Gold mine content. Everything is on point. Thanks for this Sir Jeff! I am stuck at the moment and just realized I am not having a creative burnout but perfectionism. Stay safe and hoping for more people to see your channel.
Jaro Benjulie Thanks so much for the kind words! Here’s a tip: Use the “bad” writing to get to the “good” stuff. When you notice you’re being a perfectionist, make yourself write “bad” stuff - so that it will “trigger” the good stuff. If you do that, it will help you push forward.
Finally! You're back, I am very delighted you're uploading again! And you're right: perfectionists are self destructive, because no one and nothing in this world, especially art is perfect!
As I work on my first real "treatment", I paused to watch this and was thunderstruck at the simple wisdom offered here. I'm guilty as charged. Instead of tweaking my 3rd act as intended, I'm going to get a good night's sleep and tackle it in the morning with a fresh perspective. Instead of perfection, I'm looking forward to my next story (a real doozy, BTW) and applying the skills I have learned to make the next story even better. Kudos, Jeff - welcome back !
Thanks for sharing; that’s a great comment! And I promise you, we can ALL relate. There’s nothing wrong with making it the very best you can, just remember that it’s all iterative and it’s all a process. Be kind to artist inside! :)
I stopped writing 2 months ago because I felt exhausted tying to find the best words the right sentences and constantly changing things once I find something wrong with again and again, and just today I encountered your video and I had the urge to write again but this time, I'll try not too think about making it perfect as possible. Thanks random guy on UA-cam~!
Just remember: The great thing about writing is that you can always REwrite. You don’t have to get it perfect the first time. Check out my other content - I devised an approach called FAST (Focus, Apply, Strengthen, Tweak) which breaks writing into four distinct phases. Sounds like you’re trying to Tweak the words before you’ve even Focused your ideas into a compelling story. Explore “random guy”s channel here - there’s a hundred hours of help and guidance to help you get past the roadblocks. Hope this helps. If you have any questions, let me know. Happy writing!
So so true! Been there done that: Perfectionism is a prison that keeps you from living a full life and is destructive indeed. And yes, telling yourself "it's not about me anyway" is very helpful. Great to hear from you again Jeff!
@@fastscreenplay Life seems to be about the muscles (wisdom, endurance, resilience, empathy, etc.) we grow while we keep falling off our balance boards and keep getting back on them again. :-)
Jeff, I am glad you mentioned the difference between Perfectionism and Quality because it is not obvious at first and the pressure on the screenplay to be viable and production ready can easily be mistaken for the need for it to be "pitch perfect". By focusing on making it the "best" a writer is capable of, it takes a lot of that pressure off. Very helpful advice.
#3 - So it is a case of if you trying not to please everyone because you will end up pleasing no one. Great video by the way! I just found your channel and I have learned a lot!
Good to see you again, Jeff! Thanks for all of the positive messages. Lately, I feel like I have quite a bit of writer's burn out. It's nice to know that I can come to your channel for a pep talk and then look at my story again with fresh eyes. Can't wait to see the next video in the series!
A Hosein I’ll have to make an upcoming episode about how to avoid burnout, because we can’t have that... you’ve got stories only you can tell. Don’t worry about making them great - at least not at first. Remember to have fun with it. If you’re not enjoying it, your reader probably won’t be either. :)
This describes me exactly! I've struggled with perfectionism my entire life. I've learned to overcome it in my employment but I've failed to get rid of it in my writing. Your message couldn't have come at a better time. I've been stewing for weeks over not getting back into writing and it's due to a combination of procrastination and perfectionism. For me, they both go hand-in-hand. Now that you've given me these tips, I've got the best reasons for dumping perfectionism for good and just write like it doesn't matter anymore. Thank you, Jeff! See you in FAST Screenplay!
Brad Mills Always remember that the beauty of writing is that you can always fix, change, refine, or even cut anything later. No need for perfection until the moment you send it out. :) You can do it, Brad!
This was really helpful. I’m editing a movie right now and I’ve been trying to get everything little thing perfect and it has really been slowing me down.
Adam Carter I started doing that while editing this video, too! The new quick-cut style is something I’m experimenting with and I’d take out a few frames here and then it would flow better, but then I’d watch it later and it seemed too quick. And back and forth and back and forth. Ultimately, I found I had to just set a deadline, focus on the important things (like making sure the ideas were clear and not getting garbled by the editing style) and keep moving forward. Editing’s like writing; there is no “perfect”. It can drive you crazy, so I’m happy this has helped!
