Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving!   There are many things that we, as screenwriters, can be grateful for.  On this Thanksgiving, take a moment and ponder…

Freedom of Speech  and how you can write whatever YOU want. 

How computers have made rewriting easier.  Can you imagine having to retype every page that you need to rewrite!   OR, putting a screenplay on paper using nothing but a pencil?

Research is faster with help from the internet.   But don’t forget the beauty of your local library and be thankful for that, too.

Readers, the people who read what we write … our family, our internet buddies, friends in our writer’s groups.

And our lives.   All our experiences that we draw from as we write.  Our imaginations, wild and crazy as they are.   Our loves and our fears.  Our challenges and our gifts.

Screenwriters be thankful.  And after you eat some turkey, get back to work and finish that feature!

Happy Thanksgiving!

InfoQ article on what it really means to refactor or rewrite. Good read:

http://www.infoq.com/news/2009/11/refactor-rewrite

I participated in the NYCMM contest this week-end. And then I wrote a short screenplay for Robbie Comeau titled “Aichmophobia”.

Robbie is a filmmaker who I met through DVXuser and MoviePoet. He’s looking for a screenplay which incorporates a dream-sequence that he has already written. In case you’re curious, aichmophobia is a “fear of knives”. If Robbie accepts my script, it will be made into a short film. When appropriate, I will upload the SP.

So now, after writing two short screenplays, I’m back to my feature “Unknown Caller” (previously titled “Stalked”). The rewrite is going well.  I’m on page 42.

Yesterday, I found out about the Seven Rays Script-a-Scene Adaptation Competition sponsored by Final Draft.    Jessica Bendinger wrote a book titled “The Seven Rays”. As soon as I can read the book, I’ll decide if I want to write a scene and enter the contest. If I decide to enter, I’ve got until February, 2010, to get that finished!   $20.00 entry fee.

This week-end was reserved for competing in the NYCMM screenplay contest.  I’m happy to announce that I survived the week-end and the assignment.

My five-pager ended up being titled ”Daddy Help Her”.  The assigned genre was horror, the location had to be a farm, and the required object was a remote control.   I’ll post “Daddy Help Her” today if you wish to read it.  Someday it might be rewritten!

I’ll be happy to proceed to the finals but, if I don’t, I got what I needed to out of this competition.  The thing I learned from this competition is how important “time” is when you write.

If you agree  that “writing is rewriting”, then time is needed to do the rewrites.  It is even better if you have a break (more time) in between the rewrites. 

It is possible to produce a polished SP in a week-end but it is a very intense process.   I am so very grateful that my family supports my SP endeavors.

No one said this was going to be easy but the last few days have been rather nightmarish in my writing world. In my other world it’s been just fine and f*ck hawt dandy.  Sorry, but I’m a fangirl and it rears it’s cute little face every once in awhile and the last few days the fangirl has been slapped with so much Robert Pattinson that she is on total overload. Maybe that’s why NaNo has hit a brick wall. So I satisfied the fangirl by going to the movie yesterday and watching all the vid clips of every stinking show he appeared on. Does this mean I can get back down to business and hit that 50k mark this weekend? I certainly hope so.

During my run today I came up with some viable options for the direction of the NaNo story. I actually made myself just write crap last night and I may have accidentally hit on something. Granted I haven’t reread last nights writing. In fact I’m a little frightened because I really did force myself to just write something, writing anything…even if it’s just shizz which I’m sure it is but it doesn’t matter because I’m writing…Right? I’ve lost my cotton picking mind.

Plan for the day…WRite  REwrite WRite some more REwrite…Where the hell is that 50k Anyone see it?

