Recently, I was asked "what should a good writer do?"
You mean besides, the usual advice of having to write everyday (which I don't subscribe to) and write truthfully and fearlessly?
Well...
There is no one correct way to write, in my opinion. There are similar habits like drinking tea and sitting in a favorite chair before writing, but again, no one way to tackle the blinding white blank page. I think a good writer, especially a smart one, should keep a stockpile of wine for easy days and nights and bourbon (Evan Williams for me, please and thank you) for the harder days and nights. The nights in which your story takes you deeper into your feelings than you thought it would. The days when you stare aggressively at a blank page on Final Draft waiting for genius to come through. Honorable mention to those moments when you have a good idea in your head but can't quite find the words to execute them.
This is where having a trusty group of people or a person to read your drafts or bounce ideas off of becomes invaluable and I strongly advise all writers find a person or people for this purpose. It can and will save you a lot of frustration and anxiety.
I think a good writer should always celebrate their accomplishments on their writing journey. Finished an outline? Celebrate. Finished a first draft? Salute yourself. No matter what celebration looks like to you, do it. Writing is fun and rewarding and all but it is also hard as hell, hence why I advocate for a stockpile of wine and bourbon.
The most important thing, and the thing I think that will always serve you on your journey, is to find something that works FOR YOU. Like if you prefer to outline after you've written out a thorough synopsis, go with it until you find something else that works better for you. The goal is to complete the script, doesn't matter how you do it.
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