UT Austin Screenwriting 2024

[Rose]

I wouldn't call myself prolific by any means! No secrets here! Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! The best thing you can do for yourself is set a deadline, commit to it, and have an accountability partner, if need be. Showing up for the work is half of the battle. And, be realistic! If you miss the deadline you set for yourself, that's completely okay. Be kind to yourself!

Plus, you're ghostwriting novels! Talk about prolific and inspiring!

Just attending the Conference for AFF is inspiring. You meet so many people and learn so much. It's a crash course/pep talk/film school primer all in one. Not to mention a social event with a ton of kind people! Highly recommend!

Oh, I think you are so right! Amorphous aspirations are not enough. I feel so resistant to setting deadlines, and I think that is all the more a sign that it's a needed thing in my life. Funnily enough, I just found out about an accountability website (stickk.com) that I think I'm going to try it out. You stake money, as little as $5, which you'll loose if you don't hit the target you set. You can have it sent to an "anti-charity," and just the thought of my money going to a certain political campaign lights a fire under me! LOL.

I have never even thought about going to the AFF conference. It sounds incredible! Absolutely going to look into attending!

 

[Rose]

BTW, what a great little group of writers here! Glad to pass the time with y'all.

 

[RandomLurker]

Oh, I think you are so right! Amorphous aspirations are not enough. I feel so resistant to setting deadlines, and I think that is all the more a sign that it's a needed thing in my life.

I'm going to put a disclaimer! Every writer's process is different! To complicate that, every story's process is different too. Deadlines are the one consistent thing that has worked for me. And, they have to be hardset. Either deliver it into someone's hands or enter a competition with it. Just a few affordable ones because those costs add up. For example, I'm only paying for 2-3 this year. A local competition (or two) and a larger competition!

If you got something working for you, I say stick to it! Keep everything else in your toolbox for when you need a change.

 

[Rose]

I'm going to put a disclaimer! Every writer's process is different! To complicate that, every story's process is different too. Deadlines are the one consistent thing that has worked for me. And, they have to be hardset. Either deliver it into someone's hands or enter a competition with it. Just a few affordable ones because those costs add up. For example, I'm only paying for 2-3 this year. A local competition (or two) and a larger competition!

If you got something working for you, I say stick to it! Keep everything else in your toolbox for when you need a change.

Very fair disclaimer. I'm thinking for me, throwing on some pressure is probably going to be uncomfortably successful. I've tried rewards and that was not terribly effective. I get a lot of writing done if it's for work or I have to turn it in for a writing class. Otherwise, projects can stretch out into eternity. Sometimes, I come up with target dates, but they're not hard set in my mind. Without that weight, other lifey tasks or projects supersede.

I have never thought of entering contests to create hard deadlines! That is SO genius, I could hug you. It's both pressure AND there's a potential award, or at least the chance at one. That makes it a little more exciting and a little less painful. 100% I am going to do this. So glad you shared this strategy!

 

[czu]

Hey everyone! How are people holding up? I feel like the nerves are really starting to set in... I'm checking on here all the time despite the fact that I know we won't have heard back yet - hahaha!

 

[Rose]

Hey everyone! How are people holding up? I feel like the nerves are really starting to set in... I'm checking on here all the time despite the fact that I know we won't have heard back yet - hahaha!

LOL!!! Me too. Major butterflies! It's pretty much on my mind all the time. I flip-flop between hope and a sense of doom. Today, though, I was thinking about the novelists in my writer groups who keep every rejection letter, like a badge of honor. I want to embrace that same spirit. Looking back, I don't reject the things I failed at, but I absolutely regret the things I didn't do because I was too anxious.

So yeah! I am planning a party for next week. One way or another, I feel like there is something to celebrate. We've learned a craft, invested a lot of time, created beautiful characters and stories, and we took risks in putting our work and ourselves out there for judgement. We are artists.

And I'm also still nervous AF!

 

[RandomLurker]

Definitely getting a little antsy. I finished up a short project and now in the planning stage of the next. This means I have a lot of time to overthink the future.

It's pretty much on my mind all the time. I flip-flop between hope and a sense of doom.

I've been on the doom and regret end for a little bit T_T

So yeah! I am planning a party for next week. One way or another, I feel like there is something to celebrate. We've learned a craft, invested a lot of time, created beautiful characters and stories, and we took risks in putting our work and ourselves out there for judgement. We are artists.

This is so wholesome. This was a much-needed reminder! Sending virtual cheers for your celebration!

