Chapter 1: The Importance of Project Stacking

Managing multiple projects is essential in screenwriting. By learning how to juggle several projects simultaneously, you can secure your future gigs and maintain a steady income.

One interesting activity for IMDbPro subscribers is to explore the top screenwriters and their active projects. Notable writers include:

• Liz Hannah: Known for The Post, Long Shot, and The Girl From Plainville with projects like:
  • Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine — Script
  • Under Another Name — Script
  • Bad Girls — Optioned / TV Series
  • Mercury 13 — Optioned
  • I Love You Now and Forever — Script
  • The Bird's Game — Pitch / TV Series
• Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber: Renowned for 500 Days of Summer, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Disaster Artist, with ongoing projects such as:
  • Salt to the Sea — Optioned
  • The Beauty Side — Pitch
  • Rules of Civility — Development
  • Nothing to See Here — Optioned
  • Beginner's Greek — Development
  • A Chris Farley Story — Pitch

These writers have multiple titles at different stages, showcasing the art of project stacking—a skill that can enhance your screenwriting career.

Here's a crucial question: why should you consider stacking projects? The straightforward answer is that it helps you anticipate your next jobs. For freelancers, this is akin to having job security. Planning your projects over the next year or two means you can confidently cover expenses like private school tuition for your kids.

However, managing several projects requires a specific skill set. While I can’t speak for all writers, I can suggest an effective method to handle multiple projects:

At any moment, focus on three distinct projects:

1. The Rewrite: This involves refining a draft based on feedback from studios or producers.
2. The First Draft: Here, you work on developing a new project to present to studios.
3. Story Prep: This phase includes research, character development, and plotting for your next project.

In an ideal scenario, you could complete a first draft while awaiting feedback on your rewrite. Story Prep can occur alongside your writing schedule, dedicating one or two days a week or even evenings to this task.

To stack projects effectively, you need to be adept at transitioning between scripts and shifting your creative focus. Mastering this flexibility can even lead to opportunities as a producer—something many writers aspire to add to their portfolios.

You can start developing this skill set today. Begin by generating three solid story ideas. Write a first draft for one while simultaneously prepping the next. As you finish the second draft of your first project (keeping the first draft private), send it out for reviews and dive into drafting the second project while prepping the third.

This way, you are actively stacking projects. Once you complete one, seamlessly incorporate another story idea to maintain momentum.

By alternating between prep, writing, and rewriting across three projects, you’ll not only produce numerous scripts but also hone the art of project stacking.

Some writers, however, thrive on focusing on one project at a time. If that’s you, embrace it. It’s essential to recognize your writing style and follow your instincts. For those still in the early stages of their writing journey, I advise against stacking multiple projects. It’s crucial to develop a solid understanding of the craft before attempting to juggle various scripts. Quality matters, and distributing your attention too thinly could lead to mediocre work.

Conversely, if you’ve already completed several screenplays and feel confident in your approach to story prep, drafting, and revisions, you should certainly attempt to stack projects. This strategy will prepare you for a bustling screenwriting career, especially when you break into Hollywood.

For further insights from the "30 Things About Screenwriting" series, visit here.

Chapter 2: Enhancing Your Productivity through Project Stacking

To gain deeper insights into managing your projects effectively, check out this video:

Stacking Projects to Get Things Done - This video provides valuable strategies for balancing multiple writing projects and boosting productivity.

Another important aspect to consider is practical application in wood projects, as illustrated in the following video:

Sawmill and Stacking for Wood Projects - Learn how to efficiently manage wood projects, which can parallel techniques used in screenwriting.