Why I'm Doing ScriptFrenzy

I like to watch those fitness infomercials.

There's one moment in particular, in the infomerical for a product called "Insanity", that I really like. One of the successful graduates of that program speaks of how he feels after having gotten it done. I papraphrase, but basically he says, "after having done 'Insanity', I feel like I can take on any challenge."

The goal of ScriptFrenzy is to write a script of some kind, at least 100 pages, in the month of April. That might sound a bit daunting, but think about it this way... that's only 3 1/3 pages per day (and your typical script format doesn't exactly fill up each millimeter of a page). Having said that, this challenge will still require some discipline, consistency and motivation on my part.

I can do this though, and I see myself coming out on the other end feeling "like I can take on any challenge."

And don't we all want to feel this way?

I'm a bit behind at this point. I can supply any excuse I want... the vagaries of a busy schedule, competing priorities, etc.... in the end though, I know I need to do this. I have, right in front of me, a great opportunity to benchmark my levels of discipline, consistency and desire.

There are a variety of reasons I'm doing this...

• My kids. I want to show them that they too can conquer a challenge.
• Myself. This a chance to both measure and enhance how I manage myself and my time.
• My story. My screenplay should be a good one. It's entertaining... lots of action and emotion and what will be a climax that would leave audiences cheering. The story also has something to say about perserverance. The movie poster I imagine would read, "He just wanted change his life. But life fought back." Also, "there is a hero in all of us". The prospect of inspiring even one person through this story drives me forward.

Anyway, I'm not all that far behind. I have set a goal to get caught up by the end of this week. A very successful person of my acquaintance is very fond of saying "take action". Let's all take action this week and push something forward and maybe we can all feel like we can take on any challenge.

Let's get it done.

Clarity

I wrote this last night at the behest of an online university that is considering using me as an "adjunct teaching assistant", mostly to help students sharpen their writing skills.  I thought it might be worth posting in this forum.  Here it is...

Success guru Brian Tracy has famously (and repeatedly) said “clarity is power”.  He was referring, of course, to clarity in relation to one’s personal and business success, but the same concept applies to communications, both verbal and written.  A lack of skill and understanding of the rules of grammar and spelling can often have the effect of obscuring the message one is trying to get across.  A misspelled word or misplaced comma can fundamentally change the meaning of a sentence.

There is a well-known book on grammar entitled “Eats, Shoots and Leaves”.  While the book as a whole is an entertaining read and provides a good number of easily digestible grammar lessons the title provides us with a lesson in itself.  Reading the title “Eat, Shoots and Leaves” implies that a character has had a quick bite to eat, perhaps shot someone and then left the vicinity.  Now imagine removing that comma.  The phrase would now be “Eats Shoots and Leaves”.  This brings to mind a rather more benign image of an animal (perhaps the panda on the book’s cover) merely eating some shoots and leaves.

One’s grammar and spelling can also have a significant effect on the perception others might have of you.  I happen to be single and I have spent some time on the internet dating sites that are so popular these days.  I have recently retired from the use of such sites for a variety of reasons.  One of those reasons is that so many of the profiles of prospective daters are riddled with severe spelling and grammatical errors, often to the point of laughability.  These very same women may be as intelligent and well-spoken as anyone else (if not more so) but I certainly have to wonder given the lax amount of attention given to their written communications.  I also am forced to wonder about their attention to detail and personal discipline.  Word processors with spell check that will even give grammar help are readily available so this somewhat begs the question of how much effort or care these individuals have put into their profiles.

The same could be said about perception in an academic environment.  Imagine a student who has prepared an otherwise excellent essay for, say, a business class.  They may have come up with some original, perhaps even groundbreaking thoughts about organizational development in high-growth companies.  They might have conducted endless hours of research and interviews.  Unfortunately, when they turn in this paper with awkward grammar and poor spelling, this will have an adverse effect on their grade and such errors will often obscure the point they are trying to make.

The ultimate intent of following the rules of grammar and spelling is not to be regimented for it’s own sake, but rather to provide a degree of clarity that will enable the writer’s ideas to shine forth, rather than be hidden under layers of poor writing and spelling.  I always encourage people I know to shore up their writing skills as best they can.  This ensures that their letter, resume, term paper or what have you will communicate what it’s intended to and the writer’s ideas will have the chance they deserve to heard.

