--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I was in college, I was actually…" description: "\"Once I was in college, I was actually trying to write a comedy screenplay and I wrote basically the worst movie ever and just threw it away and never s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scot-armstrong-41516_college_once-i-was-in-college-i-was-actually-try_1823937.jpg" --- # Once I was in college, I was actually trying to write a… ![“Once I was in college, I was actually trying to write a comedy screenplay and I wrote basically the worst movie ever and just threw it away and never showed anybody. Everyone needs to get that first bad screenplay out of your system before you start writing other stuff.” quote by Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scot-armstrong-41516_college_once-i-was-in-college-i-was-actually-try_1823937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scot-armstrong-41516_college_once-i-was-in-college-i-was-actually-try_1823937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/scot-armstrong-41516_college_once-i-was-in-college-i-was-actually-try_1823937.jpg) > “Once I was in college, I was actually trying to write a comedy screenplay and I wrote basically the worst movie ever and just threw it away and never showed anybody. Everyone needs to get that first bad screenplay out of your system before you start writing other stuff.” [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses the importance of releasing a terrible first draft to clear mental blocks before tackling better work. **In simple terms:** Get rid of the worst early effort to improve later. Key Takeaway Discard early failures to make progress. Themes creativity writing growth overcoming fear process Mood reflective encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - screenplay writing - novel drafting - creative workshops - personal projects Key Concepts psychology of creativity iteration self‑critique Questions to Reflect On - How does releasing a poor draft change your mindset? - What steps help you move from failure to improvement? A Different Perspective Bad drafts may damage confidence if not framed as learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay/) [Screenplays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplays/) [Worst movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-movie/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The first comedy screenplay that I wrote was Animal House and I always thought I could and should be a director but no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/the-first-comedy-screenplay-that-i-wrote-was-animal-house-and-i/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [Scripts are what matter. If you get the foundations right and then you get the right ingredients on top, you stand a shot... but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-bevan/scripts-are-what-matter-if-you-get-the-foundations-right-and-then-you/) Tim Bevan > [I found, after the experience of making 'Shaun Of The Dead' and then returning to the blank page - because 'Shaun Of The Dead'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/i-found-after-the-experience-of-making-shaun-of-the-dead-and-then/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [I wrote 'Yellow Submarine' for the Beatles. I wrote the screenplay for 'The Games,' about the Olympic Games. I wrote 'Love Story,' both the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/i-wrote-yellow-submarine-for-the-beatles-i-wrote-the-screenplay-for/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > ['Fanboys' was the first real screenplay that I ever wrote that was an original story with my own characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/fanboys-was-the-first-real-screenplay-that-i-ever-wrote-that-was-an/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [First, there has been a lot of interest in The Drive-in, but, alas, it hasn't actually come to fruition. Maybe soon. Don really got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/first-there-has-been-a-lot-of-interest-in-the-drive-in-but-alas-it/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [Reviews are all bullshit, because they always change. When House of 1000 Corpses came out, all the reviews were awful. It was impossible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/reviews-are-all-bullshit-because-they-always-change-when-house-of/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/they-may-take-our-lives-but-they-ll-never-take-our-freedom/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [Vincent Gallo has put a curse on my colon and a hex on my prostate. He called me a 'fat pig' in the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/vincent-gallo-has-put-a-curse-on-my-colon-and-a-hex-on-my-prostate-he/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I was so grateful that Lemony Snicket wasn't the worst movie ever made that I overlooked many things that might have otherwise upset me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-was-so-grateful-that-lemony-snicket-wasn-t-the-worst-movie-ever/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [I used to have a group called Bad-Movie Saturday. Every Saturday, six of us would go see the worst movie that came out each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/i-used-to-have-a-group-called-bad-movie-saturday-every-saturday-six/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [Avant-garde means never having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/avant-garde-means-never-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) > [To me, All About Steve movie is sweet-natured and sweet-hearted, and I can't get enough sweet-hearted movies. I want to be inspired right now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/to-me-all-about-steve-movie-is-sweet-natured-and-sweet-hearted-and-i/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [I feel just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. You know, except for the whole hooker thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-leigh-cook/i-feel-just-like-julia-roberts-in-pretty-woman-you-know-except-for/) [Rachael Leigh Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-leigh-cook/) > [I watch 'Batman & Robin' from time to time. It's the worst movie I ever made, so it's a good lesson in humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-watch-batman-robin-from-time-to-time-it-s-the-worst-movie-i-ever/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## More by Scot Armstrong > [I'm an improviser at heart, when I'm writing, I'm improvising in my head. When you're an improviser on stage, you can never be precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-m-an-improviser-at-heart-when-i-m-writing-i-m-improvising-in-my/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [I've seen some movies where people improvise and will say some bizarre phrase they had heard the other day, and unless it's coming directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-ve-seen-some-movies-where-people-improvise-and-will-say-some/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [I just like to write stuff that makes people laugh, stuff that works, a fun movie that everyone can enjoy. I'm not really worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-just-like-to-write-stuff-that-makes-people-laugh-stuff-that-works-a/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [Comedy works in fashion cycles, in a way. And sometimes, studios will imitate those cycles a little too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/comedy-works-in-fashion-cycles-in-a-way-and-sometimes-studios-will/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [I like to count myself as someone who doesn't follow that stuff and someone who's just trying to invent stories and characters and movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-like-to-count-myself-as-someone-who-doesn-t-follow-that-stuff-and/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [Too many people are surfing the web and trying to figure out the politics of getting a movie made or taking meetings and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/too-many-people-are-surfing-the-web-and-trying-to-figure-out-the/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [I love when people improvise as long as they're great improvisers, what I mean by that is people can improvise within their characters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-love-when-people-improvise-as-long-as-they-re-great-improvisers/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [Everyone's so nice in Thailand, and it's a beautiful place - the temples, the culture. But everyone's so nice that it's almost inefficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/everyone-s-so-nice-in-thailand-and-it-s-a-beautiful-place-the-temples/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [I think everyone needs to try their first script, and usually the first one isn't as good. You learn so much as you're trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-think-everyone-needs-to-try-their-first-script-and-usually-the/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) [Explore all 10 Scot Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once I was in college, I was actually trying to write a comedy screenplay and I wrote basically the worst movie ever and just threw it away and never showed anybody. 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