FAST Screenplay Exactly. I’ll make the most minute changes and then watch it over and over again. It’s hard because I have to strike a balance between doing it well but not overdoing it. But it’s good to know I’m not the only one doing this.
Adam Carter You’re definitely alone! Just know that it’ll never be perfect, and I’m sure you’ve got more stories inside you, so embrace the imperfection and keep on growing... :)
this is a problem i have been encountering for years in my screenwriting career but watching this really inspires me to believe in my creativity and vision. thank you so much!
Wow!!! You hit home on this because this has been my major problem, which as you stated....it's nothing but ego which has lead to procrastination, which is awful!!! I've should have been done with this script, but now I know and I'm on it...Thank you!
It’s completely natural, though! I’ve interacted with over 12,000 writers worldwide at this point, and it happens to ALL of us (to varying degrees). So don’t beat yourself up. Just learn the whole process and keep moving forward. You’ve got this!
Glad to see you back Jeff, I've written about six or so projects now and I think some of the dialogue from my first one is some of the best stuff I've written.
Marcus Amann The project is on hold at the moment due in large part to the pandemic and the logistics fallout from it. Not so much that we can’t move forward during the pandemic, but just that my own time has slipped away during all this. It’s the same reason I haven’t put out any UA-cam content in months. Once I get this back on track, we’ll resume that. Since one feeds the other, it is unfortunately how it has to be at the moment. But we’ll get there!
Thank you so much for this video. The words hit 🎯 me right in the feels. Because i do exactly those stupid things trying to make everything "perfect", but paradoxically things turn out far worse in terms of time wasted or output. If you actually think about it logically, perfectionism is just ridiculous. Nothing is perfect. It's an illusion. Complete nonsense. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. IF the results would actually be "perfect", sure, but that ne-ver happens. In fact, quite the opposite. So in our minds we justifiy our thoughts and behavior, but the outcome is always flawed in some sense. The best things i created and experienced in life, was when i didn't care about the outcome.
Burner I’m not sure if you’re referring to me or not, but if that’s what you think I think, you haven’t been paying very close attention. ;) Also, I actually address this in the video, too. :)
Depends on your screenplay, my resources, and how badly I want to make it. But I’d recommend a different opening line. Most people would respond with “nothing”. Probably not the ideal first impression.
Jeff, I am glad you mentioned the difference between Perfectionism and Quality because it is not obvious at first and the pressure on the screenplay to be viable and production ready can easily be mistaken for the need for it to be "pitch perfect". By focusing on making it the "best" a writer is capable of, it takes a lot of that pressure off. Very helpful advice.
Bad news Jeff...your adherence to 'imperfection' yielded a pretty damn perfect video. I love the direction you're going here. Excited for more!
Jeff Messerman Haha... I don’t know about that, but I thank you for the encouragement!
I was just going to say the same thing.
Gold mine content. Everything is on point. Thanks for this Sir Jeff! I am stuck at the moment and just realized I am not having a creative burnout but perfectionism. Stay safe and hoping for more people to see your channel.
Jaro Benjulie Thanks so much for the kind words! Here’s a tip: Use the “bad” writing to get to the “good” stuff. When you notice you’re being a perfectionist, make yourself write “bad” stuff - so that it will “trigger” the good stuff. If you do that, it will help you push forward.
Finally! You're back, I am very delighted you're uploading again! And you're right: perfectionists are self destructive, because no one and nothing in this world, especially art is perfect!
Youssef HEGAZY 2 Thanks for the support!
As I work on my first real "treatment", I paused to watch this and was thunderstruck at the simple wisdom offered here. I'm guilty as charged. Instead of tweaking my 3rd act as intended, I'm going to get a good night's sleep and tackle it in the morning with a fresh perspective. Instead of perfection, I'm looking forward to my next story (a real doozy, BTW) and applying the skills I have learned to make the next story even better. Kudos, Jeff - welcome back !
