My brother Bob took all the photos you see in this post.   A big thanks to him!  I created a blog around the photos he took.  Check out some of  his awesome work on his website Quietlife Photograhpy.  As we enter the spring/summer, I thought this would be a good time to chop off my hair and shave.  I tend to let it grow out when I’m writing, which is pretty much always.  But I’m coming to the end of a re-write of my screenplay LET IT SHINE, so I thought it was time to celebrate with a clean, fresh look…at least for now.

Speaking of cutting, there was lots to cut in my re-write of LET IT SHINE.   All re-writes and first drafts of any script I’ve created are written in long hand (or cursive writing).  I don’t initially create new content on the computer.  The computer is only used to transpose and edit what’s on the page.   Any new material is written long hand.  I have always created like this since I began to write short stories in grade 3.    To give you an idea of how much of LET IT SHINE was re-written, when I finished the re-write, I had written in long hand 130 pages.  So much of the previous draft was cut, or totally changed.  Some scenes remained, but lots of the script is new.

This was a long, arduous process which I did not enjoy much, particularly when I was faced with so many notes to improve the script.  Sometimes you just don’t know where to begin and you end up procrastinating and telling yourself along the way:  “That’s okay, it’s part of the process”.  But the hours turn to days, weeks, months (it’s been 3 months since I began the actual re-write, 6 months since I brainstormed where I was taking the script).  And sometimes you want to scream at the blank page and pages that are simply not working and must be cut, cut, cut.

But FINALLY you begin to see the light of day.  The story you’re re-creating becomes more clear and indeed there is light at the end of a dark tunnel.  Although there may still be more work to do on LET IT SHINE, I feel this current draft is much better with clearer purpose than the previous three.  I am just past the half-way mark of typing the script and I’m feeling encouraged, even though I know there will still be more work to do because when you re-write, you create new problems.  But still, relief…

A writer must sometimes be a magician.  They must perform magical tricks on their scripts (and pray that magic works on the readers and audience).  Sometimes the magic of the pen works, and sometimes more work needs to be put into a script to get it where it needs to be (I’m speaking to you ANIMAL…..For those who don’t know, ANIMAL is a play of mine I’ve been working on for years).  It takes a great deal of passion, perseverance, patience and sheer will power to shout down the doubts and create.  But with the proper amount of persistence, anything is possible.  So get to work and create some magic.

My brother had me pick up this measuring tape during our photo session and he wanted me to wrap it around my head.  I’m not sure why but while I was doing it, I connected an analogy to what the writing process (and life itself) can look like.

Whenever beginning a re-write or a brand new script, it can kind of start off like this…a little messy, lots of tape and numbers…scenes/characters/plot twists, etc…  You are trying to fit and untangle all these elements into a coherent story that makes sense, has power and will resonate.   It’s still somewhat of a clean slate because you really haven’t dug in too deeply yet.

But then,  once you get past the beginning and begin to dig deeper, the writing gets harder.   This is especially true in a re-write.  The minute you start to cut scenes, characters and create new elements, your script becomes a tangled mess, a house of cards that collapses.  And let’s not forget all the opinions and critiques that are thrown your way about ways to improve your script.    It can get overwhelming and incredibly frustrating.   This is writing…

Then one day, slowly but surely, you actually begin to see things fall into place like a puzzle.  Baby steps – like in life – the untangling of wounds and dysfunction does not happen overnight…it is a process.  For LET IT SHINE, I’m almost there and it feels great.   You find yourself getting closer and closer to the end and you can now see your entire story more clearly.  The picture of what you are writing comes into focus.

And for now, a little peace.  Bask in it.  Enjoy it for what it is.  Writing is re-writing.   Life is short so enjoy the pleasures of untangling whatever mess you’ve conquered.  Until next time, peace.