This is not the original New Year’s Eve Resolution blog I wrote. I had this nice, neat, and pretty blog all written out. But it really wasn’t from my heart. It was surface writing. And one thing I’ve learned in 2011 is how much I abhor surface writing.
2011 I will not miss you. You were cruel, and you were unrelenting. You taught me to look deep into myself and I didn’t like what I saw. Jesus stepped in and helped me make further changes.
2011 you taught me how to write from within the center of the true me. You taught me to abhor surface writing, and to hit delete whenever I sensed my fingers typing that which was not my true self.
2011 you taught me about the “Full Armour of God” (Ephesians 6:10-18), and how I must use it every day.
2011 I thought you were cruel, but you changed me for the better and for that I am glad.
2012 What wonders will you have for me? What growth and what blessings await me?
As I stand on the eve of 2012, I look back at my writing. I have 3 completed novels, four completed screenplays, with two in progress, and 4 solid query letters for the work I am ready to market. I’m looking forward to aggressively marketing myself so I can land an agent for my novels, and an agent, or straight to a prod-co (production company), for my screenplays.
2012 I am ready for the major changes that need to take place in order for me to continue to pursue my dream and my passion—my calling from God.
As you prepare yourself for 2012, take a half hour or an hour and look back over what happened in 2011—the good and the bad. See how much growth you went through, and think about what you want to accomplish in 2012. Psalm 37:5 says to “commit your way to the Lord, trust Him, and He will act…”
Pray and make those New Year’s resolutions. They are so worth it.
31 December, 2011
24 December, 2011
Beat Sheet
I received an email from Amazon Studios alerting me to a contest. They provide the logline, I provide the beat sheet. Top 5 writers get $10,000 and a chance to write a treatment and then if chosen, the screenplay. I received the email three days before the deadline. The clock was ticking and I jumped in without hesitation.
What is a beat sheet? It's where the screenwriter writes down, in Numerical order, the scenes in the movie, with a brief description of each. I had heard of and even read a beat sheet, but I'd never written one. Amazon did state you could write it in outline form, but since beat sheets are the industry standard, it didn't make sense to do anything that would label me as an amateur.
With the exception of some short (5 page) screenplays for a few Creative Screenwriter contests, I had never written a screenplay based on someone else's logline or premise. I had also never written a beat sheet before--but I had examples in my screenwriting reference books.
I know in Hollywood you don't always get to work on your own material, sometimes you do exactly as this contest does--write based on an idea or concept from a studio head, or producer, or revise another Writer's work.
I haven't heard back yet if my beat sheet was picked. I hope so, because they have an amazing producer already attached to the project, and it's sci fi, which is near and dear to my heart. It excites me.
Yesterday I brainstormed an idea for my next screenplay. And wrote out the logline. Today I wrote out the beat sheet for it. I used my experience from Amazon Studios to benefit my writing.
Now I have a solid logline and a typed beat sheet. After Christmas I still have a week off of work and I will apply my rear in my chair 12 hours a day, using my beat sheet as a guide, to crank out as many pages as I can. I'd love to say I'll have the entire thing written, but we shall see won't we?
What is a beat sheet? It's where the screenwriter writes down, in Numerical order, the scenes in the movie, with a brief description of each. I had heard of and even read a beat sheet, but I'd never written one. Amazon did state you could write it in outline form, but since beat sheets are the industry standard, it didn't make sense to do anything that would label me as an amateur.
With the exception of some short (5 page) screenplays for a few Creative Screenwriter contests, I had never written a screenplay based on someone else's logline or premise. I had also never written a beat sheet before--but I had examples in my screenwriting reference books.
I know in Hollywood you don't always get to work on your own material, sometimes you do exactly as this contest does--write based on an idea or concept from a studio head, or producer, or revise another Writer's work.
I haven't heard back yet if my beat sheet was picked. I hope so, because they have an amazing producer already attached to the project, and it's sci fi, which is near and dear to my heart. It excites me.
Yesterday I brainstormed an idea for my next screenplay. And wrote out the logline. Today I wrote out the beat sheet for it. I used my experience from Amazon Studios to benefit my writing.
Now I have a solid logline and a typed beat sheet. After Christmas I still have a week off of work and I will apply my rear in my chair 12 hours a day, using my beat sheet as a guide, to crank out as many pages as I can. I'd love to say I'll have the entire thing written, but we shall see won't we?
10 December, 2011
Studying Screenwriting
Saturday was spent working on my screenwriting. But in a different way.
I have the shooting script for War of The Worlds by Josh Friedman and David Koepp (bought it).
