Why Bother To Write If No One Is Ever Going To Read It - Tony DuShane

Tony DuShane is the author of the semi-autobiographical novel Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk. He adapted the screenplay for director Eric Stoltz, and the film is now available on Amazon Prime.
His journalism and essays have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Mother Jones, Penthouse, The Believer, and other media outlets. DuShane has hosted the author interview show Drinks with Tony since 2002.
He just finished his next novel Dream Casting and is seeking a happy home for it.
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[@filmcourage]

Which of the 3 viewer questions do you relate to most?

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

None. As for myself, after 30+ years of work in production (acting, writing, directing, sound design, fight choreography, video editing, V.O., electronic props, etc.), I live by six primary principles: Discipline. Consistency. Deadlines. Creativity. Reflection. Repeat. ;) In my professional opinion, that's how award-winning work is crafted, and I wouldn't settle for doing anything less. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@CS-mq1gd]

Thanks! Just a small token of gratitude for all the great stuff published on this channel.

[@filmcourage]

CS!!! Incredible! Thank you so much! That isn't a small token to us. We appreciate your generosity and we are thrilled to see you finding such value in our work. Our best to you and your creative work!

[@wexwuthor1776]

That's awesome

[@David-mg1yj]

Rather than waiting for someone to read your script, why not write a no budget feature and make it yourself. Getting someone to watch ten minutes of your movie should, in theory at least, be considerably easier than getting someone to read ten pages of your script.

[@megaultradamn]

That's my plan right now.

[@orangeaceproductions]

A podcast wouldn’t be a bad idea either as that would require fewer resources to pull off

[@halfxbreed23]

Well said 🙌🏾🤟🏾

[@XxSEETH3RxX]

Not if you don't know how or have the resources...

[@David-mg1yj]

@@XxSEETH3RxX That's a valid point. Not everybody can, nor even wants to direct. Some people just want to write. Fair enough. But it is an option for those who can and do.

[@touaher8167]

I write because I have a story to tell. Plus, each finished script tells me that I’m capable of doing it.

[@ariesmp]

I began writing in 2019, mostly essays about history, politics and philosophy. In the beginning I could only write one paragraph answers to questions on Quora. I wrote about three a day. Not many people read them but I wanted to get my thoughts out. I had to. Otherwise my brain would hurt. But I had a lot of practice. By the first year I had become a prolific writer of short posts. Now after 4 years of writing every day I have more then 4000 short essays and hundreds of longer ones about all sorts of subjects. I can easily write three-four a day, or a really deep one in a couple of hours. Ready made sentences and paragraphs just come pouring out of my head. My thoughts are well structured in advance and I do not need lots of editing. This is all because of practice. Practice makes it easier to write quality content that gets people's attention. Now I have thousands of people reading my stuff. Keep writing even if very few people will read it. It will not only make you a better writer, it will also help you structure your thoughts and clear the confusion in your head. It can be amazing to discover how much a person really knows when they put it all into writing.

[@RavenNicole89]

This is great advice - the book The Artist Way encourages/requires writing every single day.

[@docblade3270]

When i see the book that took me years of work and dedication with ZERO sells on amazon, that just make me sad...

[@poetryjones7946]

I want this guy to narrate a 2 hour clip video of every drunk mistake I’ve ever made in my life. ❤

[@bryand5654]

"On our first draft [...] we're just creating huge problems for ourselves." Can relate! Glad to hear that's "normal." 😀

[@cherirose6660]

It puts a smile on my face remembering my entire first screenplay was written by hand with my favorite pens……lol Great interview! Love this guy❤

[@BritneyLaZonga]

"I think I need to be vaguely irritated in order to be self-motivated" sound strangly familiar....

[@risanf7999]

A very meaningful interview, and something I relate to strongly. When you're a writer, you HAVE to write, or else you won't be satisfied. After asking myself some of the same questions, I took a brief sabbatical from writing , but the itch was still there, and eventually I had to get back into writing again. It's something that's so core to my being that anything else feels unnatural. (Also, LOVE the title "Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk")

[@JasonsJukebox]

I try to write each and every day because of Tony's advice during a workshop. Excellent segment!

