Just curious...

I was wondering how much time you guys spend on screenwriting and screenwriting related tasks?

I consider writing my hobby, however, I realized lately that I spend 6-8 hrs per day either writing or reading. I try to write 5-10 pages every day, but I also try to read at least a few shorts or part of a feature and also 30 minutes to an hour reading or listening to a novel.  My screenwriting has also spilled over into filmmaking, which might explain the many hours.  What's your schedule?  

8 or 10. It's really about all I have to think about.

I would love to have more time on screenwriting, but with long working hours, spending time with the wife and kids and football/soccer season... Until the day I can financially put work aside, it will be a hobby for me...

To put a put a time on it... a few hours a week either reading or writing

Mark

Monday Wednesday and Friday are my writing days.

I spend at least 6 hours those days and I try to write at least 4 pages. I like deadlines and I like overloads. It keeps me on a tighter schedule.

I need to spend more time reading.

I wish I could spend five days per week writing.

Surfing gets in my way sometimes...as does facebook.

It's just a hobby to me too.

When I wake up in the morning and get ready for the day, I have an audiobook running, so that's like one hour right there. Then, I try to spend at least 2 hrs reading scripts. Lately, I have tried to read more pro scripts rather than friend's scripts. However, I do still read by request.

Then I try to write at least 5 pages. That takes me anywhere from one to two hours. Then I try to learn something new as far as anything goes regarding writing/filmmaking. Usually 2-3 hrs. I'm a slow learner however. I'm old!  

I think it's a hobby for most of us.

It takes me longer to learn too Pia. You're not alone there.

Some days I don't get one page done...even though I try. Other days, like today, I get ten pages done. Sometimes things stump me and I need to do research.

It must feel awfully rewarding to finally get paid for something you've written. Hats off to those of you in here (Pia especially). Awesome.

Filmmaking takes up a large portion of my life, but screenwriting has to be the thing I do more than anything else.

Usually I spend about 2-3 hours on writing in the week, but on the weekend, it's like a full day at work. If I haven't got academic stuff, or social stuff, you can be sure that I'll be in front of my computer, writing.

Yeah, it's a hobby, but sometimes I really hope it can be more than just a hobby.

Dan

It's a hobby until (if ever) it can supplant my full time job.

I spend most of the time trapped in a cubicle, but I have enough down time to surf the net. Read shorts. I try to read 1-2 features a week. During week days, I work on treatments or am just thinking about plot, character, arcs, etc.

On the weekends, I try to write 15-20 pages if I have an outline or rewrite something I've written. If not, it's fine tuning a treatment/outline. I never did care before about outlining but I've found that it saves so much time during the actual writing process.

If I could change anything, less time on YouTube, ESPN, etc and more time reading scripts during down time in my cubicle life.

The time required for the characters resolve their problems.

By the way, the bad guys sometime don't have time to do theirs.

To answer the original question plainly, but truthfully, not enough.

As for actual writing?  If I'm not working on a script (hopefully on a deadline of some sort), I'd say basically ZERO hours of actual writing per week.  Maybe 1-3 hours of reading.

BUT, in terms of thinking, creating, fixing, etc, in my head, many hours per week...probably over 3 every day.

Working 2 jobs, watching football(soccer) and taking the wife shopping takes up a lot of my time.  I'd love to write every day but sometimes there's just not enough hours.  I often have a dilemma when I get time, do I write or do I read?
Actually I've been good lately.  I managed to write the first 30 pages of a new feature in a week but then sidetracked to re-write Pub Lunch again, which I did over the weekend lol.
I'm always thinking about writing though.  My work leaves me with a lot of time alone with my thoughts, so I usually keep them stored till I get home.

Working on a new script now, I try to do a page each day, which is handwritten while waiting in the car for the kids to get out of school.

Every night when easing towards sleep, I picture the upcoming scenes in my head. This can help with tough bits.

I read books every night, novels, bios whatever. Also play online games on the Net - there's heaps of good free MMORPGS out there.

I spent about 6 hrs today on screenwriting/reading/film related stuff, but didn't write one single page. Now, I feel a tremendous pressure of guilt!!  D:

This past year I did a lot of writing, spent many many hours.
I remember writing only 5 pages a month back in 2009, but this year has been crazy - writing both in Russian and English...

Can't say how much time total but a lot probably. Although "a lot" is very hard to measure

Since May I wrote 2 features (made some changes to both already but have to rewrite them yet) 3 spec sitcoms - 2 of which are ready (done as in "ready to go"!) lots of shorts, sinopsises, ideas, a sitcom pilot in the works etc. - discarded most of it.

So, I've been a good girl lately

Quoted from Grandma Bear I spent about 6 hrs today on screenwriting/reading/film related stuff, but didn't write one single page. Now, I feel a tremendous pressure of guilt!!  D:

I'd say even watching counts. I often watch a sitcom just to sprout ideas or  choose something to work with

For me, the answer to this question depends on what I'm writing. If it's a sketch, I typically write 3-5 pages in a day. If it's a short, maybe 2-3. But when writing a feature (which I'm about 5 pages away from finishing my first one), it's been about 1 page a day...sometimes less. IMO writing a feature is such a daunting task. It's not as exciting as a short because the ends not in sight. It's much easier to watch netflix of play a video game rather than work on a feature. and when I am working on it, i get distracted easily. I write a few lines, then check out a funny website. it's a bad habit and i'm trying to stop. hence why i deleted my Facebook...

