I am not planning on succeeding at anything at the moment. However I am planning on failing at a hundred things. This is simply inverting my thought process and making the goal more manageable.
The reason for this is that consecutively failing would make me a better person, than focusing on getting things 100% right.
99% perspiration, 1% inspiration.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
It's a hard graft
I hoped to write 30 pages Saturday and another 30 Sunday. However, it is not that easy. I've used to do 20 a day. I've done 30 once. I rewrote 80 pages in one sitting.
Today I did 7 pages. I planned on doing more. It is a great start though. I think it is possible to write 7 pages a day, everyday. Until the end of the year, it should be possible.
I hate that what is in my head does not translate well on paper. Reps. Reps will make a difference. Build the muscle, then up the endurance.
I started taking MCT oil last week, and my mind is working like it did when I didn't have a job and was free to think about writing. Another case was in lectures, I would get inspired and write furiously. I fucking love the minor brain hacks that I have implemented. Although, I've been getting lazy diet wise. Making a few excuses.
Two and a half weeks and I'll have the first feature length screenplay in years. Then I'll write a short film. Then I'll rewrite the feature, then the short. Then alternate those two projects. Mixing 100 metre sprint and a 10,000 metre race. It works when I read a fiction and non-fiction book simultaneously, so there should be no reason why I am incapable of succeeding with writing.
Another day in the project called my life.
Blogs exist as public diaries. People want you to know about their mind, they just don't want to talk to you about it in real life. Some fucking psychologist chair, the blog is.
Today I did 7 pages. I planned on doing more. It is a great start though. I think it is possible to write 7 pages a day, everyday. Until the end of the year, it should be possible.
I hate that what is in my head does not translate well on paper. Reps. Reps will make a difference. Build the muscle, then up the endurance.
I started taking MCT oil last week, and my mind is working like it did when I didn't have a job and was free to think about writing. Another case was in lectures, I would get inspired and write furiously. I fucking love the minor brain hacks that I have implemented. Although, I've been getting lazy diet wise. Making a few excuses.
Two and a half weeks and I'll have the first feature length screenplay in years. Then I'll write a short film. Then I'll rewrite the feature, then the short. Then alternate those two projects. Mixing 100 metre sprint and a 10,000 metre race. It works when I read a fiction and non-fiction book simultaneously, so there should be no reason why I am incapable of succeeding with writing.
Another day in the project called my life.
Blogs exist as public diaries. People want you to know about their mind, they just don't want to talk to you about it in real life. Some fucking psychologist chair, the blog is.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
The muse
You know when those ideas come flowing out of you from no where and it all makes sense. It is fantastic.
Don't forget one thing, you will have to write it thousands of times. So many times, that it will feel artificial. It'll be fresh for others.
Think of it in the way that diamonds can now be artificially made. That is writing.
Don't forget one thing, you will have to write it thousands of times. So many times, that it will feel artificial. It'll be fresh for others.
Think of it in the way that diamonds can now be artificially made. That is writing.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Struggle
It's weird to come back to the same scene over and over again, yet never writing it in script form.
At the moment, I'm using an iOS app that is essentially index cards on a cork board. So I am laying out all my scenes out, and stacking cards for different things.
Such as who are involved, what happens, what is the location, where is the conflict and details.
So far I'm on scene 6. It's a grind, but bird by bird, it is coming together. I'm allowing more space in a scenes. I am building up Act 1.
Of course, in the back of my head I am scared that I suck and this idea sucks, the script will suck.
I have to just push through. My god, this is such a difficult thing.
On a side note, I got to read three horror shorts from some friends. I'm really impressed and glad to see that they're still trying, it just reminds me that I am not alone in trying to get something done.
I cannot wait to see what they make as one of them will become a short.
Back to the index cards.
At the moment, I'm using an iOS app that is essentially index cards on a cork board. So I am laying out all my scenes out, and stacking cards for different things.
Such as who are involved, what happens, what is the location, where is the conflict and details.
So far I'm on scene 6. It's a grind, but bird by bird, it is coming together. I'm allowing more space in a scenes. I am building up Act 1.
Of course, in the back of my head I am scared that I suck and this idea sucks, the script will suck.
I have to just push through. My god, this is such a difficult thing.
On a side note, I got to read three horror shorts from some friends. I'm really impressed and glad to see that they're still trying, it just reminds me that I am not alone in trying to get something done.
I cannot wait to see what they make as one of them will become a short.
Back to the index cards.
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Enter the Dragon
"What's your style?"
"You can call it the art of fighting, without fighting"
Just change the word fighting with screenwriting and that is where I am at the moment. Planning the shit out of this script, even the littlest things. I am finding it evolve without writing any dialogue.
Structure is really helping me about how to present the story. Without rewriting draft after draft, this make the whole process easier. Despite being the stuck in the same part of the process from the beginning, it is working for me.
The story is almost completely laid out. The characters are almost defined. I'm not sure if using the monomyth will work for me in the long run. The idea is to find my own version of structure.
Never rush a story, because you'll have a run of the mill piece of shit, a ghost of the influences.
Look for the things that separates your idea from others and maximise that, minimise the clichés, influences and homage. I don't want to see a film that references other films for two hours.
Show me something new.
"You can call it the art of fighting, without fighting"
Just change the word fighting with screenwriting and that is where I am at the moment. Planning the shit out of this script, even the littlest things. I am finding it evolve without writing any dialogue.
