Submission #1 of 2021
Photo by Glen Carrieon Unsplash
(I’m writing this at 12:30 am on January 5th, so I technically missed a post for January 4th.)
First day back at school for my kids - first grade and kindergarten. I still have another week off before I go back on Monday. Most people get excited about the start of a new year - resolutions, goals, new mindset, etc. Bull crap, I say. I like the warm festive atmosphere of the Christmas holiday - a focus on family, friends, good times, reflection, etc. January 2nd comes and it feels like everyone is waiting in line to get corralled into work.
The only thing good about the start of the year is that I get a chance to reset my goals and look forward to making my writing career become a reality. That’s the key word - REALITY. January 1st is about a new reality, a blank page to write another chapter in my life’s story.
With that in mind, I submitted to my first fellowship of the year - Circle of Confusion’s Writers Discovery Fellowship. I had my materials completed a few days ago, but I wanted to take some time to review everything and put a final polish on my script, goals, and personal statement.
Usually when I submit to a fellowship I say things to myself like, “I feel good about what I submitted” or “I think I’m going to at least get an interview.” This year I’m taking a new approach: submit it and forget it. Once I hit send on my application I have ZERO expectations, except to work on the next script or project or fellowship application.
I will say this: the fellowships, to me, are what I want most because they give me a chance to really build a network of people in the business. I don’t have that working in schools. Basically, it’s me and my scripts and the hope that I can build relationships with someone in the industry.
I read a Twitter thread by a TV writer today that explained how COLLABORATION is really the key skill in getting hired (and staying employed) as a TV writer. She goes on to say that writing is important, but it’s your ability to communicate with a variety of people, delegate tasks, manage deadlines, ask for assistance/help, and know when/how to be of service to others that sets you apart.
Ironically, those are the key skills needed to work in charter schools. Anyone can teach or be an administrator in a school, but the good teachers and administrators are able to establish and communicate a vision to others, get a variety of people to buy into that vision, manage deadlines and people, delegate tasks, know what strategic moves to make and what moves not to make, and know when/how to support others.
That’s how fellowships can really help me: learning how to leverage an essential set of skills from one career into the other. Those skills aren’t plastered on my scripts, and I try to add them to my personal statements (but it’s hard not making a list of skills not sound boring). Regardless of what happens I know I achieved a goal for this week.
The new year is a time to look forward and make small, incremental steps towards the vision you have for yourself, your career, and your family.
Today’s Accomplishments
Submitted application to Circle of Confusion’s Writers Discovery Fellowship.
Worked on my new pilot - focused on developing my Main Character’s flaw and how that flaw will impact the story.
Spent 30 minutes researching managers of staff writers on shows that are similar to DADLY. Still in the research phase of my query campaign and the goal is to find “the right fit” manger to query my script.
Wrote 3 more pages of my novella - THE NOISE WITHIN. Goal is to have my notebook (200 pages) filled by the end of the month.
Wrote and posted this blog.
Tomorrow’s Tasks
Work on the premise/logline of my pilot.
Spend 30 minutes researching mangers for query campaign.
Write 3 shitty pages in my notebook for the novella - THE NOISE WITHIN.
Revise the teaser for THE NOISE WITHIN script, an hourlong thriller in the vein of BATES MOTEL and DEXTER.
Write a blog post about observations on creativity, life, and day’s accomplishments.
Send a recent script to writer’s group for feedback.
