How I Got My First Writing Job (Without Ever Having Written a Script)
When I first started writing, I was a barista, juggling my writing a sci-fi novel and taking short story classes.
Like many aspiring writers, I talked about writing a lot more than I was doing it, and I can freely admit this now, kind of thought that some guy in a top hat who was The President of Writing would discover me from the zero self-promotion I did and the zero scripts and novels I had finished.
As a writer, I have a lot of imagination, and delusion, it turns out, is imagination’s next door neighbor…
One day, my friend—then in theatre school—read a short story I wrote called Seven Decembers. We both thought it would make a great one-act play. So I gave up going to Coachella that weekend, locked myself away and wrote a script for a play in a Word document.
We workshopped the play, casting students from the theatre school and to my surprise most of all, it got an audience, and people actually liked it. In fact, the play received such positive reviews that I got a meeting with a manager who was in the audience and caught the attention of a producer. And that’s how I made my first $2,000 as a writer: adapting a book into a movie.
There was just one problem—I had no idea how to write a screenplay.
The set for Seven Decembers at Fringe Festival.
Learning the Hard Way. The Really Hard Way.
A writer friend sent me a 9-act Beat Sheet that Lifetime movie writers use (it’s actually still a really helpful tool!) and I used it as my guide. I studied it obsessively, learning as I went. I didn’t even own Final Draft! (I tried a free knockoff version I downloaded online, until I realized that was just making it harder on myself and I’ve never gone back.)
Somehow, we finished the script, and it was well-received. But before it could be made, the production company went bankrupt. Just like that, my first big break became my first "failure."
At the time, I felt lost. I hadn’t gone to a traditional school for writing, so I didn’t know how to replicate the deadline without money or industry people I feared and respected giving me a deadline.
For years, I struggled with half-finished scripts and a nagging sense of inadequacy. But looking back, I see that “failure” wasn’t the end—it was a lesson. It just took a really long time to figure that out. Blame it on my artist’s soul.
Don’t take my word for it! To this day I’m still so proud of it!
The Road to Better Tools and Better Writing
I wish I’d had the tools back then that I do now. It would have saved me so much time and frustration. It wasn’t until years later, after trial and error, that I finally understood how to finish a script consistently.
Now, not only do I love writing my own stories, but I’ve also made it my mission to help writers avoid the same pitfalls I faced.
My Advice to Writers
Get used to failure—it’s a great teacher. Every step, even the ones that feel like setbacks, is part of your journey toward success. And don’t be afraid to seek out the tools and guidance you need. Writing is hard enough; you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re staring at an unfinished script or feeling stuck, know that it’s possible to break through. I’ve been there, and I know the way forward. And although my story is unusual, it’s NOT impossible. You just have to be prepared.
Now that I have an agent and several features in development, my scripts need to be finished quickly—and, most importantly, they have to be good.
If I could give my past self one piece of advice, it would be this: finish as many scripts as you can so you’re ready when opportunities come your way.
These days, I rely on Save the Cat! software for every script I write. It’s been a game-changer—not only helping me finish scripts on my own but ensuring they’re polished and ready for my agents and producers to read.
If you’re tired of feeling stuck or spinning your wheels, it’s time to make real progress in your career. Stop getting lost in creative chaos and start turning your ideas into finished scripts. Check out Save the Cat! today—you won’t regret it.
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