[@RarebitFiends]

If you don't feel the need to write, audience or no, I question if you are really a writer. Writing is like any other collection of skills, it must be practiced to be improved, and there is hopefully no end to that process.

[@Hohrd]

I’ve had a few loose ideas for stories in my head and finally started piecing one together. I’m not writing for the masses and do not intend on making $ from it. I’m loving the process and all the reworking of ideas that don’t work. I use models and action figures in my process to help me visualize the characters. As an artist/musician/writer now, This channel has been a great resource. Thank you ❤

[@ConsciousConversations]

Karen, you have a different energy in this interview❤ it’s curious, a little bit defiant sounding. Not in a bad way. But I’ve listened to so many videos this week that I’ve become attuned to the shifts from interview to interview. It’s an interesting thing, to just listen to someone’s conversational podcasts in binge fashion. You really can pick up on a person’s day, week or interpretations/ impressions.

[@booboobumbum6602]

If you're writing to sell, you're not a writer - you write because you love writing

[@marscentral]

It's always interesting to hear Tony's advice and thoughts on writing. I also do some of my writing in coffee shops and it's always with pen and paper. I'm not sure why, I think it is because I get something from the environment that I wouldn't get if I was looking at a screen.

[@julianterris]

"When did you realize/accept that you were a writer" I've been a "writer" all my life, it started with little phrases. When I was 4 it was "Emancipation for Man" which I used to wander around saying ~because I loved the *sound* of it. (I think I possibly picked that up by watching a show about MLK Jr. ~or about the civil rights movement...). When the 2007 crash hit, (I was also in IT) ~I went from Systems Analyst to Paperboy in a matter of hours. The only job I could get was delivering newspapers -by car. I thought "Wtf can I do?!". I came across a copy of "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, and "gave it a go" (I'd be writing lyrics for many years...) I started to write my life's story ~and it just "flowed". I did have to discipline myself to sit down (it's always an issue ~until it's a routine...) but it paid off. I have 6 screenplays -and I'm currently editing the novel I started in 2007. If the work is good, you *will* have readers. ✍

[@batman5224]

One of the reasons why I focus more on novels than screenplays is because I honestly don’t know what I would do with a screenplay. I made a decision a long time ago that I didn’t want to rely on other people to achieve my goals because people are often fickle and will let you down. With novel writing, I only have to rely on myself. If I wrote a screenplay, it would only be for other people to read, but the average person doesn’t read screenplays for pleasure.

[@patriciachicco9763]

I would read it!! I enjoy them!!

[@sunlightpictures8367]

Great interview. When I lack motivation, I work on a different script or compose music or do landscape photography, and if all else fails - drink! :)

[@patriciachicco9763]

Since I was a kid, till now I always carried a pen and paper with me anywhere I went. I took a screen writing class in college. Im very shy. I always loved behind the scenes stuff, script and Special Effects makeup very interesting. My parents never wanted their kids to be actors and actresses or anywhere in the industry. In high school my friend and I would write scripts of Batman, Catwoman and other superheroes. Never shared the side of me with anyone. I took the screenwriting class in college. I was very nervous. Very intimidating for me. I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable because I was never good enough. One day I told my sister in an argument accidentally and she said in a mocking way, “I’ve never seen you write. That’s a dumb and it’s not going to help in anything.” Since then I stopped writing. But I always in my head thinking if ideas. Till this day I think about what could have been. My sister has apologized to me about that day “ I’m sorry I killed your dream. I wish instead I would have encouraged you and maybe put you in classes”. Don’t stop on your dream. Who gives a crap people around you say. Sometimes it’s because they’re scared to do it themselves”. I’m 37 now with family I’m too old to do this now but I still want to write and still carry that pen and paper in my purse just incase that idea pops up. 😊

[@brianmurphy7372]

Sometimes just writing and ideas are very valuable.If you come up with a great plot and concept,you could work with a writer who is adept with dialogue. I write and act. Some directors at an audition have only a few paragraphs/treatment and really no script at all. They want you to improvise a whole scene for them without giving you a writers credit.Enjoy writing and acting but do not give up your day job.

