Reading time: About 2 minutes
Jessica Scroggins says she’s accepted the idea that it’s okay to have a bad first draft. But to do that, she needs to overcome the desire to edit WHILE she writes….
Jessica Scroggins began screenwriting while working in film production and marketing. Her projects have won Telly Awards and have been recognized by screenwriting competitions, including the Austin Film Festival. She is also founder of Lamplighter Agency, which provides content and content strategy for B2B technology clients.
I was excited to talk to Jessica about how she approaches writing.
Q. Roughly how much time do you spend writing every day?
One to four hours, depending on what client work I have. More than four hours can be challenging. My brain needs a break.
Q. What’s a simple activity or habit that makes you a better writer?
I try to be okay with a bad first draft. To do that, I have to overcome my urge to edit while I write.
Q. What interferes with your writing?
Perfectionism and distractions! Some days it can be hard to write when I have a million things going on. I try to give myself grace and recognize that it’s okay to step away from a project if I’m not feeling it, as long as I’m not going to miss a deadline.
Q. How do you persuade yourself to sit down to write on days when you really, really DON’T feel like doing it?
I try to work on a timer and just focus on one writing block at a time. And I also think about what future ‘weekend’ Jessica will feel when I leave work undone that she has to do.
Q. Is there a particular motto or saying that you’ve found helpful for writing?
Writing is rewriting. When you go in with that mindset, the editing process doesn’t feel so hard.
Q. Which stage of the writing process do you enjoy the most: researching, writing or editing/rewriting and why?
I love learning, so research for sure. The danger is that I can get lost in research and spend too much time on it.
Q. What’s the best book you’ve read (either fiction or non) in the last five years?
In Such Good Company by Carol Burnett. It’s about her time on The Carol Burnett Show and is full of hilarious stories.
Q. What book are you reading right now?
You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero.
Q. What do you think is the biggest misperception that new writers have about the act of writing?
Usually, they don’t understand how much of writing is rewriting. I know I didn’t when I first started screenwriting. Also, writing is hard. Society often romanticizes being a writer, but some days, it just makes your head hurt.