Book Learnin’

It’s funny ~ I’ve actually focused so much of my time writing screenplays (learning the format, finding my voice, and honing the craft in general) that I’ve more or less forgotten how to write a story! A simple, storytelling story.

It’s not solely that I’ve recently submitted my short story ‘Night of the Jew Dog’ (which I’ve received NO feedback on and am assuming no one’s read it!) to an online publisher that I fret. It’s mainly to do with reading short stories by Stephen King that have made me realize that mine was er, kinda lacking in details and scenery. Ok, now that I’ve retrieved the power cord along with my remaining belongings from my friend’s house, I can begin more re-writes. That’s ok. But, what bothers me is how conditioned I’ve become to.......well, writing a screenplay and not a novel! They are very much two different animals and I must say that I look forward to finding my inner novelist again.

But, the reason goes way beyond my short story (that no one’s read). I’ve actually decided to convert all of my finished screenplays into book form so that I can market both! Now, you may be wondering why or even be thinking that I should just start from scratch if I want to have a book or two published. Well, for one, I don’t think it could hurt to market both and increase my chances of selling something. Also, hey, if I sell the book first, I’ll have the screenplay already! But, it’s also practical. Just as in the world of the silver screen, the world of the written word ~ the only similarity I think ~ requires that one have a body of work before even thinking about marketing anything. And, so, this will allow me to begin something completely new and fresh, while still having something to show.

I really am looking forward to this venture since I began writing short stories as a kid and really loved it. I’m sure I would have long ago begun pursuing a novelist’s life if I hadn’t at a young age discovered the clauses ~ several book contracts just to sell one! At the time I loved writing and did it often, but also wrote only when I had a story idea and just didn’t think I had it in me to create these stories “on demand”. So, while I continued to write them, I did so with no intention of publishing. And, in a funny way, blogging has come to fill the “creative-in-my-spare-time” need that short stories had once filled.

But, now, on to the “why” of it. This is two ~ or maybe even three-fold. I’ve never made a secret of the fact that I hope to sit down and write a novel. This has always been something I’ve kept for the future when I’m old and half crazy. That idea has just always appealed to me. The idea of having the life experience to belt out something amazing, while also creating somewhat of a new life for myself ~ a new incarnation, if you will. To begin now, though, is to further my options and give myself more opportunity to write full time. I mean, it’s never been easy to make a living from a novel, but it’s become even harder over the last few years. We all know published novelists throughout the blogging world, so it will shock no one that fame and fortune isn’t a few good reviews away! But, if I combine the two ~ novels and screenwriting ~ maybe, just maybe, that dream of a lovely income without a day job could come true.

There is also the not-yet-to-be-announced/disclosed matter of a change in my move plans. Ok, so I’ve technically just announced it, but it is only for the purpose of explaining my sudden desire to write books now, rather than later! I’m leaving out all of the other details besides the fact that this new location will SO not be conducive to selling my screenplays in the way that Los Angeles would have. Actually, I may as well be back in Big Spring for as little as this newly chosen location will help my writing career! And, considering all that I aspire to see and do and experience, I’ll need all the help I can get from whichever writing arena I can! And, just trust me for now ~ until the day that I make the full announcement about my move (which I can do without fear since the restraining order I have against my stalker is valid throughout the entire country!) ~ that my choice to ditch LA is for reasons so valid and correct that it’s actually not crazy. Hell, I refuse to even look at it as making things harder ~ it’s merely a new challenge to my determination! The only downside is that the only and closest Synagogue is an hour away! So, that initial day job will have to be good enough to afford once to twice weekly trips! Oy!

But, I await approval to a group for people writing their first novel. Hopefully they’ll be willing to help me out with formatting (er, a cheapie program would be good!) and the essential “how-not-to-get-screwed” advice I’ll need when approaching publishers. And, while advice seeking and reformatting, I will be coaxing forth the stories that had once fluttered briefly, all pretty and shiny, before resigning that they could never grow up to be a movie. I might even be able to piece together the snippets of tiny images that I’ve saved and create some sort of story arch befitting of a first novel.

The thing most important is that I haven’t a clue what I’ll write ~ not even the slightest kernel of an idea. And, that’s where the fun will begin. Now, more than ever I’ll have to keep my eyes open and my senses keen to all things around me ~ sending out those invisible feelers to explore and investigate everything for the odd or unusual ~ for that small, little something that will grow into what it’s meant to be.

Ah, things are about to get interesting.