Growing up, I had very, very long hair that was usually tinged green from all my time spent in chlorinated water. Growing up in the desert meant that you spent the majority of your time in the pool during those blazing summer months. Any time we made up imaginary games, I was a mermaid. Splash was one of my favorite movies. The Little Mermaid still is. So you can imagine my delight upon finding this image.
Happy Writing!
*Image by Lindsay Rapp @ lindsayrappgallery.com
So I (finally) decided to take my own advice and work on something else. One can only bang their head against the same wall for so long. In my last blog about rewriting madness, I mentioned how we, as writers, feel guilty when we leave our unfinished beloved behind. I think for my part, I was just so desperate to make it work, because I wanted it to be ready in time for submission season, that I lost the love. It was quickly becoming a burden, one that I wanted to relieve my self of, and move on. But how could I after all the effort I had put into it? All the time, the worry, the stress, could not be for nothing. It had to be completed. And until a few days ago, I couldn’t take my own advice, because of this desperation. I was so sure it was almost ready. I couldn’t deny myself the next important step of sending it out for consideration, but that is exactly what I have decided to do. On Monday night at my writer’s group I felt I had made some progress, by Tuesday I had shelved it.
I moved on to my fifth script, which is currently in its first draft. It was refreshing to see these other characters I had created, to visit their world, and remember why I had started this story to begin with. Ideas were coming easily and I was happy with the progress. Then it happened…I had an idea for the script I’ve been struggling with. Literally, only three days had passed. I wasn’t even writing when the light bulb flickered. I was listening in on a teleconference about selling to Hollywood. An hour or so in, I’m not even sure what was being discussed, it happened. I wrote it down quickly in case it tried to escape me. I had a new idea that could possibly change the whole story; tell it from someone else’s perspective. I can’t believe I hadn’t come up with this before. We have to know which relationship is the most important, who is the true lead character, and then it seems everything else will fall into place. Or so I’m theorizing (is that a even a word?) / speculating / hoping.
We have to be diligent, but also know when to take a break. Trying to force a story to work for our own vanity doesn’t do our story or characters any justice. I’m thrilled to know my advice evidently works, and maybe I should’ve listened to it earlier, then I wouldn’t have wasted so much time…So here I am at another crossroad, trying to decide whether to let this new idea simmer for a few days and continue on in the other story where I’ve found myself invigorated, or carry on and get the job done…If I am to ever be a professional, I’m guessing that completing the problematic one first might be my best option. I think I’ll touch base with my writer’s group, spitball, and see how I feel about it after. I’ll let you know if this works.
I came across this blog post by fellow writer, Myke Cole, and really enjoyed it, because it really is all about the work and our passion for it. Even when we feel beaten down, it is our passion that carries us forward.
Have a wonderful, passion-filled, productive weekend!
*image from Jeff Bullas’ site
I had a friend who introduced me to this image. I was immediately struck with an idea…
Happy Writing!
I’m wildly fond of imagery. I have dozens of folders on my computer filled with images that strike my fancy in some way, are relevant (or become so) to my writing, or are just simply beautiful. I thought I’d share them in a series of writing prompts in an effort to help get those creative juices flowing. Again, feel free to share your thoughts that this image provokes or just use it as it is intended, as a prompt. Best of luck in your endeavors!
Happy Writing!
I’m finding that most writers have a hard time moving onto something new when there’s still work to be done on the piece they just completed. Take me, for example. I am so determined to get my first script right, that I can’t move onto anything else (I have tried), and what’s worse, more ideas keep popping up for other stories or new ones, so that I feel like my brain is running in every direction possible without really going anywhere, not with any real progress anyway. I should learn from this, go work on something else, and then maybe the answers I seek would come to me…but I can’t. I am compelled, driven, possessed…Last night at my writer’s group, we discussed this very topic. When you’re so close to a piece, it’s hard to gain any perspective. Sometimes you need little break. I’ve written about this before and it was reiterated to me last night. It’s the “forest through the trees” scenario. It’s hard to leave something unfinished. We tend to feel guilty that we aren’t working on it. Why would we spend all this time without seeing it through to the end?
