I’ve had a week, so instead of sharing this week’s Writing Prompt on Wednesday, as is the norm, it is now Saturday, even later than I planned yesterday.
I didn’t know what I was looking for in the way of imagery this week. I’m still celebrating the completion of a new script and thought to find something representative of it, and then I found this.
I was not a history fan when it was required in school, but have since become quite fascinated with different time periods and often include some aspect within my screenplays, so I found myself drawn to the photo above and the story potential.
Feeling inspired? Want to join me in a little free write or flash fiction? If you’re ever inspired by any of the prompts, please don’t forget to share! I look forward to seeing your creations!
No matter how much we accomplish, it’s easier to find fault, to consider what more we could have done, and to reflect only on the negative.
Creatives, athletes…we’re never satisfied.
The Sis and I enjoy Formula One, and one of her favorite drivers, even when he won, would always say, “We could have done better.”
Relentless.
We’re hard on ourselves. We nitpick. We doubt.
When I had that conversation about a month ago now with the one screenwriting coach, I said, multiple times, that I had wasted time. A lot of it. She tried to placate that negativity by saying I had been living my life.
Uh huh.
Then last week, I went to coffee with a friend and told him how much I had written. His eyes literally went wide. It wasn’t like I had just been puffing myself up by saying I was a writer, I had the material, whether ready or not to be seen (see, hard on myself) to back it up. That impressed look, made me feel a little bit better.
I’m still no where near satisfied, but you know, it’s a process.
No matter where we are on our journey, it’s obviously easier to look back and measure our success, or lack there of, by that distance then to look forward and try to see the finish line because that is more elusive. We don’t know how many more steps we have to take before we can consider ourselves a “success”.
Besides, when is our kind ever satisfied?
It’s also easy to compare ourselves to others who are further along, and possibly younger ((gasp)). Or be annoyed that they found their way sooner.
When I was in film school, I learned how so many directors had used their families’ video camera to make shorts when they were like 10 years old.
Good for them.
Vera Wang didn’t become a designer until she was 40.
Way more relatable.
It’s hard work to silence the inner negativity demon. We work alone most of the time and without recognition or validation for years, sometimes. Don’t look back. Don’t be put off by the make believe distance you’ve manifested in your head. No matter if you’ve taken one step or a thousand, celebrate where you are now.
You’re so much further than you think.
You’re so much further than those who talk about it and yet have never taken the first step or those who quit along the way.
I finished a new screenplay in the month I’ve had off from work. Hence my silence here. I’m celebrating this achievement – a story that didn’t exist a month ago. What a deep feeling of satisfaction. When I wrote Fade Out, my heart flipped, and there was a moment of pride, and like I had given myself a high-five.
When I woke up the next day, there was that quiet nagging voice telling me to get back to work.
See. Relentless.
Do you have an accomplishment you’d like to share and celebrate? Let’s cheer one another on!
I’ve probably shared this one before, actually, I can guarantee that I have, but this is one of those quotes that I need to read again from time to time.
I’m about ready to quit my current job*, and The Sis and I were talking about what else I’d like to do. We currently share one car, which has made some things difficult, such as, being home bound on our days off, which are opposite of each other so we can share the car, so we don’t see the sights, we don’t do anything together, days go by and we barely see each other…it’s not really a way to live. She suggested, perhaps, that we get another car, so I could take a job anywhere, and my response was, “I don’t want just another job. I want my job. To be a writer.”
And she was like, “Okay. Let’s make that happen.”
I think that the more often I voice this desire aloud, the better. It helps to keep the fire burning.
And yes, some of you may say, “Well, you’re already a writer.” And yes, you’d be correct. But I want it to be my work. It’s how I want to spend my day. I’m tired of scraping minutes together between everything else in the hopes I’ll get a line written.
At some point, we want to be able to focus on the things that matter, whatever they may be. We want to stop being twisted and turned to fit inside a box that has no bearing on our lives or in the grand scheme of things. I think we all want to have a sense of pride, and fulfillment of purpose.
That is my wish for all of us.
So stay strong! Keep working towards that dream! And let’s do our best to grin and bear it through the mundane until we are where we want to be.
Happy Writing!
*I have to take another meaningless job in the meantime, it’s just that I’d like to get out of the house for more than just a piddly paycheck, so I’m finding something I can walk to. And also, I’ve been in physical therapy for about a month as the nature of the job is causing injury, so there’s that.
Looking for a little inspiration? Want a break from your writing routine? Join this week’s Writing Prompt Challenge! Don’t forget to share your creations!
We all remember during lockdown and the US presidential election, how so many of us struggled, while others flourished. There was an outpouring of creativity and community and I was in awe of what could be done when given the chance. I was not one of those people. I was in the first group.
I was not creative. I barely wrote. I couldn’t watch anything “heavy”; there were a lot of bad movies viewed. I developed anxiety.
It was a strange time.
It was the year that will go down in infamy – 2020.
