Master Your Time: Balance Writing & Life ⏳

In a recent video, screenwriting consultant Lee Jessup made a point that resonates deeply: reading scripts — whether you're a consultant, contest judge, agent, manager, or assistant — is a lifestyle.

For screenwriters, that idea hits close to home. Because choosing to be a writer is a lifestyle, too. Without a boss or definitive hours to be "at work," writers are always working — whether that means putting words on the page, thinking about the story, or being stuck in that self-destructive zone of feeling like that's exactly what they should be doing.

Which begs the question: if a writer is always viewing the world through the lens of their script, are they ever truly present in their day-to-day life? Does the writing ever get to take a beat so they can shut off? More importantly — should it?

Here are five ways screenwriters can find balance between writing, life, and all the ways they intersect.