I met a bartender who wanted to write a screenplay.
These people always suck me in for a second before revealing how lost they really are, how much a waste of time they’ve really been.
I met him when I moved to Seattle, and he asked, of course, “What do you do?”
His eyes lit up when I said “writer”, and he asked, of course, “What kind of writing do you do?”
Encouraged by his bright eyes, I explained my work in journalism, blogging, and ebooks for writers.
Then he said, “Oh, I was hoping you wrote screenplays. I’ve been working on a screenplay.”
Later that night, he hit me with his story idea. Cute, clever, interesting — but not written down.
Seriously, he told me his whole idea, and finished with, “I’ve had this idea for years. I’m just waiting for someone to collaborate with.”
He hasn’t written a word.
I asked him if he’s done any writing — and he said no.
What?! You’ve had this one idea for “years”, and you haven’t written a word of it? And you’re telling people you’re “working on it”? Why haven’t you tried writing it, or let it go, or written an outline, or something, geez.
I asked him if he’s practiced or studied screenwriting at all. He said, “I read The Screenwriter’s Bible.”
*heavy sigh*
Not about the book; I’d never even heard of it before this bartender. Heavy, heavy sigh about the reader.
Is that the fate of these books for writers?
Is that the fate of the words on this blog, of the heart and soul laid across the pages of A Writer’s Bucket List? Will the advice intended to inspire, motivate, and cultivate a life of writing be read by dreamers who never get off their asses and do anything?
You won’t be that bartender, will you, dear readers? You’re DIY Writers, after all; you wouldn’t possibly sit idly by with stories running through your mind that never make it to the page! You won’t read my book and then simply (virtually) lay it down and go on with your lives just as they were?
Promise me you’ll try something new, today and every day! Put your words on paper, write your stories down. Don’t be a bartender with a dream. Don’t be trapped behind a counter with a movie playing in your head every idle minute and never share it with the world! Do not waste your life reading how-to books if you’re never going to do any of it.
We write these words to get you doing.
Promise me, DIY Writers, that you’re going to try. If you read this blog, if you’ve grabbed my ebooks, if you buy A Writer’s Bucket List — do something. When you leave the computer or put down your Kindle, or switch off your phone, make your next step count.
Ignore your fantasies and your fears, and write the first line of a story. Ignore your stress and your fatigue, and take a walk in a new neighborhood. Ignore your obligations for just a moment, and take a step forward towards your dream.
And, please, tell me about it, so I know these words aren’t going to waste! What step are you taking today to move forward on your journey?
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Thanks, Dana. Like you, I, too, have heard many sad life stories about folks who wanted to be writers or wanted to write and didn’t. I started out with that dream in my heart just about 30 years ago. I ended up ignoring my life’s calling and regretting it. However, a traumatic experience from last year affected me so much, that it thrust me into writing where I belong. I do not encourage “dream” writers to go through bad situations like I did, but I do hope they are able to find the rainbows of writing inother ways.
I’m so glad you were able to follow your dream, Amanda! Unfortunately, sometimes life is forced to knock sense into you to get you on the right track, but hopefully we all get there with time to enjoy it.
Kinda sad story, but common (heard alot of that in college…). For me, the challenge is just getting started.
Staring at a blank screen is threatening to many because they don’t know where it could lead plus being afraid of others opinions.
But once I get going, it feels great, and screw what other people think. That’s my advice for those “I’ve had it for years but haven’t started” ideas…you must be passionate about it, start small, just write half a chapter, forget thinking about the book as a whole as that’s discouraging.
Great story Dana! Happy new year!
You’re exactly right, Joe! The scariest part is just getting started — instead of continuing to talk about it — but once you’ve started, you quickly realize it’s not scary at all. I guess people just like to hold onto the idea and never take any steps forward, because that way they can never FAIL at creating their idea.
Happy New Year to you, too!
I know we all know that cliche of how everyone wants to be a writer, but no one wants to write. I had to practice telling people that I write even though I do it every day, across many different mediums. For me, I’ve found that it definitely helps to try to surround myself with as many people who believe it takes pen to paper, consistently, to say: I am a writer. (or fingers to keys, of course!). Happy New Year, Dana!
Thanks, Dee Dee! That’s great advice; seeing others work hard and succeed is an incredible motivator to get off your butt and do it yourself :)
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Holy balls I’m that dude, am I not.
Well… this is depressing.
Aww.. I hope not! Get to writing something, then :) I love this site for daily motivation: 750words.com
That’s neat! I just wrote my first note on it :)
Great! Nice idea, isn’t it?
I used to be a ‘bartnender’, but then I started blogging and meeting other writers that I no longer feel like I have to identify myself as a ‘bartender’.
Isn’t that a great feeling? (Not that the label is a bad one) but the moment you’re ready to call yourself a “writer” is one of the best.
this is all well and good for the soft problem of plain productivity; but how to address the stark prospect that what you have to express from your deepest heart of hearts lacks any profundity whatsoever, that its issuance onto the world is more or less a charade, that all effects it may generate are transient and destined for annulment? i ask this earnestly because the only solution I can conceive to justify removing myself from raw experience to sit down and articulate something I’ve endowed with meaning, is to fabricate that meaning for the thing, and buy into it despite its blatantly subjective, rather pompous nature… I find that engagement very hard to take on honestly.
