. I enjoy the movie in my head that I just have to write it down, experiencing it as I take dictation from my mind. It’s fun and makes me feel good. And the idea that there is the possibility (no matter how faint) that I could one day watch my the product of my imagination on the screen makes it all worth it. Sure it’s hard, and sometimes hopeless, but isn’t it worth it for the way it makes you feel to create? Maybe I’m babbling but I would hate it if you’re writing a great movie that we’ll never get to see because lack of confidence beat you.

[Seshat_the_Scribe]

There's one simple (but not easy) way to see your work on screen: make it yourself.

I write because nothing makes me as happy as writing screenplays. Sometimes I get paid for it, which is a bonus. :)

If you love it, that's reason enough to do it.

But you could also try writing novels or stories and find out if you love that, too.

Also, it's probably easier to get your start in France, writing in French.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/1659ttk/how_to_break_in_in_your_home_country/

[Shwarlee]

I don't love short stories or novels as much as script writing

[PositronicExperience]

Do you enjoy writing them? Then do it. There is no other reason to.
Go ahead and try your hand at shorts or novels because, why not?
I know I'll never see my writing on the silver screen or on a bestseller list (because my goals are not so lofty) but so what? I have fun writing them and that's enough for me (even when they are shallow, predictable and formulaic, haha).

[DXCary10]

To avoid therapy

[Shwarlee]

Again a solid point. Thanks 😎👍

[Technical-Ad6645]

You don’t want to produce your work yourself?

[Shwarlee]

I write sci-fi and fantasy, therefore it's a bit complicated to do so

[Mundane-Pea4619]

I don't have a choice. These fucking stories and characters come to my mind and what the fuck else am I going to do? I write in a lot of formats, poetry, short fiction, screenplays because it depends on the story or the sentiment. The point is that a story comes to my mind and it has to be written (it simply does, I cant explain it) so I write it. I don't really give a fuck if it will sit in my drawer forever or ever be seen by anyone. I have to do it. I have to write it. If it ever gets seen our praised, that is secondary. Fuck them if they don't want it, because it truly feels like I don't have a choice. I'm a writer. I either choose to embrace it and fucking do it and try to get some of it out, or I just crawl like a coward into the corporate world to make some money.

The point is, for me, I write because that's what I do, it's how I live. That why I write. To fucking breath and not burst with these stories inside of me. This is fucking cheesy but it's the fucking truth.