เวลาเอา web app ที่เขียนด้วย cakephp ไปใส่ใน userdir เช่น /home/veer/public_html/myapp (ซึ่งมักจะไปตรงกับ url http://hostname/~veer/myapp) มักจะมีปัญหากับ mod_rewrite ขึ้นมา แต่ก็แก้ไม่ยาก เพียงแต่แก้ .htaccess ใน myapp กับ myapp/app/webroot

เดิมทีจะเขียนไว้ประมาณนี้ (ใน myapp กับ myapp/app/webroot ไม่เหมือนกัน แต่ก็แก้เหมือนกัน)

   RewriteEngine on
   RewriteRule    ^$ app/webroot/    [L]
   RewriteRule    (.*) app/webroot/$1 [L]

ก็แก้โดยใส่ RewriteBase เข้าไปเป็นแบบนี้

   RewriteEngine on
   RewriteBase    /~veer/myapp
   RewriteRule    ^$ app/webroot/    [L]
   RewriteRule    (.*) app/webroot/$1 [L]

เสร็จแล้ว

Okay, having a NaNo meltdown today. Maybe it’s because all I can think of is going to New Moon today. I’m such a fangirl(rolls eyes) Yesterday I got nothing…the story is at a stand still. I’m hoping for a breakthrough today. I know I’m still ahead in the word count but I really hate it when the writing ceases. I think the story is trying to tell me to take it in a slightly different direction so until I rewrite a bit of it nothing else is going to come. Freaking story lines can be stubborn, so today, before I go to New Moon, I’m going to go back in the story and go where the story is trying to pull me. I also need to write down the names of the characters because more are being introduced and I’m losing control of who they all are.

Who knew when this all started that NaNo would drive me into this story. I freaking said I’d never write about vampires but these characters have drawn me in and hooked me. I have to finish this story to find out what’s going to happen. That’s funny because with my Time Jumper story I wrote the ending of the book first, same with the sequel. I knew what the ending was so I knew where I was heading. Didn’t exactly know how I would get there but I knew where I would end up. This Vampire story has a mind of its own and I have no idea where it’s heading. Kinda exciting to write when you don’t know what’s going to happen. I actually thought I’d get nothing out of this whole adventure but if I can get over this small road block and flesh the story out I may have a really viable story. Anyway I like it, but I think I say that about most of my stories.

OPENINGS

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single OP1 – Melissa

Name: Melissa
Artist: Porno Graffitti
CD Release: 2003/09/26
Tracks:

01. Melissa
02. Mienai Yume
03. Tsukigai
Download: Click Here (18.68 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single OP2 – Ready Steady Go

Name: Ready Steady Go
Artist: L’Arc-en-Ciel
CD Release: 2004/02/04
Tracks:

01. READY STEADY GO
02. READY STEADY GO(hydeless version)
03. READY STEADY GO(kenless version)
04. READY STEADY GO(tetsuless version)
05. READY STEADY GO(yukihiroless version)
Download: Click Here (25.79 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single OP3 – Undo

Name: Undo
Artist: Cool Joke
CD Release: 2004/05/12
Tracks:

01. UNDO
02. Bukkowareru Tsuki
03. UNDO ~Original Karaoke~
Download: Click Here (15.37 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single OP4 – Rewrite

Name: Rewrite
Artist: ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
CD Release: 2004/08/08
Tracks:

01. Rewrite
02. Yūgure no Aka
Download: Click Here (10.99 MB)

ENDINGS

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single ED1 – Kesenai Tsumi

Name: Kesenai Tsumi (The Unerasable Sin)
Artist: Nana Kitade
CD Release: 2003/10/29
Tracks:

01. Kesenai Tsumi
02. Shuukan
03. Iryuuhin
04. Kesenai Tsumi (Instrumental)
Download: Click Here (16.67 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single ED1.5 – Kesenai Tsumi [Remix]

Name: Kesenai Tsumi (The Unerasable Sin) [Remix]
Artist: Nana Kitade
CD Release: 2003/12/03
Tracks:

01. Kesenai Tsumi (Remix)
02. Shunkan (Remix)
03. Kesenai Tsumi (Instrumental)
Download: Click Here (18.72 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single ED2 – Tobira no Mukou e

Name: Tobira no Mukou e (To the Other Side of the Door)
Artist: YeLLOW Generation
CD Release: 2004/01/28
Tracks:

01. Tobira no Mukou He
02. Kimi ga Ita Kara ~Eternal Way~
03. Tobira no Mukou He (Less Vocal)
04. Kimi ga Ita Kara ~Eternal Way~ (Less Vocal)
Download: Click Here (26.43 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single ED3 – Motherland

Name: Motherland
Artist: Crystal Kay
CD Release: 2004/05/12
Tracks:

01. Motherland
02. AS IT BEGAN
03. Motherland (Instrumental)
Download: Click Here (17.32 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Single ED4 – I Will

