Is the process of screenwriting discouraging? Oh yes it is.
It sure has been for me.
The fundamental reason is the time it takes to complete one script all for the 1 in a million chance that anyone would ever read it.
It's a craft that takes years of practice and trial and error and unfortunately the underlying procession is controlled by middle men agents who are blocking your way in.
I do it now because I enjoy the creative process, and not for the miracle that may happen.
My first screenplay was my best so far out the 3 I have written.
I am thinking about a 4th and 5th and I keep busy with my writing of blogs, and articles like these and a book about my career.
My dealings with middle men agents has not been good at all.
They are very rude and they blow you off and how dare you ever ask them what movies they have produced or been involved with.
The phrase "Power corrupts absolutely" is one of my favorites and comes to mind here.
They block your way inside and they are also very jaded by so many other people who are bad writers trying to send them screenplays and letters of inquiry.
So what do you do? Yes you keep writing, but you also try some other ideas and mine is to start affiliate marketing and article writing and I have four blog websites so far.
This also takes a lot of time and lots of patience, perhaps even the same or more than writing a screenplay(s).
I also am looking at videos about screenwriting and Hollywood to learn more and more about the profession that I have had the most respect for for so many years.
My career was formerly in the IT field writing software and dealing with the high stress and difficult people in that field.
The path of least resistance was to write software, not to write movies, but I have always wished that this reality was reversed.
We do things in this life because of the money and in many cases for no other reason than because of the money.
We have to make a living and many of those great dreams die off because you have to make a living.
Now that I have retired from the IT field, I can certainly dream more and pursue more ambitions that I never would have the chance to otherwise and for me that is the best reason why I have retired.