A Storyteller's Journey: Eric Heisserer

Profession: Writer

Credits: The Host, Sanctum, Stranger Adventures, The Dionaea House

Bio: Eric began writing for roleplaying games like Cyberpunk, and later graduated to short stories and screenplays. His first spec sale, The Manifestant, was picked up by Artisan Entertainment in 2000.

1) What were you doing before you "made it"?

Web design for soulless corporations.

2) What was your "big break" and how did you get it?

After flailing about in the contest circuit, a spec of mine reached a manager, Brian Overland, who sent the script out to a few producers. It did surprisingly well on the tracking boards, and got enough heat to warrant an offer from a studio.

That put me on the map. It took me five more years of writing and making contacts to become an "overnight success."

3) How does your career today stand up to your previous expectations?

My expectations have been blown out of the water. I've been hoping and planning for this career for the past ten years. It's a hell of a lot more work than I ever expected, but it's all work I've made for myself, so I can't complain.

4) What do you find most rewarding about your profession?

Being seen as an expert and source of information about stuff I just made up and wrote on a page. In working on Sanctum, I got a call from someone in set design asking me to send them a floorplan of the house I used in the script. I was like, floorplan? Oh crap, they really think I've got every detail in my head!

Soon thereafter, I scrambled to have every detail in my head. When I didn't, I faked it. But that is just about the most rewarding feeling I've had so far.

5) What are the pitfalls of your profession and how do you deal with them?

Oh, man. So many pitfalls. Getting scammed by sleazy types. Doing free rewrites. Getting replaced by another writer to do rewrites. Doing a ton of work on a pitch or project and then not getting the job. There's a new pitfall every week.

The only way you can deal with them is: One at a time. Get involved in the community and find out who's reputable versus who's sleazy. Make friends with your peers, so you can watch each other's backs. Do the work you're comfortable doing, and holler when you're abused.

There is no single solution for the pitfalls of this profession. Each movie, each producer, each studio is different. One at a time, that's how it goes.

6) What is your personal philosophy, method, or style toward your profession?

I don't think much about whatever methodology my brain is applying to this business. But I can say that writers who are cynical or bitter, those writers tend to get less work. People in this business can smell disdain as soon as it enters the room. You can take issue with certain people or parts of the filmmaking process, but if it's clear you see screenwriting as a "me versus them" conflict, save yourself the heartburn medication and turn back now.

No matter how frustrated I get at the job, I'm still writing for a living. My worst day here can't compare to my best day working as an HTML monkey in a soulless corporation, tucked away in some gray cubicle.

7) What advice would you give to someone trying to "break in" to your profession?

The big stumbling block I'm seeing with the crowd looking to break in these days is that they seem to believe their first draft is gold. It's ready to enter the bidding war. But it never is. No one's first draft is like that. Not even that Famous Screenwriter you're thinking of right now. So listen to notes from those who read your work, polish it up, be ready to change things you know are flawed but love anyway.

Here is the other major slip I see with new writers: The old "Well, I can write better than that awful movie we just saw!" Don't ever compare yourself to the worst of the lot. I think someone smarter already labeled this phenomenon "Crap +1." You're only looking to write better than the Crap. Not a good way to dive in.

About "A Storyteller's Journey" Series

There are many trails you can choose when you're determined to scale a mountain, but as long as you keep climbing, they will all reach the top.

"A Storyteller's Journey" maps the paths others have taken before you. Writers and filmmakers tell you in their own words what they were doing before their ascent, the obstacles they faced along the way, and what they discovered at the summit of their ambitions.

I hope their insights and experiences will educate, motivate, and inspire you with your own goals. Whether you follow their footsteps or forge your own way, just remember that no rules for success will work if you don't.