Check Down to Touchdown
Photo by Dave Adamsonon Unsplash
We watch a lot of football on the weekends. The strategy. The toughness. The grace. Seeing a group of players operating as one. And I couldn’t help think about how football is a lot like writing and the creative life.
So much needs to happen to have a successful play - the line has to block the right defensemen, the coach as to call the right play, the quarterback has to coordinate everyone, the receivers and running back have to know exactly where they should be and how soon. And let’s not get into the prep work and conditioning and film room…the list goes on and on.
Like football, a lot has to go exactly right when writing a script - the right concept, the right prep work, the right execution, the right notes, the right revisions, the right studio, the right network, the right marketing, the right actors, directors, costumes, sets…the list goes on. But just like teams don’t call for the Hail Mary every play - like a game of Madden - writers can’t think about the all-encompassing, collaborative nature of producing TV shows and films.
As my acting coach used to tell me: the talent is in the choices.
That’s why for 2021 I’m really focusing on the check downs of writing - small incremental tasks that will add up to a completed (and hopefully well received) script.
For example, I used to rush into an outline from a general concept or generic logline and the quickly rush into the script and then quickly tackle notes. I was basically chucking Hail Mary’s every step of the way, hoping that something would just magically work.
This year I’m breaking my process down to be more intentional with story, character, and structure (not that I was super careless before…just not as intentional as I should be).
Today I started prep work on a new script - something that I’ve had in the back of my head for the last few years, at least according to my journal from 2018. But instead of whipping up a quick story document and running to an outline, I decided to break down my prep work into more discreet, focused tasks that will add up over time. This meant focusing on the emotional journey of my Main Character will experience in the pilot. Nothing fancy or elaborate. Just general paint strokes that chart a course for me to begin layering on story elements.
I also couple the emotional journey with the main actions and events that would force my Main Character to make challenging decisions and face the repercussions of those decisions. When all is said and done for today, I spent about 90 minutes really digging into the emotional journey and writing about 10 pages in my notebook of what the actual story might be.
Did I score a touchdown today? No, I didn’t. But I moved the chains and got another first down. The goal is to stack first downs until the only option is to walk into the end zone.
Today’s Accomplishments
Wrote 10 pages of the emotional story/journey of the Main Character in my newest pilot.
Researched shows that are similar in concept/tone/subject matter to DADLY in order to identify networks, show runners, years in production, etc. This is all part of my first query campaign scheduled for February.
Wrote 3 shitty pages of my script-turned-novella. I’m adapting a pilot of mine into a 4 to 5 novella series that I would like to self-publish this year.
And, of course, wrote a blog post with my thoughts about creativity and writing for the day.
Tomorrow’s Tasks
Determine and write about my Main Character’s flaw in my new pilot.
Spend 30 minutes researching for my DADLY query campaign.
Write 3 shitty pages of my novella.
Submit my materials and application to the Circle of Confusion Fellowship. I’ve purposely held submitting for a few days so I could take one final look at my materials with fresh eyes to make sure there’s nothing egregious.
Write a blog post about my thoughts on creativity and writing for the day.
