For this week’s writing prompt, I found an image that speaks to a new idea I’ve had recently. The imagination is slowly getting back up to speed, and now I’m on the hunt for imagery for yet another Pinterest board…gracious.
Do you need a little escape from your own writing? Want to join me in this week’s writing prompt challenge? Be sure to share, and from all of us in this community, we look forward to seeing your new creations!
Happy Writing!
I was skimming my socials when I came upon this quote. I’m sure I’ve shared it before, but it resounded with me today, and well, here it is, possibly, probably, again.
I’m taking a class on how to get writing assignments through ScreenwritingU, a section of the screenwriting world I’ve never learned. I’m only into week two and it’s been rather eye-opening.
So upon seeing this quote, I thought to myself, “You know what? Let’s try that.”
I’ve watched some bad movies in my life, and as a writer, I’m sometimes surprised (and maybe a little annoyed/jealous) that it got made. The truth is, no one sets out to make a bad movie. There are just so many moving parts and so many chefs in the kitchen that sometimes a potentially good movie is doomed to fail. There are budget constraints and so many rewrites that often times a good script can become unrecognizable. It’s a sad side effect of the business.
So how do you “believe” in yourself? How do you become the person others are jealous of?
It’s not easy being brave where our art is concerned. For writers, we’re fairly content being on our own, keeping our words close to our hearts, and not really showing them to the world out of fear, for a number of reasons while simultaneously wanting fame and fortune. So I suppose step one might be – try being a little more brave. Get something out into the world.
One person’s opinion should not shatter our dreams and derail our perseverance. So get some feedback. It’s all about growing, becoming better, and challenging ourselves. That takes courage.
Maybe step two is evaluating our work and ourselves. I suppose this might actually be the first step. What are we good at, maybe even great at? By celebrating those things, it should help boost our confidence. Knowing where our strengths lie is a good stepping stone to progressing forward. This will also help us be more brave when we know we have something to be proud of.
And finally, I’d say step three is personal affirmations. Yeah, this sounds a little woo-woo, but when I do yoga, sometimes the instructor says something like, “Thank yourself for showing up today.” It usually makes me giggle, but it also makes me feel better. It’s so simple, and yet effective. If you’ve never said something nice to yourself, try it. Trust me. (wink)
Do you have any other tips of how we can make an impact towards our career? Share it below!
Happy Writing!
Well, hello!
I hope you’re all well! So, I have an update – we are finally…mostly…settled in our new place and lives, hence the radio silence on my end recently.
It took some time.
I was driving an hour and a half one way for work, for about six weeks, therefore I had little time to spend doing anything of value during the week. The 55+ hours away from home were exhausting, both mentally and physically. It was temporary, but it was a struggle some days.
I give it up to those who do that sort of drive regularly.
I had little opportunity to feel creative, because so much was still in the air. And that takes a toll of a different kind.
What did offer a sliver of light during this chaos was meeting a fellow screenwriter at my new work place. In addition to talking about our “craft”, we talked about the other kind of writing we enjoy…fan fiction.
Yep. I met another gamer-geek-writer who writes fanfic of a game she loves and we laughed and encouraged one another for it. It was a great moment, but what made it even better was a short time later, when we crossed paths again, she thanked me for letting her be seen, for feeling validated for enjoying something that so many people either don’t understand or belittle and frown upon.
I shared with her how I had once been embarrassed by the joy I received in writing something that held no bearing or consequence on my “real” writing. I used it as an escape, because my screenwriting was ever so personal and had to be painstakingly written to be just right. I could write freely, and that was a lovely, stress-free feeling. She could empathize and that was a nice moment as I have so few writer friends to share in the misery.
For a while, I was embarrassed by my “real” writing too.
We, writers, are weird.
I found the quote above a couple of weeks ago, but I haven’t had the impulse to sit and write. Not really. I have written a little, but in all honesty, I haven’t felt like I’ve had anything to say, even with the story of my new writer friend. Then I went to lunch with a friend from college who shared with me some unexpected news, and this quote resonated with me again. She needed to be heard.
And I knew I needed to share this quote.
This page is not just dedicated to our creative lives, but our regular lives too. Everything we experience, the good and bad, shapes us. It not only makes us better writers, but hopefully, better people too.
Do you have a story to share? Do you need to feel seen? Let’s commiserate and lift one another up!
Happy Writing! xx, Rach
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!
It’s time to get this writing community back to Writing Prompt Wednesdays! It’s been a while, and if you feel anything like I do, which I hope you don’t, you may need a little inspiration to get that imagination back up and running.
So one of the story ideas that tried to make itself known during the move was a one-shot fan fiction from Dragon Age.
I know! Don’t even get me started.
It’s a simple idea from a mission in the third game that left a lot of fans in a tizzy at the time, and for some reason, came to me when I didn’t have any time for anything creative. I made a few notes and left it at that.
Then a few days ago, wanting to write anything, I opened up that story idea and wrote about 500 words. Not a huge number by any means, but…it felt good…to be creative.
The idea is of a character left alone in an inhospitable environment and how they might survive.