[@francineh.7825]

Great questions and answers! I resonated with a bit of each question.

[@filmcourage]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pennyjane9906]

He has a lot of great things to say, this resonates with me, thank you.

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for watching!

[@mondo2923]

Good job

[@ryanhowell4492]

I love it, I'm currently in process of creating my projects this year

[@filmcourage]

Wonderful!

[@ryanhowell4492]

@@filmcourage I'm creating "Cool Life" the TV Series

[@DaltonKevinM]

Perhaps this is selfish of me, and somewhat the result of never having finished anything I would want to publish (short seems to be the junk food of fiction), but there are only two things I can guarantee myself when writing. The first is catharsis; the adult version of commiserating with an imaginary friend. The second is when, inevitably, the story takes the wheel and I become just another member of the audience - I live for this.

[@cohenlabe1]

What should one do if you have a bunch of writings sitting on your computer that was never seen by another eye. Who / how do i get my stuff out there?

[@MrGigalow]

Search the web. There are a ton of websites that help writers.

[@filmcourage]

Few quick ideas - Join a writing group, get on a movie set (be a great worker first and foremost, and as you meet people you will have plenty of opportunities to mention that you are a writer), search for contests that offer feedback and that have a positive reputation. Other thoughts... Make a short film, create a pitch deck, create a sizzle, and queries. Here is a playlist with more ideas and information - tinyurl.com/mursk55a

[@arzabael]

⁠@@filmcourage that’s what I call putting your money where your mouth is (having a straight answer for a straight question in this tough world) you are the best FC

[@IDrinkAndIKnowThings]

This is the sad part about this industry. It's almost like DEI being forced over talent. They need to increase hired readers to open the world to awesome movies and novels. You either have something, or you don't. The world is missing amazing content because of the "secret society" of the film industry.

[@elolife1375]

Aka: Vudeo games are most fun during the game. Once the game is beaten, that's it... time to start a new game...

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

If you lack coin, connections, clout, computer code, control, cronies, communities, and opportunities... yup, you ain't SHEET. But since that's the case for 99% of all humans on the planet, you might as well do something with your hours. Over 2020-2023, I crafted a 140 page screenplay of the first story in my series, made a dozen "pre-vis" videos of the first 30 minutes of the action (complete with professional V.O., original music, and limited graphics and sound), *AND* I wrote, edited, illustrated, and published 420,000+ words split over three books of my series. :) Award winning work! And 2024-2026 won't be all that different; books 4-6 will be about the same number of words and illustrations. Enjoy what you do, and do it WELL! 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@Lark572]

Everything that is worthwhile is difficult. From relationships to career to it all. The purpose of life can’t be to sit back and do nothing because you have spent your life contemplating that the odds are against you rather than just doing and working and honing your craft. This is a childish question at the end of the day. The opposite of what Corey Mandell would call a growth mindset

[@jimmydroid7838]

I tell myself this every day. Why bother? Its torture

[@UrbanOspreys]

Just daydream it in your bathtub. You can win awards too. It's great.

[@josephsanchez2481]

I’m too educated in storytelling and screenwriting to not be approved.

[@ryant1506]

If you write to make money you really don't care about writing and it won't be any good. Write because you have too, not because you want fame, money or adoration.

[@jmiogo]

What is "your truth"? Sounds like some goblitygook.

[@b.lloydreese2030]

I'm practically fluent in gobblygook

[@corpsefoot758]

By your logic, most of art itself is gobbledygook Your truth is what life means through your eyes. All artists have no other place in their core to truly create from