We couldn’t wait for it to go away. So many of us looked to 2021 as a magic reset button.
It was not.
I was determined to make 2022 different. With the new year and new goals, I decided to stop wasting my TV viewing time on things I’ve watched a dozen times over. I would watch those “must see” movies and shows in my genre. I would read the books I “should have” read. I would read more screenplays because you know, that’s what I want to do in life.
I had a new perspective and I wanted to make an impact.
Then, when things felt like they might be getting better, ever so slightly, a megalomaniac chose that moment to make things that much worse.
It’s easy to use TV, movies, and video games as a means of escapism in a world turned on its side. It’s easy to rationalize it all as research when you’re a creative.
It’s a little column A, a little column B.
So, despite the current situation, I thought I’d share the 3 shows I’ve watched so far that I’ve enjoyed if you’re in need of a little escape (or research 😉 ). They’re all available on Netflix.
Arcane – By far the best show I’ve watched in some time. The animation is beautiful, the characters are all intriguing, and the world is unique. Considering it took 6 years to make the first season, I’m guessing it will be a long wait for season 2, but it will be worth it.
The Witcher Season 2 – I am a big fan of the third installment in the video game series – I even wrote a review about it – so I was always going to watch the show. While season 1 was a little convoluted and hard to follow if you weren’t familiar with the material, they did a great job with the second season.
Shadow and Bone – This series kept being suggested to me, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had not read the books, or even heard of them beforehand. I have since read the first novel. Don’t waste your time, just watch the show. It’s a magical land, actually, they don’t call it magic, and there are some fun characters, and it was better than I thought it would be.
I’ve started a few other shows and if anything else resonates, I’ll be sure to pass it along.
Do you have any shows or movies to recommend? What shouldn’t be missed?
After the big revelation in my last post, I needed a couple of weeks to recuperate.
Anything I wanted to say in the aftermath was tinged with bitterness.
I couldn’t look at, let alone think about posting another positivity quote. It felt false. Still sort of does.
I needed space. And to get my head on straight.
I’m not sure if I’ve shared this quote before, but it feels like the right choice at the moment. There are a great many things out of our control, but on the flip side, there are so many things we do have control over, and making a choice, coming to a conclusion, one simple action can lead you on the path towards better things.
Taking my own advice, I’ve made some decisions on how I will pursue my goal of becoming a professional screenwriter.
And I’m going to put it out into the universe in an effort to manifest it, and keep myself accountable.
After a polish on the screenplay, I am going to employ the services of a screenwriting coach. I’m going to face the music, face any hard truths, and come out on the other side with a plan.
It’s the one decision I hope will lead me to where I want to be.
What’s a decision you’ve been wanting to make, but haven’t yet, but are ready to?
Here’s to taking chances! I wish you all the best!
Even in times of writing drought, when I was embarrassed by the day job, I told people I was a writer, as if that would somehow make up for, what I considered, my professional shortcomings.
I’m not just a food server, I’m a struggling artist.
I’ll never forget the time I used an elaborate word in front of a guest and them being surprised that I knew such a word and used it properly in context. How insulting.
Saying I’m a writer is almost like a hall pass. It takes time to make it, so floundering is all just a part of the journey. Working towards that goal for a number of years is expected, but I discovered I was lying. Pretending.
Disney’s Pinocchio
Not intentionally, of course. And really only to myself.
It was a way for me to justify taking another dead end job because a “real” job would be all-consuming and take away from what I really wanted to do. It was a way to excuse the life I had found myself in. It was a way for my friends to think me brave for following my dreams after all these years.
I didn’t want it bad enough. I thought it would be easier. The story is not quite right…yet.
Those are simple lies I could tell myself, in hindsight, as to why “it” hasn’t happened yet, but they’re simply not true.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. It seems I’ve only ever gotten in my own way.
Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s laziness.
Showing up for a dream is hard.
I was searching through old posts for today’s subject matter and came across so many instances of me saying I was going to “do things different this year”. I was going to try a new strategy. Set new goals. Make my mark.
It all led to this.
I’ve had this blog for 8 years now. I can count on one hand the number of times I did something different in attempt to propel my career forward. I write about staying positive, reaching for your dreams, slaying your goals and rewarding yourself for achieving them because I wanted to create a space in which I could inspire others, as well as track my progress.
Progress…ha!
Finding myself regurgitating the same words all these years later…well, let’s just say it was rather eye opening.
If my actions are any indication as to who I am, I am mostly not a writer. But it is who I want to be.
I have wasted years not writing, but I’ve never not said I wasn’t a writer. It’s a big lie I’ve told myself, and one I will not continue to perpetuate.
One of my goals for this year was to discover what aspect of my writing to work on. I thought it might be structure or pacing.
Goodness. What sort of Pandora’s box did I open?!
Apparently, my problem is follow through. I could write all day, every day, but without an actual endgame, there is nothing to propel me forward to making writing all day, every day a reality. A contest deadline isn’t enough. There has to be more. More action. More steps forward. More accountability. More solid, actual progress.