Structure is really helping me about how to present the story. Without rewriting draft after draft, this make the whole process easier. Despite being the stuck in the same part of the process from the beginning, it is working for me.
The story is almost completely laid out. The characters are almost defined. I'm not sure if using the monomyth will work for me in the long run. The idea is to find my own version of structure.
Never rush a story, because you'll have a run of the mill piece of shit, a ghost of the influences.
Look for the things that separates your idea from others and maximise that, minimise the clichés, influences and homage. I don't want to see a film that references other films for two hours.
Show me something new.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
On
My mind is on. It is weird how something in your psyche clicks. You tell yourself that your time is now, and just work away to get something done. I have set myself the task of getting a screenplay written by next sunday. So far, I have done two treatments, each going into more detail than the last.
This is a new process for me. I will be doing a third and final treatment, this will probably mean I will miss my deadline. That is fine, when I write with final draft, I can do 20 pages a day. I just type the shit out of it and then notice it is terrible.
What do we say to the god of mediocrity? Not today.
I've learnt lessons from not writing as much as I have from writing. In my first few attempts at writing, I copied.
Now I feel I am willing to such for my own voice. This is something that other writers need to do. Make peace with the fact that you will never write like your idols.
I have camera angles, lighting all in my head. Because my first script lack detail and a lot of talk. I think the sparse detail is a weakness, as is my disregard for some sort of emotional character arc for Prog.
The one thing that hurts me as a writer is this: not everything will be made. I'll have to make peace with that, much like I have with not trying or failing.
Anyway, I am going to write an amazing script.
I've done the research, I've pretty much figure out the entire story and the different plotlines. Too sound cocky, I think it has something to say about day to day life and some fucking hilarious moments.
I've probably said this before, but I don't talk about projects that haven't been written yet. This one is ready to burst out of me now. It's been a long time coming, and I have many more writing projects to get through.
I know the chief weakness of my script, but it is the easiest part to change. I'll keep working on that in between other projects until it works.
I intend it to be the second film, I ever make.
The first, well, that'll be the third screenplay I write this year. Then I have two collaborations on screenplays planned for the following year.
This is a new process for me. I will be doing a third and final treatment, this will probably mean I will miss my deadline. That is fine, when I write with final draft, I can do 20 pages a day. I just type the shit out of it and then notice it is terrible.
What do we say to the god of mediocrity? Not today.
I've learnt lessons from not writing as much as I have from writing. In my first few attempts at writing, I copied.
Now I feel I am willing to such for my own voice. This is something that other writers need to do. Make peace with the fact that you will never write like your idols.
I have camera angles, lighting all in my head. Because my first script lack detail and a lot of talk. I think the sparse detail is a weakness, as is my disregard for some sort of emotional character arc for Prog.
The one thing that hurts me as a writer is this: not everything will be made. I'll have to make peace with that, much like I have with not trying or failing.
Anyway, I am going to write an amazing script.
I've done the research, I've pretty much figure out the entire story and the different plotlines. Too sound cocky, I think it has something to say about day to day life and some fucking hilarious moments.
I've probably said this before, but I don't talk about projects that haven't been written yet. This one is ready to burst out of me now. It's been a long time coming, and I have many more writing projects to get through.
I know the chief weakness of my script, but it is the easiest part to change. I'll keep working on that in between other projects until it works.
I intend it to be the second film, I ever make.
The first, well, that'll be the third screenplay I write this year. Then I have two collaborations on screenplays planned for the following year.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Happiness
Slowly but surely I'm evolving as a human being.
This weekend has been primarily been focused on cooking. I've made pesto, cayenne pepper brussel sprouts, roast chicken, soup, moroccan curry sauce, ketchup, tomato sauce with olives, pancakes. It's been fun. The little things remind you that things can be easy.
I've been reminded that comics are fun and enjoyable for me. Just not the Marvel and DC stuff. But the comics I grew up reading, where the art is actually cartoony. When I write comics, I will, I want to work with cartoonists on it, because they just awaken something within me. That's why I ordered a couple of comics off amazon that I used to read at my junior schools library. Every time as a class, I would make rush to the comics, sit down and read them. Some times it was TinTin, most of the time it was something else.
Words don't always capture me, but the image will.
I ran five miles, it wasn't fun, but I did it.
I am the most cynical guy I know. I'm kind of in a happy state, right now.
To finish this post off I am using a comic strip from Zenpencils. It was hard to choose. If you want something more poignant, go on the artists website, he is never short of that.
This weekend has been primarily been focused on cooking. I've made pesto, cayenne pepper brussel sprouts, roast chicken, soup, moroccan curry sauce, ketchup, tomato sauce with olives, pancakes. It's been fun. The little things remind you that things can be easy.
I've been reminded that comics are fun and enjoyable for me. Just not the Marvel and DC stuff. But the comics I grew up reading, where the art is actually cartoony. When I write comics, I will, I want to work with cartoonists on it, because they just awaken something within me. That's why I ordered a couple of comics off amazon that I used to read at my junior schools library. Every time as a class, I would make rush to the comics, sit down and read them. Some times it was TinTin, most of the time it was something else.
Words don't always capture me, but the image will.
I ran five miles, it wasn't fun, but I did it.
I am the most cynical guy I know. I'm kind of in a happy state, right now.
To finish this post off I am using a comic strip from Zenpencils. It was hard to choose. If you want something more poignant, go on the artists website, he is never short of that.
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