Structuring Your Time

There is endless discussion among writers and teachers of screenwriting about structure and the vital role it plays in making your work a success. But almost nobody talks about structure in the workaday world of the writer. So that's my topic of the day.

When you make the decision to be a writer, you are also stepping into the shoes of an entrepreneur. Congratulations on the courage to go there. This also means the rules that make the business person thrive apply.

So if you're looking for ways to maximize on the 24 hours each new sunrise brings, books like Stephen R. Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People are essential.

One of the most important aspects of living the life of an entrepreneur is time management. Kenneth Blanchard's classic, One Minute Manager, is brilliant on this theme, short and easy reading. I'm not here to preach, only to share what is working for me on the front-line of making a living as a writer.

Today, while do my morning journaling I realized what a hugely significant thing respecting the value of time is to making it. It's been less than a year now that I've been earning my living solely from writing (I earned my living helping evaluate and develop stories for 20 years but I'm not counting that in this context)so what I'm about to share with you is raw data, lifted right out of today's diary. Here's my recipe for successful time management as a writer:

- Get plenty of rest and rise reasonably early. I have years as a story analyst to thank for this habit. You can't miss deadlines or have a foggy brain and keep that gig for long. So I am usually awake and making my morning tea by 6:30 or 7:00 a.m.

If you're a night owl, then the morning regime won't work for you but the rest still will. One of the great things about working as a writer is that you can work whenever you want. Some of my friends, and even myself sometimes, find the wee hours of the morning one of the best times to write or compose.

- Journal before the day gets going. I learned this habit from Julia Cameron's awesome book, The Artist's Way. She calls it "brain drain" and it can be that but I use this time to record my dreams, plan my day, make notes on long and short term projects and work through conflicts.

- Daily toilette (e.g., showering, dressing and doing the odd house chore). Even when I'm not compelled to go out of the house, I always take care of this step. Some people I know actually dress and leave the house only to come back to it in "work-mode." Whatever it takes to take your time seriously.

- Touch the world. For me this means making prospecting calls, going online, writing a blog post, pitching a story, meeting a friend, going to a film or just hitting the library or local cafe.

There is something about a cafe environment that supports writers. Many of the most cutting edge 20th century writers and artists gathered on the left bank but this is a habit that has produced some of the world's greatest literature for hundreds and probably thousands of years.

There is some evidence coffee stimulates the brain but I'm into herbal tea these days and still find the cafe an almost unmatchable support to my writing.

- Expand your world. Meet or talk with someone new, watch an inspiring video, make progress on long-term projects. This is a somewhat ethereal step but it pays huge dividends. Julia Cameron calls it "The Artist Date" and recommends one a week but I have adapted this habit to a daily form that enriches my creative imagination. Sometimes just having the intention brings about a fortunate meeting.

Yesterday was a perfect example. I had a spontaneous brunch with a friend. We ended up talking for several hours about our goals and creative ambitions and how best to realize them. I was just beginning to feel like I needed to stop talking and start "doing something" in the direction of making progress on a certain long-term project when he revealed one of his recent illustrations. It floored me.

I've been searching for an illustrator partner for my current book project and there he was, sitting right in front of me. It doesn't get much better than that. I'm very excited about this collaboration and was so inspired I spent the next several hours working through a difficult passage that had me "blocked" for months.

- Devote time to long-term projects. Long-term projects are things like books you plan to write and publish and conceptualizing a new script. For me, the long-term project is in constant danger of being overlooked - dreamed about but perpetually in "the future."

This can be tricky because spending time in productive imagination workshops (whether you attend someone else's or structure your own) is very much a part of the process. This is incredibly fruitful time but just be sure that it translates to words on the page at some point; an outline, a new scene/sequence, fleshing out the dynamics of a character.

Well, that's all for now. Hope this helps.

Inspirational Thoughts

The other day I was over at a girlfriend's house, exchanging gifts and catching up and she gave me a lovely recipe for peace and focusing thought in a positive direction. It's simple but powerful - a gentle reminder we always have a choice.

Choose
by Anonymous

Every moment of everyday, choose.
Choose to fear less and love more.
Choose to shout less and listen more.
Choose to eat less and taste more.
Choose to regret less and hope more.
Choose to do less and be more.
Choose to live every day of your life.
Choose to respond with what you really think
and how you really feel instead of
how you think you should respond.
Choose the water over the wine.
Choose the fresh, seasonal fruit over the chocolate
Choose conversation over Facebook or I-pods.
Choose silence, if you want to be heard.
Choose to look at each other longer without
filling the space with unnecessary words.
Choose to accept other people's choices as their own.
Choose forgiveness - especially with yourself.

