Ooh, a web series about new writers writing their new writers. Talk about entertaining–
No, wait, WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS really is entertaining. Especially if you’re a writer looking for an excuse to not do any writing by watching other writers write instead.
We TVWriter™ minions can’t be the only writers who feel that way…can we?
Entry 8 The Pains of Cutting…(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Story So Far starts HERE)
Though we were able to reduce a grotesquely overwritten script from 117 pages to 90 in the first advanced class, there was still work to be done in the realm of overall story structure. I believe one of the most difficult creative writing skills to master is the ability to know what to put in, and what to leave out of the story. We tend to want to cram all of the ideas floating in our head onto the paper, but in doing so the story as a whole has the potential to suffer.
In the second advanced writing class we continued cutting and refining. But cutting was the hardest part. As writers, I think we all tend to grow attached to the scenes we write. When inevitably tasked with revising or removing one or more of those beloved scenes, we feel like we’re removing a part of ourselves. That’s what happened when I had to remove an entire scene that I was absolutely certain needed to remain. But it pays to listen to those who have more experience than ourselves.
Sometimes a new series is just too damned realistic. But funny. And fast. We love how TOGETHER gets right to the punchline and out. (Well, we do.) Here’s what we mean:
Together Web Series Episode 1 by justinhillstrom
TOGETHER definitely keeps it real. Check it out here.
Entry 7 On to the Advanced Class(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Story So Far starts HERE)
One thing the writing class experience taught me was the importance of planning before you write. A little preparation in the beginning helps to prevent writer’s block later. But as I mentioned last week, my failure to plan made the revision process difficult.
The first task Daymond, Lloyd Walker Jr. (our artist! and an outstanding one!), and I embarked upon was to go through the script and get rid of any extraneous scenes. You know, those scenes that are kind of just there, but don’t really propel the story forward. And believe me, there were a lot of unnecessary scenes to remove.
So, heard back from the extremely long-shot opportunity for one of my projects and…it was a long-shot. They didn’t buy it. Le sigh. 
Luckily, I’m one of those types who moves on from rejection pretty quickly, i.e., spent a night with friends drinking, grousing, complaining, occasionally weeping and moved on by the next day. Ok, maybe not weeping.
My first inclination whenever I get rejected/turned down/kicked to the curb is to put together a plan b and/or c. So I did. And, truthfully, I actually am pretty excited about the prospects. Because it’s the end of the year, going back into meetings is pretty much out, which is fine. It gives me time to refine, rewrite, strategize about relaunch/promo and work on the three other projects I’m doing.
My grandmother always used to say, “One door closes, another one opens.” And I’ve found that’s always been the case. Or maybe that’s just my perspective.