Choosing What To Write

[@MW-ic7lr]

Your words at the end were exactly what i needed. There is value even in trying and failing completely. Just enjoy the process of the struggle. Thanks! And especially thanks for putting those bloopers in.

[@writingforscreens]

Hooray! Thank you! Yeah: sometimes I feel like the bloopers are the best part :)

[@nurbaiti_hikaru]

I always love the bloopers too.

[@writingforscreens]

@@nurbaiti_hikaru :)

[@kb2vca]

Excellent advice to any would-be writer or writer who is questioning their own work.

[@writingforscreens]

That's so great to hear, thank you!

[@-_Dawg_-]

I feel like every video you post helps me level up as a writer. You somehow engage in complex topics, and present them in a way that doesn't feel complicated, or condescending. So thank you Glenn

[@maisey2363]

I second this - somehow you you always address the topics I struggle with …I have written sprawling versions of the current one I am on. I have now separated the bloody things into sep documents and each has a different direction. I like each of them but I can’t get the feel of what I want yet for “the” one or “the” story …it’s sorta like a cosy game and secret garden world mixed but I always find a goosebumps angle 😂 …will keep trying. Cheers Glenn. Also love the shirt and outtakes 💯

[@writingforscreens]

Well, this is exactly what I hoped people would say, so: thanks, I win!!! Very grateful.

[@writingforscreens]

@@maisey2363 Thank you!! Yes, DO keep trying. Maybe different versions is a good way to work! Keep exploring, you'll keep getting more skills and confidence and make choices more easily.

[@maisey2363]

Thanks Glenn - and hopefully it’s not a good way because I have so many projects to do and I won’t achieve them in this lifetime if I have to do 10 versions of each story 🫠😂

[@writingforscreens]

@@maisey2363 Fair point: sometimes you just need to gamble impulsively and irrationally on one version...and keep doubt away by remembering that if it just is awful you could try Version 2, but that Versions 3-10 are NOT on the schedule. What usually happens with me is after I take the risk and do Version 1, the others settle down into being just dreams I can be glad I woke from :)

[@yasmeenomar4668]

Wow. There are no bad ideas. I love that❤

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you, Yasmeen!

[@698CandlewoodLn]

Wish I could like every video a million times. Thank you so much Mr. Gers!

[@writingforscreens]

I wish you could too!!! Thank YOU :)

[@buira9482]

This video turned weirdly motivational by the end. Came for writing tips and left with excellent self help advice! Had to watch it twice. Even if you believe all of your ideas are bad, doing it anyways and analysing the finished project is the best way to spot which aspects you need to improve on. And it might also help you find things you do like about your own work after all.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you! I am glad you got that out of the video. "Weirdly motivational" is definitely what I often go for :)

[@michaeltanaka9813]

I wish my teachers gave this talk when I was young. They were so busy completing their class schedule, I felt empty at the end of the semester. Writing is really finding the right mindset.

[@writingforscreens]

Yes, it's tricky. Different teachers have different agendas...all we can do is take what we can from whatever we run into. Thank you!

[@cassyphoenix]

Thank you for making this video! So uplifting!

[@writingforscreens]

You're entirely welcome, thank you so much for the supportive comment!!

[@expiredyams]

"Writing only to please a market is a sure path to mediocre writing." This is changed the way I perceive my ideas. I appreciate you taking the time to make this video!

[@writingforscreens]

A response like this makes that time completely worth taking! Thank you!!

[@JoelAdamson]

This might be my favorite Glenn Gers video yet. Right now I'm working on how to narrow down a too-broad idea. I have a setting, but haven't figured out a story for it yet.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you! Maybe you need to just work on the too-broad version for a while. You can't always know what something is right away. Whatever keeps you creating and adding to it is good. Somewhere along the line, something will suddenly become clearly the center, and you'll be able to prioritize then.

[@SirChesterBellington]

I wish the algorithm would pick these up more, so many people would gain a lot from your vids. My new favourite video of yours.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you! I have been trying to talk to the algorithm...

[@austinking9912]

JESUS CHRIST I GET THESE VIDEOS AT THE PERFECT TIME. I felt guilty about wanting to get something else out. Turns out my brain feels better two at a time. Thank you, again.

[@writingforscreens]

I'm so glad it's helpful! One note about doing two at a time (I don't remember if this is in the video): don't SHOW them to people two at a time! I once completed two feature scripts close enough together that I sent them to my agent and manager at the same time. Of course, that means one "loses" - gets neglected or seen as less. Even if you finish two at once - hold one for a couple of months :)

[@austinking9912]

@@writingforscreensThat makes total sense. Thank you sir 🙏

[@ambient72]

Speechless…best pep-talk I’ve ever heard…..

