Chapter 1: Reflections on My Screenwriting Journey

I previously shared my experience of a challenging period away from screenwriting, which left me feeling defeated and uninspired for months. This time, I aim to focus on a more actionable lesson: “Evaluate your ideas before you ruin your prospects.” In simpler terms, it’s crucial for writers to ensure their concepts are original.

One of my strengths as a writer is my unique taste and perspective. I often receive praise for my unconventional ideas. However, I want to stress this: don’t fall for your own hype.

After overcoming that tough phase, I completed a script, sent it to my agent, and started working on a TV pilot. Although I was excited about my quirky concept, I later discovered that it had already been executed.

Did I realize this before it was too late? Absolutely not. I wrote the entire script, refined it, and had a friend review it. He paused, thought, “I wonder if anyone else has tackled this idea,” and a quick Google search confirmed his suspicion. It turned out there was a whole series of books by a well-known author with a similar premise.

Had I proceeded without making changes, that author could have pursued legal action against me.

Why did this happen? Because I failed to research my idea thoroughly. I came up with it, thought, “This is brilliant,” and jumped right in.

Foolish, foolish mistake. A brief online search could have saved me a lot of trouble.

Fortunately, I managed to salvage the script by altering the main character. This wasn’t merely a simple switch; I had to adjust many details to make it work. Still, I should have taken the time to verify my concept's originality.

So, fellow writers, always verify your ideas for originality. I didn’t, and it was a rookie mistake.

Now, I’m moving on to my next project—a feature film about a farm boy on a distant planet who sets off to challenge a sinister galactic empire. Surely, that hasn't been done before, has it?

This first video discusses the common reasons why many screenwriters struggle, emphasizing the need for originality and proper research in your writing process.

The second video explores the pitfalls that often lead to failure in screenwriting, providing valuable insights on how to avoid these traps.