Your Screenplay Career Is Built Wrong

Success isn’t about selling that million-dollar spec.

Let’s explore how veteran screenwriter Mark Sanderson built a sustainable career in Hollywood… And the unconventional insights that emerged from his journey.

Here’s his practical approach to establishing a professional writing career:

1. The Five-Script Foundation

• Your first five specs are training tools
• Use them to develop your voice and style
• Don’t expect early masterpieces — expect growth

2. The Assignment Reality

• Assignment work powers professional careers
• Most working writers thrive on assignments, not specs
• Build skills that make you valuable for hire

3. Professional Discipline

• Maintain a consistent five-page daily schedule
• Train this muscle during spec writing
• Prepare for contracted deadlines before they arrive

The game-changing insight: Success isn’t about selling that million-dollar spec. It’s about building sustainable practices and industry relationships that lead to consistent work.

Practical action steps:

• Focus on producible, personal stories
• Establish yourself in a specific genre
• Cultivate relationships with production companies
• Treat your entire life as writing research

Quick mindset shift: Stop thinking about competing with blockbusters. Instead, focus on creating compelling, producible stories that can serve as relationship builders in the industry.

Keep writing,

- Brock Swinson

P.S. Here’s my full audio interview with Mark Sanderson