Learning Screenwriting in Quarantine

I'm a self-taught screenwriter. I mention that because I somehow went most of my life without even considering that as a career option. But I've always loved television and especially animation. So when Steven Universe ended in March of this year and the pandemic just started--as someone who wrote as a hobby--I dedicated all my time to learning screenwriting in the following months.

Literally.

March 20th. I bought Final Draft.
March 31st Nickelodeon announces their accepted shows for their program.

At this point I'm watching every Film Courage interview, helpful video essay, get every writing resource I could get my hand on and go to work.

Before April is out I finished my first draft of my Bob's Burgers SPEC.

I write some scenes here and there and by the end of June I have a draft of my first pilot written.

Throughout Spring and Summer I've been attending virtual speaker series and talking with working writers and making connections.

I joined a black screenwriters initiative and have been reached out for samples when I've merely been writing screenwriting since April.

It's been going very fast and it's been my life in quarantine. It's quite fast but it's quite a ride.

Jacob Gregory Dammons
08/04/2020