 

[czu]

Hello amazing friends! Looks like I spoke too soon last night - jumping on here ASAP to say that I just got an email asking me to schedule an interview for next week. Fingers crossed that you all got them too and wishing you absolutely all the best! <3

 

[RandomLurker]

I received an email as well! This was unexpected. It looks like this is the first year they're doing this. I'm nervous! It's such a quick interview. This means the committee has read our work already

 

[Chris W]

That's awesome everyone! Be sure to edit and add this info to your applications in our database when you can.

 

[Rose]

Whoa! I didn't think they did interviews! I didn't get an email, so that's definitely looking like I may have already been cut, dang it!
There is a cool website called Yoodli, to help interview prep with AI. Totally free. Might be worth doing a practice round or two. Wishing you both lots of luck at your interviews next week!

 

[unwinding-dreams]

I also got an offer to interview! Totally out of the blue. I didn't think they did them. It's only 10 minutes which is both scary and not scary?

 

[RandomLurker]

I didn't get an email, so that's definitely looking like I may have already been cut, dang it!

That might not be the case. It looks like this is the first year interviews are being held for this program. They could already be certain about some applicants and are screening for the last few spots. We can't know for sure. I've seen schools on this site where an interview is in no way an indicator of your admissions decision.

It's only 10 minutes which is both scary and not scary?

It really makes you wonder how those ten minutes could possibly move the needle.

 

[Rose]

That might not be the case. It looks like this is the first year interviews are being held for this program. They could already be certain about some applicants and are screening for the last few spots. We can't know for sure. I've seen schools on this site where an interview is in no way an indicator of your admissions decision.


It really makes you wonder how those ten minutes could possibly move the needle.

Ohhhh, interesting! I will keep all my fingers and toes crossed, just in case. I have to say, though, I'm very, very relieved I found out from y'all about the interview scheduling. It's like an emotional inoculation. Felt the sting, went through the emotions of it, and now I feel like the real "no," won't be quite as bad. AND I also now feel that I can be REALLY indulgent in my party planning. I want tons of decorations! I want a cake and a fucking princess crown! It's going to be glorious.

Lot of pressure on that ten minutes for you three! Easy to say from my vantage point, but just be real and vulnerable. And give them a little of your own story/hero's journey to make an emotional connection. I bet every single candidate will be a nervous wreck/hot mess, so try not to worry about being perfect or getting things just right.

 

[czu]

Holy cow!!! This is such a surprise. What are the odds that 3/4 of us in this thread got an interview?! I feel like getting an interview seems like such a huge hurdle - realizing that three of us have gotten one is almost the bigger shock! I'm so excited but I don't know what to make of it.

Like you all said, it really does make you wonder what the goal of the interviews is, and what they'll accomplish in 10 minutes, especially since this seems to be the first time the Screenwriting program is doing them. What do we think they'll even ask?!

 

[RandomLurker]

Rose, you are a godsend. I LOVE that. Go get that tiara I want updates!

I want czu to get into Michener so that the 7 spots are still open LOL There's room for all of us. Let's manifest positive things: Rose getting into screenwriting and production and media, unwinding-dreams getting into their schools, and, of course, us all being classmates! Unless Northwestern calls, of course. I'd understand.

 

[Rose]

Rose, you are a godsend. I LOVE that. Go get that tiara I want updates!

I want czu to get into Michener so that the 7 spots are still open LOL There's room for all of us. Let's manifest positive things: Rose getting into screenwriting and production and media, unwinding-dreams getting into their schools, and, of course, us all being classmates! Unless Northwestern calls, of course. I'd understand.

@RandomLurker, awww! Good vibes for all of us, knocking down doors. I'm picturing a Terminator-like energy - relentless. Y'all are going to kick ass in those interviews! Tell them you've already met your classmates!

I picked the most ostentatious-looking tiara Amazon has, although now, I'm kind of waffling and want the hair vine. Decisions!

 

[czu]

I picked the most ostentatious-looking tiara Amazon has, although now, I'm kind of waffling and want the hair vine. Decisions!

omg!!! tiara vs. hair vine is a really hard decision. they're both soooo cute

 

[RandomLurker]

Why choose? Make it a reception-type situation!

 

[Rose]

Welllll, @czu and @RandomLurker, alas, I let go of the hair vine... for now. lol! It's on my list of rewards for hitting my writing goals. In its place, I found some crowns for my husband and our three boys. I haven't told my kiddos I'm planning a party. I can't wait to surprise them. Also glad that at least I can model that it's okay to fail or get rejected, painful as it can be. I'll share pictures! Hope you all share how the interviews go!