GIVING THANKS

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was spent in NYC and was low-key this year. No trains to catch, no big family reunions. It gave me a chance to slow down. I was going to go shopping at Macy's on Black Friday but decided not to -- I just paid off a credit card and it is the BEST feeling in the world (okay, maybe a close third to other things). I think half the Black Friday hype is created by the media anyway. If you're not spending on Friday, we feel left out of the party. Shut off the TV and go write and save your money.

I'm taking a writing class in December to recharge the batteries for winter. It will be in NY and should be just what I need.

I'm ready to tackle that major rewrite of my sports script. I have ScriptShark's notes and my own outline all ready. I'm listening to inspirational music that relates to my script's tone. And I'm seeing the script(movie) play out in my head which is always a great sign. It's becoming a vision now. I'm getting to the point where I can't wait to sit down and start writing.

It's been three months! How can I write a blog about screenwriting and NOT write for three months? Well, I tinkered with old scripts and read about screenwriting and watched lots of movies. Writing is daydreaming often, not necessarily sitting down and writing every moment.
But I must say, this is the LONGEST break I've ever taken. Why? Well, two reasons. One, I've been working a lot (I work in TV news to pay the bills) and it's a good-paying job. I got used to the nice paycheck and working long hours (overnights). I'm exhausted half the time. The other reason is that I got the wind knocked out of me creatively once too often -- when a script just languished in L.A. and people made bullshit promises with no follow-through. I've been at this game a long, long time. I have never wavered, but this last setback made me so discouraged (not for writing, but marketing my work) that I just pulled the plug for awhile. I needed a break.
But you know how an actor says, if you can do anything else but act, do it. But if you can't, then you're an actor. Well, it's the same with writing. When I'm not writing, I feel empty and unfocused. I feel like there is this huge void. I feel sad not to be creating because I love the process of writing and being with my characters, seeing them grow and develop, getting into and out of all sorts of situations.

So for me, writing a screenplay is like being a prize fighter. I have to go into training now (which is what I call outlining my script, rereading my old draft, absorbing the notes, doing research, and blocking out time to write every day. I start December 1st with butt in chair and FADE IN. Insert ROCKY theme music here!

My new script should be done by January 1st. It's really just a rewrite, but a page one rewrite. Wish me luck that I go the distance.