I sat at my dining room table/writing desk with it, a copy of Syd Field's Screenplay and Dr. Linda Seger's Writing Subtext. Plus a highlighter, sticky notes and pencil.
My goal: dissect the screenplay. See where it follows conventions, mark areas that I really admire and note why, and look at how it flows, how it handles transitions, creates set pieces, and establishes characters.
I've read the shooting script before, but one thing I've learned from my mfa program, (even though it isn't in screenwriting), is to dissect other writer's work.
When I finished picking War of The Worlds apart. I sat in front of my TV with my notebook and marked up copy of the shooting script, and popped in my DVD of the movie. I need to know how what the writer wrote was conveyed on the screen.
I plan to do the same thing with The King's Speech next week.
This will make me a better screenwriter.
A caveat to new screenwriters. A shooting script is not the same as a spec script.
Shooting script is what they use to actually make the movie.
Spec script is what you sell. It doesn't contain camera directions or anything that could be construed as you telling the director what to do.
I have the shooting script for War of The Worlds by Josh Friedman and David Koepp (bought it).
I sat at my dining room table/writing desk with it, a copy of Syd Field's Screenplay and Dr. Linda Seger's Writing Subtext. Plus a highlighter, sticky notes and pencil.
My goal: dissect the screenplay. See where it follows conventions, mark areas that I really admire and note why, and look at how it flows, how it handles transitions, creates set pieces, and establishes characters.
I've read the shooting script before, but one thing I've learned from my mfa program, (even though it isn't in screenwriting), is to dissect other writer's work.
When I finished picking War of The Worlds apart. I sat in front of my TV with my notebook and marked up copy of the shooting script, and popped in my DVD of the movie. I need to know how what the writer wrote was conveyed on the screen.
I plan to do the same thing with The King's Speech next week.
This will make me a better screenwriter.
A caveat to new screenwriters. A shooting script is not the same as a spec script.
Shooting script is what they use to actually make the movie.
Spec script is what you sell. It doesn't contain camera directions or anything that could be construed as you telling the director what to do.
29 November, 2011
Answer to prayer.
This a short but sweet post. The unexpected bill I asked for prayer for has been canceled. Amen and praise be to God.
21 November, 2011
Unexpected and Unwanted
Do you ever feel like you're at the end of your rope? Like you couldn't take another thing happening? In my mailbox were 2 unexpected bills. Bills I don't have the funds for. Bills I didn't incur on purpose. Call it a computer glitch but since I can't prove it, I am on the hook for one bill to the tune of $2,180.00.
What can I do? I already work full-time. Plus tutoring on the side. Plus being a single mom.
Sigh
Well I have the option of two immediate responses: I can cry, or I can pray.
See there's this thing called faith. And I can't claim to be a master of it--I am quite bull-headed at times. But as a Christian that should be my first response. Will God be mad at me if it isn't? Nope He'll still love me, but I will have stressed for no reason.
Faith tells me to pray and believe. And do as Philippians 4:6-7 says"make my request made know to God..."
So I'm not going to cry, or rant, or scream. I tried to speak to the people the money is owed to but since I have no paper trail, I have no proof I cancelled something they say I didn't.
What I do know is this: I will pray and see what happens. Will you pray with me?
What can I do? I already work full-time. Plus tutoring on the side. Plus being a single mom.
Sigh
Well I have the option of two immediate responses: I can cry, or I can pray.
See there's this thing called faith. And I can't claim to be a master of it--I am quite bull-headed at times. But as a Christian that should be my first response. Will God be mad at me if it isn't? Nope He'll still love me, but I will have stressed for no reason.
Faith tells me to pray and believe. And do as Philippians 4:6-7 says"make my request made know to God..."
So I'm not going to cry, or rant, or scream. I tried to speak to the people the money is owed to but since I have no paper trail, I have no proof I cancelled something they say I didn't.
What I do know is this: I will pray and see what happens. Will you pray with me?
12 November, 2011
Surgery
I am at the tail end of the first semester of my mfa. As a result of the work done in the program on my third novel, I realize it's time to do some serious surgery on my first novel.
I'm taking the first fifteen pages and slicing them off. Why? And how could you, you say?
First, I've matured more as a writer. I can take an objective step back from my work the way a painter does a painting, and remove what's not working. Now granted I have to have a finished work to be able to do this. Slicing while in the middle of completion is a death sentence for my creativity.
Second, it helps my protagonist tell her story better. The remainder of the novel is fast paced and meaty. My opening feels more like a preview for a different film like at the movies.
And lastly, I made my protagonist too comfy at the beginning. Boring! Who wants to read sugary sweet softness at the beginning of a novel that should start with the murder. Probably why I never liked my beginning. Trust your instincts. If you don't like something you've written--probe it. Figure out why you don't like it.
