Procrastinating Screenwriters United

What is it about us? And by "us", yes I do dare to include myself in the ranks no matter how amateur my standings. Everybody has to start somewhere. Anyway ... what is it about us that we so desperately procrastinate against that which we profess to love? Why do our screenplays wither and fade in the dank recesses of our laptops from lack of light and airing? When we're in love (with a human), we can't stop ourselves from driving by our beloved's house, calling him/her, seeking out that face. If we're so stalkerish with humans, why not with screenwriting? Does it take special programming? Do we have to train ourselves? We say we love screenwriting, we love the creativity and the words and the stories, but do we really? Sometimes I think we are more in love with "The End." We love the idea of finishing and selling the perfect movie story. We relish the hope that someday there will be a buyer, applause, recognition, and we replay that finale over and over in our minds while pushing aside the actual work it takes to get there because, well, because it's work. It's very hard work. It's very daunting work. There are those moments when it just flies out of you almost faster than you can type, but the rest of the time, it's agony. It's endlessly shaping and reshaping trying to get it just so, and occasionally having to let it go because you've reached that point where you're possibly doing more harm than good. It's hard. And there is never any guarantee that it's going to go anywhere. Never.

So why would anyone worship the goddess of screenwriting to begin with? If she's so fickle and impossible to please, why don't we throw her over for some other, easier god? I don't have to answer this for anyone. The true devotees bring their sacrifices of ink and paper time and again because their soul knows nothing else.