A Screenwriter's Guide to Happiness

Screenwriting is not for the faint of heart. It demands countless hours of dedication to complete just one draft. Then you open yourself up to allowing that script to get torn apart (hopefully, politely) and rewritten over and over. Even after perfecting your script, putting it out into the world for producers, managers, or agents can feel like throwing it into a sea of judgment and rejection.

Does that sound daunting? It’s not meant to scare you – just to prepare you. 

Breaking into screenwriting is hard. It requires patience, persistence, and resilience. And let’s face it, the holiday family gatherings don’t make it easier:

Aunt Joanne: So, what do you do out in Los Angeles again?
You: I’m a screenwriter. Well, I’m trying to be. 
Aunt Joanne: What does that mean?
You: It means I work whatever job I can to stay afloat and write in my free time. 
Aunt Joanne: "Stay afloat?" Haven’t you been out there for five years?
You: Yes, longer than any of your marriages. 

It’s natural for doubt to creep in, especially when success feels so ambiguous. As a society, we tend to correlate being successful with being happy. But what does success even mean for a screenwriter? Is it getting paid? Landing a manager? Winning a contest? Seeing your story on the big screen? The truth is, screenwriters can define success differently, but achieving one of these milestones often depends on factors entirely out of your control. And tying your happiness to things you can’t control is a recipe for disappointment.

This industry is slow-moving, subjective, and rejection-heavy. It takes time (and luck) to land a literary manager, sell a script, or get a film produced. Even Oscar-nominated scripts like Forrest Gump and Dallas Buyers Club faced decades of rejection before finding the right champion. Even when success seems certain, setbacks can happen: managers downsize client lists, financiers back out, or distribution plans change. That feeling of having the rug pulled out from under you can be demoralizing. 

You might be thinking, So, if it’s a subjective field that demands I accept perpetual rejection unless I’m lucky enough to have one person take a chance on me and produce my script, even though there is a very real possibility of something derailing the whole process, what’s the point? 

The answer lies in redefining success.

If your happiness depends on external validation – getting sold, signed, or produced – you’re setting yourself up for disillusionment. Instead, focus on the only part of this process you truly can control – THE WRITING. Find fulfillment in that. Your goal should be to translate the movie in your head onto the page as vividly as possible. When you’ve written a draft you’re proud of, celebrate it! Be happy with creating a story that you believe in. That’s your success. Let everything else – reps, producers, deals – play out as it may.  

Here are five tips to help you embrace this mindset:

1. Love Writing
   Writing should be a habit, not an afterthought. Set aside regular time to immerse yourself in your story. The more you get lost in the fantasies on the page, the less you’ll be distracted by the ones waiting off it.
2. Love What You Write
   To borrow Jordan Peele’s phrase, “Follow the fun!” It’s important that you enjoy what you’re writing. If a script stops exciting you, set it aside and work on an idea that does. Passion drives productivity.
3. Take Breaks
   Between drafts, step away from your work. Recharge your creative batteries so you can return with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm. Avoid overwhelming yourself.
4. Seek Inspiration Everywhere
   Read that book that’s been catching dust on your shelf. Discover new music instead of listening to the same albums/playlists. Watch that international film you’ve put off because of the long runtime. Explore unfamiliar parts of your city. New experiences spark new ideas.
5. Build Your Tribe
   Surround yourself with other creatives. Share ideas, vent your frustrations, or simply talk about your favorite films. A supportive network can be invaluable for staying motivated and inspired.

By shifting the focus to the writing itself, you reclaim your happiness. Success becomes less about others’ approval and more about the joy of crafting stories you’re proud of. If you take pride in your process and celebrate your progress, you can find fulfillment regardless of external outcomes.

Take control of your happiness. Find it on the page and let that be your measure of success. 

Hailing from Cleveland, Torey Sinclair spent 6 years studying film and screenwriting at Ohio University and Chapman University, earning his BA and MFA respectively. After spending time in the IP Department and as Social Media Coordinator, Torey currently works as InkTip’s Marketing & Promotions Coordinator. His free time is usually spent either writing, watching indie films, or hoping for a Cleveland Guardians World Series.