Name: I Will
Artist: Sowelu
CD Release: 2004/09/01
Tracks:

01. I Will
02. Pearlcolor ni Yurete
03. Candy Rain
04. I Will (less vocal)
Download: Click Here (24.52 MB)

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Original Soundtrack Vol.1

Name: Original Soundtrack Vol.1
CD Release: 2004/03/24
Tracks:

01. Kiro
02. Touka Koukan
03. Melissa (tv size)
04. Shougou
05. Tenkou Kisei
06. Gairo
07. Omoide
08. Manamusume
09. Mametsubu Renkinjutsushi
10. Youwa
11. Douyou
12. Sen’nyuu
13. Shundou
14. Rouko
15. Shinkou
16. Shukumei
17. Betsuri
18. Hisou
19. Shokuzai
20. Rakuyou
21. Kenja no Ishi
22. Ishbal
23. Tenjou
24. Scar
25. Anun
26. Kinki
27. Amesutorisu
28. Saikai
29. Nukumori
30. Hagane no Kokoro
31. Souto
32. Bratja – Vocal
33. Kesenai Tsumi (tv size)
Download: Click Here (138.37 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Original Soundtrack Vol.2

Name: Original Soundtrack Vol.2
CD Release: 2004/12/15
Tracks:

01. Ready Steady Go
02. On’ai
03. Tsumi
04. Kantou
05. Homunculus
06. Kodoku
07. Kuuten
08. Zanshi
09. Ryouryou
10. Shunjou (Lust)
11. Myakudou
12. Shisei
13. Shinsoku
14. Gouyoku (Greed)
15. Meimyaku
16. Romei
17. Hifun
18. Kandatsu
19. Kuukyo
20. Tengai
21. Mukyou
22. Kuon
23. Kenran
24. Fukai Mori
25. Dante
26. Kaichou
27. Keiji
28. Yuukoku
29. Tsuisou
30. Tobira no Mukou he
Download: Click Here (84.97 MB)

→ Fullmetal Alchemist – Original Soundtrack Vol.3

Name: Original Soundtrack Vol.3
CD Release: 2005/05/18
Tracks:

01. Rewrite
02. Kyoudai
03. Kiro
04. Aisetsu
05. Kei
06. Nonki
07. Sakubou
08. Koukai
09. Shingun
10. Gaika
11. Kantou
12. Kibou
13. Motherland
14. Tsuioku
15. UNDO
16. Butou
17. Senkou
18. Kengi
19. Shinryaku
20. Shihai
21. Aishou
22. Wakare no Kyoku (piano ver.)
23. Seiatsu
24. Juu-rin
25. Unmei
26. Wakare no Kyoku
27. I Will
Download: Click Here (97.40 MB)

MOVIE THEME

→ Fullmetal Alchemist Movie – Single OP/ED – “Link” and “Lost Heaven”

Name: “Link” and “Lost Heaven”
Artist: L’Arc~en~Ciel
CD Release: 2005/07/20
Tracks:

01. Link [FULL METAL ALCHEMIST MOVIE OP]
02. Promised Land 2005
03. Link (hydeless version)
04. Promised Land 2005 (TETSU P’UNK vocalless version)
05. Promised land 2005 (TETSU P’UNKless vocal version)
06. BONUS – LOST HEAVEN [FULL METAL ALCHEMIST MOVIE ED]
Download: Click Here (0 MB)

Kanbe Kotori, the main heroine of Rewrite.

Still shrouded to the public, little is known of Key’s upcoming visual novel, Rewrite. Brief profiles of the nine main characters are available on the official website, as is a simple diagram of characters’ relations with one another. Of the information accessible at the moment however, that which is of greatest interest to me personally is Rewrite’s setting.

One of the settings in Rewrite.

Here’s my translation of the beginning of the story page. The language is stilted, even for my obscene tastes, but I preserved intentionally the rough order in which information was presented in the original Japanese text. If I mistranslated, assume the passage a drunken jest.

緑化都市、風祭。文明と緑の共存という理想を掲げたこの都市に住む。
The afforestation city, Kazamatsuri.¹ The coexistence of civilization and verdure, the kind of ideal proclaimed anent this city in which they² live.