Shorts for the Holidays

Reindeer Wrangling on Nowness.com.

If you've been following the blog, then you've already seen this one but it's so perfect for Christmas, I've brought it back for an encore.



The lonely life of a Christmas ornament - a bit dark but imaginative.

The Life of a Bauble on Nowness.com.

Last but not least, Neil Gaiman redo of Pygmalion.

Dear Santa...

I was watching TV the other day and noticed you have a new 4G smart phone. This got me to thinking that the best way to reach you is through cyberspace. Instead of asking you for a bunch of stuff though, I wanted to congratulate you on all the incredible joy you bring us every Christmas.

This clip, captured by Norad Santa in 2008, is one of my favorites:



The Lapland sleigh is wonderfully whimsical and that fur-lined red pantsuit is a hoot. Just the sight of it makes me smile. I've seen some gorgeous "Santa" dolls all made up in white and gold but they just don't carry the same happy message.

The beard and belly really do make you look jolly too. People are way too obsessed with being thin these days. I saw you in the grocery store without the suit the other day and you definitely had a twinkle in your eye.

Mrs. Claus must've given you a honey do-list and somehow, even with all the other things you're doing, you took care of it personally. That is awesome. You are a shining example of a good man. The fact that the kids love you is a major tell.

Since you're clearly able to access other dimensions, you've probably memorized the wormhole network on the earth plane. Is that how you manage to zip in and out of everybody's house on the same night, all over the world? With that kind of map it's no wonder getting around to billions isn't a problem. Somebody caught you on video - and yet there are still skeptics. Some people won't believe no matter what you do!



A word of warning though. There's a screen over the top of the chimney to keep the critters out so please use the front door this year. You're going to love the treats on the mantle. Williams-Sonoma had some killer sweets on sale. Even the cocoa rocks, with handmade vanilla marshmallows.

So here's what I wanted to ask about. Since you're like the reindeer whisperer, I wonder if you would take a moment to have a word with my Himalayan kitty, Kira. She's been munching down on the Poinsettias and clawing the couch. A couple of words from you should straighten the little stinker right out.



Last, but not least,, since you are so well established in the realms of myth and magic, I'd be grateful if you would say hi to my parents, who have both crossed over. You'll probably find dad busy tidying up the accounting department somewhere behind the pearly gates. Tell him I wish he would give himself permission to paint. He's got real talent. You'll probably find my mom playing a round of golf in Elysian Fields. She always did prefer a private club.

Now I know I've done some naughty things over the years so when you're making your list and checking it twice, keep in mind that I'm really working on being extra nice to everybody these days - even the ones who aren't so nice back. It seems to me that we're all just doing the best we can.

Anyway, thanks for everything Santa. I love your spirit and am grateful for all the happiness you bring to us every single year.

Generating Leads with a Stellar Work Ethic

Another of the things that brings me work when other people are complaining about the economy and wondering why they're not getting offers is a commitment to a stellar work ethic. Whenever I'm given an opportunity to write for someone, I work to the fullest extent of my ability. No matter what the budget, if you "go the distance" as your standard modus operandi people will notice and recommend you to others. Exceptional work still shines.

Always go "above and beyond" what anyone expects. Work as fast and efficiently as possible and provide this service with an attitude of gratitude. After all, your name goes on the work and if it gets published with a byline, those are bonus points. You're ultimately being paid to advertise your abilities. Now, of course, not everyone will fall in love with you. But that's okay too. Just roll with it.

I've noticed a couple of other things while writing for newspapers and magazines. First, I'm not wild about doing the reporter thing. It's fact-driven and that tends to go against my dreamy, imaginative muse. But working as a reporter is a great way to meet people from all walks of life. You never know where that will take you.

It's also become clear that writing feature stories for magazines runs somewhat parallel to writing feature film scripts (as opposed to TV scripts). The feature allows you to stretch out and work with metaphor. You're drawing on a bigger canvas and that means catching their imagination is part of the deal.

