Finally, the script writing begins. Hu said she follows a classic process. She starts with the hook, then adds in the setup, which answers the who, what, when, where, and how of her story.

To stick it out, write a little script to tell yourself or anyone else why you are doing it. The Peak Athlete founder Todd Herman says that you lose sight of your targets in a moment of weakness.

Variety’s new weekly series, “Hollywood How-To,” will tackle all things writing, with conversations about everything from crafting characters to navigating the writer’s room. There are few ...