Another such setting.

1. This pronunciation for 風祭 was presumably given by some sort of authentic source (I assume is a magazine article, but don’t quote that), as it seems to be consistent.

2. The “they” I introduced in compliance with English grammar is, if I translated correctly, in reference to the story’s characters which are referenced later in the passage.

I’ve yet to find more than one easily legible related magazine scan,* and while there exists presumably accurate information on both the English and Japanese Wikipedia articles on the subject, I’ve come across virtually nothing suggesting an influence on the setting. The latter article includes the sentence “登場人物の苗字の由来は、関西地方のいくつかの地名が元となっている,” which I understand to mean “Characters’ surnames are based on some place names from the Kansai region of Japan,” but I’ve learned of no indications that any settings might be similarly inspired.

The magazine article scans I’ve managed to find as of the posting of this article I’ve provided a link to below.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OB9T0Q1S

* I’ve discovered transcripts which I’ll read when I next have sufficient enough time to do so. If I learn applicable information I’ll update this article accordingly.

Moriguchi Station should be familiar to those who've read or watched Kanon.

Key has demonstrated a tendency to base their settings on existing locales. I recently came across this website which shows comparisons of settings in visual novels to their material counterparts (visual novels are listed in the top section, anime in the bottom section). Of immediate interest to this article are the pages on Kanon (the setting of which is inspired by Moriguchi in Osaka), Air (the setting of which is inspired by Kasumi, now part of Kami, in Hyougo), Clannad (the setting of which is inspired by Mizuho in Tokyo), and Planetarian (the setting of which is inspired by the Matsubishi Department Store of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka). This collection of locations represented by some visual novels and anime via Google Maps includes those relevant to the anime Clannad After Story (the setting of which is inspired by Suita in Osaka) which are shared with Tomoyo After. I haven’t the slightest idea if and what real places may have been used as models for sites in Little Busters!; I’d be very much appreciative if someone were to make known to me if there are.

Having, I hope, evidenced this proclivity, I pose the following question: If Key intends to continue this trend with Rewrite, from what town or city might Kazamatsuri draw artistic influence?

It would be stupidly premature to assume an intention to voice environmental commentary, but I think it’s clear that a theme not entirely estranged is likely to be of significant relevance to Rewrite. Should a material municipality serve as a source of inspirations for the story’s settings I wonder how the verdancy and rurality of the two will compare. Although allegedly, and understandably, supposed to be somewhat rural, Kazamatsuri is a city of which its fantastical nature is inherently at odds with one would expect from a city. The nature and reputation of a potential source of influence would, I expect, likely be of much greater significance for candidacy than would have been the case for others of Key’s releases. Fans are sure to discover the concrete equivalent of the setting, if one exists, in due time, so I can’t imagine Key would neglect to consider the relationship between culture and environment of Kazamatsuri’s parent.

I’ve have no light to shed on this matter beyond vaguely suppositional ramblings, but what I’ve presented here was only an excuse to write an article about Rewrite while awaiting further revelations and, ultimately, the visual novel itself. I at least enjoyed pondering the discussed matter, inconsequential though the labor may have been.

Rinduku rindumu bersekutu dengan waktu
ingin kujumpa lagi matamu
matamu seperti rembulan yang tak tidur dikala malam
rinduku kepadamu, tak terlukiskan

rinduku kepadamu
ingin kutemui lagi auramu
aura yang membuat teduh seluruh ragaku
rinduku taktergantikan

rinduku hanya untukmu
sungguh ingin kucium lagi haurummu
harummu yang penuh semerbak wangi surga
merasuk keseluruh dadaku
rinduku tidak dapat diukur

andai aku dapat menata jalanku
akan aku tata
sehingga aku bisa bersama denganmu
berdua selamanya
andai tuhan memberikanku sepasang sayap
akan aku terbang ketempatmu
kuingin bersamamu
hanya dirimu yang aku mau

sepanjang masa terpatri
laksana intan nan suci
bercahaya didalam hati
senyummu kan terangi hati

semua kata semangatmu adalah api didalam dadaku
nasihatmu menjadi tonggak tegap berdiriku
perhatianmu membuatku teduh dari panasnya dunia
dunia yang membuatku layu, tetapi tetap bertahan karena adamu