Thanks for sharing; that’s a great comment! And I promise you, we can ALL relate. There’s nothing wrong with making it the very best you can, just remember that it’s all iterative and it’s all a process. Be kind to artist inside! :)
I stopped writing 2 months ago because I felt exhausted tying to find the best words the right sentences and constantly changing things once I find something wrong with again and again, and just today I encountered your video and I had the urge to write again but this time, I'll try not too think about making it perfect as possible.
Thanks random guy on UA-cam~!
Just remember: The great thing about writing is that you can always REwrite. You don’t have to get it perfect the first time. Check out my other content - I devised an approach called FAST (Focus, Apply, Strengthen, Tweak) which breaks writing into four distinct phases. Sounds like you’re trying to Tweak the words before you’ve even Focused your ideas into a compelling story. Explore “random guy”s channel here - there’s a hundred hours of help and guidance to help you get past the roadblocks. Hope this helps. If you have any questions, let me know. Happy writing!
So so true! Been there done that: Perfectionism is a prison that keeps you from living a full life and is destructive indeed. And yes, telling yourself "it's not about me anyway" is very helpful. Great to hear from you again Jeff!
I love that, @Nadeline: "Perfectionism is a prison." Couldn't agree more!
Nadeline Thanks! I agree that it can be a prison. We need to balance the urge to be the best we can be without needing perfection.
@@fastscreenplay Life seems to be about the muscles (wisdom, endurance, resilience, empathy, etc.) we grow while we keep falling off our balance boards and keep getting back on them again. :-)
Jeff, I am glad you mentioned the difference between Perfectionism and Quality because it is not obvious at first and the pressure on the screenplay to be viable and production ready can easily be mistaken for the need for it to be "pitch perfect". By focusing on making it the "best" a writer is capable of, it takes a lot of that pressure off. Very helpful advice.
#3 - So it is a case of if you trying not to please everyone because you will end up pleasing no one.
Great video by the way! I just found your channel and I have learned a lot!
Welcome aboard! If you have any questions about anything, let me know. I read and reply to all comments. :)
Good to see you again, Jeff! Thanks for all of the positive messages. Lately, I feel like I have quite a bit of writer's burn out. It's nice to know that I can come to your channel for a pep talk and then look at my story again with fresh eyes. Can't wait to see the next video in the series!
A Hosein I’ll have to make an upcoming episode about how to avoid burnout, because we can’t have that... you’ve got stories only you can tell. Don’t worry about making them great - at least not at first. Remember to have fun with it. If you’re not enjoying it, your reader probably won’t be either. :)
@@fastscreenplay Thanks, Jeff!
Yessss Jeff is back! :D So excited for this series!
Jelena Borojevic Me too! :)
This describes me exactly! I've struggled with perfectionism my entire life. I've learned to overcome it in my employment but I've failed to get rid of it in my writing. Your message couldn't have come at a better time. I've been stewing for weeks over not getting back into writing and it's due to a combination of procrastination and perfectionism. For me, they both go hand-in-hand. Now that you've given me these tips, I've got the best reasons for dumping perfectionism for good and just write like it doesn't matter anymore. Thank you, Jeff! See you in FAST Screenplay!
Brad Mills Always remember that the beauty of writing is that you can always fix, change, refine, or even cut anything later. No need for perfection until the moment you send it out. :) You can do it, Brad!
This was really helpful. I’m editing a movie right now and I’ve been trying to get everything little thing perfect and it has really been slowing me down.
Adam Carter I started doing that while editing this video, too! The new quick-cut style is something I’m experimenting with and I’d take out a few frames here and then it would flow better, but then I’d watch it later and it seemed too quick. And back and forth and back and forth. Ultimately, I found I had to just set a deadline, focus on the important things (like making sure the ideas were clear and not getting garbled by the editing style) and keep moving forward. Editing’s like writing; there is no “perfect”. It can drive you crazy, so I’m happy this has helped!
FAST Screenplay Exactly. I’ll make the most minute changes and then watch it over and over again. It’s hard because I have to strike a balance between doing it well but not overdoing it. But it’s good to know I’m not the only one doing this.
Adam Carter You’re definitely alone! Just know that it’ll never be perfect, and I’m sure you’ve got more stories inside you, so embrace the imperfection and keep on growing... :)
Glad your back!
2real2fall Thanks! (Me too!)
Always great to hear from you!
Unkl Ray Nutter Thanks!
this is a problem i have been encountering for years in my screenwriting career but watching this really inspires me to believe in my creativity and vision. thank you so much!
