LOTS OF FREE FICTION BELOW
Dear Reader,
When your job is to sit in front of a computer all day, tap at keys, and pull images from the depths of your subconscious, it’s important to have hobbies. A writer’s materials are nearly all virtual and stationary, so it’s best if these hobbies are physically involving. This forces your brain to take a break and allows you to see things from another angle.
In the name of doing an activity utterly unrelated to work, I bought a harness, a chalk bag, and climbing shoes (not cheap by the way), learned the knots and the commands, and stood before a wall with colored “rocks.”
As I pulled myself up, found toe holds, and negotiated my knees, I rose above my ordinary geography. Clarity comes when it’s nothing but you, the wall, and the next rock, with all the people far below. Repeatedly, revelations came as if carried on a courier pigeon, and I’d like to share two of them with you here.
Hand & Feet, Networking & Samples
As I’ve written before, networking is how you go places in your career. Especially as a screenwriter, there are so many scripts floating around Hollywood that people need a reason to bother reading yours. Perhaps you have a great agent, but even there, agents get their client’s scripts read by showing up at parties and events, being likable, and holding interesting conversations.
Business is a human endeavor, and people want to know: do I enjoy this person? Could I stand to be in a room with them for eight hours while breaking story? Would I want to grab a drink with them after work, or meet them for coffee? Networking, all of those handshakes, business cards, parties, and chill hang-outs, are how you get off the ground in your career. This is how you meet the actors who will do table reads of your scripts, and the producers who will give you contract tips. Meeting people and nurturing those relationships is how you move up that vertical wall.
As any rock climber knows, however, you have to guard your arms. Overuse them and you won’t have the strength to get up the wall. The power in a climb, and the majority of your strength, comes from the legs. In the same way, your writing is your legs. People might read a script of yours, but if the writing isn’t strong enough they will not give you a second glance. Frankly, unless they are a very good friend of yours (or an extremely generous human being), they probably won’t read another. The strength of the writing is what pushes you up that career wall.
Take your Time. Have Fun.
When I’m worried if I will succeed at a task, I tackle my fear by trying to do it really fast. Unfortunately, launching into an activity that we’re not fully warmed up and ready for leads to a very quick burnout. This is true for runners: they must ease into the run, stay loose, and jog slowly until their muscles open up, capable of handling the miles ahead.
I discovered this is also true for climbing. For the first couple of trials, I moved as fast as I could, trying to outpace my fear that I wouldn’t succeed. The inevitable happened: in the upper regions of the wall, I had no strength left for the climb and was out of breath. I then tried something different: at the beginning of the trail, feet on the ground, hands on the first hold, I took a long deep breath and asked for strength. I then moved off at a more measured pace.
I found myself relaxing: I had all the time in the world to scale this wall, and I would get it done. My belay partner is an excellent human being, and I knew I could trust her patience as I navigated my way through. There was no hurry: so which rock was the best next step? Need a second? Pause. Think about it. Catch my breath. I moved steadily upward and discovered I was actually enjoying the challenging parts because I had the time to wrestle through them and figure them out.
The same is true with writing: if we place impossible deadlines on how many words, how many pages, and how fast we have to get it done, we will not sink into the process. This means we won’t take the time we need to weave together an engaging, well-thought-out story. We will run out of energy, into burnout, lose the joy of the practice, and wonder why we even wanted to write in the first place.
So now, when you come to the page, maybe stop, ask for strength, and know this: you have enough time. Don’t rush. Let it take as long as it takes. Have fun.
UPDATES
I am thrilled to announce that my original spec pilot BOHAN THE MAGE was accepted into the top 50 for the “Top Tier Competition 2022/2023.”
For the next phase of the competition, I will send Roadmap Writers a 3-minute pitch for this TV show. I’ll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!
This screenplay is based on the novel I am publishing in the Subscriber Access side of my newsletter. If you would like to read the story (see what the hubbub is all about) consider becoming a paying subscriber. I send out a new chapter every month.
Till next time,
Adventure Awaits!
FREE READING
S. C. Durbois Newsletter
1st Saturday every month: a new original short story.
3rd Saturday every month: a writerly check-in with updates.
4th Saturday every month: a new chapter from “Bohan the Mage,” a dark academic fantasy novel. Subscriber access only.
Congratulations! Love, love, love that you got chosen for the top 50!