Really the final question is when do I do this surgery?
Like a medical surgery, it will have to be scheduled.
I have revisions I need to start on my third novel as part of my mfa program, plus I'm writing a short script (first 15 pages), for a screenplay contest, and I need to finish writing a short story I promised myself I'd finish.
Time to pull out my day planner. Trust me it will get scheduled and done. I'm a writer.
I'm taking the first fifteen pages and slicing them off. Why? And how could you, you say?
First, I've matured more as a writer. I can take an objective step back from my work the way a painter does a painting, and remove what's not working. Now granted I have to have a finished work to be able to do this. Slicing while in the middle of completion is a death sentence for my creativity.
Second, it helps my protagonist tell her story better. The remainder of the novel is fast paced and meaty. My opening feels more like a preview for a different film like at the movies.
And lastly, I made my protagonist too comfy at the beginning. Boring! Who wants to read sugary sweet softness at the beginning of a novel that should start with the murder. Probably why I never liked my beginning. Trust your instincts. If you don't like something you've written--probe it. Figure out why you don't like it.
Really the final question is when do I do this surgery?
Like a medical surgery, it will have to be scheduled.
I have revisions I need to start on my third novel as part of my mfa program, plus I'm writing a short script (first 15 pages), for a screenplay contest, and I need to finish writing a short story I promised myself I'd finish.
Time to pull out my day planner. Trust me it will get scheduled and done. I'm a writer.
08 November, 2011
Finished my middle grade novel
Last night I finished writing my middle grades novel. During the course of writing it, there were times the words flowed smoothly, and there were times I could only get out one typed page a day. Last night a fever took hold of me and I refused to stop writing until I saw my protagonist to the end. Which isn't the end end, It's just the end of the first book.
I went through many personal and professional challenges while writing this book. I even doubted my talent. But I found that verse in the bible to be true.--"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."
I went through many personal and professional challenges while writing this book. I even doubted my talent. But I found that verse in the bible to be true.--"I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength."
28 October, 2011
Baggage
I decided to clean out my file cabinet. Years of receipts, credit card, and bank statements. Carbon copies of checks from 4 years ago, and old prescription receipts. It was time to get rid of it all. It filled an entire garbage bag (kitchen size not lawn size). It was heavy. Extremely heavy. And because the bag contains my personal information I couldn't just throw it out. It was also too much for my home shredder. I have to take it to a place that will shred it for me-for a fee.
I have to carry this bag around until I have a chance to take it to the shredder. It didn't take long for me to realize this was a metaphor for baggage we carry in our lives.
Each of us for one reason or another chooses to carry around this huge bag labeled "the past". We take it with us from relationship to relationship, job to job, state to state. We don't need to carry it but we do. We can't just toss it aside-it has personally identifiable information.
What we can do is take it to Jesus. He wants our baggage. He takes all that stuff from our past and shreds it till nothing recognizable is left.
Before that can happen we have to go through our lives and pull out all the junk from the past (He's good at pointing those out too). Then we have to agree to give it to the Master-Jesus and not try to take it back and carry it around.
Another step we often do us accumulate new baggage. We're free from our old lives but due to unresolved guilt or hurt from our past we start accumulating more baggage. Stop it!
Christ made you new. Don't collect more baggage to carry around. Live in the freedom Jesus has granted you. No more baggage.
I have to carry this bag around until I have a chance to take it to the shredder. It didn't take long for me to realize this was a metaphor for baggage we carry in our lives.
Each of us for one reason or another chooses to carry around this huge bag labeled "the past". We take it with us from relationship to relationship, job to job, state to state. We don't need to carry it but we do. We can't just toss it aside-it has personally identifiable information.
What we can do is take it to Jesus. He wants our baggage. He takes all that stuff from our past and shreds it till nothing recognizable is left.
Before that can happen we have to go through our lives and pull out all the junk from the past (He's good at pointing those out too). Then we have to agree to give it to the Master-Jesus and not try to take it back and carry it around.
Another step we often do us accumulate new baggage. We're free from our old lives but due to unresolved guilt or hurt from our past we start accumulating more baggage. Stop it!
Christ made you new. Don't collect more baggage to carry around. Live in the freedom Jesus has granted you. No more baggage.
16 October, 2011
Writer’s Retreat
There’s a little place in the country of Ireland know as Anam Cara. They host writing and painting retreats throughout the spring and summer. I have long lingered on their website on days where I feel the choking confines of my existence (yeah, I’ve been writing dark stuff today). Sorry—focus.
