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.