Uh huh…okay…maybe he didn’t, but I do.
There is a flood coming and it’s going to be massive.
As much fun as it is to put up personal commentary on the WGA strike, my blog is also about the art of screenwriting as well.
I would be remiss to mention to all of you (on both sides of the economic writing fence), the following simple phrase…now is the time to write. And NO I don’t mean to say you should scab…I mean write. For yourself and for your future. That’s what we do. That groove thing that makes the words appear on the paper doesn’t happen by magic…magic might be a by-product, but getting them there is an exercise.
There are two major reasons we should continue writing right now.
1. To stay on top of your own game…which is always a continuous learning process.
2. Did I mention there is a flood coming?
On the strike line I’ve been talking with A-list and down the alphabet working writers, and the one thing that keeps coming up is…I don’t really feel like writing right now…I’m so out of my schedule it’s hard for me to write… Or…Somehow it doesn’t feel like I should be writing. Of course there are those that never stop…but this internet piece isn’t for you.
The simplest way to address my first bullet point is – don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s no big deal not to fire up those creative synapses during this forced time off. Don’t believe when it’s finally over you’ll be able to boot up just fine and start where you left off. Again, it’s only my online anonymous opinion…but not really having a crystal ball to be able to predict when it’s over (but lets collectively hope for an early 2008 party) you will need, more than ever, to be on your game.
That leads me to my second bullet point, which is really more about the business side of our art.
This week there is much fear hitting the streets. People are worried about losing their set up deals. It won’t happen to everyone, but it’s going to happen. There will absolutely be some cleaning going on under the force majeur. These people will be the first to understand that this time period will be one for preparing for the flood.
When the AMPTP is done bending us over and the strike ends…a flood that would make Noah’s look like a mud puddle is going to engulf the industry.
Specs and pitches and deals…oh my.
You thought it was hard before. Those first few months are going to be a feeding frenzy. But the sheer volume alone will only illicit one truism…cream floats to the top.
So if there is that spec you’ve been wanting to write…the one you believe to be a great one, write it now. If there ever was a time to put together a pitch list…do it now.
If there is something, completely out of your genre or medium, that you’ve had in mind…take the time to put some thought into it now.
Now is the time to build your writers ark.
When the gates open and you are among the multitude trying to stay above water…keeping your chops fresh and adding new ways to keep yourself buoyant will help you ride it out.
To spin a phrase that Josh Olson commented in what should be known as the great “Mazin Olson Debates” over on the Artful Writer blog.
“Typing’s easy…writing is hard.”
Keep writing.
Now if you’ll excuse me…I need to get back to my spec.
jsg