I feel it is time for a writer’s retreat. I don’t mean one of those where you check yourself into a hotel in town and flip through the channels, or watch people in the pool splash around, or get drunk in their lounge chairs. I mean one of those where no one is around. Solitude. The only sensory source is nature itself.
I noticed something the other day when I went to the library to write. The only space that was left to sit was in the quiet study room. Talk about the absence of everything. No sound, nothing sensory to look at. And I wrote, and wrote, and wrote. I lost track of time in that quiet, padded asylum. And I loved it.
Images that have been in my head for weeks include a rocky coast, crashing waves, a giant man-eating squid, rolling hills, and me, with my spiral notebook and favorite gel pens—writing a novel long hand. No concern about food, or shelter. A quick walk into town satisfies my need to eat when the nibbling on feta cheese and olives, and baguettes isn’t enough. Then as the moon hovers overhead, and I need a flashlight to find my way back, I slide in between the crisp white sheets of my antique bed at a B&B with few visitors because it’s off-season.
That kind of writer’s retreat. You know that push you feel inside when you know you need to do something. And then that stupid nagging voice pipes up. “Wait, we can’t take off and do that. We have practical matters to address here. Plus we have no money.” Guess what voice—shut up!
I went to a conference this weekend called Women of Faith. I spoke of attending in my prior blog. The theme was called Imagine. It’s from Ephesians 3:20. Check it out at www.biblegateway.com
These women spoke of trusting God and believing he could do above and beyond what you could IMAGINE.
I’m trusting God to provide what I need for this retreat. Complete trust, because that “push” inside me is not from me. It’s the Holy Spirit. Best not to ignore Him. He only means my good.
That means shutting up the nagging voice, reinforcing my heart with scripture and preparing for the blessing.
There’s a little place in the country of Ireland know as Anam Cara. They host writing and painting retreats throughout the spring and summer. I have long lingered on their website on days where I feel the choking confines of my existence (yeah, I’ve been writing dark stuff today). Sorry—focus.
I feel it is time for a writer’s retreat. I don’t mean one of those where you check yourself into a hotel in town and flip through the channels, or watch people in the pool splash around, or get drunk in their lounge chairs. I mean one of those where no one is around. Solitude. The only sensory source is nature itself.
I noticed something the other day when I went to the library to write. The only space that was left to sit was in the quiet study room. Talk about the absence of everything. No sound, nothing sensory to look at. And I wrote, and wrote, and wrote. I lost track of time in that quiet, padded asylum. And I loved it.
Images that have been in my head for weeks include a rocky coast, crashing waves, a giant man-eating squid, rolling hills, and me, with my spiral notebook and favorite gel pens—writing a novel long hand. No concern about food, or shelter. A quick walk into town satisfies my need to eat when the nibbling on feta cheese and olives, and baguettes isn’t enough. Then as the moon hovers overhead, and I need a flashlight to find my way back, I slide in between the crisp white sheets of my antique bed at a B&B with few visitors because it’s off-season.
That kind of writer’s retreat. You know that push you feel inside when you know you need to do something. And then that stupid nagging voice pipes up. “Wait, we can’t take off and do that. We have practical matters to address here. Plus we have no money.” Guess what voice—shut up!
I went to a conference this weekend called Women of Faith. I spoke of attending in my prior blog. The theme was called Imagine. It’s from Ephesians 3:20. Check it out at www.biblegateway.com
These women spoke of trusting God and believing he could do above and beyond what you could IMAGINE.
I’m trusting God to provide what I need for this retreat. Complete trust, because that “push” inside me is not from me. It’s the Holy Spirit. Best not to ignore Him. He only means my good.
That means shutting up the nagging voice, reinforcing my heart with scripture and preparing for the blessing.
14 October, 2011
Count Your Blessings
Remember that song by Johnson Oatman Jr. “Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God hath (has) done.” I have to admit life has been rough these past few weeks. Rougher than it has been in a very long time. Do you go through times like that? Where it seems like nothing goes right, everything goes wrong? Now add to that keeping up with your writing. Pulling yourself out of the chaos of your life and into your character’s world for a half hour or hour or two. Not just to get words on the page, but the right words. Words the character wants to express to the reader. Are you screaming now?
I have been surprised by the fact that through these rough weeks I have been able to write. Now, I’m not writing as much as I would be during other times, but I am writing. I wonder if because my stress is so high right now, I am more able to pluck myself out of this world and disappear into my character’s world? I think so.
I spoke to a dear friend on the phone for about half an hour Wednesday about the stress I’m under. We agreed to pray for each other. She’s artistic like me so she gets me.