Acknowledgements

I finished my novel today.

This is a pretty big deal in that I really didn't know that I would ever get it done.  Yet somehow I did it.  I've had my fair share of challenges and heartache of late.  Rather than letting all that break me, I poured everything I could into my writing.  I say this not to brag.  I say this to remind all of you that, the next time your life is full of challenges and you feel overwhelmed, you can use that negative energy, turn it on it's head and accomplish something.  I do know there's still a long road ahead of me.  Many revisions are at hand, I'm sure.  Then there's the issue of (gulp) trying to find and agent and see if some publisher actually might think it worthy. There's the Chinese proverb that says, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  Granted, I have taken a big step, but there are still many miles ahead

I encourage you to read the acknowledgments below.  Whether or not the novel actually gets published I do believe that the people who had something to do with it being written deserve some sort of public kudos, so here you go.

You may wonder about this nameless "angel" that I pour such effusive praise on. This is someone that has had an enormous positive impact on my life.  I was at a low ebb of self-confidence and this person was able to lift me back up, force me to take a good, hard look in the mirror and push me back to where I was truly in the thick of life, a place I had not been in many, many years.  We should all have an angel of our own at some point in our lives, someone who believes in you and is proud of you no matter what, someone who can make you believe in yourself again, no matter what damage the years and miles have wrought.  It really doesn't matter if this person is in your life for a day, a month or your whole life.  They will generally appear when needed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A great many people have had something to do with the writing of this, my first novel.  I will try to remember all of you.

Always first and foremost, there's my boys, Peter, David and Jonathan.  Guys, if you're reading this, that means you really can do anything you set your mind to.  Told you so!

Then there's my angel... you are forever my best friend, my cheering section and my muse.  You helped me find the best parts of me again, things I thought were forever lost. You taught me how to turn bad into good and reminded me that I actually do deserve to achieve my dreams.  I can honestly say that without you, this novel would never have been completed. I told you that you were going to make me famous and remember, there's always going to be a place in my heart that's yours and yours alone.

To my "little sister" Carrie and her husband Bill, my other best friends.  Your friendship means the world to me. I'd say "may all your dreams come true", but that's already happening.

To Christina and Jennifer, there are parts of this story that are dedicated to you guys. You both know which ones they are.

To my mom and dad...thanks for believing in me and encouraging me.

To Barry Eisler and Joseph Finder.  Your writing continues to entertain and gives me something to aspire to.  Thanks also for encouraging us budding writers and being all-around good guys.

To my Facebook friends, especially Penny, Peggy and Shalom.  Thanks for all your inspiration and encouragement.

To Michelle, the best teacher/ soldier I know.  Thanks for your unceasing positive attitude and research help.

Just as important, this novel is dedicated to everyone who ever wanted to change their life and took the chance to grow through adversity.  I did it and so can you!

Best Day Ever!

Yesterday I found out that one of my short stories, "Dark Matter", will be published in the next edition of Foliate Oak, the literary magazine of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. This is a pretty big deal, as that will be my first published work.
That evening I was invited to Nan's Piano Bar in downtown Davenport, Iowa. I had the rare opportunity to listen to (and meet!) local jazz legend Manny Lopez. He's on the trumpet.

I will try to get a video up soon.

Don't Waste Your Time Waiting

"Talk about a dream
Try to make it real
You wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well, don't waste your time waiting"
Thunder Road- Bruce Springsteen

I have spent most of my adulthood living a life I was not meant to. I am fortunate now in that I have come to realize just what it is I am supposed to be doing. Anyone who knows me well understands what I am talking about. I am meant to be a writer. That's what I'm good at. That's what I love to do. That's what I have passion for. That's how I'm going to have the broadest possible impact on the world.
I have recently started a very ambitious project, a novel and an accompanying non-fiction book. Recent events have conspired to make this not only something I want to do, but something I have to do. I'm doing it...in fact, I've already started.
So I'm not going to waste my time waiting anymore.