After a very intense creative period this past spring and summer, writing a regular weekly column on a website I had written for since January of 2007... and having left that long-term situation rather suddenly... I found my writing, and my blog, absolutely dead in the water. My greatest creative outlet had dwindled to participating in comment threads on Facebook, and starting and stopping maybe three dozen failed "somethings" of a page or less... in a lot of cases much less... in a folder on my laptop.
One idea would come, and another would crowd it out just as fast, and nothing worth posting or publishing. And sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a writer is writer's block.
So here I am.
About a year back, I had an idea for a screen story. One that, after kicking the main ideas around with a few friends, seemed to get the most positive feedback... and the sternest warnings that there could be a genuine shit storm of unrest caused by the story's implications regarding the nature of love... and other things (after all, you did see the working title at the top of this page... right?). Oh, and it had to be funny. Yeah, good luck with that. Then the real bright idea that came along with wanting to revisit this project... the idea that, since I only seem to thrive under pressure... and nothing says pressure like telling people what you're writing while you're writing it.
So here I am... with you.
I have no idea how often I'll post these Screenplay Diary updates, anymore than I have any idea if I'll even finish this screen story. But one thing I do know is that, at the end of every update, I will leave you with a portion of the script as I've written it. And since you know the one of the implications of the story, the first quote I'm leaving you with should make sense. I don't know who is going to be saying it yet, or to whom, or even when in the story... but it will be there. Here you go,
"...and there's even going to come a day when I won't be able to be friends with *you* anymore. Because one day, I'm going to wake up, knowing that I'm in love with you. And everything, from that moment on, will be ruined. Because of me."
Wish me luck, and see you next time.
Copyright © 2011 Bill Friday
"And sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a writer is writer's block." LOVE that line because I've totally been there.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see where you've been, and where you're going. You're a wonderful writer, and I can't wait until you finish all of those things in that file on your laptop.
Best of luck with it Bill! I know you can do it. Looking forward to reading about your progress. Don't give up on it. :-)
ReplyDeleteBill, it sounds very exciting. Count on me to help hold your feet to the writing fire! Reading this post has inspired me to admit in public that I've decided to publish a small book of my poetry. So I will expect you to do the same for me. I feel as though I need to "say it out loud" to make it real, and so that I will take it seriously myself. Thanks for being a good, brave example! I can hardly wait to read the updates!
ReplyDeleteGive it your all, Bill!
ReplyDelete