Yesterday a teacher I work with bought me dinner. She did it because she knew I was under a lot of stress and wanted to brighten my day. I’ve never had anyone do that for me before and it deeply touched me. I ate and we talked about what was going on in my life, her life and our love of our savior Jesus. Her act blessed me.
Today I am heading out to the Women of Faith conference, thanks to another dear friend of mine—someone who feels like my twin. Another blessing. This is a two-day conference so I am looking forward to bonding time with my friend, de-stressing, soaking in God’s goodness and recharging my batteries.
Because of the acts of three people I am ending my week feeling lighter than air. Is there someone around you that you see struggling under the weight of stress? Be a small blessing in their life. Buy them a cup of coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (or get them a $5 gift card so they can). Put an encouraging note in their mailbox, or desk at work. Stop by their workplace and see how they are. If you can afford to—take them out to dinner, or lunch. Trust me it makes a huge difference. It did for me.
I have been surprised by the fact that through these rough weeks I have been able to write. Now, I’m not writing as much as I would be during other times, but I am writing. I wonder if because my stress is so high right now, I am more able to pluck myself out of this world and disappear into my character’s world? I think so.
I spoke to a dear friend on the phone for about half an hour Wednesday about the stress I’m under. We agreed to pray for each other. She’s artistic like me so she gets me.
Yesterday a teacher I work with bought me dinner. She did it because she knew I was under a lot of stress and wanted to brighten my day. I’ve never had anyone do that for me before and it deeply touched me. I ate and we talked about what was going on in my life, her life and our love of our savior Jesus. Her act blessed me.
Today I am heading out to the Women of Faith conference, thanks to another dear friend of mine—someone who feels like my twin. Another blessing. This is a two-day conference so I am looking forward to bonding time with my friend, de-stressing, soaking in God’s goodness and recharging my batteries.
Because of the acts of three people I am ending my week feeling lighter than air. Is there someone around you that you see struggling under the weight of stress? Be a small blessing in their life. Buy them a cup of coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (or get them a $5 gift card so they can). Put an encouraging note in their mailbox, or desk at work. Stop by their workplace and see how they are. If you can afford to—take them out to dinner, or lunch. Trust me it makes a huge difference. It did for me.
03 October, 2011
Writing in my wait time
On the way to work this morning, I felt my car dip. A few miles later and that all too familiar "thump, thump" sound started. Yep I had a flat tire. So while I'm waiting on said tire to be fixed, I thought I'd work on my blog.
I read a really good devotional from "Girlfriend's in God" this morning about the call of God and trusting Him enough to obey that call.
Gave me much to reflect on.
What am I doing with that seed God planted in me when He brought about my creation? Is it evident in my life? Daily?
I'm going to jump the train right here, but I'll be back.
Grad school is alot of work. I have books to read, creative writing to do and critical essays-Aka non-fiction writing.
Sometimes I resent the intrusion on what little time I have to write. Yes, the program is suppose to make me a better writer (if I let it). And yes I have seen a change in my writing.
Do I want to stop my Mfa program? Absolutely not! It's changing me as a writer and a person.
What I want is more time to delve into my writing, using what I've been learning in the program.
Now I'm taking this train car and hooking it up to the previous one.
To do anything other than write is not using the true essence of who I am. With all these extra demands on me at work, it's time for me to turn to God and wave the surrender flag. Cause I'm not in control, He is. He knows the best way for me to maximize the time that I have. He knows the changes I'm going to have to make in my life in order for my dream (full time writer) to come true. He knows the path I should be on now to be successful later. I just need to trust Him, open up and ask Him.
I read a really good devotional from "Girlfriend's in God" this morning about the call of God and trusting Him enough to obey that call.
Gave me much to reflect on.
What am I doing with that seed God planted in me when He brought about my creation? Is it evident in my life? Daily?
I'm going to jump the train right here, but I'll be back.
Grad school is alot of work. I have books to read, creative writing to do and critical essays-Aka non-fiction writing.
Sometimes I resent the intrusion on what little time I have to write. Yes, the program is suppose to make me a better writer (if I let it). And yes I have seen a change in my writing.
Do I want to stop my Mfa program? Absolutely not! It's changing me as a writer and a person.
What I want is more time to delve into my writing, using what I've been learning in the program.
Now I'm taking this train car and hooking it up to the previous one.
To do anything other than write is not using the true essence of who I am. With all these extra demands on me at work, it's time for me to turn to God and wave the surrender flag. Cause I'm not in control, He is. He knows the best way for me to maximize the time that I have. He knows the changes I'm going to have to make in my life in order for my dream (full time writer) to come true. He knows the path I should be on now to be successful later. I just need to trust Him, open up and ask Him.
26 September, 2011
Away far too long
Today I am finally able to get back to my blog.
