David Allen's Getting Things Done system isn't just for executives. It's surprisingly powerful for screenwriters juggling multiple projects, ideas, and deadlines. Here's how to adapt GTD for your creative workflow.
Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. — David Allen
The Core Problem
Writers have too many ideas and not enough system. That brilliant concept you had in the shower? Gone by lunch. The feedback notes from your last read? Buried in emails. The scene you promised to rewrite? Still on a sticky note somewhere.
This cognitive clutter isn't just annoying — it's creative poison. Your brain keeps cycling through open loops instead of focusing on the page in front of you.
GTD solves this with a simple principle: get everything out of your head and into a trusted system.
Tip
The moment an idea hits you — whether it's a character name, a plot twist, or a line of dialogue — write it down immediately. Don't trust your memory. Ever.
Capture Everything
The first GTD principle: capture every idea, task, and commitment. For screenwriters, this means:
Keep a notes app on your phone for random ideas. Have a dedicated folder for feedback and notes. Write down every "I should..." thought that crosses your mind.
Don't judge ideas during capture. Just get them down. You'll process later.
The idea you don't write down is the idea you'll forget. And it might have been your best one.
Note
Your capture tool doesn't matter — phone, notebook, napkin. What matters is that you use it consistently and trust it completely.
The Weekly Review
Once a week, review everything you've captured. This is the engine that makes GTD work.
Ask yourself: What ideas have legs? Which scripts need attention? What's the very next action on each project? What am I avoiding?
This is where scattered notes become organized projects. Where vague intentions become concrete actions. Where chaos becomes clarity.
Warning
Skip the weekly review and the whole system falls apart. It takes 15-30 minutes. Put it in your calendar. Protect it like a writing session.
Next Actions for Scripts
GTD emphasizes "next actions" — the single next physical step you can take. This is transformative for screenwriters.
Compare these approaches:
Tip
Bad next action: "Work on screenplay" — vague, overwhelming, easy to avoid. Good next action: "Write Scene 7 — the diner confrontation" — specific, doable, no decision required.
The difference? Specificity. "Develop character" paralyzes you with options. "Write one-page backstory for MARCUS" tells you exactly what to do.
Projects vs. Someday/Maybe
Not every idea deserves your attention right now. GTD uses a "Someday/Maybe" list for things you're interested in but not committed to:
Script concepts you're not ready to write. Techniques you want to explore. Books on craft you want to read. That experimental format you keep thinking about.
Someday/Maybe isn't where ideas go to die. It's where they wait until the time is right.
Review this list monthly. When inspiration strikes or bandwidth opens up, move items to active projects. Until then, they're safely stored — out of your head but not forgotten.
Note
A healthy Someday/Maybe list can have dozens of items. That's fine. It's a parking lot, not a to-do list.
The Screenwriter's GTD Setup
Here's a simple five-folder system:
**Inbox** — Raw captures, unprocessed ideas. Everything lands here first.
**Active Scripts** — Current writing projects with clear next actions. Limit this to 2-3 scripts max.
**Development** — Ideas being researched or outlined. Not yet ready for pages, but actively working toward it.
**Someday/Maybe** — Future concepts, learning goals, experimental ideas. Review monthly.
**Reference** — Research materials, feedback notes, industry contacts. Things you need to find, not do.
Tip
Spend 15 minutes each week sorting your inbox into these buckets. That's it. Your writing life will transform.
Start Today
You don't need special software. You don't need to read the whole GTD book. You just need to start.
Open a note right now. Write down every screenplay idea, every task, every nagging thought about your writing. Get it all out of your head.
Then pick one script. Define the very next action. And go write that scene.
The secret to getting ahead is getting started. — Mark Twain