This particular script has always been my baby (but is quickly becoming the redheaded stepchild – sorry redheads, no offense intended, as I’m sure you’ve noticed my love of ginger boys 😉 ). The one I thought would do good things. And yet every pass I make at it makes me feel further away from its original purpose. This is why it would be a very good idea to separate myself for a little while. There are a few impending deadlines, but getting some distance is probably best for everyone involved, because I’m not sure if the new ideas are any better at this point. *If anyone has any resources to utilize to solve this dilemma, PLEASE share them!
When I talked with another writer, a novelist, last night, about the rewriting process, we agreed that being a novelist is better because of ownership. You work with an editor who helps suggest ways of improving your work, but you are the author of that piece. Your name will be the only one on it. Whereas a screenwriter works alone for months or years honing that script into a viable, sellable work, only to be replaced. It makes me cringe every time I think of it. And this is where the crazy begins…
Okay, I realize I’m rambling. Probably because I’m going crazy. This is all madness. Rewriting madness. I believe it’s a state of mind that happens to all writers driven to finalize their work. And then I heard this –
“The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated. Neurotic. Caffeine-addled. Crippled by procrastination and consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing and soul-crushing inadequacy. And that’s on a good day.” — Robert DeNiro
I’m not quite sure how to respond to this except to say that now maybe people will understand what we go through on a regular basis. If you’re also struggling with the “madness” here are a couple of links I shared before about editing. One from The Write Life and the other is a list of essays regarding rewriting from LitReactor so you can decide on the topic that might work best for you.
Here’s to regaining some sanity! Wishing you all the best!
Entrance to a lost world…
Happy Writing!
This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. In an effort to help get those creative juices flowing, I’m starting a series of writing prompts. Take a look at the image and write whatever it inspires in you. Feel free to share in the comments or just use it as a jumping off point.
Best of Luck and Happy Writing!
There’s a reason life is referred to as a roller coaster, or a merry-go-round, because the uncertainty, the highs and lows, and the sometimes nauseating experiences we encounter on a daily basis leave us either winded or reveling in those moments. And sometimes it’s hard to maintain a positive outlook when everything you encounter is telling you to expect the opposite. Most of the battle is uphill, with numerous peaks and valleys, and so many twists and turns that you have to wait quite some time to be certain that you’ve made the right choices along the way. This is also the life of a writer. And people wonder why we go a little crazy sometimes; between deadlines and submissions and the waiting, our own tendencies to sabotage either ourselves or our work, and the years of hard work we have to put in before we can even be taken seriously…yea, staying positive is definitely a trick that needs mastering. Here’s an article that may help a bit, 15 Things that Emotionally Strong People Don’t Do.
I’ve always thought of myself as a positive person. Obviously, as any artist does, I’ve had my low points and questioned if I would ever feel happy again (well that sounded a little dark), because it’s easy to be waylaid by negative outside (and inside) influences and voices that would eagerly delight in our giving up, because it’s easy, and this is why we should be more determined to prove all those voices wrong. This is why staying positive is such a necessity. In order to continue down a thankless path, there has to be something that propels us forward. A reason, a hope, a glimmer of something beyond the darkness, and in order to see it, we have to be willing to stick it out. How would we ever accomplish any of our goals in the face of such adversity if we weren’t positive (at least in some regard)?
I’ve been (mentally) all over the place the last week. There’s been a lot going on. Last week I attended a lecture by a producer whose message was all about “being positive” and creating positive stories, and I left in a great state of mind with a few tools to improve my writing. The entire time I listened to her speak, I was thinking of my own stories and how they might be altered according to these ideas (and my life, as we are the heroes of our own stories). I’ll share a few things I learned, in regards to writing:
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Stories don’t have to be complicated to be interesting. She used the example of the Disney film, Tangled. Every character’s want is clear and obvious.
We love to watch a character who is really good at something, or learning how to be good at something.
