running

New place, new start

Maximum Z comic books, Marvel Comics, Movie of the Moment, pie, running, screenwriting, writing
Fall is here! Time for pie! (subcategory – pumpkin, subdivision – whipped cream)

Packing was stress-inducing, but the move went smoothly (including movers who were reliably fast and efficient), and the unpacking stage seems never-ending.

But it’s all in the past now. Time now to realign my focus back on the outline and get things done.

Despite not having a chance to actually write over the past week, my creativeness was definitely being put to work, including coming up with a potentially stronger beginning.  You don’t realize how much you miss working on a project until you’re forced to not work on it.

Suffice to say, I’m really hoping to be super-productive over the next few weeks.

-I’m fully recovered from last week’s half-marathon, and now have to resume training for the one next month in the City of Angels. I was hoping to get a run in tomorrow, but part of the move involved switching out TVs, so I’ve got to spend tomorrow afternoon waiting for the friendly neighborhood Cable Guy to show up and check stuff out. Unfortunately, the run will have to wait.

Always seeking the silver lining, I plan on utilizing my time waiting for him by either a) unpacking some more, or b) working on the all-important rewrite. Maybe a little of both.

-It’s been a while, but time now for the triumphant return of MOVIE OF THE MOMENT! – Up today: GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (2012)!

I think “disorganized mess” sums it up nicely. It veered back and forth between fun comic book-style popcorn flick and predictable, cheesy thriller. Nic Cage was all over the map, but seemed to be enjoying himself.

Too hard to sum up the plot, but something about the Rider having to prevent Satan’s representative on Earth from taking over the body of a 13-year-old boy.  I think.

It wasn’t what you’d call easy to understand, which is especially surprising since David Goyer is one of the credited writers.

Possibly a minor complaint – not enough of the title character in action. Something like 3-4 sequences, including a humongous fiery mining vehicle, but I was hoping for more.

Overall, not a terrible way to spend 95 minutes.

Busy times

Maximum Z running, screenwriting, writing

-I was originally going to write about emails and e-newsletters from screenwriters and screenwriting organizations, and how much I hate generic emails from screenwriting ‘experts’ that are nothing but spam in disguise, but there’s only so much you can say. Basically, pick the ones that work best for you.

-With our big move coming up in a few days, just about all of my spare time has been spent packing and running stuff over to the new place. Writing’s on the back burner for the time being; probably until the end of the week.  Looking forward to jumping back into the DREAMSHIP rewrite.

-I’m planning on sending my script notes back to the writer later today. It’ll be interesting to see what the reaction is.

-Ran the Giant Race half-marathon yesterday – 1:57:12. Not too bad, but I was hoping to break 1:55. I’m not one to make excuses, but I think I could have done a little better if the start of the race wasn’t jammed into a narrow section of road. We were running with the 10k, so everybody was shoehorned in, causing a bit of a slowdown for about the first mile or so. I’ll be doing the LA half-marathon at the end of October, so fingers crossed.

Shame on me

Maximum Z feedback, running, screenwriting, script, writing
Yes, I know it’s late

I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to provide feedback on somebody’s script, so rewrite stuff is on hold while I wear my analyst hat over the next few days.

After that, it’ll probably be a bit hectic, what with the half-marathon on Sunday and the movers coming next Wednesday. Despite all that, I’ll try to have some kind of positive rewrite status news sometime soon. No promises, though.

I might even take a few moments here and there to actually breathe. If I can find the time.

In the meantime, seen anything good lately?

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.

Writing even when you aren’t

Maximum Z productivity, running, screenwriting, writing
This guy is actually working very hard

Things have been really busy around here lately, so I haven’t been able to set aside as much time as I’d like to sit down and work on Act Three. (Hopefully this doesn’t sound like I’m making excuses.)

Although I’m not actively writing per se, no matter what I’m doing, my mind is always working out some sort of detail about the story.

Case in point – I’m back in training mode for another half-marathon (Sept 17), so I have to run at least 2-3 times a week. I wear my iPod when I run, but if I’m stuck on a particular part of the story, chances are pretty good I’ll tune out what I’m listening to while my mind tackles the problem. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

That’s probably how most writers minds operate – constantly.

It’s not easy to establish and maintain a steady writing schedule, so kudos to those who do. But if you’re not writing as much as you’d like to, it’s pretty likely you actually are somewhere in the recesses of your mind. You just have to make sure you set aside time to dig it out and put it on the page.

You may even be pleasantly surprised with what you’ve come up with.