Writers Struggle Unnecessarily

Yesterday, we discussed the number one reason writers fail. If you missed that article, read it here: https://michaeljamin.com/this-mistake-costs-talented-writers-their-careers/

Today, I wanted to address something I learned from my daughter.

I remember watching her grow frustrated as she struggled to tie her shoes.

I’m a pretty good tier of shoes, so I could easily see the mistake she was making.

I knew how to solve her problem, and I tried to explain that to her.

But she was so caught up in fixing it herself that she couldn’t detach and hear what I was saying.

Writers are no different than toddlers:

You think you can do it on your own, and because of this, you struggle unnecessarily.

You have YouTube.

You have podcasts.

You have social media.

You can do this on your own.

I’m sure some of you will. But most of you are spinning your wheels unnecessarily, running from one video or podcast to the next, trying to piece the puzzle together in the dark.

The good news is that you don’t have to stumble blindly through the dark.

There is a brighter, easier possibility waiting for you.

A possibility where:

You have someone to guide you through the process and help you avoid the pitfalls and hurdles you’ll inevitably face on your path to becoming a screenwriter.

Imagine you’re sitting in the dark, trying to reconstruct a puzzle. Then suddenly, someone turns on a light.

No longer are your fingers tracing the random edges of your puzzle pieces, hoping to find a fit.

You can see shapes, patterns, and colors.

You start to find edges and sort pieces into piles.

Things become easier.

The person who turns that light on for you is a mentor.

This is Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars.

In the beginning, Luke can barely figure out how to oil a droid. Obi-Wan gives him the tools, skillsets, and mindset he needs to become a Jedi.

For you, a mentor ought to be a screenwriter who has walked the path you’re walking and can help illuminate your path.

Over the past year, I’ve provided hours of free content answering your questions, highlighting the major pitfalls in our industry, and exposing bad thinking that permeates the online screenwriting ecosystem.

I have never been one for the spotlight, but when the pandemic hit and Hollywood shut down, I had nothing but time on my hands. I decided to use this time to help writers like you chase their dreams.

If you aren’t following me on social media, now is the time:

Instagram: michaeljaminwriter
TikTok: michaeljaminwriter
YouTube: MichaelJaminWriter

“Stand on the shoulders of giants.”
- Bernard of Chartres, twelfth-century French philosopher, scholar, and administrator.

Many great writers are out there sharing information on social media. You’re reading this email because, at some point, you connected with something I said. I have lots more to help you with.

This is your call to action.

I look forward to connecting with you on my other platform.s

-Michael Jamin

P.S. If you’re not already subscribed to it, I have a weekly newsletter that goes out every Friday. It includes my top three pieces of advice from the week. You can sign up absolutely free here: https://michaeljamin.com/watchlist