Happy to help. Always remember, writing is a process, a journey of discovery. Your first words only need to exist to spark the next words.
Wow!!! You hit home on this because this has been my major problem, which as you stated....it's nothing but ego which has lead to procrastination, which is awful!!! I've should have been done with this script, but now I know and I'm on it...Thank you!
It’s completely natural, though! I’ve interacted with over 12,000 writers worldwide at this point, and it happens to ALL of us (to varying degrees). So don’t beat yourself up. Just learn the whole process and keep moving forward. You’ve got this!
You are really good at your job...👍👍
SAI GANESH Thank you!
your videos are very helpful and so straight to the point. Thank you for sharing them.
Thanks! Happy to help. Let me know if you have any specific questions, as I’m happy to create new videos to address them.
Glad to see you back Jeff, I've written about six or so projects now and I think some of the dialogue from my first one is some of the best stuff I've written.
John Smith Fantastic! Keep up the good work!
I really needed to hear this, thank you!!
Happy to help. Be kind to yourself. You’ve got stories only you can tell.
[ waving to all the fellow perfectionists watching this video ]
(waving back)
👋🏻
*Waves back*
And great advice as always!
Thank you for making this video! I struggle with perfectionism big time :)
Great to hear from you Jeff! Love the new look too. How far along are you with the Sci-fi project?
Marcus Amann The project is on hold at the moment due in large part to the pandemic and the logistics fallout from it. Not so much that we can’t move forward during the pandemic, but just that my own time has slipped away during all this. It’s the same reason I haven’t put out any UA-cam content in months. Once I get this back on track, we’ll resume that. Since one feeds the other, it is unfortunately how it has to be at the moment. But we’ll get there!
Excellent advice. Greatly appreciated.
Always happy to help!
Screenwrittng and terapist. Thnaks a LOT man. Un abrazo desde Jujuy Argentina.
Roberto Lara Happy to help where I can!
Thank you for the motivation and help, Jeff
Reynald Fistacuffs Happy to help
Perfection is in the imperfections. Thanks for the video, Jeff.
Love u sir ❤️😚. Keep making us better with u r knowledge
Maddu Raja I’ll do my best!
Very good to see this. Wonderful, wonderful content. So wise.
Katie Vandyck Thanks Katie!
So helpful!!!
Awesome insights. Thanks.
Happy to help!
Thank you so much for this video. Ot helps me a lot. 💐
Happy to help!
Wow I needed this 😆
I am a life coach, I understand perfection, I am enjoying your content, thank you, this is valuable ❤
Rose Mcconnell Thank you!
Great advice 👏
Great video! Very inspiring thank you
David Kelly I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for this video. The words hit 🎯 me right in the feels. Because i do exactly those stupid things trying to make everything "perfect", but paradoxically things turn out far worse in terms of time wasted or output. If you actually think about it logically, perfectionism is just ridiculous. Nothing is perfect. It's an illusion. Complete nonsense. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. IF the results would actually be "perfect", sure, but that ne-ver happens. In fact, quite the opposite. So in our minds we justifiy our thoughts and behavior, but the outcome is always flawed in some sense. The best things i created and experienced in life, was when i didn't care about the outcome.
Couldn’t agree more. So, let’s focus on just creating, instead of creating something perfect, eh? Happy writing!
@@fastscreenplay I will tell myself that from now on: ''Let's focus on just creating.''
It's a wrap . 🎬
Writing and shooting APPOCOLYPSE NOW is a PERFECT example.
Joseph van Wyk Agreed!
"STOP Being a Perfectionist"... from the guy that read literally tens of thousands of scripts and didn't find a single one worthy of attention.
Burner I’m not sure if you’re referring to me or not, but if that’s what you think I think, you haven’t been paying very close attention. ;)
Also, I actually address this in the video, too. :)
How much will you pay me for a screen play
Depends on your screenplay, my resources, and how badly I want to make it. But I’d recommend a different opening line. Most people would respond with “nothing”. Probably not the ideal first impression.
Jeff, I am glad you mentioned the difference between Perfectionism and Quality because it is not obvious at first and the pressure on the screenplay to be viable and production ready can easily be mistaken for the need for it to be "pitch perfect". By focusing on making it the "best" a writer is capable of, it takes a lot of that pressure off. Very helpful advice.