Screenwriting : Celebration???? by John Mezes

Absolutely John Mezes ! The Mrs and I go out for a meal that must include cheesecake or pie.

I don't celebrate finishing a screenplay because I don't feel it is that big of a deal.

I relax, John Mezes. Cheesecake or pie sounds nice for a celebration, Leonardo Ramirez.

Maurice Vaughan Unless it's an authentic Italian restaurant that makes a good NY cheesecake, then it's The Cheesecake Factory!

I just squeal with happiness and tell my mom.

I haven't been to either, Leonardo Ramirez. Bucket list? :)

Can't say that I celebrate after the first draft is completed, John Mezes, but I do breathe a sigh of relief and smile. It's an accomplishment to be sure, but I save the celebration for the final draft, though a slice of blackberry pie à la mode might be tempting.

Definitely Maurice Vaughan !

Man that does sound good Ty Strange

Nice way to celebrate, Leonardo. Authentic Italian is definitely a way to go. Nice touch with the cheesecake too.

Fair enough, Dan. To each his own. Thanks for being a part of the discussion.

Relaxing is an automatic, right Maurice? Especially with all the prep work that goes into that draft. I hear you. I usually open a beer, sit on my back porch, and listen to some Sirius XM. Then I start thinking about the rewrite, LOL.

Sharing that great feeling of accomplishment with Mom, that's nice Laura.

Ty, that smile is celebratory as it's self recognition of creating a new script and the work that went into it. The final draft celebration sounds good too.

Usually, when I finish a script, I notice my headaches and anxiety stop.

Do they ever feel finished?

I can breathe again.

First drafts and final (really final) drafts get celebrated with a specific rye whiskey and a good cigar.

Usually something minor and silly, like ordering a dessert or going out to a movie.

I can see the correlation between the two, Michael. I always felt it's important to give yourself a small victory lap after a first draft. A boost of rejuvenation before the rewrites begin.

Excellent point, Robin. I think it's when you can let the baby bird (your script) leave the nest (start pitching and submitting it).

LOL, Vikki, I would be taking a DEEP breath.

Nicely done, Wayne. I'm with you on the whiskey. What brand?

Tim, I thinking a movie that's a completely different genre than what you wrote, giving your mind a much needed break, and a box of Junior Mints.

John, it is Templeton Rye. My first novel was about the 1920s, and it was one of Capones brands. I have just made it a tradition. It is cheap but

Interesting question, John. Come to think of it, I have never really celebrated a script. My process has always been to complete a screenplay to the best of my ability in final draft form, then submit it to quite a few competitions and film festivals. Once done, I'm on to the next one!

"Relaxing is an automatic, right Maurice?" Not always, John Mezes. Sometimes I jump right into rewrites, or my next script. But it's important to relax and recharge. At least for a few hours or a day.

Sometimes if I know it is a dud that wouldn’t leave my thoughts till I wrote it. It will sit forever, until I know how to fix it.

No but I do feel happy about a first draft.

Agree that the first draft is the toughest. I celebrate every day that I can write a few pages without passing out, lol.

John, I don't really celebrate finishing a first draft...but I actually DO feel good about any chance I get to do some writing each day. (And I'll gladly take that.)

I'm checking out Templeton Rye, Wayne. Cheap doesn't always mean bad.

I share that motivation in moving on to the next script, Bill. This post was to see if anybody else celebrates that step in completing a first draft. Although a long way from completion at that stage, I think its rewarding for the mind and spirit to give ourselves a "atta boy/girl" along in the process.

Totally agree, Maurice. I'm a "jumper" into the next project too. My thought was the "AH" or "YEAH" we can give ourselves along with a smile when that first draft is done before we jump to the next rewrite. That's the automatic I was referencing.

Hey, thinking over a script and its direction is crucial, Craig. Very important. I hear you. I'm sure you have a lot of great scripts that I hope aren't sitting forever. Sometimes a gem is right at our fingertips.

Hi Alicia, that's key, feeling happy about your writing. It's why we do it, the need to create and the love we get from it.

LOL, Joe, nice one. Daunting at times for sure. I love the celebrate every day of writing aspect you feel. I write 2-3 hours a day on different projects and I celebrate them too.

Feeling good is a form of celebration, Jim, because it celebrates you, and the satisfaction you get from writing and accomplishing a first draft. A celebration of the mind and heart.

Thank you, John.

Celebrate! Absolutely. Go out with friends. Smile! You are amazing!

Woo-hoo, Shari! Agreed!

I don't really celebrate anything after writing to be honest. Whether the case applied itself after a big semester project at University, my Master's essay or my script, I try to remain firmly on the ground and see what happens next.

I tend to celebrate when I don't receive a 'pass' on a reading that I paid for.

Smaller milestones still deserve acknowledgment!

I think it's important to celebrate every win, whether big or small. There's so much rejection in this business, you just have to have some balance. Keep writing!

I have to celebrate, otherwise it is hard to keep going! Always appreciate the wins.

I always feel a massive sense of relief when that first draft is done, after all the prep, character work, and so on. Then I like to sit in the sun, sip a delicious glass of Tasmanian wine, and like you John Mezes, start thinking about the re-write!

Hell yeah! The problem is the emotional hangover after that first draft and the celebrating that stalls me from the rewriting hahah

Put it in the freezer, get out Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream, so many options for vanilla whilst planning second episode. ;)

Yes, I celebrate the achievement. Then usually walk away from it for a while before doing another draft.

I celebrate by catching up on sleep.

Hey, nothing wrong in being grounded, Marcel. If that gets you prepared for the next project and it's working for you, then "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Always celebrate a request, J. Austin! That's a huge step in the process, and such a proud feeling too.

So right, Niki. The reaffirmation of one's time and efforts, plus the mental stimulus it gives the writer.

You got it, John W. Celebrating achievements along the creative way helps the exec passes sting a little less, and acknowledges important accomplishments.

Too true, Jaime. Hopefully, the automatic "yes, I finished my first draft after all that work" feeling brings that smile to our collective faces.

Tasmanian Wine Ingrid? I have to try that! Sounds really good. Relief is something I can relate to as well, like a mental "YES" when the first draft is done. Your celebration ritual sounds nice.

Well, if its temporary, Emily, hey, it's all good! The mind and heart need that respite.

I'm with you on the ice cream, Carolyne. A mental and taste bud celebration, LOL.

Good plan, Bill. Space between project can be a healthy thing.

LOL, fantastic and so true, Antonio. I second that!

I rewrite and rewrite and rewrite as I go along, don't just bang out a draft. And don't move forward until I'm happy with what I've written. But even at that, when I do finish a full draft, I go back over it with a fine tooth comb. You simply can't rewrite enough, until every beat is in the right place.

Just finished my 5th draft of a t.v. pilot. The more I write the more I feel like the first draft is probably the easiest. It's the final draft that's the hardest. That being said, I celebrate every time I had a good day of writing, coffee and chocolate is the way for me.

Congratulations, Maria Restivo Glassner!

Maria Restivo Glassner What a coincidence. I'm on my fifth draft as well. lol

Ron, I couldn't agree more.

Maurice Vaughan Thanks! How are your projects coming along?

@Marcel Nault Jr. How did you get to your fifth draft? Have you been changing your project drastically based off of feedback or as you read it you make small adjustments?

You're welcome, Maria Restivo Glassner. I'm about to start on a feature spec script. The outline is done. I also have scripts to read/give feedback on. I might write a short spec script too since a short script usually only takes 1-3 days to finish.

Maria Restivo Glassner A bit of both, but mostly by receiving feedback.