We were lucky to catch up with Anna Klassen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

There are several elements that help writers become successful — but first you have to define what “success” is, and that’s different for every writer. For me, being a successful screenwriter means making enough money to support myself with writing alone. Screenwriting is essentially a freelance gig. Let’s say I get hired to write a movie for Netflix — that’s a big check coming into my bank account, but I don’t know how long that check needs to last. There’s no guarantee I’ll sell another movie ever again, so planning becomes tricky. My idea of success is being hired to write movies consistently, and not letting fear dictate my creative choices.

I’m in a really great spot now, and I attribute a few different things to my current success. The first and most important is resilience. Hollywood is an industry that loves the word “no”. And as one of my favorite writers John August cited, it’s statistically easier to be a football player in the NFL than it is to be a professional screenwriter. Breaking in to the industry takes years for some, and never happens for most, so having the ability to bounce back is incredibly important. Rejection is constant, and creative heartbreak is inevitable, so you have to become adaptable. You have to become tenacious and fortified. A “no” used to ruin my week, but now, I quickly mourn and move on. I take comfort in knowing that rejection in Hollywood is rarely personal — there are so many mandates and elements out of your control.

My advice is to have multiple irons in the fire. I have a whiteboard in my office with 20 different projects — scripts I’m currently writing, pitches I’m taking out, and kernels of ideas for future films — that I am consistently checking in on. By not putting all of my eggs in one basket, it’s much easier when one project dies. I simply cross it off the list and soldier on to the next.

Another big part of being successful is being open to collaboration. Yes, writing a film for most (unless you have a writing partner) is a solo pursuit, but then, once you turn it in to producers or studios, it becomes a collaboration. You know the story better than anyone, but other people’s entire jobs are to help make the movie the best it can be. If you are open, warm, and invite notes or criticism, you will go far. Be someone other people want to work with. You may have written the script alone, but it takes hundreds of people to turn that script into a film.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a journalist-turned-screenwriter who writes feature films.

Before I became a full-time screenwriter, I was working as a journalist, but writing scripts on nights and weekends. I never had any formal training, but I read books and most importantly, every screenplay I could get my hands on.

I decided to submit my work to a fellowship, and ended up winning. That same year I had a different script land on the annual Blacklist. Both of these things helped me get representation. I then took a million general meetings (meetings with studios or producers to talk generally about your work), pitched on a few films, and finally landed my first feature.

From there I’ve been fortunate to write more movies for various production companies and studios.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’d love to use this question to amplify the current state of writing in Hollywood. Right now, the Writers Guild of America is on strike to demand fair pay from major studios. Writers today are getting paid less than they did ten years ago, while studio profits are at an all time high. Writers bring an incredible amount of value to the table. Your favorite TV shows and films literally would not exist without us, and yet we are being undervalued by the companies that need us most. What we are asking for — to make a living wage — equates to less than 2 percent of their profits. We aren’t asking for the jets or million dollar salaries of these companies’ CEOs, we are asking to pay our rent and afford groceries. I’m incredibly disheartened by the studios who refuse to give us the bare minimum, but we what we are asking for is beyond fair. I, along with thousands of others, will stand in solidarity — pencils down — until our needs are met.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Writing itself is the reward. No one enters into a career as a writer for the money. You hear the term “struggling artist” for a reason. We don’t do it for the paycheck, we do it for the creative fulfillment. It can be difficult to find the joy in writing if you’re struggling financially, so it’s important to know before you commit your efforts to this field that it won’t always be easy, and the only reward you can count on is the act of writing itself. I love this job, it brings me so much fulfillment and freedom, but it’s a constant uphill battle where no financial marker will incite happiness. The reward is found on the page.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @annajklassen
• Twitter: @annajklassen

Image Credits
First image: Marcus Henderson