2025 Year End Review

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

Here we are again.

The end of another year.

How?!

I simultaneously believe, every year, that I’ve done well with my goals and yet, still not done enough. Since I started my annual goal setting, I definitely feel more productive. There’s a way to measure progress and reflect on the year and see the incremental improvements, and yet as we reach December, every year, I am hard on myself. I always think I could have done more.

So let’s see what I did this year…

Writing Goals

Write a new script. I wrote a whopper, Man of Sin, which is currently sitting at 242 pages.
Write 16 new flash fictions. Completed in July.
Have at least one more script, in addition to Fate(s), be show ready. I rewrote Projection and I love it.
Write more fan fiction. If you know me, you would imagine it was going to be more Dragon Age. I planned on it, but shockingly, it was not. I started an entirely new project based on the show, Walker: Independence. That’s a story for another day.
Create a condensed, all in one place, idea journal. Check

Fails – I did not update my blog as often as I’d hoped, nor did I create a show bible for my tv series, The Demeter .

Reading Goals

Because I wanted to write more this year, I set my reading bar low – only 12 books this year. I’m still deciding on book twelve, so I’m sure I won’t finish it within the time frame.

Favorite book: Mila 18 by Leon Uris

Movie Watching Goal

For a couple of years there, I was trying to watch one new movie a week. Easy enough, you would think, but with so many good shows, gaming, and writing and reading to be done, it was a hard goal to maintain. I made a more tangible goal a few years ago, two movies a month. Much easier to hit.

Favorite Movies: Sinners and Superman (both available on HBO)

TV Watching Goal

Trying to keep up with all of the streaming services and their original programming is difficult when you have so many interests. My goal was to watch at least one season of 12 new shows = one new show a month. Officially, I watched 12 new series (some with multiple seasons), but didn’t finish one. It just didn’t grab me.

Favorite Shows: Interview with a Vampire (AMC & Netflix), Black Doves (Netflix), and Fleabag (Prime)

Duolingo

When we upgraded our phones last year, I downloaded the Duolingo app and set myself the goal of learning French, a language I had studied in high school and college, for at least a year and a half = roughly 547 days. As of today I’m at 617 days with a perfect streak of 11 weeks. Yay!

50th Birthday Celebration

We have little dogs with health issues, so we don’t travel often, or at all. Hawaii was 7 years ago now. ((weeps silently to herself)) I wanted to go on a trip for my 50th. London, to be specific. I started doing some research, looked at flights, and then one of The Sis’s favorite bands, System of a Down announced six North American show dates, two in Chicago with one of her other favorite bands, Avenged Sevenfold. It was a no-brainer. We were going to Chicago. Happy Birthday to me us!

I’ll share details of the trip soon, but it was so wonderful to get away and see new sights, meet new and old friends, and let The Sis enjoy, what she considers, the greatest concert she’s ever been to.

Well. There you have it.

Couldn’t ask for a better goal achieving moment for the year.

How’d your year shape up? Wanna celebrate any of the goals you made?

Here’s to a continuously more productive new year!

xx, Rach

19Jun2025

What I’ve Been Up To – A New Screenplay & Potential Novel: Man of Sin

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

Last December I hurt my back at work. I was out for about 2 1/2 months. The first couple of weeks were rough. I could barely move, so everything required patience and effort.

It also allowed me free time. Sweet, sweet free time.

I finally had time to research new ideas, including a side business. More on that later. I could finish Baldur’s Gate 3 without having to negotiate TV time with The Sis. More on that later too. But most importantly, I got time to write. And I made use of it by finishing the first draft of a new screenplay I’ve titled, Man of Sin.

One little hiccup, I have quite a few more ideas for its continuation, and I’m not sure I want to make it a sequel, but then again, it might be fun as a limited series, so I’m currently trying to figure that out.

I also had the idea that with so much content, it might work well as a novel, get in on that IP train, and I’ve always wanted to see my work on a bookshelf.

I came up with a very vague idea of the story years ago, like 12. Eek. All from a line of dialogue in an episode of American Horror Story. This is why an idea journal is a great “idea”. Any time I hear an interesting phrase, have a snippet of an idea, or even have a weird dream, I write it down. You never know when that random thing will percolate into a full fledged story.

