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Screenwriting Success
Screenwriting Success 12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Take your screenwriting to where you want it to be with this easy-to-follow fill-in-the-blanks planner
“Successful screenwriters write every day. When they’re not
writing script pages they’re planning story or developing
characters. And they get scripts written, rewritten and finished.”
- Hayley McKenzie, Founder, Script Angel
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
Summary
Introduction
The most successful screenwriters I know get results by being
productive.
To achieve this, they are committed to writing every day, no
matter what.
Successful screenwriters set goals and deadlines. Writers
breaking-in, turning from hobbyist to professional screenwriter,
are typically producing one polished spec script every six months.
And they invest time in developing characters and outlining story,
as well as writing script pages.
Even if you’re fitting your screenwriting around a day-job and
family commitments, you can achieve screenwriting success. By
writing for just thirty minutes every day you can create a portfolio
of scripts in a year or two.
This planner has been designed to help you achieve that. Use this
easy ‘fill in the blanks’ planner regularly to help you get more
writing done and ultimately achieve screenwriting success.
How To Use The Planner
Planning
At the beginning of each month take some time to schedule and
plan your writing work. Your goal is to be writing for at least thirty
minutes every day but that might be something you need to build
up to. Be ambitious but realistic.
Set deadlines for completing your main project. You might also
want to make a note of screenwriting contests whose deadlines
you might aim for.
You will also want to take time to plan what learning you’ll
complete to help you improve your screenwriting craft; reading
scripts and screenwriting books, watching videos or attending
events or classes.
Evaluating
At the end of the month use the calendar to note what writing
work days you achieved. A writing work day is any day you did
thirty minutes or more of writing work.
Fill out the sections at the end of each month to help you evaluate
your progress and what lessons you learned.
Please see below for definitions and clarification on each of the
types of writing work days.
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
Summary
What Each Writing Work Day Means
Screenwriting is much more than just writing script pages.
Screenwriters also spend time planning the script and preparing
for future projects.
This planner allows you to plan and keep track of all your writing
work by dividing your writing days into three types.
Pages
Writing or rewriting script pages of your priority film or tv project.
Planning
All planning and pre-script development on your priority project;
plotting story, developing characters, working out your theme.
Prep
All writing work not directly on your prioritised project. Noting
ideas for other projects you might develop in the future.
Developing your screenwriting skills through learning and writing
exercises.
The Screenwriting Habit
Successful screenwriters don’t just dream about success, they
take consistent action to make it happen.
The way to get better at anything is daily practise, so start making
writing a part of your daily routine right now. Find a time of day, a
place and a process that works for you and stick to it. One writer I
know found an hour a day by spending his work lunch break
sitting in his car to write!
Treating your writing like a job is the best way to make progress,
but it’s hard when there’s no pay-check and no-one waiting for
you to deliver your script. To overcome this, you need to make
yourself accountable to yourself.
Planning what writing you’ll do each month and then honestly
assessing what writing you’ve really done will help you create
some accountability. If you decide you need an accountability
buddy to answer to, try joining a screenwriting group or hiring a
screenwriting coach.
Getting in the screenwriting habit is the best way to achieve
success so jump into the planner to help you make that
commitment.
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
January “If you want to be a writer you must read a lot and write a lot.”
– Stephen King
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
January “If you want to be a writer you must read a lot and write a lot.”
– Stephen King
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
February “If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”
– Ryan Blair
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
February “If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”
– Ryan Blair
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
March “Be ruthless about protecting your writing time.”
– J K Rowling
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
March “Be ruthless about protecting your writing time.”
– J K Rowling
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
April “Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.”
– Napoleon Hill
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
April “Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.”
– Napoleon Hill
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
May “If you wish to be a writer, write.”
– Epictetus
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
May “If you wish to be a writer, write.”
– Epictetus
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
June “Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.”
– Lao Tzu
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
June “Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.”
– Lao Tzu
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
July “A writer who waits for the ideal conditions under which to work will never put a word on paper.”
– E B White
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
July “A writer who waits for the ideal conditions under which to work will never put a word on paper.”
– E B White
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
August “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
– Aristotle
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
August “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
– Aristotle
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
September “Start writing, no matter what.”
– Louis L’Amour
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
September “Start writing, no matter what.”
– Louis L’Amour
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
October “Success is the result of hard work and persistence.”
– Colin Powell
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
October “Success is the result of hard work and persistence.”
– Colin Powell
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
November “It is only by going through a volume of work that your work will be as good as your ambitions.”
– Ira Glass
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
November “It is only by going through a volume of work that your work will be as good as your ambitions.”
– Ira Glass
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
December “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
– Jim Rohn
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
December “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
– Jim Rohn
Plan
Writing Goals For This Month:
______________________________________
Target Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Target Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Skills To Learn:
_____________________________________
Screenwriting Book To Read:
_____________________________________
Other Learning Goals:
____________________________________
Evaluate
Did I Achieve My Writing Goals?:
_____________________________________
Actual Writing Days By Type:
Page Days: _____________________________
Planning Days: _________________________
Prep Days: _____________________________
Actual Writing Days Total:
_____________________________________
Longest Run of Consecutive Writing Days:
______________________________________
Action Steps
Things that went well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Things that didn’t go so well:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Changes to make for next month:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
12-Month Screenwriting Success Planner
www.scriptangel.com Nurturing Screenwriting Talent
About Hayley McKenzie
Hayley McKenzie is the Founder of Script Angel, a screenwriter training and development
company.
She is a highly experienced professional script executive with over fifteen years working in the film
and television industry, in both development and production. Hayley was Development Executive
at ITV Studios Drama and has script edited UK television dramas for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4,
and on produced feature films including indie hit Papadopoulos & Sons (Dir. Marcus Markou).
As a producer, Hayley’s short film Love in the Afternoon secured a distribution deal with Shorts
International.
Hayley is an international speaker at film and television events including Cannes Film Festival (for
the European Producers' Club), Raindance Film Festival (DigiCreators Writersroom), Craft of
Comedy UK, LOCO London Comedy Film Festival and London Screenwriters' Festival.
Script Angel has provided script development support for Story Expo in Los Angeles, Northern Film
& Media, The Sitcom Mission, the Big Comedy Conference and the Craft of Comedy UK.
For more information on Hayley, please visit: www.scriptangel.com
You can find us on Twitter and Facebook.
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