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you so much!!

[@ambient72]

…and the out-takes are always hilarious!!!!!

[@Rob.Chapman]

Super helpful advice, at exactly the moment when i needed it the most. One to keep, and play when I hit this (inevitable) point in my writing. Thank you

[@writingforscreens]

So glad to hear that it's helpful, thank you so much!

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

I knew this but somehow it was still helpful. You're like a coach. Excellent pep talk. Go, team!

[@writingforscreens]

Yay! Go team indeed!

[@Donna07]

Glenn - You're on fire! The synchronicity of your videos is an answer in itself to me:) And the Guidance is, as always, top rate (I'm guessing you know this, or wouldn't share it:)). Your advice succinctly melds everything into a cohesive whole for us (I read a number of other comments and see you're doing it across the board) not just on writing, but Life itself. Genius. That's my goal in my work - you're a wonderful Mentor & I'm grateful to you. You're livin' the dream! Thank You for the inspiration.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you so much! I swear I am not surveilling you :) Just trying to share what I had to tell myself all these years.

[@entschnabler]

FIGHT THE PROWER!! As funny as this was - and it could be a T-shirt - i looked up the word prowess again (i am from germany) and the result suited my questioning of what story would interest me most. I already figured out the love story bit but i have to admit i love the development of a hero in training parallel to the love story. And then reaching a new level. And i think prowess suits that emotion well. One of my favourite movies is A Knight's Tale. And i remember rewatching the Dragon Ball Z anime in my twenties, where the main character also trains and trains to fight off the bad guys.. and then after like 100 episodes that were harder to watch as an adult.. i literally jumped out of my chair in excitement when that moment came up where the hero transforms himself to a stronger version called the super saiyan.. well i guess i can accept that rather boyish part of me in hopes it makes me write a good story. Because it still excites me😅 thanks for reminding me

[@writingforscreens]

You're entirely welcome! Sounds like you're doing excellent work. Fascinating train of thought!

[@heartframesTV]

You are a good mensch. There is hope for humanity with folks like you.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you!! I like humanity, overall :)

[@centurionstrengthandfitnes3694]

Solid session. The inclusion of the outtakes at the end is great! :D

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you!

[@nurbaiti_hikaru]

Your channel is a treasure. Thanks for your helpful tips.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you so much!

[@hoepfnerhusselmann947]

Greetings from S.A Thanks for a inspiring talk. I had two stories that I would tell at parties... it did not even happen to me, just people I knew. Throwing them into one script just started happening on its own. Now after finishing I realized just how much of me is in this script. Things I say or do often., you are right when you say JUST START!!!

[@writingforscreens]

Excellent, so glad to hear this! Thank you!

[@jeanf8998]

Wow saved again! Just what I needed today. Thanks ❤

[@writingforscreens]

I just keep getting lucky :)

[@RoddyTullenz]

Love this video. One of my favorite things about screenwriting class is the titles to the assignments, with my favorite being "creative lie", and how that simple idea could inspire... fifteen different stories -- or however many people are in the class. To your point, if you have a simple idea that can evoke a story within you, while evoking something completely different in someone else, then there is no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" story.

[@writingforscreens]

Thanks, yes! It's so liberating to realize that isn't it?

[@RoddyTullenz]

@@writingforscreens Absolutley!

[@aresaurelian]

I would keep writing even if I didn’t publish everything. Some of my work might not be good enough to share, but it could still help me develop the backstory for the pieces that are. Writing has its highs and lows, and sometimes it goes in unexpected directions. It also gives me the freedom to choose what to polish and publish.

[@writingforscreens]

Marvelous. The best attitude ever, IMHO.

[@akioasakura3624]

New video!! Thanks once more I’ll never get tired of saying it. I’m applying this advice for writing a story like a novel, so it’s not just for screenplays, in case anyone is wondering

[@writingforscreens]

Thank YOU so much!! I think that's true, but I started this as a screenwriting channel so I just hope others will stumble on it :)

[@LucasFlintOfficial]

your channel is something I just needed! thanks for this content 🙏

[@writingforscreens]

Yay! Thank you so much for telling me that, it's really great to know it's reaching people who feel it's helpful.

[@jai.joylove]

@@writingforscreens very very helpful

[@writingforscreens]

@@jai.joylove Thanks!

[@BlancheChiang]

Such a wonderful insight, as always. Thanks, Glenn 😊

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you!!

