SJ Longthorne

Okay but real talk. My main New Years Resolution is to write not every day, but every week, hitting at least one chapter whether in screenplay or prose form. A measurable, achievable goal that allows for busy days, exhaustion or mental health slumps.https://twitter.com/sarahlongthorne/status/1344857828020858882 …

Everyone always goes on about how ‘real writers write every day’, but I’m sorry, a lot the time those writers did not have full time jobs or responsibilities. Much of the time, historically, they had others take on the burden of every day responsibilities. Usually their wives.

Some days it’s literally not possible. Maybe you’re unable to escape from crunch culture at your studio and you’re working 14 hour days. Maybe you have kids. Maybe you’re depressed AF. Maybe you just have plans. It’s not always possible

So if you then subscribe to the idea that you ‘must’ write every day, you’ll feel like a failure when, one day, you don’t manage it. And maybe that failure has you thinking ‘What’s the point now? I messed up my streak.’

It’s just that age old thing of setting realistic goals that still hold you accountable whilst remaining flexible enough to weave around, you know, EXISTENCE, without triggering that (very natural) ‘I’ve failed’ response. For me, that’s a WEEKLY deadline, not a daily one.

(Totally intended this to just be one tweet but hey, maybe that ‘writers write every day’ thing was getting you down and you needed some validation? Whatever it is, I got you, baby.)

Thanks for writing this thread yo I definitely fall into the trap of "Oh no, my streak is broken" and end up feeling like I've failed. Gonna try weekly deadlines for myself now