But before that (and after, and perhaps even during) I will be working on my cancer story. I started yesterday -- 600 words, none of them useful. Then I went for a long walk and thought of a much better beginning, which I will probably be working on tonight until 4am. (Btw, I've been up until 4am nearly every day this week. I don't call myself Insomniac #4 for nothin')
And after I write the new and improved beginning (and copy down the week's worth of notes in my pinstripe book) I will be working on a synopsis/treatment for this webinar that I am seriously considering. When I saw this in my inbox last week I had to smile at the timing--and frown at the price. $89 isn't that much to spend, but I've already spend nearly $1,000 on a screenplay workshop and two novel writing classes since starting this project and I'm not certain that lecture instructions, the professional critiques, or the peer feedback and connections I've made (which is pretty much just Texas Jeff and SLC Dan and FG Katie) have produced an equal return on that investment. Especially given that other people are doing the bulk of the 'investing' in my writing 'career'. So I'm going to go through the motions, write my treatment and see where I'm at by the end of Monday. Maybe I'll feel confident enough to sign up for the webinar. Maybe I'll miss out on the eBay items I want, and I'll spend my own money on it. Or maybe I'll be conservative for once and novelize my stale screenplay by myself. For free.
One thing that has kick-started my creativity this week has been the advice of fellow bloggers. You've all been very helpful and encouraging even(especially?) when I sound whiny and pathetic, and sometimes this blog is the only thing that keeps me from tearing up everything I've written and setting it on fire. I've been lucky enough to 'meet' self-published authors like Mich and Jenn who have swapped story ideas and given me some very valuable advice. If you haven't read their blogs already, go check them out now. I'll wait.
While I'm working on my treatment I'll be brainstorming some questions for Kelley, who just happens to have experience working with brain tumor patients (!!!!) I don't even know where to begin, but I'm very grateful for the chance to correspond with someone who has that firsthand knowledge. Combine that with the 'screenplay to novel' webinar and it looks like the literary gods are trying to tell me something.
And so I shall.
I am SUCH a doofus! I only saw your reply on Jerzey's blog now. I really should subscribe via e mail. My bad!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, the amount of shit that goes down on the net involving kids is just frightening! I blame the parents! I our day, our parents instilled the fear of the gods into us and beat us into submission! Nowadays, the parents expect the schools to discipline their kids and the church to scare them into submission! (we 90's kids didn't know how good we had it back then!)
I'm with you on the dessert spread. When faced with a mountain of pudding, I usually feel the sugar frenzy rising and before I know it, I've eaten my own body weight in goddess-knows-what and I've lapsed into a diabetic coma! Not clever! (filthy little overeater, me!)
I'm deeply envious of people who can write. I tend to waffle on about the biggest load of rubbish, as you might well have guessed by the length of this comment! All the best for your writing and remember, keep your mind strong and the rest will follow.
I like it here, I think I'll stay! :)
Yay! Glad to have you aboard. And I'm not usually this bad about responding to comments, btw. But 3 day weekend + working on my novel = neglecting blog. Wont happen again, honest.
DeleteThe dessert spread didn't kill me, at least no more than all the other crap I've been eating. I'm doing a 'Biggest Loser' type challenge with my in-laws. maybe dangling a $60 prize carrot in front of me will get me back on track. or not.
I don't know about you, but I need more hours in my day! This 24H/day thing is BULLSHIT!!!
DeleteThat challenge is a great idea! You can do it! If I had any friends or family I'd do one too. Hmm... I wonder if competing with myself would cause a split personality...?! Rambling again! :)
I'm glad you're working on your writing projects!! That's awesome you found someone with firsthand knowledge of cancer treatment. It can be so difficult to fund experts on subjects and sometimes you really really need the expert to speak to rather than just books and articles. Lol that's how I became internet-friends with a bunch of dudes out west on a Lenape Reservation.... Just have to keep bothering different people and collecting enormous amounts of completely useless information, like stockpiling supplies just in case you need them later!
ReplyDeleteMy writing-circle-workshop-group therapy-whatev starts up again in April and I think you should join this one. :D
Have a good holiday weekend!!
xoxo!
I'm so bad at making connections, but if it's for a story I'm really serious about I'll do whatever I have to.
DeleteI really want to join that writer's group of yours, and if I ever figure out how to chat with you on AIM perhaps we will discuss that further...
Writing is an excellent method of therapy....I'd be utter confused if I tried to hold every thought, every feeling within....good luck with your writing projects....
ReplyDeleteThat's why I write down everything, even if I know I'll never use it for a story. It helps just to get all this garbage out of my head.
DeleteAre you on AIM? If you are: Harlequinn28
ReplyDeleteDon't throw your words away! I made the mistake of doing that in a fit of rage over losing a writing contest I really, really, thought I was going to win. I destroyed what could have been a masterpiece. I will always regret that moment. So, maybe throw things around, hit something, but don't destroy your words. :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you and your new found "energy" to write. You'll surprise yourself, I'm sure! I also think that you are incredibly fortunate to have found someone to picke their brain about brain cancer. That's really pretty cool!
Have fun at your birthday celebrations! And if you eat cake, have some ice cream to go with it!
Oh no, that's terrible! I used to have those fits of rage in my younger years (I still kind of do, but I make sure not to damage anything) Haven't intentionally discarded any of my writing though...but I could totally understand why you would!
DeleteI didn't sign up for the webinar after all...I figured they'd just tell me if my 'screenplay' (which is sooo outdated) would make a good 'novel'. Which I'm pretty sure I could figure out on my own. For free.
Other webinars might be more worthwhile, and perhaps I will look into them someday. Guess that doesn't really help you though, huh?
Maybe you should also lurk on support forums for people with cancer and read what they write, their experiences, yadda, yadda, yadda.
ReplyDeleteSorry if I've already suggested this. :p Good luck with the webinar if you decide to do it. John Miller looks kind of creepy. :p lol.
Lol...he does, doesn't he? That's not why I passed up the webinar, but it certainly didn't help!
DeleteI'm def. going to search some blogs and see what's out there. Not just for brain tumor patients, but teens in general.
Hey I just read about a webinar that is being held next week. I'm toying with the idea of signing up. I've never done one before -well, except for work. Do you recommend it?
ReplyDeleteI think you should do whatever Mich says. *nod*
ReplyDeleteLol...she used to say the same thing about you!
DeleteI've read Mich's book and she knows what she's talking about. And I'm glad to hear that you found someone with firsthand knowledge of brain tumors. The universe is definitely trying to tell you something.
ReplyDeleteI just hope that the universe isn't sending me on a kamikazee mission to nowhere. And Mich amazes me. I soooo wish I had her talent and expertise. And free time. That's a biggie.
DeleteDude! Thanks for the link love & the compliment...wow, I've never been told my advice was valuable before. That's pretty humbling and I really, really appreciate it. I think the main thing is that us Writers need to stick together and encourage each other. With the numerous number of words released every day that turn into nothing more than useless drivel its always nice to find Writers who really care about the work they'll be putting in the world. Can't wait to read your book! And no matter the cost of the things that will help push it out into the world (like webinars, etc) I think its always worth it if it feels like the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to just have a party for four people in one go. As for the story, I can sometimes fail to think up a good start but when I do everything just seems to click and I have trouble stopping. But I can admire you for wanting to know as much as you can before talking about it like you know everything.
ReplyDelete