bagai pohon tempat bersandarku
kau memberiku secercah semangat disetiap waktu
tak ada kau, takseperti ini diriku sekarang
karena kau adalah jiwaku dalam cakrawala hidupku

cintamu berdetak disetiap denyut nadi
dan aku yakin akan cintamu yang selalu abadi
walauku tau hidup ini pasti akan mati
tapi rasa ini akan selalu ada dihati

kuuntai kata-kata indah ini untukmu
namun takdapat kugantikan seribu kata ini dengan rasa terima kasihku
cintamu, kasih sayangmu, dan semua yang ada didalam dirimu
terlalu manis, terlalu sangat untuk kuucapkan
hanya dapat digambarkan, tiada dapat digantikan

IBU,
pelita didalam mendungku,
cahaya didalam gelapku,
sungguh didalam diriku terkenang dirimu
kau membuatku bangkit disaat ku jatuh,
kau selalu-dan terus selalu memberikan aku berjuta-juta cinta
hingga aku merasa teduh denganmu

IBU,
dengan do’amu aku berjuang
menempuh cita-cita
membuat kau bangga akan segala karyaku
membuat semua orang tau, bahwa kau adalah IBU terbaik, yang melahirkan anak yang terbaik
dan akan kuperlihatkan kepada bangsa, negara,dan dunia
segala taring yang kauberikan, kepadaku

terima kasih ibu
dan lihatlah diriku hingga nanti

Jika ada sejuta orang menyukaimu, maka akulah salah satunya…
Jika ada seribu orang menyukaimu, maka akulah salah satunya..
Jka ada seratus orang menyukaimu, maka akulah salah satunya..
Jika ada sepuluh orang menyukaimu, maka akulah salah satunya..
Jika hanya ada satu orag menyukaimu, maka pasti itu adalah aku..
Jika tidak ada seorang pun menyukaimu, maka pastilah aku telah tiada di dunia ini..
karena..aku akan selalu menyukai selama aku masih diberi kesempatan untuk hidup..

Tuhan memberiku sepasang mata untuk melihat keindahan..

Yaitu dirimu..

Senyummu..
Perhatianmu..
Cintamu..
Sayang mu pada ku..

Tuhan memberiku sebuah bibir untuk bersyukur..

Atas dirimu..

Mengenalmu..
Memilikimu..
Hidup bersamamu..

I’m a “stickler” for using the right (write!) word.  I don’t like long fancy words, I like the shorter ones, the words that no one will scratch their heads over.

Sometimes long fancy words are the only ones that can be used, but I always worry that a reader won’t know what the word means and then … suddenly the reader is someplace else but, most certainly, not reading my story!

Someone once told me (or maybe I read it someplace), never use a “quarter” word when a “nickel” word will do!

Which brings us to the use of LIE or LAY.  Both are nice nickel words.  But, I admit, I always get them confused.  When folks read my stuff, I’m forever hearing, “it’s lie not lay” or “it’s lay not lie”.

So, I googled “lie or lay” and found a bunch of web-sites that explained the difference. 

LIE OR LAY

Basically, use LIE if something is going “to be at rest in a horizontal position”.  Use LAY if one is going to “set or place something down”.  If you want more information, click on my google-search above!

Okay, get to work.  Happy writing!   Enjoy your week-end.

So, over here is a scarf pattern that I must have found early last year and wanted to make, but never got a reply to the question I left. I had forgotten about it until someone new commented, but now I am trying it out for myself. The picture isn’t the best for showing detail either, so I can’t quite see how the pattern works/ed.

The first row “dc in 3rd ch from hook, *(5 dc, ch 5) repeat until last ch,..” is totally missing a skip 5. I made mine a 4. So you have the turning chain and 5 dc (6 in total), ch5, sk4, 5dc, ch5, sk4, 5dc, ch5, sk4, 6dc. Left me with 3 butterfly starts.

The picture seems to have a ‘butterfly’ right on the edge, which might account for my confusion on the second row. Me? I changed it to, ch2, turn, sk 1st dc, dc in 5dc, ch5, dc in each dc, ch5, dc in each dc, ch5, dc in 6dc. Repeat this once more

I followed the original row 5, but to my schematics.

