Why Screenwriting?

I am constantly being asked why I chose to screenwrite over every other genre. My answer is simple. I visualize things better than I can describe them.

It’s a silly answer, I know, but that’s truly my answer.

I have started novels and short stories in the past but I’d always describe things wrong in them. I mean, what I saw on the paper didn’t match what was in my head. It’s super frustrating. So I turned to screenwriting. For some reason when I first tried this method of storytelling, it was a lot easier to put the pictures on the page.

Writing a script moves a lot faster than pages in a book. Aside from being able to “visualize on paper” better, thinking of the story in terms of scenes make it move better. I get a better flow from writing scenes over chapters. It’s also not bad to say that since the scenes are shorter than novel chapters, I feel more accomplished by writing 10 scenes over a chapter. I know the two don’t compare but in my head they do.

It just boils down to the head games I play with myself. I tend to get overwhelmed easily and I’m working on that, but I really enjoy this craft. I know that one day I’ll finish a novel, even if its an anthology of short stories, but it’ll happen. Until then, I will be writing my screenplays. I am beginning to dabble in playwriting, so I guess we’ll see what happens there.