And here we are.

When I started plotting the new story last year sometime, it was meant to be a dark, terrible story about a secret sect of the Church and their dealings. The idea is does anyone know the identity of the anti-christ and how was that information discovered? The protagonists are a pair from two sides of this sect – a knight of the order and a descendant of the seer line who prophesied who the AC is.

It became a love story.

They were meant to be drawn to one another, over the course of the story. Instead, these two idiots liked each other immediately. I let them tell me their story, and this was one of the easier times I’ve had writing since the fan fiction.

And I really like them together.

So I didn’t fight it.

And I truly enjoy the story.

Obviously, as I mentioned, it’s only a first draft, and it does need some tweaking, but I let it sit for a while, reread it, and I still like it.

This is a weird feeling.

Satisfaction in my work.

I don’t have the longline yet and it’s not ready to be read, but I wanted to share this new story idea with you, and the feeling of having completed a new script. That’s a special moment.

So, moral of the story – good things come to those who wait. Just kidding. Keep track of your random ideas and story thoughts. You never know when a whole new story will “appear” (you know, through hard work).

Have any of you found/created a story you love from a decade(s) old idea? Let’s chat!

And Happy Writing!

21Mar2023

Writing Tip Tuesday #9

Posted in Tips by Rachael C Marek

Happy Writing Tip Tuesday, all!

So this week I was finally able to get caught up on emails, and I came across an interesting article that I thought my fellow screenwriters might appreciate – industry vocabulary.

Like all language, industry-specific verbiage also evolves, and unless we’re a part of said industry, we may not be familiar with all the current terminology, enter Lee Jessup’s Industry Speak: Terms and Vernacular for Screenwriters.

As you write, read the trades and related articles, and/or listen to podcasts, etc. you’ll come across a number of these phrases, but there are a few that are tailored to specific situations, so while I was initially skimming the article, because I was already acquainted with so many of them, I saw a few that stumped me.

Sooo, let’s get crackin’ on that professional side and boost our knowledge of the tv/film industry.

Have you read an article that shares others terms we should know? Please link below and Happy Writing!

10Jan2023

The Problem with The Witcher (TV)

Posted in Posts, Reviews by Rachael C Marek

When news that Henry Cavill would be leaving The Witcher by season 4, I had to wonder what had happened to make an actor, who had fought hard for the role of Geralt, quit?

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt video game is still among the best I’ve played. I wrote a review about it a while back, so you can imagine my skepticism when I initially heard a show was in the works. I’ve read all the books too, but that’s a story for another day. Who could possibly fill Geralt’s shoes? Henry Cavill? That pretty boy? Eh…and then I heard his passion for the character and the story.

Okay. I’ll give him a shot.

And he is by far the best part of the show, because there is quite a bit wrong about it.

So forewarning, I had a lot more to say on this subject than I originally thought I would, so this is a doozy, and I think I could have said more, so…settle in.

When the show was in development, creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich was making the rounds and I remember hearing her say that the writers’ room would be a mix of people who were fans of the games and/or books, and those who may not be familiar in order to add a different perspective.

With Cavill’s departure, tales of what was actually happening behind the scenes started to come to light. The gossip – none of the writers are any level of fan of the original works. Whether it’s true or not is beside the point because watching the show, as a fan, makes it clear that things were amiss.

Season 1 was hard to follow. The time jumps were confusing, as was the whole set up. I liked Season 2 more, but after I wrote about it, which was literally a line about how it was better than the first season, I became more bothered by some of the ideas presented.

For those of you unfamiliar with The Witcher, the story revolves around the relationship between Geralt, a monster slayer from an old order that serves to protect, and Ciri, a princess who is bound to him by destiny through a quirky old world payment system. I was trying to think of a nice way to say this without spoiling too much for those of you still wanting to read, play, or watch. Yennefer, Triss, and Dandelion aka Jaskier are all integral to the story because of their relationships with the other two, and they all have to traverse a land fraught with war, witch hunts, exiled elves hoping to reclaim their lost territory, monsters, and more.

