Waiting on the Muse
Long time no see — how you all been? Productive, I hope.
Been busy trying to figure which project to work on for the last two weeks so, consequently, I have not been very productive. Shame on me.
Truth is, I have been writing. First, I worked on my thriller, Blackridge Omega. Stalled on that one. Then decided to do a rewrite of another script while I waited for my Muse to return. That went well for a week, then I put that aside too. Frustrating. Very frustrating to want to write — to feel the need to write — to have projects to work on — but don’t feel the writing. Poor me.
But this morning all that changed. I’ve been kicking around a story idea for a while now — the seed is a short story I wrote many, many moons ago — and this morning I wrote an extensive outline. Twelve pages of legal sized paper. Long hand. And tomorrow I will open my computer and begin the shitty first draft.
My Muse is back — perched on my shoulder.
Other than that, not much new to report. The weather has been extremely hot — 90s for the last two weeks — and a tad on the humid side. As for the business side of my screenwriting, still slugging away at those pesky query letters — some success. A few scripts are still out, a couple of treatments too. Some day lightning will strike. Until then, I live by the 3Ps — Perseverance. Perseverance. Perseverance.
Guess that’s a wrap for now. Hope you stay cool — your Muse sticks around — and you find the time to,
Keep Writing!
hey man, there are heaps of self-criticism and negative talk in your post, no wonder the muse goes into hiding! whenever he pops up you must put a lot of pressure on him!
don’t use the phrase ’shitty first draft’ - that’s never going to do you any good!
so you wrote this a few weeks back, i hope your muse stuck around and you got the pages done. if you didn’t, chill out, relax, notice you’re still breathing — and then try write from a fresh point of view
Hey, Kid, thanks for stopping by.
Yes, the muse is back and with a vengeance. My muse doesn’t mind the occasional rant as most writers are — or at least, should be — their own worst critics. I guess when it comes to writing I am much like yourself — I’ll always be a writer.
Thanks again and,
Keep Writing!
Hey Mike-
Just wanted to let you know I stopped by. Don’t know how I got here, but I reviewed your blog entries, and, like Kid said, there was a lot of frustrating stuff.
IMHO, if you can FINISH a script, you’re well ahead of everyone else. You might want to try different approaches in marketing yourself (not that you haven’t…) but if you’re in a creative funk, or are unhappy with your progress, maybe approach the whole thing from a different angle?
Maybe re-write all of your log-lines? Maybe try a new competition? A new query style. Something! But you’ve gotta press on with a positive attitude. Other people — managers, producers — they can sense that sort of downbeat attitude. Don’t succumb! You can do it! Stick with hit! — MEDavidson
Mark,
Thanks for stopping — no matter how you got here
I really find it hard to understand why everyone finds this post so negative. All writers hit rough spots, doubt their creativity, unable to focus on one project or another. Truth is, I have completed nine (9) screenplays, with three (3) in the hopper — in various states of progress — and a spreadsheet full of story ideas. My latest script is chugging right along — 67 pages and counting — and should be done by the end of August.
I will make this promise: No more posts that sound the least bit negative ;-).
Thanks again and,
Keep Writing!
Hello, Muse! Welcome! We are very happy to see you! Stick around, have some pie, make yourself comfortable..