I’ve been on a mission for months now, after that lightbulb moment, and I am proud to report that I’ve finished one story, rewritten two screenplays, and am nearly halfway through writing a new one. But now it’s time to do something about it.
This post (may) hint at my self-loathing for my ability to so long not go after my dream, despite all the quotes to the contrary, but it is the kick in the pants I need to get myself off this merry-go-round. Why would you want to keep reading about my journey if I don’t have one?
I want to throw my fist in the air and say “That all changes today!”, but it physically can’t, there are steps that have to be taken, but I am taking a first step in that direction soon.
A story for another day.
What lies have you told yourself that are keeping you from achieving what you want? Let’s help one another move passed them!
I found myself drawn to the stark contrast of this image, a place that would be amazing to actually visit, so it became the prompt for this week’s challenge.
I like to share a bit of inspiration at the beginning of the week, but for me and some of you who work a non-traditional work week, it’s like my Thursday.
I suppose the inspiration helps to get me to my weekend, when I can finally decompress and be productive in the ways that truly matter.
This week’s quote is to help us writers with our confidence. Something I know I struggle with. We’re a strange breed. We spend hours beyond counting in solitude, consumed by self-doubt and without any encouragement for years, and then, at some point, are forced to pull a 180 in order to face the world in an effort to become “professional”.
And people wonder why so many writers are unstable. 😉
We already have to be so many different people for our art – the writer, the editor, the audience, the hero, the villain – and then we have to alter ourselves to make it happen by being confident.
Okay.
It’s easy to be confident while I write. I take on the persona of my characters, the ones who are willing to do anything to achieve their goals, who go on big adventures, and do great things. I put myself in their shoes and walk into rooms as if I own them.
In the real world, not so much.
It’s hard to be confident when we’re unsure of the outcome. When we’re new. When we’re in a room with people higher on the ladder with much more sway. Or all the sway. But this is not so much about the physicality of the situation, but instead about shifting our mentality.
We have to be secure in what we’ve done and what we’re ready to put out in the world.
Easier said than done, I know.
Like any new skill, it takes time and practice aka patience.
One way I think of obtaining said “confidence” is knowing what we want for ourselves – our measure of success.
What needs to happen for you to count yourself as successful? There will always be disappointments, but what will give you satisfaction?
I’ve long dreamt of winning an Oscar. I mean, c’mon. How cool would that be? But does the possibility of never winning one diminish my drive? Nope. It’s a big reach, and a political gambit, apparently, so I don’t place my measure of success on having that gold statuette on my mantle. But I do have my dress picked out, just in case. Think of this, Stephen Hawking never won a Nobel, so…you know, perspective.
I also believe that as we continue to meet and exceed our goals, that helps to build our confidence as well. So as we look forward to a new year and the associated objectives we wish to accomplish, tackle those small tasks that lead to bigger ones (and then tackle those too) and reward yourself each step of the way.
Be brave, my fellow writers. Be confident. And Happy Writing!
Ages ago, I shared this article from Script, a site for screenwriters, called Notes from the Margins: Every Article on Screenwriting You Never Have to Read Again by Danny Manus. I have read and saved a number of articles in my pursuit of becoming a professional screenwriter, and this one, in particular, reiterated how contradictory so many of them are. It will make you think twice before clicking on another.
How is a newbie ever to make heads or tails of it all? Sometimes, it’s just too much.
This year I decided to clean up the folder with said saves because some of them are years old now, and while probably still worth reading, at this point, I’ve most likely come across the information elsewhere. Plus, as the article above makes clear, most of what’s out there is bullsh*t.
Screenwriting is an elusive career path. There is no direct, one-way only entry. It’s not like any other creative pursuit, let alone traditional ones. A novelist can write a book and seek out a publisher or self-publish. A painter can create a work of art and put it on display. If a screenwriter wants their work “out there” we’re often told to make a short.
I don’t want to be director. I don’t think. So that means I have to find a director…?
I barely have any writer friends as it is.
So those already in the know share what they’ve learned, what trends they’re “seeing”, and basically utilize their position to further their own careers via writing guest posts, pushing their screenwriting books, classes, or services, and offering “advice” on how to break in.
Yes, I’m using quotes to reiterate how inconsequential so much of that advice truly is, especially when you keep scrolling and read advice to the contrary, as the above article highlights.
Like any advice, good or bad, take it with a grain of salt.
I’m also learning that the more time I spend reading the “should and should-not” posts is just more time taken away from doing what I actually should be doing – writing.
If you’re interested in researching a particular subject, like screenwriting contests, of course, seek those out, from reputable sources, but maybe be more discerning with the content you subscribe to and how much time you spend on subjects that don’t currently relate to your situation.
How’s that for advice? Some I need to follow myself. I’m off to delete!
So now that you’ve read my post about articles and their potential uselessness, thank you very much, by the way, close this window and go write! 😉
A Writer's Discrepant Memoirs and Other Tales 