With so much material to draw from in order to create a lush world full of interesting characters and stories, how did the show go wrong?

So, if the writers room is truly filled with people unfamiliar with the world, that would be square one. Not having an understanding of the large stage that The Witcher moves about is a big problem, and it shows. Game of Thrones is still one of the best shows I ever watched, I just ignore that dreadful final season, but those are BIG books, with tons of history and loads of characters to follow but the introduction to that world, the politics, the looming threat, and so much more were presented pretty spectacularly in the first episode.

This is the template The Witcher tv writers should have followed, to some degree. Geralt is at the center of a great deal, or so he should have been presented.

Not understanding the relationships that develop with all these characters is square two. We learn that Ciri is powerful, but that’s not why Geralt is protecting her. In time, they develop a father-daughter relationship, and that detail is Geralt’s primary motivator. Yennefer, who is barren, takes on the maternal role and loves Ciri like her own. Triss becomes her sister. It is these bonds that drive them to action. Yennefer, for all her bluster, wouldn’t do anything to put Ciri in danger, or do anything that would purposefully hurt Geralt, and actions taken in Season 2 of the show go against this basic premise.

In GoT we follow the Stark family as they move about and this is how we learn about relationships, history, and the plot. While we need context for some of The Witcher’s setup, starting so far back, before any of these characters know one another, divides attention away from everything else.

Let’s round the problems to three. Square number three would be in regards to not highlighting the threats, of which there are many, earlier on. There are the immediate threats, like war and witch hunting, but the greater threat is the Wild Hunt. Like the White Walkers, they are coming, and it should have always been on the peripheral because they are a ticking time bomb.

The reason I chose Game of Thrones for the comparison is because it was a massive success. I am not asking The Witcher to be that, but to emulate the delivery of so much information in a better way. Besides, we’re all looking for the next big thing to be addicted to, and unfortunately, given the circumstances, it’s not going to be this. The fantasy trope is widely established, so much of that setup can be sidestepped, but utilizing the characters differently, to impart the happenings of the world at large, should have been better executed.

Some ideas could have been told in flashback, or just mentioned in conversation to lose all that back and forth in Season 1. In the books, there are repeated references to events unseen, and that could have happened for a number of scenes in the show. We don’t need to see everything to understand what happened and how it affected the characters or the world.

I had high hopes for The Witcher. I think a lot of us did. As I’ve learned, it takes so many lucky breaks to get something made, and it’s disappointing when it just doesn’t work. And if it ends up being true that the writers didn’t care for the material, then not only will that upset fans, like me, it makes me question why they bothered. Writers in Hollywood have a tough enough gig, but with so many opportunities now, I would hope that they would at least want to work on something they like. I know that sounds a bit naive, but I write in certain genres, and would not take a job on a show I wouldn’t watch.

I do not watch procedurals, and even something like Lucifer bored me at times. I actually stopped watching it for a while. I don’t like the solve the case by the end of the show setup, so I would despise working on something like that. Personally. It wouldn’t be satisfying, and while I may need the work, need the credit, etc. I don’t want to find myself unhappy doing the thing that brings me joy. I guess we’ll find out if that holds true.

So what do you think of The Witcher? Do you agree or disagree with how it was presented? Do you have any ideas of how you would have done it differently? Share your thoughts below!

25Oct2022

Writing Tip Tuesday #8

Posted in Tips by Rachael C Marek

I work with someone who wants to create their own video game. He wants to write the story, write the music, design the game, everything.

A worthy endeavor.

A grand endeavor.

We were talking world building, all the facets to consider, and I was reminded of this pin, a checklist, I had come across some time ago. It was the entertainment section that helped me introduce some of my characters in my pilot when I was stuck, and I thought I would share it.

Not all of these topics need to be addressed outright, but having an understanding of how your world operates will naturally make its way into your writing, and exploring these aspects may open up your world even further. You may develop more ideas, which is always a good thing, and will most likely make your world feel more authentic, richer, and layered.

