The Scriptwriter - Beginnings

Wisdom does not always emanate from wise men. Over the years, I have learned that fact by hearing and assimilating truth from individuals who proved unable to apply their intelligent thought to their own lives. And so it is with this thought, spoken by a man in the process of leading a righteous organization down a destructive path.

Writing a novel begins by sitting down and typing.

A few years ago I was frustrated. Frustrated with my job, my life, my everything. I needed a change and had no idea which way to go. I pulled out a notebook and started to write. When I had enough pages, I sat at the computer and pecked away. It was the Great American Novel. Only, it was not that great. Actually, it was not that good. I still have the completed manuscript. I think it is a good story but needs a lot of work. Anyway, I wrote several more stories but, as those who have tried to have their material published quickly learn, the market is so tight; a writer must have the entire universe aligned to hope for a publishing deal. More frustration.

Then I received a request for one of my stories. But, it seems, I made a mistake. I had sent a query letter to an agency representing both screenplays and book manuscripts but failed to specify that the material was a novel. They requested the screenplay. I had one month to send the requested material before the offer expired. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, I bought a cheap scriptwriting program, dumped my novel into it and began frantically changing the format.

Yeah! It seems funny now. I knew nothing about how to write a script. The completed manuscript was more than 200 pages.

While I was waiting for a response, I purchased a couple of books on the subject and did a little internet research. It did not take long to realize that my “script” was going to be soundly rejected and it was. But I was hooked. Sure, the odds of selling a script are not that much better for an amateur writer than for a amateur novelist but you do not tell a dreamer the odds. They do not care.

Since that time, I have written a dozen screenplays. Each one is progressively better. I am discovering my strengths and weaknesses. I am learning technique and style. I have no illusions but I do have dreams. And is it not dreams that keep us moving? Dreams that allow us to tolerate the mundane of life?

Let the dreams continue.