1. Seen anything good lately?
Thanks to Netflix for finally updating some of their content. I’ve been working my way through Season 3 of THE WALKING DEAD (phenomenal, of course) and Season 1 of ARROW (better than expected, a little cliched here and there, but still fun). Next up – second half of Season 7 of DOCTOR WHO, followed by either BREAKING BAD, MAD MEN or finally getting around to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
-Watched SHARKNADO (2013) – so bad, it’s extremely bad – and THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC (2010) – a live-action adaptation of a French comic book that started out charming and strong, but lost its footing in the second half.
2. How’s your latest project coming along?
As chronicled here, my 3 projects are all moving ahead slowly, with confidence levels gradually increasing for each.
That’s me. Now you.
Maximum Z 
I’ve been so busy at work I have not had time to watch anything except How I Met Your Mother.
My latest project is back on the drawing board, perhaps indefinitely. I turned in a 200-page book to my editor, and she went it back with SIX pages of notes about how I had too much plot for 200 pages and left a lot unexplained and, worse, unexplored. She asked me a series of questions to help clarify things, but they were questions I could not answer, and some of them I had not even considered. I’m sure there’s a lesson in here somewhere, but I’m on a December deadline for another book I was actually hired to write, so I will consider the 200-pager at a later date. I think it has a good concept, but that may be the only thing I keep if I rewrite the whole thing. On the other hand, I have many more ideas featuring the characters I wrote about, so perhaps it’s best to move on to one of those in the meantime.
I thought you were self-publishing. Is an editor necessary for that?
I finally saw the ‘way way back’ and then rewatched ‘The Hangover’ with my spouse – trying to catch up tv shows so far modern family is all I have had time for.
ah my latest project or projects – i had some aha moments – currently have like a scattering of first drafts and one that’s nearly at the final draft stage that I haven’t had a chance to go back to yet. Just outlined a new project yesterday that’s exciting so planning to do something I usually never do in my limited working hours which is rewrite one script while writing another first draft (I usually only manage to simultaneously do prep and write, so going to juggle it). Really want to have at least two great scripts finalized by the end of the year (meaning: actually get it to do-not-touch-stage) – while heartening that I have all these stories I love, taking ages to finalize… kinda dying because I want people to read some of it but my smarter self is saying ‘wait!’ Aaah! Long answer!
Better to ration out your time and try to devote an equal amount of time per day to each. At least this way, you’re still moving ahead with both.
And no matter when you think a script is finally done, it probably isn’t. I used to think a “final” draft was really it, but most of the time it was just another rewrite away from being better. Focus on getting at least these latest drafts done by the end of the year. It’ll also minimize the stress you put on yourself.
Paul, good to know that I am not alone with that! Thanks – starting and rewriting two projects today as we speak so busy week ahead!
I am indeed self-publishing but I hired an editor to make sure I don’t publish anything stupid. Money well spent!