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.

Adrift with only a screenplay

I think my last posting probably did not convey my true feelings very clearly about being let go. I have been laid off, and I know that can be a crushing experience for some people, but for me it wasn't because I knew it happened through no fault of my own. The company shut down. Being let go is extraordinarily disturbing. No matter how many times others try to tell you that they made the mistake, you can't help but wonder, "What the hell happened? Why am I being rejected? What did I do?" Unfortunately, I have lots of company these days in that ship called the SS Jobless, and I know they are feeling these pains, too. How much does it help each of us as individuals to know we're not alone? Some, I guess.

I went on an interview today. It was very odd and mechanical with very set steps and preordained questions. The guy interviewing me was impossible to read which is probably why they gave him the task of interviewing. No false hope-giving for that dude. And the office had a certain feel of ... what? A library? A storage room? I don't know; it just looked like they moved in and set stuff down in the first place it fell and left it there. Then they all picked out their desks and made a pact to be vewy vewy qwuiet.

I have signed up again for unemployment. I think working for the ... uhhh, what shall I call them? ... probably screwed things up on that front. Previously I was drawing on the company that shut down. I don't think I will be anymore, and therefore, will most likely receive much less. They have lit up my life in soooo many ways.

The end ... already

I lost the job. It's the first time in my life I have ever been let go. I have always been considered an exemplary employee and a fast learner, but these people tell me they were looking for a "natural" and they just think my training would take more time than they have. The funny thing is, they only asked one person's opinion of how I was doing, and this person had been telling me in just the last couple days that I was ahead of the game, even overlearning because I was studying the books at home on my own time, but apparently when she was questioned about me, it was a different story. Oh well. There's more to this story, more shades to the drama and twists and turns, but I won't bore you, and I'm not the type to talk negatively about former employers. It'll get you nowhere.

So it's back to job hunting. I've already contacted a company that had called me for an interview a couple days ago. I really hesitated when they called and considered taking the interview because I was wondering if where I was working was the best place to be. But I decided to stick with it, silly me. Anyway, I called that company back and was able to still get in for an interview. I think it will be a much more stable place, state job and all.

My writing has been on hold the last couple weeks while I was getting into this new job. I suppose I will now have some time to get back after it, huh? That's the thing you know - your first love will always be there.

Working girl

No, I did not get a job as a prostitute. I have often envied the money that some prostitutes and nude dancers make, but I'm probably past my prime for that kind of work anyway.

I did get a job. And it's a bit of a strange one, which makes me happy. I always meet these people with the weird-ass jobs that sound just crazy enough to be fun, and now I'm one of those people. There's a lot to learn, but I'm looking forward to it, and it's good pay. So now at least I have a day job to not quit while I'm writing.

I still need to get on those final revisions for screenplay #1 because I want to get it sent off to Scriptshark sometime reasonably soon. And I want to finish #3 and send it to Austin Film Festival. For some reason I have been procrastinating on finishing up those revisions. Maybe by typing that sentence out, it will spur me to stop being so damn lazy and get it done. I'm not alone on putting off revisions, right? Somebody chime in here.

So in summary: very happy with the new job, think it's going to be a good one, need to revise and get #1 sent off. How is the job-searching going for everybody else? Don't lose faith, me lovelies. I had my days of absolutely bursting into tears, but it will all work out. I'll fill you in on the new vocation more later and let you know what I'm seeing out there. It's been something.

At the moment, I can't even think of a title for this posting. My uncle died last week, and he was buried today. He was only 68.

I will always remember with an inward giggle the time he took me to a car auction some eighty miles away. He sold the vehicle we went there in, but I bought a car and his friend bought a car, a truck, and a child's 4-wheeler. We started home. My car was the first to conk out. Then a few miles later, the truck. We got into the old car of our last hope and willed it to make it so we wouldn't be piled up on a tiny 4-wheeler racing down the interstate.

He was an adventurer. I'm sure if he had lived in the time and place of safaris, he would have been right out there amongst them, having a grand old time. That's the way I see and remember him. I remember hiking up mountains and through woods and exploring caves with him. I remember him taking us to places where American Indians had painted lasting tributes on the rock. I remember being in a glass-bottomed submarine with him after an exciting halfway-across-the country trip to Disneyworld. I remember him calling us all out to the lake many, many weekends where we would swim and ski behind his boat. I see him, healthy and laughing and smiling, always having a ball. I see him in that blue and white boat skimming the waves.

He was a fine friend, a wonderful uncle. Everyone who knew him remembers the smile and the cup of coffee. He was an adventurer. To Uncle Rex, may this be your grandest adventure yet.

Movie Magic

If you're just getting started with your screenwriting, you might be looking around for screenwriting software. The two biggies out there are Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter. I use Movie Magic and I really like it. I was not paid by Movie Magic to say that (I wish).

Most of the contests, production companies, agents, etc., will ask for your screenplay in either Final Draft or Movie Magic format, so it is probably a good idea to invest in one if you're really serious about trying to write movies. I know they can be a chunk of change for some people, but try putting a little aside each week or each month if you have to. It's really worth it. Not only will you be on the same wavelength as the people you are trying to sell your masterpiece to, it will just make things soooo much easier on you as you're writing it.

These programs are very user-friendly and basically take away all the time-consuming tasks of correct formatting. You do NOT want to ever, ever, ever send anything out incorrectly formatted. And I have tried to do the formatting myself. If you are computer savvy and good at setting up macros and that sort of thing, you might be able to pull it off. I found a website one time that gave instructions. But I don't recommend it. You can also do a search on free screenwriting software and come up with several. Research them carefully. Some of them have features like being able to convert to .pdf or upload to Final Draft or Movie Magic. You would definitely want features like that. Do searches on reviews of these products, not just the freebies, but the paid ones, too. You'll get all kinds of insight into what will work best for you.

If you're ready to shop for Movie Magic Screenwriter, again, do some research. Check around. Don't forget to check places like E-bay or Craigslist. I bought mine off a store on E-bay for a pretty decent price, new, and it came with a 10%-off coupon for Scriptshark as well as lots of other goodies. If you're a student or a teacher, there's the academic version which will come cheaper than the regular version, by around $50-$70 or so. Don't fret; it is no different than the regular version.

job search

Not only am I searching for a payday on a screenplay, I'm searching for a payday, period. I need a job. I have applied everywhere for just about every kind of job there is. I've applied for jobs ranging from teacher to the person who measures property in order to assess taxes.

I realize there are whole lot of jobless people out there right now. I, myself, know many who have been laid off due to this crappy economy and all the shutdowns it has brought with it. I was a victim, too. But you are eligible for unemployment if you lost your job through no fault of your own, and quite often during my days of receiving benefits, there were extensions because the government realized it is just taking much longer for people to find jobs in this worker-flooded market. Talk to your unemployment agency. Find out about all the various programs out there because believe me, there are many. I was on one called TAA or TRA which was a program to help people who lost their jobs due to foreign competition. There are programs that will help with your food bills, your mileage, your education expenses. Start researching and asking lots of questions. Send me your questions and if I can help, I certainly will.

In the meantime, try not to get discouraged by how long it takes to land another job. It can take days, weeks, or months. I sent an application to a company on January 6 and was called for an interview on January 20. Some will call to do a short phone interview, and then it may be days or weeks later when they call for an in-person interview. I know it's hard, and I know it's discouraging and scary and depressing. But you're not alone.