Work has been unnecessarily stressful, along with difficulty with finding a quiet writing spot, and lack of freetime. All these have kept me from my blog and have hindered my writing.
I was reading in Genesis about Abraham-doing a study of his life. Sacrifices he made. Faith in God even when he didn't understand.
I'm making sacrifices for my writing, but I'm also finding myself getting overwhelmed with responsibilities at work that I did not expect.
That's a challenge many writers face who work full time while trying to build their writing career.
A quiet place to write (without having to buy coffee or listen to someone at the next table do their sales calls), will be solved in a few weeks.
Lack of free time will be solved in a few weeks also as I change abodes thereby reducing my commute time.
Stress at work-what's that expression-Just say no!
Abraham knew it was important to be obedient to God and he reaped the blessing.
I know it's important to be obedient to God and write. And I will reap the blessing.
What rearranging do you need to do to be obedient to God?
Work has been unnecessarily stressful, along with difficulty with finding a quiet writing spot, and lack of freetime. All these have kept me from my blog and have hindered my writing.
I was reading in Genesis about Abraham-doing a study of his life. Sacrifices he made. Faith in God even when he didn't understand.
I'm making sacrifices for my writing, but I'm also finding myself getting overwhelmed with responsibilities at work that I did not expect.
That's a challenge many writers face who work full time while trying to build their writing career.
A quiet place to write (without having to buy coffee or listen to someone at the next table do their sales calls), will be solved in a few weeks.
Lack of free time will be solved in a few weeks also as I change abodes thereby reducing my commute time.
Stress at work-what's that expression-Just say no!
Abraham knew it was important to be obedient to God and he reaped the blessing.
I know it's important to be obedient to God and write. And I will reap the blessing.
What rearranging do you need to do to be obedient to God?
08 September, 2011
Morning Musings
I've been reflecting on Hebrews 11.1 the faith verse that starts the faith chapter. This morning was difficult. Why? I woke up on fire to write but I couldn't-no time. And no I'm not getting up at 4 am. It's not that I don't want to sacrifice. I'm a night owl and mornings are a bear for me as it is. Nothing good would come out of me at 4 am. Now 12-2 am is a different story.
This morning I wanted time to grab a cup of coffee, turn on my laptop-wait five minutes for it to wake up completely, and crank out a couple of pages.
So here I sit at DD, working on my blog after chewing on what needs to happen next in a script I'm writing, while all the while wondering if the novel I'm working on (number 3) is really the story I want to tell now.
Where does faith come in? I have an extended day today so if I can get in an hour of writing today before collapsing into bed exhausted I would be so happy.
I have faith that the sacrifices in time and zero social life that I'm making now will pay off when I am published and when I have my screenplays optioned (sold). I have faith to endure when I am exhausted, when I am discouraged.
Now I will throw a brief pity party when I get a rejection letter. But I have faith in the One who created me with this gift and talent. That the day will come when my commute to work will consist of going from my bedroom to my home office. Faith keeps that dream alive.
This morning I wanted time to grab a cup of coffee, turn on my laptop-wait five minutes for it to wake up completely, and crank out a couple of pages.
So here I sit at DD, working on my blog after chewing on what needs to happen next in a script I'm writing, while all the while wondering if the novel I'm working on (number 3) is really the story I want to tell now.
Where does faith come in? I have an extended day today so if I can get in an hour of writing today before collapsing into bed exhausted I would be so happy.
I have faith that the sacrifices in time and zero social life that I'm making now will pay off when I am published and when I have my screenplays optioned (sold). I have faith to endure when I am exhausted, when I am discouraged.
Now I will throw a brief pity party when I get a rejection letter. But I have faith in the One who created me with this gift and talent. That the day will come when my commute to work will consist of going from my bedroom to my home office. Faith keeps that dream alive.
29 August, 2011
Somebody Hire Me
Spoke to my brother last night. He encourages me to keep writing. He checks in with me now and then to make sure I'm still submitting my screenplays. I told him the result, or lack of, from my last round of submissions. It must have been my tone of voice because he asked me if I was getting discouraged. I was until I realized through reading articles by people in the industry that agents are hesitant to sign new clients that live out of state. They'd rather have someone already living in LA. Someone who is available for meetings with studios that day, not in three days when they can fly in etc. Makes sense from a business perspective. And my goal is to move to LA. But in the meantime there is plenty I can do to make myself a better screenwriter.
Keep going with my mfa program.
Take an advanced screenwriting class-probably through Gotham Writers.
Have my screenplays read by Hollywood readers. I have 2 in mind to work with.
Attend a screenwriting conference. Either Creative Screenwriting Expo, or Austin Film Festival.