I’ve run out of yarn to do any more with this, but even now I think I’d change the first row to be a row of sc or maybe two to make it blend with the dividing sections better. The author does specify to put a round of sc on at the end though. The next part I’d do is put ‘butterflies’ over the two middle solid sections, so I’d have a row of three, then two, and three, etc.  =)

Pictures directly.

I started to rewrite “Unknown Caller” a couple of days ago.   As I set about immersing myself back into the story (after a break of several months), doubts surfaced.  I wondered if the project was worth my time, and  I even considered scrapping the project in its entirety. 

But then I realized something.  And I’m glad I did because I’m going to be ready for it next time it happens to me!    Everytime I start to write (or rewrite) an SP,  I have these doubts.

I think what happens (in my subconscious) is I sit down to write and because my writing time is so precious to me, I become afraid of wasting any of it.  And this “fear” immobilizes me.

I know this is going to sound weird, but I have to actually give myself permission to waste my writing time.   And what I mean is this … I give myself permission to make mistakes, to go down the wrong path in a story, to use the wrong character at a particular plot point.  I give myself permission to scrap pages and pages and pages that I’ve previously written…  And try again.

That’s what writing is … rewriting.    I don’t want to sound like a broken record because I’ve said it before.  But it’s true.   So, be forwarned, I’m probably going to say it again.  Because every time I admit it to myself, it amazes me.   It’s such a simple concept.  Writing is rewriting.  The experienced pros out there tell us this all the time but it takes many writers (including yours truly) years to accept it.

เมื่อวานนั่งเขียน rule ของ mod_rewrite ให้เวลาเปิดเว็บด้วย iphone ให้มันไปใช้อีก path นึงค้นใน google ก็เจอ pattern แบบนี้

RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} .*iPhone.*
RewriteRule ^index\.cfm$ /i/index.cfm [QSA,L]

ตรงส่วน RewriteCond เราจะเอาค่า HTTP_USER_AGENT มาเช็คตาม pattern .*iPhone.*
ส่วน RewriteRule ที่ผมต้องการคือถ้าเจอ index.cfm ให้ไปที่ /i/index.cfm

ที่นี้พอเขียน rule แบบนี้ปุ๊บพวก resource อื่นๆที่อ้างแบบ relative path ใน index.cfm ก็จะใช้ไม่ได้เลย เช่นถ้ามีอ้าง css/style.css ซึ่งจริงๆ path ต้องเป็น /i/css/style.css มันก็จะเปลี่ยน request เป็น /css/style.css ก็เลยต้องเขียน rule เพิ่งจัดการตรงนี้ มั่วๆอยู่นานกว่าจะได้ออกมาแบบนี้

RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} .*iPhone.*
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /i/%{REQUEST_URI} [QSA,L]

คือเพิ่ม RewriteCond เข้าไปโดยเช็คว่า ถ้า REQUEST_FILENAME ไม่ใช่ ไฟล์ (-f) ไม่ใช่ ไดเรกทอรี่ (-d) ก็คือหาไฟล์หา path นี้ไม่เจอก็ให้เปลี่ยน url เป็น /i/%{REQUEST_URI} ตรง REQUEST_URI เป็น path ที่โดน request มา เช่น จาก rule แรกทำให้ css/style.css ไป request ที่ /css/style.css ซึ่งไฟล์นี้ไม่มี มันก็จะ rewrite เป็น /i/css/style.css ตามที่ต้องการ

Some days I sit in front of my keyboard, and the writing flows.  I don’t have to “search” for a word or scene because  everything surges through my fingers with minimal effort.   I’m higher than a kite because of my creativity.  I’m on top of the world!

Then the next day I’ll read what gave me such a “buzz” the day before.  And I’ll think to myself, this is a bunch of hog-wash.  What I have written is nothing but drivel.   How can I possibly think I’m a writer?  Why am I wasting my precious time on earth writing?

Or I’ll put something I’ve written on “review sites” such as Zoetrope or TriggerStreet.  One review will praise  my story,  the next reviewer will tell me the story rates about as high as a dead bug under a fly swatter.

Oh, the ride we are on!  It’s enough to put you in the looney bin.   But, there are things we can do to deal with this “motion sickness”. 