I don’t know who created this list, but I appreciate the time they took to condense it all into one. It helped me, and I hope it helps you, and my new friend.

Have anything to add to the list? Please share below!

Happy Writing!

20Sep2022

Writing Tip Tuesday #7

Posted in Tips by Rachael C Marek

Outlining.

It’s not my favorite thing.

I’ve read a number of tips from professional writers that speak highly of the technique and its mastery; some of them writing such detailed outlines that they nearly rival a first draft.

I tend to write a bare bones outline – each act and a variety of incidents I have in mind. I enjoy getting lost in a story and allowing my characters to tell me what’s going to happen next. This may not be to most prudent course of action, especially in a time-crunch sort of situation, but I’m not under those types of constraints and pressures to produce…yet.

On my last screenplay, I chose to try something new – a reverse outline. Well, that’s what I’m calling it.

I don’t know if this is something I learned about along the way (I mean, there are so many things in my head who knows where they’ve all come from at this point), but it made sense to me at the time, and I did find a few holes with this technique, so I thought I’d share.

After my first draft was done, I created an outline based on the written text. I made note of each event, each change of scene, any important detail, and any topic that might need to be addressed further. When I was done, I had an outline that revealed any shortcomings and from there I could fill in those blanks.

From this vantage point I was able to see if events were happening too close together, and if I should incorporate a new scene or two to spread out the action. I found ideas that may have been introduced but lacked follow thru. I discovered conversations between characters that were too long, long winded, or not detailed enough.

It made the rewrite a much smoother process.

Yes, I know. It probably would have made the first draft an easier process as well, but that’s not how I write. A rough draft outline so I know the major beats and where it’s supposed to go is how I work, right now.

Yes, yes, I know I should probably be practicing for the work ahead, but I like to be surprised by the journey.

So what do you think of this trick? How do you prepare to write a draft? Share your tips below!

Happy Writing!

14Sep2022

Quote of the Week

Posted in Posts, Quotes by Rachael C Marek

Nearly a month ago, I started to feel it.

The whisper. The tickle at the back of my mind.

The dreaded creativity cursed fear –

Burnout.

At least that’s what I think it is.

As I neared the completion of the first rewrite on my latest screenplay, I could feel my desire to continue waning. I was enjoying the rewrite, didn’t really have an idea of what I was going to do next, despite the plan I had in place in order to be prepared for the move back to LA, and so here I am. I think I mentioned the “fear” in a post, so perhaps I manifested it. Well, if my mind is capable of that, perhaps it could make some other things happen instead.

Even before I felt a bit aimless…lethargic…bored. Still sort of do.

I haven’t been compelled to do much of anything – not yoga, not gaming, not movie watching – just the bare minimum to get by.

So I’ve taken a break in the hopes I can refocus and find my center.

I’m not 100%, but I can feel myself returning to my normal, slowly. I even had the stirrings of a new idea, so…

Being a writer isn’t for everyone. It is not easy, as some may think. It’s not for the faint of heart, or those without the passion to carry them through the rough patches. It may sound a bit dramatic, but it’s true. While I want to be encouraging to those who already are writers, because we all get it, I’m not sure how apt I am to encourage someone who may only be “interested” to pursue this path.

Okay, that’s not true. You all know I’ve had multiple encouraging conversations with hopeful writers.

It takes a lot of years to see results. We spend an inordinate amount of time alone, doubting ourselves, our skills, our story, and everything in between. We have to push through writer’s block, being told we should get “real jobs”, having to listen to everyone we meet tell us that they have a “great” story idea, as if we don’t have our own or that we need the help.

We’re told we have to “show up” every day. We have to write when we feel like it and even when we don’t. We’re told we’re not real writers unless we do it every day. We’re told we’re not real writers unless we read. We have to get up extra early to find quiet time, or stay up late for the same reason. There are days when we’re lucky to write a sentence, and others when we go blind staring at the screen because we can’t stop the flow.

There’s panic and dread when we submit our stories. There’s a a little panic when we see a new story hitting the shelves or the screens that resembles ours. There’s a perpetual state of waiting. Waiting for inspiration, waiting for a break, waiting for results…and beyond all that, there’s hope.