Save so I can move without worrying about working for a few months.
Keep praying
Keep writing.
Keep going with my mfa program.
Take an advanced screenwriting class-probably through Gotham Writers.
Have my screenplays read by Hollywood readers. I have 2 in mind to work with.
Attend a screenwriting conference. Either Creative Screenwriting Expo, or Austin Film Festival.
Save so I can move without worrying about working for a few months.
Keep praying
Keep writing.
09 August, 2011
Revision
I spent the morning working on revisions of my first novel. My third novel is well on it’s way and I wanted to back track so to speak and clean up some issues with the first novel that were revealed during my workshopping at my mfa program.
The errors: Author intrusion in a third person narrative. Protagonist and antagonist are to one-dimensional. Using present instead of past tense. Felt like a movie not a novel. The last two issues are due to the fact that unbeknownst to me I was still wearing my screenwriter hat whenever I worked on my novel. The first error I caught in a couple of places, but there were some that the expert eyes of my fellow workshoppers and our faculty caught for me. Going back in to work on my novel past the part I workshopped I see where I did that frequently.
One-dimensionality. My faculty advisor sent me a list of character exercises that have exploded the world of my novel in my head. I found out things about my characters that I didn’t know and I am incorporating them into the revision. Nobody cares about a Miss Perfect, and nobody cares about a Mr. Evil. Characters need layers that can be sorted out and developed in the course of a novel.
Are these revisions easy? No. It’s hard to switch gears from present tense to past tense. I’ve become accustomed to writing in first person. Will it get easier? Yes. It takes some time for my brain to register that I’m writing in past tense. Once it does, the writing flows smoother. Plus switching from present to past is more than changing verb tenses. Sometimes it can change the meaning of the entire sentence. Sometimes I have to rewrite the sentence before, and after in addition to the present tense sentence.
Am I glad I’m doing it? Absolutely. I love my first novel. The characters are real. I feel an emotional tug from each of them. Some pleasant, some not. Which is to be expected. I have characters that I love and characters that I hate and hope my readers hate for the right reasons. Not because their flat but because they remind them of the deepest darkest part of themselves.
How will this affect my screenwriting? For the better. Being a better fiction writer has transferred over to tighter, grittier scenes in my screenwriting.
Revision may be a chore to some, but it is necessary if you want to be a successful writer. Don’t dismiss it. It is the process by which we as writers grow. Or did you think only your characters changed during the course of a novel?
The errors: Author intrusion in a third person narrative. Protagonist and antagonist are to one-dimensional. Using present instead of past tense. Felt like a movie not a novel. The last two issues are due to the fact that unbeknownst to me I was still wearing my screenwriter hat whenever I worked on my novel. The first error I caught in a couple of places, but there were some that the expert eyes of my fellow workshoppers and our faculty caught for me. Going back in to work on my novel past the part I workshopped I see where I did that frequently.
One-dimensionality. My faculty advisor sent me a list of character exercises that have exploded the world of my novel in my head. I found out things about my characters that I didn’t know and I am incorporating them into the revision. Nobody cares about a Miss Perfect, and nobody cares about a Mr. Evil. Characters need layers that can be sorted out and developed in the course of a novel.
Are these revisions easy? No. It’s hard to switch gears from present tense to past tense. I’ve become accustomed to writing in first person. Will it get easier? Yes. It takes some time for my brain to register that I’m writing in past tense. Once it does, the writing flows smoother. Plus switching from present to past is more than changing verb tenses. Sometimes it can change the meaning of the entire sentence. Sometimes I have to rewrite the sentence before, and after in addition to the present tense sentence.
Am I glad I’m doing it? Absolutely. I love my first novel. The characters are real. I feel an emotional tug from each of them. Some pleasant, some not. Which is to be expected. I have characters that I love and characters that I hate and hope my readers hate for the right reasons. Not because their flat but because they remind them of the deepest darkest part of themselves.
How will this affect my screenwriting? For the better. Being a better fiction writer has transferred over to tighter, grittier scenes in my screenwriting.
Revision may be a chore to some, but it is necessary if you want to be a successful writer. Don’t dismiss it. It is the process by which we as writers grow. Or did you think only your characters changed during the course of a novel?
04 August, 2011
I finally did It
I was reading in Genesis 18, where God and two angels visit Abraham and tell him Sarah will have a son in a year's time. It was a reminder of God's promise to Abraham. I thought about my writing and I wondered why I still hadn't submitted any of my screenplays to agents or production companies. I'd submitted to several contests, so what was I waiting on? Did I want God to come strolling down my street and say "Hey Desiree, it's time". I knew in my heart, right then, that it was time.
