By Jason Eng

I have been getting a lot of questions from new or beginning writers about what it takes to be a writer, or to get to where I am now. IÌve also heard a lot of discussion when picking up coffee at the local writersÌ hang out and on a variety of message boards about being a writer and what qualifies somebody as a writer. Well, as the title of this article suggests there is one simple step to becoming a writer. ThatÌs right. Only one. Amidst the plethora of articles and books that profess to have a seven step program for better query letters, plots, etceteras, or ten steps to a stronger script or opening chapter, I am here to tell you there is only one step to being a writer. Let me outline it for you:

Step 1: Write. Write everyday.

If you follow this simple program you will, in one day, become a writer. Of course, if you stop for a day this does not mean that you are no longer officially a writer. IÌve found, however, that stopping for one day seems to turn into two days, then three. Soon that one day becomes a week off. "IÌm taking a week off to clear my head." Bullshit. Six months down the road that week off has become a sabbatical. Therefore, for my program to work for you, you must write everyday.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking. "Come on, Jason. IÌm sure you donÌt write every day." Well, no, I guess I donÌt. At least, IÌm not adding pages to my latest script (or in my case scripts, since I generally have three or four in progress at any one time). But I am working on my writing in other ways. I am outlining, re-reading what I have written, revising, or planning a new story. These are all part of the writing process as well. And I do at least one or more of these EVERYDAY. And since 1990, I have written fifteen complete screenplays, and have four others that are roughly written to the midpoint.

But there have been some growing thoughts IÌve discovered concerning what writing is and what makes a person a writer. Old school thought is taking my single step program literally. Under this philosophy a writer is somebody who sits down and works on a story every day. Absolute purist thought is that the actual story will grow on the page everyday. Even if it is just a page, a paragraph or even a sentence, the book, script or play has been advanced closer to THE END. Less purist it is acceptable to be outlining a story, or rewriting, or researching for a story. This is still considered part of the writing process.

Recently, IÌve come across people that are the antithesis of my single step program. These writers (for they still claim to be writers) believe if there is nothing to write it is a waist of time to sit in front of the computer or note pad and just simply stare at it. So, they say, if you canÌt think of anything to write donÌt just sit there. Come back when the ideas are flowing. Go out and shoot some baskets and think about your story. Maybe something will come to get your creative juices flowing. Clean the house, jump rope, take a shower, have a drink. These are all remedies for getting the creative juices flowing. Any of these are fine, if your problem truly is writerÌs block. I face it from time to time myself.

What IÌve seen happen in many cases is the activity intended to help get the creative juices flowing takes over the writing mind and the person isnÌt even thinking about writing anymore. That is why I donÌt consider people who just wait for the good stuff to flow and turn itself on to be writers. Because they arenÌt writing. They are finding excuses not to write. I canÌt think of anything for this next scene. IÌll play a video game to loosen my mind. And in the process you wonÌt be writing. I will clean the house, it needs it anyway, and it may spark something. And you wonÌt be writing.

Others claim that they have too many responsibilities. Children, work, errands. Sure, weÌve all got responsibilities. But as writers we have a responsibility to write. Whether you are getting paid for your writing yet or not, you need to take the craft seriously, the same as you do your job, your kids or mowing the lawn. How else do you expect to be a writer and get to the point that you do get paid for it?

And then it hit me. The fundamental difference between a writer and someone who says they want to be a writer (and be careful Ò some people who claim to be a writer are actually people who want to be a writer) is just that. Clear as day isnÌt it? Oh, you donÌt get it, you say. Let me spell it out. Anybody who has ever thought about being a writer has dreamed of BEING a writer. Most of us enjoy coming up with a new idea. We think about the possibilities of characters and scenes, great lines and stunning visuals. We also love the feeling of reading through that finished draft, knowing it was a job well done. On the other hand, there is always a point in the middle of a chapter or scene that we just canÌt get the next word out. We stop for the night and the next day we dread flipping the switch on the computer to face that blank void that fills the screen but no word will fit.

LetÌs face it folks. Most people love the idea of BEING a writer. Most of these same people loath the idea of WRITING. It is much easier to say "IÌm a writer" than it is to actually be a writer. IÌve come to understand that I am a rare person. I actually LOVE TO WRITE. I mean, I love everything about it. I love sitting there in my chair, at my desk, with my Nebraska Cornhusker cap on and hitting the keys just a step behind the words hitting my head. Shucks, I love writing this article as we speak. This is fun, let me indulge myself while I type some more. Steve Martin was right! EVEN TYPING IS FUN.

Whew! Let me calm down. But you get my point. Most people who want to be a writer donÌt enjoy what it takes to become a writer.

Let me clear something up. Doing something to clear the mind when writerÌs block hits is not a bad thing. As long as the focus is on getting back to writing. Outlining every last detail before sitting down to write is good. But donÌt get obsessed about outlining. Get obsessed about writing. For instance, I have a friend who is obsessed about outlining. He refuses to put word one on the page until he has every last detail of every scene worked out. HeÌs got outlines of scenes that are longer than the scene will be when he writes it. And thatÌs just the problem. In the time IÌve known him he hasnÌt written a single script. I even made a bet with him that I would sell a script before he even wrote one. Since that bet was made IÌve had two scripts optioned and he still hasnÌt written a script. Sure, I havenÌt sold a script. But I wouldnÌt have been able to option two things if I didnÌt have something to sell.

Writing is a habit. It needs to be treated like a habit. Therefore, find a way to write every day. Become a writer, then be a writer. Write every day. HereÌs a few things you can do to nurture your habit:

1. Pick one of the characters in your story and have a discussion with them. Ask them questions as if you were interviewing them and have the character answer.
2. Have each of the characters in your story describe, in their own words, each of the other characters.
3. Free form write. DonÌt worry about what words hit the page. Just keep writing. If you canÌt think of something to write just keep typing "I canÌt think of something to write" until you can.
4. Write a critique of your unwritten story as if you were the critic having just read it.
5. Write FADE IN at the top of the page, or CHAPTER ONE. Now, write the first scene or chapter.

All of these will help you make writing a habit. You only need to spend fifteen minutes a day on any one of them. And if you canÌt spend fifteen minutes maybe you should think of dropping writing as a dream althogether. Plus, each of these will help you with your story. Number one and two will help you get to know your characters better, number three will get you to love typing, number four will help you get to think about your story overall and number five will actually help you get something on your story done.

Once you make writing a habit you will find that it will easily become an obsession. But only if you follow my simple one step plan. Let me go over it again:

Step 1) Write. Write every day.

It really is easy. And if you tried it youÌd believe me.

Jason M. Eng is the Marketing Coordinator for Screenplay Systems, Inc. and a regular contributor to the Scoop, the monthly newsletter of Screenplay.com. He has written over fifteen scripts, two of them having been optioned. He is currently developing a film for independent production.

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