Why? Because my writer's block is gone! And I have a plan (but more on that, later*).
I was so excited, I couldn't help but share on Facebook, as well.
It's such a simple phrase: My writer's block is gone. And it's an oversimplification of the blight that I've been through for the past few years. Although I have never stopped writing, I haven't quite written the way I used to. Most of my writing has been tied to assignments for school -- quick, very short screenplays without much emotional connection; rough outlines and ideas; essays -- or the limited writing I've done through my personal blog, forums, and social media sites.
Recently, I signed up for a Goodreads account and it rekindled not only my love and affinity for books, and also my love an affinity for novel writing. I've always been a storyteller of all sorts -- by mouth, by painting, through music, via stageplays, and via screenplays. But the medium that is the most familiar, engaging, and sustainable to me is through writing prose. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be not only a storyteller, but an actual novelist. A published author.
Well, now I'm a film student. Don't get me wrong -- I love, love, love writing screenplays... but not all of the stories that I write are appropriate for a screenplay format. They are either destined to be too long, or they need to delve inside of my characters' minds... or perhaps the scenes are flourishly written with words and descriptions that are meant to be read.
Some stories are just meant to be read.
Others are meant to be watched, or heard, or whispered in low voices into awaiting, eager ears.
As such, a lot of my writer's block (or "writer's agony," as it were) was due to the fact that I was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I was trying to force my novelistic ideas into the format of a screenplay.
Now, if I had been adapting an already-written novel into the body of a screenplay, it would have been a different thing entirely and would not have been agonizing at all. But, taking something that has yet to be created and limiting it before you even start... well, it doesn't leave you much left to work with. You lose motivation, you get frustrated, you censor yourself far too much, and you lose interest. Something just isn't right.
I had been putting self-imposed limitations on myself with labels like filmmaker, screenwriter, and director. I had let go of the labels author and novelist.
But, as I browsed through Goodreads, I discovered books that I've read before and their authors... and books that I want to read someday, and their authors. I browsed authors' blogs and in turn browsed literary agents' blogs.
I used to do this all the time. I would eat stuff like this up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I could never get enough information or buzz about the publishing world and all its participants... I digested all of the experiences of writing... of character creation, world building, editing, querying, rejections and contracts -- all of the good and all of the bad.
As I re-informed myself and discovered new authors to
I especially found inspiration in Gennifer Albin's blog post about HOPE, and Amanda Hocking's journey with self-publishing through Amazon & Kindle ebooks. Their testimonials and admonitions filled me with anticipation and excitement and set my soul ablaze again for writing -- all writing.
I've always wanted to publish a book, and I am going to be published. I am going to write, finish what I write, edit (and edit, and edit, and edit...) and I will publish a book.
*And here comes my plan:
I am going to write, and I am going to post what I write on my blog!
I want to generate a little indie following, and get critiques from my fellow interweb peers. Some of my writings will just be cool-sounding sentences. Others will be a scene. There will be short stories, and novel chapters. There will be screenplays -- both shorts and scenes from aspiring features. I am going to do what I love, and do it often. :)
For those of you who didn't fall into the TL;DR trap, thanks for reading this far as I shared my heart & mind, and my hopes & dreams. :)
~*~
TMI/FYI: I stayed up until 6AM from last night to this morning writing... and afterwards, I could not stop *dancing* -- I could barely get myself to bed, I was so happy! :D
