Monday, April 25, 2011

Writing is like Acting

Just been doing the same routine the past few days in regards to creativity: Editing the script, working, and having a cold.

The cold is the worst part, and best, I suppose. Considering I've got more time to write. But having a cold and writing? Doesn't...quite work. I'm so medicated I can't focus past a few lines.

But today I had a short chat with someone who read my book for content purposes about writing. I came up with this conclusion:

Writing is a lot like acting. Writing's keys are from experience, personal knowledge, and research. Much like acting, where it's easier to act a part you know, one that is closer to who you are. But to be a more diverse and well-rounded actor, you need to expand your acting talents into parts you don't know. I feel it's the same with writing - you should edge into what you don't know and be able to write about a lot of different things.

My opinion, anyway.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Manually Formatting

I finished the hard-copy editing [see: scribbling] of "Abandonment". Now I'm reviewing a VERY helpful book called "Elements of Style for Screenwriters" to see how to properly and professionally format a script. I figure if I'm going to take the time to format it at all, I may as well get it right!

So, with character names at 3.5in margin and 2.5in for dialogue, I'm...on page 2. XD

However I've added a lot more material, some pretty awesome fights scenes, a TON more character development. I'm very proud of the changes I made. At the same time, I'm going "How did I not see that needed fixed before?!". It's a very love-hate kinda thing.

I've even been able to envision how I want it to look in post-production! I've added the actual direction and production ideas to the script in italicized sections so my actors can get a better feel for what I'm looking for as they play through their roles. They were always asking me for it anyway!

And that's today. :D

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Planning and Planning

The ever-so-subtle-and-secret birthday plan is underway! I've got the plan down, the research done and now I just have to wait to get paid and maybe adjust the dates (because a payday falls right after I'd return).

I've even calculated in my bills that would be need to be paid and the average (estimated high) cost to do this...thing.

What I can tell you: What I want for my birthday is rest, relaxation, and isolation with my writing.
What I can't tell you: Pretty much anything else, because then I wouldn't get what I want.

I love how this is working out. XD

Creativity today: I'm exhausted from the long weekend of parties and work and still haven't caught up on sleep. I want Gandolfo's. But I have a new piece of writing in progress - exotica/romance short story.

Script progress? Brett's selling his camera. $750. Might as well get a new one at that. Also - since Anime night was held at our house, Zak took the laptop. When I got it back today, I noticed everything was defaulted. Like, Vista-defaults.

Firefox history was gone, icons were organized, sidebar was open.

My fourteen Firefox tabs of research on film production and camera equipment and pricing was out the window. Along with two Word documents of raw, unsaved material. >_<''

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Not Quite.

So, the entire purpose of this blog was lost in the cosmos when I somehow got locked out of my Gmail account and [repeatedly forgot] finally logged back in.

My creative process is finally getting back on track (*knocks on wood*). I've been editing my script - "Abandonment" - and trying to figure out how I want my writing portfolio to come together.

If it wasn't for work and having awesome friends that I -want- to hang out with, I could actually sit down and get stuff done. Usually, they say video games get in the way of real life but in this case: Real life is getting in the way of my dreams. And not in that "society is against me" way. Just that "not enough hours in the day" way. So, on that note, I am both happy and upset that my hours were cut/stayed the same this week.

Last week, I had asked for three days off instead of two. This was so I could schedule doctors appointments to get my hypoglycemia and protein deficiency looked at properly. The new GM came in this week and apparently thought I was past-time (because that -was- what I was hired for [and then I became a valuable asset].). So, I have 25 hours again this week. Small paycheck. Luckily, I've got my bills covered already!

And on money: I want a vacation. A few days back in Illinois or Kentucky. Or maybe somewhere new. What I really want is just me, someplace else, with my writing and a nice big hot tub.

Mmmmm. Maybe for my birthday! :D

So let's give this blog thing another shot. Go, go gadget creativity!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Oops!

I did not forget to make a post here for yesterday. I actually stared at my laptop for quite some time going "I should...".

And then I didn't. See?! My motivation is horrific lately. But today I'm going to walk around while I get lunch and check out the Cinemark over on 7th and 94th and maybe go down to PCLaptops and see if they have an application process.

On the writing side: I've got a new story idea. I don't have any characters yet, but the plot and story is outlined. That's progress.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Productivity

Morning, blog-readers!

At typical, let me start by telling you why I'm here - on blogger.com. This is the first step in being more motivated to express my creativity. The key in the ignition, if you will.

I've got my main, personal blog - here, at Livejournal - but I needed something that I could update more often, as a production blog of sorts. So this is where I'm going to storing snippets of plots, new characters, ideas or concepts, or even just update you on how my creativity is doing.

So, to get this started I'll tell you how this week has gone so far.

Sunday and Monday were rough. I had a bit of a breakdown from realizing my lack of creativity and motivation was from myself. So, after discussing it in length (which tends to be me talking until I figure it out) with Chuck [boyfriend], I sat down and typed out my writing resume. That is, I wrote down all the experience I have as a writer, jotted down my goals and reasons for having a resume devoted to writing, and added a few work references.

I then took this resume and went one-by-one down Google results for writing jobs online that I can use to make extra money. I've got my job as the SLC Indie Movie Examiner at Examiner.com, but they only pay $1/article and you only get paid once a month, after you've earned $25 in articles. Traffic-based pay is painfully hard to get. Also, they limit the amount of articles you can post to five a week - so you can't even really make the minimum paycheck of $25 in your first month.

Needless to say, I think my work is a bit better quality than that. I know I hold a bias there, but go and look for yourself. I'm pretty much inactive but my account remains, on the off-chance that I can come up with more material or motivation to sit down and find more material.

Wednesday will be my first day off work since Friday. I'm going to put in some actual job applications, as well. I don't like my job, slowly hating it more and more each day, and I'm only on minimum wage. Those two things together do not work well for me. So, back to the search. Then Friday, my next day off, I'm going to get the rest of my writing supplies from Vexy's and hope the material there will help kick my creativity into gear.

I think this is a decent first post. I'm setting this blog to my home-page so I can actually remember that I need to post here even if it's just saying "Hi, still unmotivated. kbai."