On to the Next Project!

Posted in The Writing Life with tags , , , , , , , on July 8, 2010 by Faith Friese Nelson

After eight months of working on “Windfall”, I can finally say it is done.  It feels good and, this week-end, I will begin marketing, maybe even enter it in a contest or two.

The research on the new story is progressing.  I have the beginning.  I know the end.  It’s the darn middle that is so daunting, but the middle is what makes the story interesting so I will continue to plod along.  The second act always overwhelms me.  And it should because it’s the most important part of the story.

I’m working on the first outline right now.  At the same time, I’m fleshing out the characters.  I’d like to talk about the specifics but I’m kind of superstitious.  Until I get the first draft done, not many people will know what it’s about.

While I’m at this point in a project, I have to continually remind myself to be patient.  I love the “writing” part and I’m anxious to dive in.  But, with six screenplays under my belt, I know that the planning is important so I don’t waste time and write myself down a blind alley.

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Two Projects, Two Feet, One Heart

Posted in The Writing Life with tags , , , , , , , , on July 5, 2010 by Faith Friese Nelson

This is such a weird place to be.  Almost through with one project, almost ready to immerse myself into another.  With one, I have to get ready to “let go”.  With the other, I have to commit.

I am the type of writer that, once I “finish” something, I rarely go back.  So I want to make sure “Windfall” is completely done before I start to query.  Once I start to query, it will be hard to return to it.   I am not saying that I wouldn’t do a rewrite for a director … I would definitely do that.  But, until that happens,  it’s about time to move on to another project.

And, yes, I have several projects that might benefit from another draft but I just can’t push myself in that direction.  But if a director wanted a rewrite, the fire would be lit and off I’d go!

Starting a new project is scary.  There is always the chance that I’ll never finish it, that I’ll hit a dead end.   And the subject matter of this next story is going to weigh heavy on my heart.  Am I strong enough to see it through?  Am I ready to begin?  I am but I’m cautious.

Seems like I have one foot in one project and one foot in the other project but my heart is torn between the two.  I know I have to finish “Windfall” before I can fully commit to the new project but it’s hard to “let the baby move out of the house”.

Part of that difficulty is knowing that when I finally say I’m done and I “query”, I’m setting myself up for a lot of rejection.   I am such a glutton for punishment.

The research on the new project is going well.   I’ve picked out three characters who will tell the story.   Now, I’m trying to figure out which “voice” to use.   There are so many choices.   None wrong.  Not all of them right.

And that’s a contradiction if I ever heard one!

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The Birth of a Story

Posted in The Writing Life with tags , , , , , , on July 2, 2010 by Faith Friese Nelson

Where do story ideas come from?

For some people, their ideas come to them in a dream.  They claim they get the whole story while sleeping.  Whew!  I wish it were that easy for me.

Other people get their ideas from the news. from books, movies, etc.   They just ask a bunch of “what if” questions and change what they’ve read or seen.

I don’t think there is a simple answer.  I would like to say that we get our stories from “all of the above”.  And more!

I don’t just get an idea and sit down and write it.  I have to coax stories out of me.  I do this by knowing the characters and by trying different plot twists.  But it is a slow process and, often, it is pure torture.

My current project draws from some fairly painful experiences in my life.  It also takes a close-up look at many of the ills in today’s society.  It is not easy.  Sometimes I just can’t think about the story  any more and I have to take a step backwards and grab a deep breath of fresh air.

George Bernard Shaw once said, “Writing is easy.  All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.”

I believe that this also pertains to coming up with the story.  If your storyline digs deep and pulls at heart-strings, if it makes you cringe while you write, you might as well be bleeding.  And sometimes the blood will gush, other times it will only drip drip drip.  But it is from the wounds of our life that good stories come.

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