Writing Mantras: A List

Got this email from GITS reader Nicholas Smith:

I just compiled a list of mantras and posted them on the Done Deal Pro forum. Thought you might be interested in it. 

Link to my original: http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=52464

Most of these are mantras I have picked up from your blog, but I put them in a sort of order so that they read as steps. So, ahem…

THE (8+) MANTRAS of SCREENWRITING
as compiled by 12916studios

• Ass in chair.
• See. Read. Write.
• Minimum words; maximum impact.
• Just get the damn thing done.
• The first draft of anything is sh*t.
• Writing is rewriting.
• Trust the process.
• Lather, rinse, repeat.
• Have no fear.

I just thought I would bring this to your attention in case it is something you might be interesting in doing something with. I’ve yet to see any list of screenwriting mantras, so I thought I would just go ahead and make one.

As I noted the other day in this post, I’ll be uploading and commenting on a writing mantra every now and then. We started the year with one of my favorites — “Trust the process” — and as you can see from Nicholas’ list, there are those — plus many more in my files.

H/T to Nicholas for compiling and forwarding the list!

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