Frank Pierson on Consistency and Discipline

Frank Pierson, writer of COOL HAND LUKE and DOG DAY AFTERNOON, both of which are listed amongst the list of WGA’s Top 101 Screenplays, passed away recently. I was lucky enough to see him speak last year at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

I recently came across this quote from Pierson and thought it was perfect to share.

“Sit down at ten o’clock in the morning and write anything that comes into my head until twelve. One of the few things I’ve discovered about writing is to form a habit that becomes an addiction so that if you don’t put something down on paper every day, you get really mean and awful with withdrawal symptoms, and your wife and your dog and your kids are going to kick your ass until you get back to it because they can’t bear you in that state of mind.”

– Frank Pierson