Screenwriter Tom Vaughn Drops 10 Truths About Sustaining a Long Career in Hollywood

I think one of the major misconceptions among people outside of Hollywood is that the battle is breaking into this place. The truth is that breaking into Hollywood is hard. But staying in Hollywood feels nearly impossible.

Well, veteran screenwriter Tom Vaughan has been working in this town for 29 years and teaching for most of them, too.

Recently, Tom tweeted out ten unfiltered observations on what it takes to navigate the long game of a screenwriting career, and I thought we had to share them here.

Let's dive in.

1. This career is primarily a mental battle.

I will say that, for me, this is the war I feel is always raging inside me. You have to deal with so much rejection. And your career will have years that suck and moments that rock. So much of this is managing the psychological fallout of hearing "No" over and over again.

Aside from therapy, you may need to find ways to keep your confidence intact and stay motivated so that fresh pages and new sec scripts keep coming.

2. It's not who you know. It’s who you meet and how you add value to that relationship.

Having a contact list full of industry names means nothing if you don't have a new spec that's commercial enough for them to buy into.

So always have something new to share.

Networking in Hollywood involves establishing genuine working relationships by offering real value to the execs in charge of your projects. You're their closer; they bring you in to win the game or fix the problems.

3. For a spec, the concept is everything. Everyone needs something to sell their boss.

We talk about this with stack buster scripts or noisy loglines. Execs, assistants, and managers aren't reading your spec script in a vacuum; they have to pitch it up the chain of command.

How can you make your hook as simple as possible and also get someone excited to turn the pages?

A high-concept gives your internal champion inside the studio or production company the exact leverage they need to pitch it to their boss.

4. Outlining is the writer's version of measure twice and cut once.

Okay, I have a lot of feelings on this, namely that I think writing an outline is really important for anyone just starting out. And I think for any paid assignment, an outline can alleviate some anxiety.

My other POV is that skipping the outline can help you when you need to brainstorm or when you need something to shake up your normal routine. But more often than not, I think you want a story map in place.

5. In getting work, talent is less valuable than the confidence you inspire in others.

You get hired because people believe you can deliver. Sure, raw talent might give you an introduction, but studio execs and producers hire writers whom they trust.

In pitch meetings and on calls, your ability to handle feedback, communicate your vision, and be calm is worth its weight in gold.

They want to work with someone who delivers and is easy.

6. Don't be the one fighting about words on a page when everyone else is trying to make a movie.

I learned this lesson early, and it was a doozy. You cannot pick prose and ideas all you want, but this is a blueprint for a movie.

Film is a collaborative medium. The people on the project are trying to make something great, just like you. Don't put walls up; lean into helping one another.

Don't be an obstacle; be someone with solutions.

7. You will not always make more money next year.

This is another harsh truth that more people should know. You might go years without money or consistent pay.

I have a buddy who made a billion one year and didn't work for the next five. That's how this goes; it's a long case of ups and downs and luck.

So open a savings account, get an S corp, and hang on tight.

A good rule is to only live on like half of what you make, and save the other 50%.

8. Representation does not create; it only amplifies. You need to give them something to amplify.

Agents and managers cannot conjure a career out of thin air or just go out and get you a job.

Their job is to elevate and route great material. If you aren't continually generating strong, finished pages, your reps have nothing to champion.

So write your spec!

9. Most people currently in the business will be doing something else for a living in ten years.

Hollywood has immense turnover. It sucks seeing your friends leave, but it's the natural order of things. That's why it is so important to be nice to everyone and to collaborate.

Executives get replaced, agencies restructure, and aspiring writers drop out.

Mergers happen, and companies downsize.

Long-term relationships matter far more than chasing short-term trends or burning a bridge to prove you're right right now.

10. "Nobody knows anything" is about humility and doing your best, not thinking everyone else is an idiot but you.

William Goldman’s famous line is not an excuse to ignore feedback or look down on executives. It's actually a call to action for you to trust your gut and write your best work.

Sit down and think about the kind of movie you'd see or TV show you'd watch, and write that. Let your passion for that story pull others in.

Summing It All Up

I hope all of these were an inspiring call to action to help you climb a rung on the ladder for your next step in the journey. Above all else, keep writing and producing new work. That's how you keep on people's radar and get noticed.

Tom is a great follow on Twitter, but for deeper dives into story, character, and career stuff, check out his educational platform at storyandplot.com.

Let me know what you think in the comments.