This above quote screamed out at me because it represents the basis of much of my writing.  The characters I am most fascinating with in film, literature and plays are the ones who are “seared with scars”.

It does not take strength to live in courage if you have everything, if you’ve come from a completely functional background with no abuse, no mental illness, no unexpected deaths, no disease, no failed marriages, no tragedy whatsoever.   And yet, who does this describe?  Every one of us has been touched by pain.  It is certainly true that some have far more pain than others, but one way or another, we are all seared with scars because we are human.  And human beings are fallible – in other words, we are imperfect.  And with imperfection, comes pain which over time marks us with scars.

The characters/the real life people who I have the most respect for are the ones that learn and grow and become an inspiration to others despite their scars.   We would not be the people we are today if it weren’t for these very scars.   This above quote (by Kahlil Gibran – a Lebanese-American writer, poet and philosopher), comes with an important caveat.  Massive characters cannot be born if they do not learn from their scars.  Strong souls cannot be born if they continue to be defined by those very scars.   We must find a way to turn the page in our lives and look for the sun.  Always look for the sun.

I am in a season of transition as I prepare to write something  brand new.  I’ve been working on rewrites of several projects these past couple of years (A PROMISE I MADE TO MR. BAGELS, ANIMAL and lately, BREAK AWAY), and now I am eager to write something new.  I am not sure if it will be a play or screenplay or both at the same time, but I know there is something brewing inside and I am looking forward to finding out what will emerge and what scars I’ll be exploring.

My screenplay Mr. Bagels made it all the way to the semi’s in Script Lab Fifth Annual Screenplay Contest,  but alas it failed to advance to a finalist position.   Approximately 50 screenplays advanced, but Mr. Bagels sadly was not one of them.    I try not to get too down with these results but press on and there is no better way to do that then by submitting my new draft of Break Away into other places.  Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for awesome results to come as Break Away will be competing in the following:

If you are walking with scars that are not making you stronger and instead are crushing your spirit, causing further dysfunction and effecting those around you, I challenge you to turn that page. Get the help you may need and build your character into something so massive and beautiful that others will be in awe of your strength.   And if nothing else, always look for the sun.   Godspeed!