And then I saw this image and it struck me in its symbolism to this short story I’m working on. So here it is, my impulse choice for this week’s writing prompt.
Are you up for the challenge?
Happy Writing!
We’re already a month in to a new year?! How?
Like seriously. How?
And here we are again – a random day for a quote of the week post that I started some two weeks ago. ((insert eye roll))
I was struck by this quote and wanted to share it when I thought it would be the most impactful, right at the beginning of the year, but sure, let’s share it now…a month in.
With a new year comes the idea of new beginnings. We establish new goals, make resolutions, and have rose-colored glasses on…for about a month.
Then the newness sheen tarnishes and you discover that in reality not much has changed except the date.
Are we there yet? Effective February 1st? You know, where the glossy veneer has diminished?
Nope. Me either. This year we’re going to do things different. We’re going to do something about “it”. We’re going to change the narrative.
The last couple of years have been rough. Honestly, it’s still not great, but I think we all have hope for what 2023 will bring. In that vein, The Sis and I are endeavoring yet another move, back to California for my career, among other reasons, like our mental well-being. While it was great to give a new place a shot, this never-ending cold, gray landscape is not for us, but that’s a story for another day.
Putting out into the universe the willingness to be ready for the change has already brought some interesting developments, family and new friends with contacts, so I can hit the ground running. It’s exciting, and a little frightening. It may actually all come together.
So here’s to new beginnings!
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!
Happy New Year!
I wanted to find a quote that really sets the tone for the year I want us all to have. This is by no means a judgement on anyone other than myself, but I want all of us to be able to create the life we want.
I’ve always been surprised by the concept of how little things seem to change over the course of a year, but looking back how different things sometimes are. This is why this quote resonated with me.
I’m of a certain age now where I’ve come to an understanding of a few things:
The Sis has helped me to be brave. Maybe because she’s the youngest, she developed this strong sense of self. She’s self-aware in a way that’s taken me years to become. I still don’t think I’m there. It’s all part of the evolution of becoming who we’re supposed to be.
Where I need the help is in the discipline arena.
With the gray days of winter, I oversleep. I feel the seasonal depression. I’m way off my routine, and I seem uninspired to do anything about it, but if I want to be in the right position to take on Hollywood in a few months, I have to get in gear, and now. I was going strong for a while, but upon the completion of a couple of projects, I lost motivation. Currently it still feels like a void, and because of this I allow myself to become distracted, and days go by…like this post. I started it on Monday. ((insert eye roll))
I need more discipline.
So that is at the top of my To Do List for this year.
What are you hoping to accomplish this year? What strides did you make looking back on 2022? Remember, each day can be a new beginning. Little steps lead to great strides. And who knows, in a year you could be exactly where you want to be.
Best wishes!
xx, Rach
I can’t believe we’re here again.
The end of another year.
2023 is on the horizon, and it sounds like the date in a sci-fi movie.
When you consider where your energy and focus were spent this last year, do you notice a pattern? Do feel it was time well spent, or are you now in the chastising phase at year’s end? As I’ve aged, like a fine wine (ha!), and after the Covid shutdown, it has become more clear what is important and what is not worth my time, like wondering/worrying if people like me.
What a tedious waste of time.
RuPaul says:
What other people think of me is none of my business.
Words to live by.
It used to be my goal wherever I worked to make sure I was liked, by everyone, even the hard asses. Actually, that was the most satisfying win. I would kill them with kindness, and whatever else I had in my wheelhouse. It worked on guests too. While that helped at the time to ensure a positive work environment (and better tips), it hasn’t really mattered in the long run. I’m not friends with any of those people anymore. I wasn’t even friends with most of them after I left the establishment, so what did all that worrying and effort truly gain me?
Deep down, I know it has something to do with legacy. I want people to remember me fondly, but the clincher is, because I haven’t remained friends with almost any of those people, all that energy was spent without any real reward.
What could I have done with it instead, I wonder?
I tell myself, now, that it was all training for working with people in Hollywood. There are a lot of personalities, sometimes all in the same room, and I have a well developed skill in dealing with them.
There’s no reason not to be who you want. There’s no reason not to chase your dreams. There’s no reason not to build the life you desire.
Don’t waste your energy on those things that don’t support the life you’re trying to lead. Take stock of your life and what drains you. You probably already know what those subjects are. I know I do.
So, what does this have to do with a new year? I know I have a love/hate relationship with resolutions, but I’m gonna make them anyway. How about you? Knowing where I should focus my attention will help in creating a more successful goal setting plan, and that’s what I wish for you. It’s about shifting perspective, and taking inventory of what matters and what you want to accomplish.
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season! And here’s to spending our energy where we want to in 2023.
I saw this image and immediately thought, “They say there’s no magic here. Clearly they aren’t looking very hard.” And so it became this week’s writing prompt.
I like that inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places, and that’s why writers are such amazing people. We pay attention, we take note, and we create.
So, are you up for the challenge?
Happy Writing!
A Writer's Discrepant Memoirs and Other Tales 