One year ago, I joined my first Writers' Room live class. I knew next to nothing about screenwriting - aside from what I read in Save The Cat - and was thirsty for knowledge.

So much can happen in only a year.

One year ago, I declared I wanted to be a screenwriter and dove into everything available on Stage 32. Today we are in pre-production for one of the five scripts I've since written. Another one of my scripts has a director and producer attached, awaiting to solidify financing so we can shoot in the spring.

I wrote/co-produced two short films that have received 14 laurels from horror film festivals worldwide. And a treatment I wrote a few weeks ago has the attention of a sales agent eager to read my script when it's completed.

It can be done!

But how did I do it? And how can you do the same? I hope I can answer those two questions here.

How I Started

I was writing a horror script when I joined Stage 32, so one of the first things I did was look up the various webinars and classes available for horror. I scoured The Vault inside the Writers' Room and made a list of the various classes of interest. The most important thing to me was getting the foundation of screenwriting. And to know the difference between a headline and an action line. I can proudly say I now know both.

That brings me to my first point.

1. Knowledge

Treat screenwriting like you would if you were going to school and create your own DIY Screenwriting Diploma. Invest in it. Attend live classes. Watch pitches. Read scripts - the good and the bad. The more you absorb information and writing, the better you will become at the craft. And if taking notes is your thing (don't get me started on the number of journals I have), take copious notes.

It's here that I invested in myself. I gave myself a budget to work with and build my wealth of knowledge. I was serious about becoming a screenwriter and treated it with the discipline and consistency I would if I were in school. In fact, I made a large investment into the Stage 32 Master Screenwriting Basics Certification (16-week program - currently not available, but A.Z. Yeaman is teaching other great courses), which gave me the essential tools and was just as intense as being in school.

A couple of months in and thought I had finished my first script. It was ready to get feedback. And, boy, did I get it! It turns out you shouldn't follow a character's every move, like the "Hello!" and "Oh, how are you?" small talk. So embarrassing.

2. Mentorship

If you want to become a professional screenwriter (or, you know, be awesome at anything), you need a mentor. Like our parents mentored us to walk and talk, an executive can mentor you to write. The trick is finding someone in your genre with more experience than you. Not hard when you're just starting off.

One of the best things I did when I completed my first script was find a mentor. After completing four Career Development calls with various executives on Stage 32, I found one person I connected with the most. Our personalities were similar, and my mentor was a big fan of my writing genre.

I hired them with every new draft. I took the feedback and worked harder to make it the best I could. I was accountable to someone. I got to ask questions. And within a few months of revisions and rewrites, my script was ready to go into the world.

3. Solid Habits

This could be point number one because, without solid habits, you could be writing a script for years. Please don't do that. I once heard in a webinar that if you want to be an NFL athlete, you must be highly dedicated to your craft more than anyone else on the planet. Not many people get to play in the NFL for this reason. It's the same with screenwriting. You can't just dabble in it and hope you get somewhere. Treat it like you're training to be in the NFL. Get up at 5am and write uninterrupted for two hours. Then read a script. Breakdown a film. Read articles on screenwriting. You've got to be dedicated and disciplined in your craft. Immerse yourself in it.

Those who are consistent are rewarded. If you write daily for one hour, you will be better at your craft than the person who writes for a few hours one day a week. Daily practice is what will make you a better writer. It's the small things that add up to big things over time.

In the Stage 32 Writers' Room, you'll find access to writing cafes almost daily, so take advantage and write alongside others! You'll be amazed at what some accountability can do for your craft.

I come from 15 years of being an entrepreneur, so I've had time to learn how to have the right mindset (shhh…keep quiet, inner critic, it's not your turn). I've learned how to manage my time and minimize distractions. These habits have allowed me to fast-track what could take others years to complete.

It's been one year of constant action and strict discipline. Here I am. I did the scary things. I stepped way outside my comfort zone. It's not hard to do, but it's much easier not to do.

4. Networking

If you ever listen to the founder of Stage 32, Richard "RB" Botto, talk about the most important thing you can do as a screenwriter, you will hear him talk about networking. And I'm here to tell you to listen to him.

Attend film festivals and every local film event you can find. Invite people out to lunch to pick their brains (and ask all about THEM first). Be a kind human, and people will want to support you.

Here's the thing: people love to share their knowledge with those open to receiving it. They love to talk about themselves and their journey. And there's so much you can learn from someone who has done what you want to do. It's worth 1000x more than the lunch you invite them to.

My husband and I drove an hour and a half to have lunch with a producer this summer. I cannot express how meaningful this meeting was. Packed with tidbits of information, tips and tricks about the industry, and three hours of pure get-to-know-you chit-chat. He later attached himself to two of my scripts. Because we got to know each other.

There is no better way to make moves in this industry than attending every possible film event you can find. Meet everyone you can. Ask them about themselves. And build a relationship long before you try to pitch them on your script.

In the spring, we started attending local film networking events. I would rather speak in public before attending a networking event (I cannot wrap my head around how to just go up to someone and introduce myself). But I did it. And a few of the people we met there we ended up running into at one of the world's biggest film festivals. And guess what? We chatted. We caught up. We were introduced to more people in the industry. We made more connections, which led to more conversations and opened up more doors. Get out there!

To Sum It All Up

A year of focus, dedication, and consistency can move mountains. And I am here to tell you that even with a full-time job, or with kids at home, or with a chronic illness, or with everything to lose, YOU CAN DO THIS!

By watching the webinars tucked away in the vault, by joining all the writing cafes, by watching the pitch practices, by attending the live webinars, by getting the feedback you need and deserve, YOU CAN DO THIS!

I'm not saying my road was easy. There were times I wanted to delete everything. There was a lot of frustration when I couldn't figure out a character arc or when I was faced with a complete rewrite. It wasn't easy. But it was more than worth it.

A year can change your life.

Now go and WRITE!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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