There’s hope that our story will resonate with someone. That it will help them in some way. That we’ll see our name on a bookshelf or a tv/movie screen. That people will talk about our characters. That they can’t wait to find out what happens next. That they’ll see subtext we weren’t aware of. Maybe they’ll create fan art or fan fiction. Maybe they’ll ship characters we didn’t imagine together.

It’s the hopes and dreams we have for our work that keep us going, but sometimes we need a break from the pressures we place upon ourselves. We heap quite a bit upon our shoulders, and elsewhere. We can’t half ass our creativity, not if we want it to matter, not only to them but also to us.

There are times to press on, to push through those blocks and walls, and there are others to set yourself to rights. Another thing we writers need to know – the difference between them.

What a wonderful life we lead.

So keep your chin up, and do what you can to move forward. Just do your best, even if that means taking a break. No other path is as persistent as ours. No other creative pursuit, or otherwise, is expected to give 365 days of commitment, so let’s remember to be kind to ourselves.

If you have any tips about staving off burnout or how to get past it, please do share!

Happy Writing! 😉

22Aug2022

Quote Monday

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

I am happy to announce the completion of the first rewrite on my new script. And I have to say, I’m fairly pleased.

There it is again, that feeling. Satisfaction.

The Nordic people are known for a particular approach to their work – it can always be better. This is something I definitely echo.

It took a long time, too long, in fact, to be satisfied with my first screenplay. This new one is number six, so maybe it has something to do with that. It’s not my first rodeo. Big question mark.

It took a little longer than it should have to get through the rewrite. I’m not sure how else to explain it, but I had this feeling that I would be aimless when I was done. Still sort of do.

And that’s where discipline comes in.

I was not motivated to finish the draft. I would be sad to be done with it. And yet I knew it had to be done. It’s not like I don’t have a number of other projects waiting. And so I pressed on.

Some days flowed better than others. Some days I was lucky to rewrite more than one line.

So often I’ve heard, and I’ve probably shared it as well, that we have to show up even when the muse hasn’t. Writing is a practice. We have to do it every day. Blah blah blah.

Surprisingly enough, it’s true.

We (I) really should listen to those who have come before because if we waited for inspiration and motivation, it would probably never happen. To be a writer we have to be diligent. We have to embrace routine. We have to show up, and then we’re there when the muse visits.

Nothing has to be perfect. Nothing ever will be. We can do our best, I mean that’s what rewrites are for, and hope that it resonates with those in a position to make something happen.

So Happy Writing! 😉

Have an accomplishment you’d like to celebrate? Have you chosen discipline over motivation? Let’s cheer one another on!

28Jun2022

Quote of the Week

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

One of the big goals I had for myself this year was to meet with screenwriting coach, Lee Jessup. I wanted to speak with someone who knows and works with writers, is part of the industry, and could offer me insight as to whether or not I was on the right path.

I received wonderful feedback with only one rather sizable problem that needs attention.

I need writer friends. In particular, screenwriter friends.

Gasp! I have to be social? Isn’t that one of the perks of being a writer? To be antisocial? With purpose? ((wink))

I haven’t been part of a writer’s group since I left LA over seven years ago. I enjoyed that group. There were a number of published or soon-to-be published authors, but no other screenwriters surprisingly, given our proximity to Hollywood, so while a supportive, friendly group, I still didn’t have anyone who understood my specific needs.

I’ve known for quite some time that I needed to make at least a few screenwriter friends, it was one of the reasons I attended the Austin Film Festival Writer’s Conference a few years ago. And I did, sort of. I met a number of screenwriters who I now interact with on social, but there were two women who I befriended that I have actual conversations with outside of that, but we live in different parts of the country, so it takes effort sometimes to keep in touch.

I asked one of them to give me some feedback on an early draft of my pilot, and she did not disappoint, but I can only ask that of someone so many times. Especially when we only talk a few times a year.

I need to branch out.

