Mapping

Most writers dive head first into their writing with little or no forethought. I'm no exception.

I realised yesterday that it's been nearly a year since I've written something new; nearly a whole year with out a single new idea being put down on paper. That's bad and more importantly dangerous. Why? Because production companies don't want to see the same script several times but in different guises. They've rejected it already, so unless it's a drastic overhaul the likelihood is that it'll be rejected again. If you're not continually producing new work as a writer you'll go stale and have nothing new to offer production companies.

So what have I been doing in the last year? Rewrites, that's what. Rewrites are important but at the moment that is all I seem to be doing, and I'm bored of them. I want to write new stuff.

So I've come up with a plan which is as follows.

Mondays: Work on new stuff, be it outlining, characterization, or writing the first draft.

Tuesdays: The first rewrite day, going over my old scripts and polishing them until they gleam.

Wednesdays: Work on new stuff again.

Thursdays: Rewrite day part two.

Fridays: Post day. Send out polished scripts to production companies and work on my first novel.

I implemented the above timetable for the first time this week and it helped a great deal. Instead of waking up in the morning and spending an hour or two deciding what to work on that day, I already know, which means I can just get on with it. Timetabling your work helps to organise your working week. Give it a try