When I first decided i wanted to be a screenwriter it was because I thought it would be an easy way to avoid real work, get rich quick, and secure a mansion in the Hollywood hills surrounded by lobotomy blondes. And not just with some action script either - I was going to be one of the unique ones, like Charlie Kaufman, Paddy Chayefsky, etc.

Then after a couple of years, the realization of just how hard it really is made me lower my expectations. I would have been happy just churn out a shitty, derivative action script and get a nice pay-day. Yet every time I tried to write one of those I failed - I just couldn't bring myself to write it.

Finally, after much soul searching, I realized that I'm only happy if I'm writing what I really want to write about. The kind of stuff that just comes out whether you like it or not.

But more than that, I feel like what I write needs to have a purpose. We live in crazy times, and it seems to me you can either be someone who gets involved in the whole political theatre that's going on right now, or you can sit on the sidelines and create nice, comforting entertainment for the masses (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, not by a long shot).

That's not to say I value explicitly political stories - I really don't. Politics is so trivial and fleeting, yet you can't read Crime and Punishment (a murder/detective story) and not be subtly needled by the pervasive political subtext bubbling under the surface of the pages. Hell, I'd argue that the central theme of the story is inspired by and based on the prime political issue of the day.

No one would describe Crime and Punishment as a political screed, and that's largely due to Dostoevsky's strength as a writer.

I suppose what I'm saying is...I've begun to feel the weight of duty and obligation bear down upon me. If we're going to do this and have our work potentially reach millions of eyes, then surely that comes with responsibility.

Bah...I'm just thinking out loud. Maybe this is just another phase.

What about you? Did your motivations and/or expectations change during your time as a screenwriter?

A great idea for a thread!

Yes, my motivations sure have changed. I started off writing prose. I actually started writing spoofs about people I worked with or knew online. I loved writing and this seemed a quick way of me getting what I wanted - avid readers and quick feedback.

When I tried to move into getting published for ‘real’ and expanding into novels I found the whole prospect way too hard and scary. I happened to get the opportunity to work on an independent short film and came up with the bright idea that I’d write screenplays instead. That would be easier, less words for a start! Lol. I also believed back then that I’d write a few screenplays, get them online and get discovered by Hollywood. I genuinely believed it would happen.

It didn’t of course, so I completely gave up writing for years. Back in 2014 I decided to give it another go, a serious go and just see how it goes. Since then I always write something that I hope entertains but means something. It is more about what the story means to me than getting rich and famous.  I certainly think writer’s have a responsibility to tell the truth and part of that truth is to reflect what you see going on in society. I think the commentary should be subtle though, more subtext and a relatable issue rather than on the nose. The problem with some TV programs in the US at the moment is some of them are so obviously politically motivated it feels very on the nose. The last two seasons of Supergirl and Madam Secretary have basically been, “Our President is nuts, please help!”

My short screenplay The Broken Kingdom  (which I’ve expanded into a half hour pilot) that I wrote for a OWC was heavily influenced by Brexit but Brexit doesn’t even exist in the story. I much prefer it when the influence is there but not front and centre.

Ironically, after years pursuing ‘the easier’ option I’ve gone full circle. I’ve had four short stories published over the past two years which has inspired me to give novel writing another go. I’m due to finish the first draft in a few weeks.

And the one thing that hasn’t changed is I love writing.

I really miss that ignorant belief that screenwriting will be easy and I will be discovered quickly and become the next Tarantino... reality hits quick, and it hits hard lol

I have only been writing "properly" for 1 year, so no time for my motivations to change.
My first attempt was many many many years ago - my only motivation then was to write a film, it earns lots of money and I don't have to get a job.

Now, I just want to tell stories. Like Greg, I like to tell the stories that I enjoy (I have tried to force myself to write stories I don't enjoy for the purpose of a sale, but those stories suffered because I just couldn't get invested in them)

Sometimes I like to write stories with a message - but most times I want to get completely away from it, escapism stories - the kind of stories that people can forget about life's woes, and just enjoy the story in front of them. (Writing them is my own escapism)

Right now, I am trying to take it one step at a time - first step is to try and write a story that is well received here (by reviewers), next is to place reasonably well in a comp, next to have a short produced.... moving up each step to hopefully, one day, seeing a feature I have written hit the big screen (or the small screen, any kind of screen really)

This is an interesting thread! My motivations have definitely changed. I started screenwriting after stumbling upon this website at a very early age. I was under the impression when I was younger that directors always wrote their films, which is something was disillusioned to embarrassingly late in the game. I always made shorts as a kid and saw this as an outlet to be creative outside of the limitations of a backyard setting and neighborhood kids covered in ketchup.

It wasn’t until a good five or so years later that I started to become more confident in my writing and started getting emails from interested film students that I figured I could make a career out of this. That spec sale dream faded after a couple of years, but I’ve been lucky enough to have a few write-for-hire credits under my belt.

Nowadays, I really just write whatever idea comes to me that I can’t get out of my head. It’s really therapeutic and usually deals with personal themes of the moment that I’m not even fully aware I’m going through. I don’t get to leisurely write as much as I used to, but I’ve never been able to give it up. The idea will take over my brain until I type it out. If a sale comes from it, GREAT! However, I get a lot of joy out of simply sharing my work on the Internet and getting the occasional praise email from a reader.

Writing came back to me when I was in a state of flux in 2013 - new job, trying to take a class in college. When school proved fruitless at the time, I started bringing my laptop to school and try writing short stories - I had to do something to fill all that time I told my wife I was going to school! Anyway, somehow after I came across screenwriting. I found this site. Then I learned, and am still learning.

Since then, a few shorts produced and even sold a feature this past Summer, which was a huge thrill for me until I found out all the rumors were true - the writer gets treated like shit! Hahaha.

My motivations were like most others. Write and get discovered by Hollywood and live the life I've always wanted to live. That was then, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want that to happen. Now, I've toned down my expectations. I mean, I still want it bad. But, as opposed to being rich and famous, I'd settle for a comfortable paycheck.

I always loved movies (not as much today though) and I always wanted to make my own films. I had to learn how to write first though. My English was atrocious back then. Still got a long way to go, but I can at least pass for a native most of the time now, lol.

I never really thought I would make a sell to Hollywood and after seeing the statistics for spec sales, I knew early on I had no chance. So, I just wrote for the fun of it. I came here and got to meet a lot of people and they helped me learn a lot. Then, a lot of them started getting their scripts made. Mostly shorts, but still. Back in those days, getting an imdb credit was a huge deal. That was before everyone had them. I started getting a little envious. I wanted one of those credits too and that became my goal then.

It took me awhile before I figured out what to write in order for people to want to film them, but eventually I got one too. Then one more and one more and so on. The next goal was to get a feature made. Had four made, I think. I've only watched parts of them. I hate watching them. I used to blame the filmmakers for making crappy films, but I have come to realize that the reason they stunk is because my scripts were no good. So, after that, my goal has become to write better scripts. Features in particular. I think I am getting better and my writing is better as well, but I still know that a big studio spec sale will most likely never be in my future. So, as far as screenwriting goes, my goal these days is just trying to get better at this.  

Now, the same thing can be said, for me at least, when it comes to making films. I've dabbled in it, and you know what? That's pretty freaking hard too. Nothing ever turns out the way I envisioned it. So, my goal now is just trying to get better at filmmaking as well.