It’s something we all need. Support. Alone with our words for months on end, it’s no wonder why other people consider us “crazy”. Sometimes I can’t look at the thing I’ve been working on anymore because I can’t see the forest for the trees. We need another pair of eyes. We need someone, or a lot of someones, who understand our mindset, our struggles, our craft. We need people to hash out ideas with, people with a wide range of experience and knowledge of our field, and people who share our passion.

I think people in other vocations, non-creative pursuits, have an easier time finding others like them. When I worked in event management, it was easy to become friends with DJs, wedding planners, and photographers. We were in an industry where opportunity allowed for us to repeatedly interact, and that’s why so many writers, I think, congregate to areas where they’re most likely to run in circles with other like-minded individuals.

So we’re moving back to California next year. Yep. Lee helped me to understand that it was an integral part of my journey. It was inevitable. She assured me that I’m ready for the next step, but need to make connections, and the best way to do that is to be in a place where they’re more readily available.

So I’m putting out the call! I’d like to do something like that here, now. Do you have any tips on making (screen)writer friends? Are you part of a writer’s group you’d recommend or are you considering starting one? Please share below, and let’s start building that community!

Happy Writing!

16Jun2022

Mid-Year Goal Check

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

It’s June.

It doesn’t really feel like it, as the sun has only been out a few times this year so far. By now, in Vegas I would already be complaining about the heat, longing for cooler days, and here I am on the flip side, wishing for a day above 65 degrees.

Apparently, according to long-time PNW residents, this never-ending gloom is unusual. Like, hasn’t happened in 72 years. Didn’t they something similar last summer during the heat wave? Either way, I’m so happy we could be here to experience it. ((insert eye roll))

The lack of noticeable change in the seasons almost made me forget where we are in the year. Halfway through. Time for a check in on those annual goals.

You may recall I mentioned making them more “manageable” at some point.

Yes, this coming from the woman who wanted to watch a movie a week, read two books a month, read three screenplays a month, all while working full-time, having two dogs, writing, managing an Etsy shop, a desire to cosplay, starting a business, and so much more, in addition to all the other normal life stuff.

Yeah, hi. No wonder every year I was disappointed with my progress. I was out of control.

I decided to cut back this year, and having made it to the half way point, I am able to reflect with better clarity and rationale and say with all honesty, more attainable goals are so much more beneficial to my overall well-being.

This is something I’ve had to remind myself of, a lot – goals are just things to aspire to, not necessarily achieve. It’s a way to stay accountable. They are not meant to act as a measuring stick in order to judge the merit of our character based on whether we actually accomplished everything on our list.

*By the way, that’s all me. I’m guessing at this point, all those quotes I’ve shared have done their job.

We all want to make progress. We want some way of measuring how far we’ve come. Hence the goals. But when they are wildly out of reach when you have other responsibilities, the lack of reaching them can really hit our feelings of self-worth. That is so not the point.

Things are hard enough as it is. Why torture ourselves further?

I’m happy to report that I’ve made some of my goals. This is big for me. I’m usually eyeballing December 31st with skepticism. I know it’s judging me. I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but having achieved some smaller and some larger goals, I feel a bit more confident moving forward.

And that’s all we need sometimes. A boost to our self-esteem.

Here are a few of the goals I’m happy with so far:

My screenplay, Fate(s) is done. I will not touch it again without compensation. Pop the champagne! The troublesome child is ready to go out into the world!
I completed the first draft of my fifth feature, Projection. Gotta say, I’m pretty satisfied. A rare state.
I’m polishing up the next chapter in my fanfic series to get that off my mind. I’m sure more ideas will come knocking soon enough.
I chose to only watch two movies a month instead of one a week. I’m currently sitting at 20/24. Not too shabby.
I limited my book reading challenge, and not understanding how the library hold system works, it had been a while, ended up meeting that goal early on: 17/15.

My other goals were to get a new job (check), create a new writing space (partial check), and meet with a screenwriting coach (check). This I will cover separately.

More manageable goals are really the way to go. A feeling of accomplishment can really help the whole state of being and help on the long journey of our creative path.

How are your goals shaping up this year? Let’s celebrate our accomplishments and cheer one another on!

Happy Writing!