Really any experience we choose forces us to assume some sort of importance about ourselves — that we have the skills for a particular task or certain people care to have us around. Writing is just assuming our ideas are worth the words. That self-importance we assume is never going to ring true for everyone; you have to learn to connect your experiences with the people for whom it DOES.
so, in the spirit of connecting experience, how have you come to buy into the prospect that connecting experiences is such a valuable endeavor? Is it more or less an unexamined compulsion?
I used to be like this- I thought that there was an expiration date on becoming a writer, that you had to start really young. As if we all chose our careers at 22. At age 30, I sat down one day and started a blog on a whim. Four years later, I’m completing a book and occasionally freelancing. Chuck Palahnuik published Fight Club, his first novel, at age 35, which always gives me validation.
That’s great to hear! I’m glad you were able to change your mind and start to follow your dreams :)
I’m a relatively new blogger, but I’ve noticed so many aspiring writers writing “about” writing, but not actually “writing.” I suppose if you’re a literary critic, that’s what you do, and there’s certainly a place for it. Maybe I’m the one missing the point. Maybe not. I know I would much rather read a writer’s work than know what time he got up, what time he had his coffee, what time he started to write, how many interruptions slowed him down, how it seemed like a good day to write if only he hadn’t stayed out so late doing shots of tequila, etc. etc.
I know what you mean. I think a lot of us are afraid to just share our creative writing as new bloggers — that seems to break all the rules of building an audience. It’s good to hear there are readers like you, interested in just reading what we write.
I’ve been trying develop a script idea for months and while I have pages of character descriptions, scenarios, and scene outlines written in some form or another I feel like I am stuck. I find it easier to write all the background material than the story beats itself.
I will not say I have done nothing but I have no idea how to take it to the next level. I have met with people who have been involved with the subject, have written 40 pages of the script before deciding to rework it and just start over completely to reflect the knowledge I have gained.
When you stare at that blank page you see all possibilities and to find the right to latch on to is so hard. That is why I started building out my main characters individual stories, the experiences that define them, shaped who they are when my story begins. I feel like I need to do that so I know their voices and personalities.
I have never done anything harder than writing this thing, it is a blessing and a curse. I have to write this story, I can’t not, will it be good, well that’s what the rewrites are for. Cheers to everyone in the works of taking their ideas beyond the veil and giving them form and resonance I’m the mind of the audience.
Good for you for plugging along, despite how frustrating the process can be sometimes! Maybe instead of thinking about taking the project “to the next level” — which seems like a huge leap and lot of hurdles to overcome — just think about taking the Next Step. Just one. Write one page, one scene, one character profile, etc. Eventually, you will have taken enough steps to bring your project to “the next level” without even worrying about it.
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In my MFA program Phil Gerard equated writing a novel with building a cathedral, and suggested we start by constructing a series of churches (shorter pieces) first.
I think if most people knew the futility of a career as a writer they’d keep their day jobs. But some of us have no choice; writing stalks us.
It stalks us, indeed! I think too many people ASSUME pursuing a career as a writer is futile, when really it’s as possible as anything else — as long as you build those churches first :)
I write poetry, but the same applies.I try to write or read every day, and will take a month where I will blog a short piece every day. Its hard work, sometimes(!), but it develops voice, style and technique. Sometimes I will write flash fiction, but its very disruptive to my poetry work, so tend to leave this until I need a kick out of a rut. I also keep a notebook at hand for jotting down ideas, phrases, even words that sound as if they can be useful. It keeps the mind ready.
But… I’m lazy when it comes to publishing so I’m going to make some submissions, now!
Happy to get you moving! Good luck with the submissions :)
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Hi Dana,
This was one of the most cringe-worthy posts that I’ve read recently. Who among us hasn’t been “that guy” for long periods of time? Perhaps entire lifetimes. I suspect that the number of untold stories exceed the number that have ever been written — by a big margin.
The distance from idea to paper often seems too far to travel. A long time ago, I made that commitment for a year. The experience was all of the things that one would imagine: difficult, all-consuming, wonderful, and frustrating. I shopped it around for a while, but eventually decided that it wasn’t good enough. I could do better. I haven’t yet.
For now, I practice. I post smaller pieces until I work up the nerve to give it a shot again. I understand the bartender. I’ve been him. I hope to not always be.
There are a lot of hurdles to overcome between idea and finished product, you’re right. The people who are successful are the people who push past those hurdles. Posting smaller pieces is a great way to keep moving forward while you work your way through a bigger project!
When you’re stuck on a project, waiting for the nerve to finish it, I recommend flipping through Bryan Hutchinson’s “Good Enough” for a nudge forward — a quick read and action-inspiring! http://positivewriter.com/free-ebook-good-enough/
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It’s surprising how many people say they are writers and are afraid to actually start or complete a project. Thanks for saying this out loud!
Thanks, Adriene! I appreciate your sentiment. Some people think I’m being mean…
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