October is Going to Fly By

What do writers call October? Pre-NaNoWriMo season. And that's just how I'm planning to treat it. Because I know that November will be an intense time trying to start and finish an entire first draft, I'm using October as one of those cleanup months. I plan to take all of those half-finish projects that have been lingering and finish them. I'm mostly talking about shorter works--poetry, short stories. But if there's a revision project I can tackle, I'll throw that on the pile too.

I've also been thinking about all of the pieces I have around that are finished but need an update. This includes my spec scripts--something that I haven't had the chance to use yet, but know that I should keep on hand.

First, I will have to fully abandon my sitcom spec and write a new one because the show I wrote it on is not television anymore. I didn't know that my drama spec needed an update until last Thursday. The script is for Law & Order: SVU so I thought I would have it around for a while as is--at least until the show went off the air. Nope, there's a couple of glaring twists they put in last week's premiere with Carisi getting a new job and Benson getting a new title. I scoured the internet for information on whether a slightly outdated script will still work, and it looks like it now has a six-month expiration date, then I should rewrite it. This script still didn't have that final polish (it was a few pages short), and I have had a second SVU storyline floating in my head for a while, so doing a rewrite won't actually be that bad.

But it does make one think: spec scripts are only used as calling cards, so how many of these scripts have been created only to be forgotten once it was used to get someone in the door? I bet there have been lots of great ideas left in the recycling bin...

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That's the plan for October. If you want to stay updated, watch this space, join me on Patreon, and make sure to check out what new items show up on Medium.

What's Left of June's Odds and Ends

This weekend I was getting ready for Camp NaNoWriMo when I realized that, although the outline I picked as my project is sturdy and a story that I want to explore, there was another outline that I thought should be written first. So instead of a literary ghost story, I'm switching to a near-future political thriller. Yeah. I'm branching out a bit when it comes to genre.

I've also completed something for this blog that was always at the end of the to-do list, so it's been passed over day after day. But today, it's here. Check out my BOOKS section on the top navigation bar to see what I published, including contributions to collections and shorter works. I've had a version of this page before, but this one is organized.

To keep my busy this week (and when am I not busy?!) I'm working on a pilot script and the novella Haunting Melody. When it comes to scripts, I always thought I would see a feature script all the way through first, but the idea I have for a pilot just keeps nagging me, so I'm focusing on that first. Plus, even if no one bites for the pilot, I have something to show until I build up a few spec scripts. Anyway...

I can't wait to get to camp and see what damage I can do to that outline. Happy writing everyone!

My Eyes are on a New Prize

Writing is a passion of mine, not a hobby. A lot of very talented creative people have been pushed up against this brick wall of a label. They've broken through it, and I hope I don't have to keep waiting on the other side saying someday I'll break through too.

But when you look at my life at this moment, you can see how I still have not turned a passion into a sustainable career. I do understand why everyone is telling me that it's still just a hobby. I'm beginning to hate that word.

For the past seven years, I have written anything and everything under the sun for a few bucks: ad copy, social media posts, articles, blog posts. The list goes on. At least three of those years were what I would consider successful. I only had to work about five hours/seven days a week for a good paycheck. That left plenty of time to pursue my own projects. But the lean years have settled in and without changing careers completely, the path seems to stop at my feet.

I've said it before and I'll repeat it now: I will work any job to make my rent. I don't mind doing that at all. What I do mind is having to do that in a place that completely void of creative or innovative people. These concepts only flourish in places where people strive to be different, not the same. I reside in a cookie-cutter world right now. It's not the right atmosphere to work in. Relocation has always been the priority in my life, though I cannot point to a single concrete step I have taken to put it into action because I use money and fear as excuses. That ends today. 

So, I turn back to my writing. I know I have a lot already on my long list of writing projects, but I just couldn't get an idea out of my head for one of my favorite TV shows. So I started writing a script. Yes, I know that it has a pretty good shot of never seeing the light of day, but I'm at the point in my life where I can't let the idea that hope only hurts get in my way. I don't want to continue to feed this fear of success that I seem to have. So I'm going to do what I can to see this through no matter the outcome. And if I knew how to break into TV writing, I certainly would be at a different place in my life right now. But if I don't try now, when? I have nothing left to lose here.

I know how L.A. works. It's all schmoozing and networking. Two things I'm horrible at. And if you aren't located there, it's even harder to network digitally because online messages are easily ignored. It can be done, but the hill is a little steeper. The reward? Validation that I have the talent it takes to write and a paycheck to go along with it.

Thinking about all of this causes a lot of stress and anxiety. I still don't know if I have too many choices or too few. But I can either let this situation stop me from becoming exactly who I know I am, or I can grovel at the feet of the writing Powers that Be until my foot is firmly in the door.

I choose option #2.