Audiences don’t care about a character’s accomplishment, but the moment after between the hero and their loved one (and knowing which relationship is the most important is key to the whole story). We also love a character’s resilience to overcome great adversity or loss.
Learn to end your story where it is satisfying, not necessarily happy.
Since taking this new outlook on my career; trying to make industry connections, joining writer’s groups, trying to be more social in general, and taking chances, I’ve discovered that the dark cloud has lifted. The knowledge that I’ve taken control of my life is empowering. A lot is still left out of my control, as a screenwriter I can not achieve my goals alone, but doing what I can to achieve some forward momentum has helped reiterate this positive mind set. Then a friend called, inviting me to be a part of a new animated series he’s working on. I’m so excited by the prospects of a “real” writing job that I had to share. Hopefully, this is the first step at that turn in the road that I will look back on one day and remember “this is where my new journey began”…Let the uphill battle continue!
I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors! And remember, stay positive! 🙂
Does anyone else find the endless stream of information almost nauseating? For some of you, who may be a little too young to remember a time before the internet existed (yes, I’m going to sound like an old woman reminiscing about the “old days”), we didn’t always have every little bit of information available at our fingertips. Sometimes we had to wait until the next day to read about some event in the paper or see it on the news. We had to go to the library for research. We taped shows and maybe waited a few days, maybe a whole week, to watch it. Not everything required a “spoiler alert” label, because the time to actually read or watch something before everyone started talking about it could be months. All the insight and information from so many sources is sometimes overwhelming. The constant updates about every small detail numb the senses. And yet, I know more about things because I have access, I have this window. It’s a catch-22.
This whole rant was sparked because I saw yet another update in regards to the new Star Wars movie, its shooting schedule. Who needs to know this? The film hasn’t even begun production and I’m already tired of hearing about it. And I’m a Star Wars fan. My sister does not use the internet to the same extent that I do, so for her, most things are still a surprise. And I try my best to keep the many things I learn a secret to keep her in a state of awe. At least one of us should be able to enjoy the pleasures of remaining in the dark, to harken back to the days before the endless stream began. To be surprised. Ah, those were the days. The phrase ignorance is bliss is truly difficult to maintain in such times. Do you know how long I’ve been holding my tongue about Game of Thrones’ Red Wedding?! Or *SPOILER ALERT* that they killed Brian on Family Guy? We’re a little behind on everything in our house.
We, as a whole, are becoming too accustomed to instant gratification. If an internet page takes too long to load, we become incensed. If a blog is too long, we skim or skip it all together. So many creations that are supposed to aid in making our lives easier and in turn giving us more time, only make having more time a waste of time. And I still never feel like I have enough time. I have a love-hate relationship with the internet. It’s a window to the outside world, but also an enormous time sucker. I love that there are programs that make it extra easy for me to get my story down without wasting reams and reams of paper. I can edit as I type. I can find information to help my story in the blink of an eye. And yet…
How does this relate to writing, you may ask? Well, there are a few things to keep in mind. Our audiences are much smarter and worldlier than ever before. They have access to so much, but are also developing shorter attention spans. So we have to entertain them. We have to grab their attention and make them want to invest their time. As writers, we have a wealth of material to draw from on a regular basis; being exposed to a variety of newsworthy topics, cultural differences, scientific discoveries, and any number of amazing facts about our world. I recently heard that scripts should be “easy reads” (breaking up blocks of text and giving it the appearance of a quick read) because whoever is reading it already has a lot on their plate, so they’re more inclined to give yours a better look if they think they can fly through it. Ugh. Really? I feel like sometimes we’re dumbing ourselves down.
So my tip of the day: Continue to be passionate about your writing. Write the story you want to tell. That speaks volumes, but just be prepared. You may have to alter a few things so it “looks” better, but who knows, maybe you’ll end up in that endless stream where everyone is talking about you!
Best of luck!
This list will probably take some time to go through, but I wanted to share it. The Write Life Presents: The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2014. I’ll slowly make my way and if anything stands out, I’ll be sure to make special note of it. And please do the same.
Here’s to a productive week! Best of luck!