So those are my brilliant thoughts for the day. Here are a couple of links to a few of my recent magazine stories - I've written six more so far this month.

http://lakeway.communitycircular.com/3D-ed2011Sept.html
http://newbraunfels.communitycircular.com/3D-edDec2011.html
http://cedarpark.communitycircular.com/3D-ed2011Sept.html

Dreaming Your Way to Your Dreams

This doesn't mean sitting around ONLY dreaming of that heart's desire. But one of the most powerful things you can do to go from wishing you were living another life (like writing for a living) to having that life is to cultivate a clear vision of what you wish for in your heart and then hold that vibe as dominant.

It's a little tricky. After all, feeling like a successful writer or owning whatever you feel you must have or achieve when you seem so far away from it can make you feel kind of crazy. That's okay. I'd rather feel crazy and make things happen than live in fear of dreaming big and staying stuck in a life I don't want. Just insist on manifesting it no matter how impossible it may seem in the present.

Step one. Allow yourself to go to that magic dream life and feel the way you'd feel if you had already achieved it. Revisit it as often as you can and take steps towards making it your reality in whatever ways you can. You'll be amazed at how the universe cooperates with that kind of innocence and effort. I've done it many, many times and have not only surprised other people but myself as well.

Just this weekend, I was writing an update on a high profile missing persons case. You may have heard of it. An 18-month year old toddler named Joshua Davis Jr. went missing from his home and he's still missing almost a year later. I interviewed the police but they wouldn't give me the family's contact information. Finally, I found them on Facebook. I finished the story yesterday morning and two hours later I had a phone call from a local TV station. My name is now on the executive editor's desk.

So you never know where your writing is going to lead. All it takes is one or two people to notice and you find yourself with offers on a whole different level. Last night I had a series of fascinating dreams (one of which will go in my next book) but the one I want to share with you is this one.

I dreamed of finding a note left to me by the universe. It read, "Do the business that's in front of you right now and the business you dream of will come to you."
Shades of Jiminy Cricket's song to Pinocchio, "When you wish upon a star..." I loved this as a child and have clung to it all my life.

Now I feel like I've crossed over to being corny but it was on my heart to share this and so I offer it to you with the hope you will find your way out of whatever darkness you find yourself in and live in the light of what you long to achieve.

Writing Your Way to a Writing Job

It's been a long time since I've had time to sit down and write a blog post. That's because I've been so busy getting paid to write. So when I thought about what to write, I said to myself "Why not just tell them how you went from wishing to make a living writing to making a living writing?"

So here we go. First of all, I've got a couple of decades in story development for the major Hollywood studios under my belt. That helps. During those fertile years, I learned from some of the best in the business about what works in screen stories and I've read thousands and thousands of scripts that taught about what DOESN'T work.

After leaving Universal Studios in 2006, I started writing this blog. It was my way of learning about the blogosphere and I also thought it would be a great discipline. I had originally planned to write one brilliant post every day. That didn't happen but I was pretty consistent with two or three posts a week. That gave me the confidence that comes from just "doing it." Showing up at the page on a regular basis is more than half the battle.

Then I rewrote my book and self-published it. Now I have a product to sell. It has also proven to be a great calling card. It led to my getting hired as a freelancer for a group of Central Texas magazines (which now hire me regularly) and that experience gave me the confidence to interview for a local newspaper. I was hired immediately as a reporter. Not my dream job, but it was a great experience. I met all the leaders in town and that has led to many more offers and some new friends.

So, at the risk of sounding really simplistic and obvious, if you want to write the best thing to do is just start writing. Write a blog, write a letter to your mother, keep a journal (I write in my journal every single day, whether I have anything to say or not), I record my dreams, I write promotional material, short scripts, advertorials and anything else I can. It's all great experience and it's all honing my skills as a writer.

Almost every day I run into people who wish they could make a career out of writing and all I can honestly say to them is "What's stopping you?" No sarcasm. Just ask yourself.

I'm a big fan of self-help books. My own book, SCRIPT: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO THE HOLLYWOOD JUNGLE is a form of one of those. It's great. I highly recommend that you read it. But it won't make you a writer. Only you can do that.

P.S. Writing a bog is also a great way to tell your dream lover you're keeping the light on for them:) All he has to do is show up. That's what I want for Christmas.

Hallelujah from Alaska

This viral video from a bunch of 5th graders in Alaska, gives new meaning to the words "cue cards." It was made last year but the low-tech simplicity of it is timeless.

I'm also singing hallelujah because I finally have my computer back (it's been in the shop for three weeks). More blog posts to follow.