Year: 2012

Busy, busy, busy!

Maximum Z multitasking, outlines, reading, rewrite, running, screenwriting, writing
Sometimes it can feel like this

September is starting off with a lot going on for yours truly.

-We’re in the process of relocating (staying in our much beloved City by the Bay, but changing addresses), so most spare time is dedicated to purging all unwanted stuff, and boxing and transporting what we can to the new place until the movers come later this month.

-I offered to read somebody’s script and make comments/suggestions. Really should get started on that.

-V’s super-busy with soccer, so I wear my chauffeur hat 2 afternoons a week. Nothing like mapping out the rewrite of an outline while sitting in a parked car. Being plugged into Pandora helps.

-I’ve got a half-marathon coming up on Sept 16 (The Giant Race) and another in L.A. at the end of October. I’m averaging about 9 minutes a mile, which isn’t bad, but I’d like to break 1:55, so I train when I can.

Suffice to say, my plate’s a little on the full side for the next few weeks, so progress has been slowed. It’s too difficult to say when I expect to be done with the DREAMSHIP rewrite. Wish I could devote more time to it, but I do what I can.

Do you have a lot going on? How do you handle it? Curious to know how others divvy up their time.

-Oops. Almost forgot. V’s working on her first book report – Book One of LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. She really likes it; even quietly admitted she liked reading. We couldn’t be more thrilled.

And the rebuilding continues…

Maximum Z creativity, rewrite, screenwriting
Hammer. Saw. Write. Repeat ad infinitum.

Oh, how I loves me a challenge. Which is what this rewrite has become.

But in a good way.

I’ve figured my way through several problem areas, came up with (hopefully) better ways to show important story/plot points, but still have quite a ways to go.

Bonus – what originally seemed like an insurmountable task is slowly becoming an opportunity to push my creativeness beyond its limits and turn this thing into even more of a thrill ride.

Which was my original intent to begin with.

So far, the hardest part has been forcing myself to stop hanging onto the contents of the previous draft. Which ain’t easy.  A lot of it is material I thought worked fine, but as always, can be better.  Letting go of something I slaved over and hammered out is tough, but it has to be done.

Once I come up with new or revised scenes and sequences I like, working them into the story shouldn’t be too hard.

At least that’s what I’m hoping.

I suspected this would happen

Maximum Z baking, creativity, rewrite, screenwriting, script, writing
Baklava has nothing to do with this post, but I could really go for some right about now

My creativeness did it again.

Looking over those notes* I got the other day has triggered the inevitable: more ideas for more scenes, or at least trying a new approach in some of them.

I originally thought the necessary rewrites would be quick and painless.

Ha. Silly boy.

The more I think about how to implement the suggestions from those notes, the more I devise potential alternate ways of telling the story while still keeping everything intact.

As always, it’s all about making the story stronger.

Going through this process also reminds me I don’t have to be hesitant to change things around. Chances are I could come up with something even better. Never know if I don’t try, right?

Most importantly, I want to avoid that burned-out feeling I was getting as I neared the end of the edits and polishes the last time around. If this ever starts to feel like work, then it’s time for a short break.

Which, knowing me, would probably trigger more ideas.

*Can’t believe I forgot to mention where I got the notes – right here. Definitely worth your while.

Not done yet

Maximum Z feedback, rewrite, screenwriting, writing
Into the breach! Again!

Time to take a little break from working on this outline. I got some really good notes back on DREAMSHIP from a highly recommended reader, and he did a great job of pointing out what works and what doesn’t. So the next couple of weeks will be devoted to making changes where necessary.

My initial thoughts were along the lines of “This is going to take FOREVER!” But taking another look at his comments, it might not be as big a hurdle as I thought. There are definitely some parts that need work, or at least a little creative tinkering, which I think I can handle.

And it probably goes without saying that the query letter stage is also on hold for the time being. For now, it’s all about making the script better.

After I sent him the script, I admit I succumbed to that short-lived fantasy of getting notes consisting of “This is terrific! Don’t change a thing!” Who hasn’t?

But I’m also realistic about this, so I was relieved he didn’t say “This sucks,” or words to that effect. When the first part of the summary reads “A lot of good stuff here,” that’s a sort of mini-vindication for my time and effort.

Part of me was dreading having to go through another rewrite or three, but there are countless stories of working writers having to churn out dozens of rewrites in order to make the script better, so if this is what I have to do to move things forward, so be it.  The more I can do to hone my craft, the better.

Not gonna lie. There was a brief period of “woe is me”, complete with an air of melancholy, but I’m over it now.

Nobody said this was going to be easy. And it isn’t. And there’s no way I’m going to stop trying, either.

Moving on: digital media content edition

Maximum Z podcasts, Radioslot.com, The Script Adventurer!
Don’t worry, Ma! I’ll be back!

Something important happened in two parts yesterday.

First, I did my final installment of The Script Adventurer! show. It was my choice. I had an absolute blast putting it all together, and got to interview a lot of incredibly talented people, but circumstances made it difficult for me to continue.

But this isn’t the end. Just a phase of redevelopment.

Which nicely segues to the second part: I’m working on bringing it back as a podcast. Current target date: late September/early October. Same concept, possibly a different name. I’ll let you know when it’s available on iTunes.

These are exciting times, kids. Stay tuned for details as they develop.

-I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all you readers and followers out there. Believe me, your interest in my ramblings is appreciated more than you can possibly imagine.