CANDEE KRAMER
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CANDEE KRAMER

Can you tell us about your journey into screenwriting? What inspired you to pursue this career?
Before COVID and working from home was in vogue, I dreamt of a job with no commute. I had a laptop and wanted to travel so I started to investigate a writing career Having two STEM degrees under my belt, I was fully prepared for this creative adventure not! Luckily, no one in my family has ever said, “You gave up your information technology career for this?”

Your stories often focus on themes of resilience and personal growth. How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
I believe we have a destiny and we are here on this earth to learn lessons, hence the themes of my characters learning from their experiences organically. Yes, that is part of the character’s arc.

Could you walk us through your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
I have no set schedule since the 9-to-5 or more job is in the past, and I have a lot going on in my life so deadlines are great for me because I am forced to meet them. So, my project goes on my to-do list and I make it a priority to get it done. Self-imposed deadlines work well for me, too. I write in spurts—whenever The Muse visits.

When approaching a new screenplay, how do you organize your ideas before diving into the actual writing? Do you start with a detailed outline, or do you prefer to let the story unfold as you go?
I’m an ‘unfolder’, but I try to jot down my ideas. Then when I have enough of them for scenes, characters, etc. I print them out, cut them up and try to organize them on a table. Once ordered, I prepare an outline and go from there. Sigh--in an alternate universe.

How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt during your creative process?
In the beginning, I worried about wasting my time writing because what if my work didn’t get published or produced. I needed to have my work vetted but I was too afraid. Granted, I was the queen of the technical memo and documentation but I wanted to write fiction. Interestingly, I switched jobs and met a lot of writers at work. I finally got the courage to let them read my stuff, and they felt my ideas were sound and my voice had merit. It might be to my advantage to not have a set writing schedule because writer’s block can kill a lot of time, so I mix up by running errands and driving around without any music turned on in hopes that a solution or idea will pop into my head. I find that other mundane tasks like doing the dishes can also help the mind focus—perhaps by just getting off that office chair! Or, I could just ask The Muse.

What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
I use Final Draft 13 for screenwriting. I started out using version 8. With its easy shortcuts, I can keep up with entering my ideas directly from my head which saves me from writing it by hand first. The Muse is happy, too.

Your screenplays have earned over 20 laurels in contests. How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
My short script, Sharp for Life, has won or placed in 9 contests. At one point, it had a 50% placement ranking. I started out slow by entering just a few competitions. As the script gained momentum, I paid closer attention to the better contests like the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards and specifically entered those.

Screenwriting often requires a deep understanding of character. How do you develop characters that feel authentic and relatable?
My favorite place to write and edit is a restaurant. I sometimes get distracted by the conversations of the other patrons. I note the more interesting stories to find unique circumstances. As I watch people, I note their mannerisms, favorite expressions, how they interact and their motivations, etc.

The film and television industry is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of screenwriters changing, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence?
As a former techie, I knew there were bugs in the code I wrote, so I have yet to trust artificial intelligence or autonomic automobiles. We, humans, experience our stories, whereas, AI is told them. So far, AI can only regurgitate what it has been fed, so I believe the better stories are the ones lived and recounted by the participants. Nothing beats a ‘based on a true story’ film.

What advice would you give to aspiring screenwriters trying to break into the industry today?
Show up! Whether it be attending a writing or marketing class, working on set as a production assistant to experience the art of filming or attending a networking event, you must get out there! This business is not about sitting around all day at a computer.

What are the key skills a screenwriter needs to succeed in such a competitive field?
Persistence and flexibility. Your first draft will never be your best one. You must revise, ask for feedback, revise again and perhaps even throw it all out and start over. Flexibility means letting go of your baby (script) and listen to the advice of others and keep your eyes on the prize- a film of your script.

Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting career and how you overcame it?
As I was answering these interview questions, The Muse was entertaining me with possible new scenes to make Sharp for Life a feature film. And although, I am grateful, I have a deadline to finish these questions. So, The Muse and I have yet to come to an understanding of time management. But, like I said before, it might be to my advantage to have a flexible schedule, and I always have a journal with me. So, how have I overcome this challenge? I have just learned to accept it!

What do you hope audiences take away from your work? Are there particular emotions or messages you aim to evoke through your storytelling?
Besides imparting some kind of wisdom, I love the push/pull, the ying/yang or more specifically the build-up of tension and then the release. I feel we thrive on that part of the story. I do a rewrite of all my scripts looking for ways to increase the tension.

How do you keep growing and improving as a writer? Are there specific habits, workshops, or feedback processes you follow to sharpen your skills?
I love to analyze good comedies from a writing and acting perspective, so I go to see a lot of movies on the big screen and I monitor their ratings. Sharp for Life is a comedic slasher horror screenplay. Go figure! So, when in a theater, I pay close attention to the audience’s reactions especially what they find funny and why. I also meet monthly with a group of published authors and award-winning screenwriters to discuss our work. That is extremely helpful!

Lastly, where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter? Are there any dream projects or genres you’d love to explore?
I would love to collaborate on producing Sharp for Life to make it real. I am also toying with making it a feature length screenplay—with help from The Muse, of course. I also have a high-concept comedy script sitting on the shelf that I would love to rewrite and present to the world.

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