[@nurbaiti_hikaru]

Very helpful like always. Thank you so much. I learn in hard way that when I like the script I wrote, others will do the same even it's not for commercial. At least in a majority.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you! Yes, it's complicated and no one ever really knows how things will "play" - but if you love it, at least you always have that.

[@bldcaveman2001]

Exactly what I needed!!!

[@writingforscreens]

I knew that! That's why I posted it :)

[@Luwuluf]

This was so unexpectedly encouraging and concise! Thank you for sharing your talent so generously, it is helpful and motivating and I feel finally un-stuck after a seemingly endless time of creative tippy-toeing. Can't believe it took me this long to find your channel!

[@writingforscreens]

I am SO happy to hear it's helpful to you! And to know that people keep discovering me, along the way. Glad you're here, hope you enjoy exploring. Keep writing!

[@isaacong77]

thanks for making this video, and including the 'selfhelp' and 'good for you' sections! this was both instructive and encouraging :)

[@writingforscreens]

You're so welcome! Thank you for commenting - and encouraging me!

[@SanchoNil]

Thank you! I should watch this one every day.

[@writingforscreens]

I don't mind if you do! :)

[@filmmakeranto]

Great new Video, thank you so much. I was so Overwhelmed with what to write in the past few weeks, Everything I wrote felt unoriginal. Most of the time self critical and zero confidence in myself. This video came in as a dear friend.

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you so much - it's so meaningful to me to hear that my work is helping people!

[@Anushnushik]

This is immensely helpful advice! And I'm not even a writer, but I'm doing my MA in design, and I needed to hear this to know how to have the right mindset to write my thesis. So thanks a lot Glenn! ☺

[@writingforscreens]

Great, I'm so glad! Thank YOU so much for letting me know I'm doing something useful. Enjoy the work, explore, take small steps - it will all work out!

[@entschnabler]

Wow amazing just like the other videos but this is a new level of simply life wisdom and a teaching that is directly adressing the perspective of the wanna be writer. With every video you are talking to the exact questions, doubts, worries i got and i can see clearly you went through the same experiences and overcame them. Never had a better teacher, thank you! And please keep on doing this! All the best from berlin

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you so much! That is really the dream comment, I am so glad to hear that you are getting this from my work.

[@alenaryu4386]

I needed this video, thank you!

[@writingforscreens]

You're welcome! Yay!

[@isabelhasse773]

Haha I watched this video because I always find something interesting in your content but personally I don’t have much trouble deciding what to write! I get an idea once in a blue moon and I get so excited about it I can’t NOT write it…and that usually lasts me well enough until the next idea!

[@writingforscreens]

Thats' so great! I envy you that situation :) I get way too many ideas, and haven't finished WAY too many of them. A lot of things I teach are just things I wish I had known 20 years ago.

[@susanwoodcarver]

You are so good! Excellent advice. Thank you.

[@writingforscreens]

Aww... :) Thank you!!

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

I found your channel after I saw you on Film Courage. Given your solid content, I’d think you’d have more subscribers and views. Can’t help but wonder if you used your picture as your cover (or just something that wasn’t text) if more people would open it. I’m not a marketing specialist but while your cover shots make it clear what the topic is, it may be confused with some educational videos that are not at the same level. It would be interesting (because I like experimenting) for you to change the cover on a few videos you’ve released in the past and release them again and compare number of hits. Just a thought to try and get you more subs and hits. Thanks for the great content! ❤

[@writingforscreens]

Thanks! I'm content (mostly) to get fewer views, because the things that are required to get more tend to make the work more generic. I want to look back at my work and feel it's as true and real as I can make it, and sometimes that doesn't sell as well. I keep slowly growing, so that's a good sign.

[@SirChesterBellington]

@@writingforscreens This is why you're there best there is on here

[@writingforscreens]

@@SirChesterBellington I'm blushing! But privately agree.

[@kiran.fatima]

Good video! Thanks

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you!

[@matthewlavagna6080]

For me this is the most difficult aspect of screenwriting. What to write.

[@writingforscreens]

Try some stuff out. Sometimes you can only decide by trying, can't know until you get into it.

[@sergeybagrov8624]

❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🤝

[@Lucasrisca]

brabo

[@Regulus1999]

OMGosh! Its like you're a mind reader! what you say makes sooooo much sense Glenn, I just love every bit of straight talking and advice you put out in all these videos and you make me lighten up and laugh so much! So I'm off to write some more c...p that I like, in the genres that I like, and now I don't give a damn as long as I write!

[@writingforscreens]

Thank you! Not a mind reader, just someone trying to share what I have to tell myself as I work :)