Guest Blogger: TV Writer/Producer, Herb Goss
Writing is about starting. Every day you must start to get anything done. Many people tell you to pick a time to start and always begin at that exact time. Now that's discipline, but you're a writer not an Olympic athlete so that might not be realistic. Other writers have a page count that they like to hit. I believe in both. I try to write at least six pages a day and I like to start at 10am. However, if I can't start at 10 am than I start at another time and if I can't write six pages than I write as many as I can. You see the object is to have discipline which is the only way to write anything of substance and value. The other rule is to be flexible because if you are not flexible then you'll find that you are constantly beating yourself up which is not conducive to having a good writer's life. But how to start?
It all begins with a blank page. More vast than the infinite universe we live in this can be the most challenging part of writing. If you don't have an idea to slam down then the first thing to do is brainstorm. Just start writing down the first thing that comes to your mind. "A rabbit eating popcorn and getting thrown out of a theater on it's ears." "Why are there two different spellings of theatre, theater?" Don't filter, don't censor. Be prepared to throw that all out because it's not important that the ideas be good but that you write the ideas down. This gets you flowing and keeps you in the habit of writing. Once the habit forms you wont' be able to stop yourself, unless you hear an ice cream truck because all motion stops when anyone or anything hears the song of an ice cream truck.
If you have an idea. Start writing it down. Get as many pages as you can. You've started. Sweet. Now you have something to rewrite. From that day forward, you'll never have to start from scratch. You can start by rewriting what you already wrote, making it better. After that, continue to write from where you left off or perhaps you can write an entirely different piece of your puzzle. Start, write, rewrite, six pages a day. That's a six hundred page novel in 100 days. Three months. It's a 30 page spec script in 5 days. Okay it's not that easy and fast but it's close. Six a day. Start, write, rewrite and then one day... finish.
It all begins with a blank page. More vast than the infinite universe we live in this can be the most challenging part of writing. If you don't have an idea to slam down then the first thing to do is brainstorm. Just start writing down the first thing that comes to your mind. "A rabbit eating popcorn and getting thrown out of a theater on it's ears." "Why are there two different spellings of theatre, theater?" Don't filter, don't censor. Be prepared to throw that all out because it's not important that the ideas be good but that you write the ideas down. This gets you flowing and keeps you in the habit of writing. Once the habit forms you wont' be able to stop yourself, unless you hear an ice cream truck because all motion stops when anyone or anything hears the song of an ice cream truck.
If you have an idea. Start writing it down. Get as many pages as you can. You've started. Sweet. Now you have something to rewrite. From that day forward, you'll never have to start from scratch. You can start by rewriting what you already wrote, making it better. After that, continue to write from where you left off or perhaps you can write an entirely different piece of your puzzle. Start, write, rewrite, six pages a day. That's a six hundred page novel in 100 days. Three months. It's a 30 page spec script in 5 days. Okay it's not that easy and fast but it's close. Six a day. Start, write, rewrite and then one day... finish.
This week's suggested website: Zoetrope.com (www.zoetrope.com) In March of 1998 Francis Coppola launched a website where writers could submit their short stories to his magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story. A community of writers quickly formed around the website. It became so popular so quickly that a few months later he created sites for novellas and screenplays. The Virtual Studio is a submission destination and collaboration tool for filmmakers—a community where artists can submit and workshop original work. It's also the best e-resource for information about the Coppola family and American Zoetrope.
This week's writing prompt: Give yourself five uninterrupted minutes of quiet time. Write a one page short story in the first person point of view. Doesn't need to be fancy or award winning literature. Now here's the real challenge. Switch genders. If you're a male write in the voice of a female (many great writers still complain this is difficult and yet crucial). Try to be convincing and not cliched. Be sure to depict the character's inner life. You won't have much time in five minutes and one page but try to give the reader a glimpse of your character's inner landscape. It doesn't need to be perfect. Practice switching into the "voices" of your characters from the inside out. Have a great writing week.
This week's writing prompt: Give yourself five uninterrupted minutes of quiet time. Write a one page short story in the first person point of view. Doesn't need to be fancy or award winning literature. Now here's the real challenge. Switch genders. If you're a male write in the voice of a female (many great writers still complain this is difficult and yet crucial). Try to be convincing and not cliched. Be sure to depict the character's inner life. You won't have much time in five minutes and one page but try to give the reader a glimpse of your character's inner landscape. It doesn't need to be perfect. Practice switching into the "voices" of your characters from the inside out. Have a great writing week.