Today I submitted queries for two of my screenplays to agents and production companies.
Next step-submit another query of my novel to lit agencies. It's ready. I'm ready.
It's a scary step but there comes a time when you have confidence in your work. Not prideful boasting, but confidence that what you wrote is good and that it's ready. That takes hard work, writing often not occasionally and reading about your craft. I needed all these and the support of my fellow students in my mfa program. As I submitted my work today I could hear them in my mind cheering me on.
While I wait, I will finish work on my end of the world screenplay (I didn't realize how dark it was), and work on my third novel.
I love being a writer.
Today I submitted queries for two of my screenplays to agents and production companies.
Next step-submit another query of my novel to lit agencies. It's ready. I'm ready.
It's a scary step but there comes a time when you have confidence in your work. Not prideful boasting, but confidence that what you wrote is good and that it's ready. That takes hard work, writing often not occasionally and reading about your craft. I needed all these and the support of my fellow students in my mfa program. As I submitted my work today I could hear them in my mind cheering me on.
While I wait, I will finish work on my end of the world screenplay (I didn't realize how dark it was), and work on my third novel.
I love being a writer.
01 August, 2011
Fourteen Days
While staring into space, lost in my own world, is great for a writer. It’s not so great when the writer needs to hit submit. Another screenplay competition deadline has come up. This is for a legitimate competition, not most of those take your money and see ya kind. And I have a list of agents to submit to also (screenplays only at this time). And yet here I sit staring into space. Counterproductive doesn’t even cover it succinctly. And yes I know I just dangled a modifier. Heh.
Fourteen days until I go back to work. That is the reason for my staring into space. Fourteen days before I go to a new school in a difficult area. I am to the point where it is becoming increasingly difficult to pull myself out of my writer fugue and into anything else. When I get into that writer-state I disdain leaving it for anything, even food. And yet I must. I must pay the bills. I must pay the rent. I must put food on the table, because it is required and expected of me. My family cheers me on to be a writer and my heart yearns to be a full time writer, but I’m not there yet, so I stare into space, daydreaming about my character’s world while I occupy my own.
Fourteen days. I’m mourning the shortness of my summer break. I can’t call it vacation because I didn’t go on a vacation this year. All my free time when not devoted to family is spent on my writing. I live the writer’s life in carved out niches of time.
Fourteen days is time to get much accomplished. So I will pull out my daily planner and write down my objectives for this week. The biggest project I have is the revision of my first novel. The good news is that I know the areas it needs improvement. I had a chance to practice on it twice during my mfa residence and wow! The change was enormous. I eagerly look forward to revising it because I love my first novel. Fantasy is in my lifeblood, and it is apparent in my first novel, and my third, and several of my screenplays.
Fourteen days is not enough time to do a revision of a 300 plus page novel, (for a first time novelist), but it is enough time to get the framework of it going, to get this script out to the competition, to also send it to agents, to crank out 10 pages on my end of the world script (finally into act 2), to get reading done for my mfa, to clean up the POV in my third novel (basically pick one and stick with it), to dream impossible dreams and watch them become reality.
Fourteen days? Watch my fire.
Fourteen days until I go back to work. That is the reason for my staring into space. Fourteen days before I go to a new school in a difficult area. I am to the point where it is becoming increasingly difficult to pull myself out of my writer fugue and into anything else. When I get into that writer-state I disdain leaving it for anything, even food. And yet I must. I must pay the bills. I must pay the rent. I must put food on the table, because it is required and expected of me. My family cheers me on to be a writer and my heart yearns to be a full time writer, but I’m not there yet, so I stare into space, daydreaming about my character’s world while I occupy my own.
Fourteen days. I’m mourning the shortness of my summer break. I can’t call it vacation because I didn’t go on a vacation this year. All my free time when not devoted to family is spent on my writing. I live the writer’s life in carved out niches of time.
Fourteen days is time to get much accomplished. So I will pull out my daily planner and write down my objectives for this week. The biggest project I have is the revision of my first novel. The good news is that I know the areas it needs improvement. I had a chance to practice on it twice during my mfa residence and wow! The change was enormous. I eagerly look forward to revising it because I love my first novel. Fantasy is in my lifeblood, and it is apparent in my first novel, and my third, and several of my screenplays.
Fourteen days is not enough time to do a revision of a 300 plus page novel, (for a first time novelist), but it is enough time to get the framework of it going, to get this script out to the competition, to also send it to agents, to crank out 10 pages on my end of the world script (finally into act 2), to get reading done for my mfa, to clean up the POV in my third novel (basically pick one and stick with it), to dream impossible dreams and watch them become reality.
Fourteen days? Watch my fire.
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