Quoted from irish eyes I would love to have more time on screenwriting, but with long working hours, spending time with the wife and kids and football/soccer season

Excuses, excuses and more excuses...that is all you ever hear from this guy!

Of course I'm kidding, Mark. We're pretty much in the same boat. Work, kids, sport, t.v, alcohol...the list is endless. I rarely find any time during the week to write but fit in a few hours every weekend.

Reading is different as I spend most of my day in front of a computer at work. I spend at least a couple of hours a day depending on workload reading scripts or screenwriting gibberish in general.

Quoted from khamanna Since May I wrote 2 features (made some changes to both already but have to rewrite them yet) 3 spec sitcoms - 2 of which are ready (done as in "ready to go"!) lots of shorts, sinopsises, ideas, a sitcom pilot in the works etc. - discarded most of it.

Wow! It would take me about 10 years to get that much done going at my snail pace. What's your secret, magic beans or something?

Quoted from CoopBazinga Wow! It would take me about 10 years to get that much done going at my snail pace. What's your secret, magic beans or something?

Maybe I'm the Juggler)) - talking about that list of unsuccessful screenwriters.

Actually I had a couple of screenwriting jobs from Russians (minor though).
And there's a secret to my new writing habbit - yes. The thing is - in Russian market producers come and request from non-professionals. The thing that they mostly want is - synopsis (even if it's on idea level), a one page synopsis... and if they are interested it might go further. So, I was very lucky to discover the Russians!
All through simplyscripts by the way - someone from here emailed me etc...

On average, I spend ten hours a day, six days a week doing the work.
A combo of reading development scripts, writing coverage and networking...
And then there's writing my own scripts on top of all that.

For instance, last week, I...
Read six scripts by colleagues
Wrote four rounds of full coverage for our writers' projects.
Networked and sent two scripts I'm attached to around for thoughts.

AND... wrote 26 pages of new material for a feature script.
So, while I'm writing that one, I'm tweaking the other two.
Reading here and Scriptshadow comes after that.
I tend to stay busy!

Regards,
E.D.

Brett, you're a macine!!!!

I'm still waiting for notes on where to take the Arterial Motives sequel. Once I do, I will be working 10 hrs/day on that!!!  

Quoted from Electric Dreamer For instance, last week, I... Read six scripts by colleagues Wrote four rounds of full coverage for our writers' projects. Networked and sent two scripts I'm attached to around for thoughts.

Brett, how on earth can you get all of that done?!

Quoted from danbotha Brett, how on earth can you get all of that done?!

He's unemployed  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Brett, you're a macine!!!! I'm still waiting for notes on where to take the Arterial Motives sequel. Once I do, I will be working 10 hrs/day on that!!!

And once you're done working those little brain cells to the bone...
I expect a copy before you get that lobotomy!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from danbotha Brett, how on earth can you get all of that done?!

Because my boss makes sure I have the time to get it done.
When I'm not developing our slate of stuff...
I keep my nose to the grindstone and fingers in many pages.

Brave the vast wasteland that is Development and hold on tight!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Forgive He's unemployed

Au contraire mon frere!
It is my employment.
I blackma-- err, convinced someone to hire me!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer And once you're done working those little brain cells to the bone... I expect a copy before you get that lobotomy!

You will, but right now, I'm still waiting for the notes on where they changed the original ff script! Without that, I can't even begin to outline! Stress!!!

Btw, I was told today they are trying to get Tom Seizmore for Detective Helsing!!! I LOVE that guy! Keeping my eyes crossed for that to turnout!  

Quoted from Grandma Bear You will, but right now, I'm still waiting for the notes on where they changed the original ff script! Without that, I can't even begin to outline! Stress!!! Btw, I was told today they are trying to get Tom Seizmore for Detective Helsing!!! I LOVE that guy! Keeping my eyes crossed for that to turnout!

Forgive the tangent, guys.
Then again, Tom Sizemore has starred in some great ensemble stuff.
Perhaps the thread starter should check out Reservoir Dogs!

But that's great, Pia!
Did you see his IMDb page?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001744/
The guy work's like a fiend!

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Perhaps the thread starter should check out Reservoir Dogs!

Was he in RD? I've seen that film more than once. I remember him as Detective Scagnetti in NBK. One of my all time favorite films. Brilliant on every level. I almost feel embarrassed that he will have to say lines from a script I wrote, knowing that he has worked with scripts written by Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone!  

He's only needed for two days, so maybe he can live with it. Apparently they are talking to him today.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Was he in RD? I've seen that film more than once. I remember him as Detective Scagnetti in NBK. One of my all time favorite films. Brilliant on every level. I almost feel embarrassed that he will have to say lines from a script I wrote, knowing that he has worked with scripts written by Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone!   He's only needed for two days, so maybe he can live with it. Apparently they are talking to him today.

My bad!
Sizemore's other Tarantino scripted film is True Romance.
He did NBK for Stone, Black Hawk Down for Scott...
Private Ryan for Spielberg and Heat for Michael Mann!

Regards,
E.D.