Day Seven

Four pages isn't so bad. If you wrote two pags every day you would win this thing!

First time for me to check in-- today will be my first day of writing/writing... it's all been research and planning up till now. I like the direction I'm going, though, and ready for the surprises.

I'm with Dean on the universe thing.  A show I wrote closed on Nov 1, so it was like having my slate cleaned to start something new.

And now... the blank screen...

That's what I wrote. Four pages I like. Tomorrow I think I'll have coffee and just dive into the script, no distractions. Except the cats.

It's day 8 for me.  I fixed & tied up a few things.  Archs within archs, etc.  Started on the 3rd movment (Act) even though I know 3 Act plays (2 intermissions) don't occur much anymore.  I still tend to think of my plays in that structure.  Figured out where I think the intermission will be. 

One of my director friends is in town from Malaysia this weekend.  She directed a 10-minute play of mine (which coincidentally premiered in the US on Friday night).   I don't believe in coincdence--I like to think the universe brings people together at certain times for a reason.   Will be fun to catch up with her.  I got a nice email from the director in Pittsburgh.  She said they are having a ball with the play.  Wish I could be there to see it.

I emailed a bunch of actor friends last night to see if/when they are available for a reading.  With a bit of luck, I should have a first draft finished sometime next week.  I read about 30 short plays last night and today.  Got some ideas for a couple of other plays (not from them, just while I read).  It's good to read some bad plays.  Sometimes you can learn alot about what not to do.

Dean 

I am at the National Association for Drama Therapy conference. It is totally blowing my mind and I am getting a lot of love and a lot of workshops and a lot of good things out of it !

I saw one of the best solo shows I have ever seen. It is called " Just Another gay mormon" by Jason Butler. Just. Amazing. I cried so much , wow. If you get to see it in NY, do. He is a drama therapist in NY and an incredible performer.

SO..... I am just thinking that next week, once the conference is over, I am going to write write write and catch up ( pumped with inspiration !!!)

Me too.

So that when writing time comes in a couple more hours - I'll have it out of my system.

If work didn't interfere so much, I would have done a lot more writing. I'm up to page 26 (just starting it) and have the 1st 3 scenes of the 4 scenes in Act I.  Funny how typing non-work material can look like you're being very productive, even if your work piles up a bit.

Things get sketchy in my life this weekend. I will either have a LOT of time to write, or none at all.

I don't know. I think there's a case to be made for shrieking weirdos.

I wrote my entire play The Chalk Boy while covering the receptionist's lunches over the course of four or five months at my old office. We do what we can.

No, really. I'm sure of it. Shhhhhh....

I've written 3 pages so far today. (I'm at work...but I'd rather write than do the other stuff on my desk today, so don't tell on me)

;-)

I am at about page 22.  It is all new writing, so I'd say I haven't "cheated" yet...the concepts are old but the writing is all fresh.  I even ended up changing one of the character's names - again- to fit her background better.

The trick will be to make Nasty Psycho Mother into a three dimensional character, rather than just a shrieking weirdo.

But it's cathartic, isn't it, to let the NPM rant and rave and spit ... 

"Just keep writing, just keep writing..."