The internal battle inside you, the “I can’t write” low versus the “I’m a great writer” high…  This is a hard one to deal with.  Personally, I just accept it and keep writing.  If a particular project is causing a lot of self-doubts, then I move on to another project.   I’ve decided I’m really not into self-torture!

As a writer, there are many things you can do to keep yourself stoked.  One thing I do is visit a  computer file of mine  titled WHAT IF.   It’s a great cure for the “writer blues”. 

The WHAT IF file is a great diversion.  WHAT IF I was invisible?  WHAT IF the doorbell rang and it was my dead ex-husband?  WHAT IF the sun quit shining?  WHAT IF no one picked up the trash?  WHAT IF?  WHAT IF?  WHAT IF?     So many “what if” scenarios!  As you add to this file, you will find it to be a great place to go for ideas!

Receiving reviews from other writers can impact your emotional well-being, too, if you aren’t careful.  First and foremost, don’t take anything personal.  Not everyone is going to love your work.   And remember the reason you are getting a review … to help you improve and hone your craft.  Personally, I hate reviews that tell me how wonderful my story is and don’t tell me how I can improve!

Anyway, when you get a review you will discover that, all of a sudden, what you thought was “perfect”, is full of misspelled words, missing apostrophe’s, and places that just don’t make sense.   That’s okay.  Remember the purpose of a review is to help you get better. 

I try to put space between my work and the reviews because it helps me see things more clearly.   I’ll use recent projects of mine to illustrate how I do this.

I just finished a major rewrite of  “Revenge”, a feature I started a couple years ago.   I had several friends agree to read it plus I put it on Zoetrope.  While  waiting for those reviews, I started to revise a  feature I started last year titled “Unknown Caller”. 

Now yesterday I received two “Revenge” reviews, and this morning I received another.   Many writers would put aside “Unknown Caller” and immediately start to rewrite “Revenge”.   No, no, no, that is not what I do.  If it works for you, fine, but that’s not what I do.

Some writers  get defensive if the reviews offer a lot of negativity or suggestions.  They actually write lengthy e-mails to their reviewers, and defend their writing.   I do not encourage this at all.  That is NOT what I do.

Here is what I do.  I read the reviews through, and write the reviewers, thanking them for their time.  And then I file the reviews away.    Why?  Because I want to put time between one project and another.  I will not give those reviews another thought until I’m done with “Unknown Caller” and ready again to commit to “Revenge”.   When I’m ready to look at “Revenge” again, I will read it through, I will study the reviews, and then I’ll begin the next revision!

Now, this wouldn’t work if I were writing on a deadline but right now it works for me.

The thing is, there isn’t much I would trade my writing time for because it means too much to me. 

So my advise, just expect the ups and downs, accept them, and keep writing.  Enjoy the ride!

Yesterday, my writing routine was interrupted because of several things, none which were  avoidable or changeable.    And this is okay because it is important that we  be flexible with our writing schedules.   Afterall, we’ve got families and friends, most of us have jobs or other commitments, sometimes we get sick, etc.

Usually I write for two hours every morning but yesterday I had to miss those two hours.

I know, I could have gotten up early and gotten in those two hours but I really wanted to stay in bed and sleep.  Anyway, just missing those two hours really threw me “off”.  I felt as if something was missing all day.

Okay, I’ll forgive myself but it made me realize just how important my writing “schedule” is to me.   It helps me stay focused.

Before I finish writing for the day, I always know what I’m going to write the next time I sit down to write.  Sometimes I actually quit writing in the middle of a scene so it’s easy to pick up where I left off.

If you are waiting to write until the “muse” knocks you over, or someone gives you an assignment … well you are going to wait for a long time.  And I can almost guarantee that you will never finish a screenplay or, if you do finish one, you will never get through the first or second rewrite.   It’s hard enough to get a first draft down, but with all that rewriting…  You just gotta sit down to write to get it done. 

My advice is to develop a schedule which will “usually” work for your life, but make sure it’s flexible for those days when you’ve got to work extra hours, or your kid needs to be driven to a party, or you’re sick and just can’t get off the couch without throwing up!

A writing routine is important if you want to be a successful writer.   Create  a flexible schedule that meets your needs.  Watch your writing improve when you write everyday!