Status updates

Facebook and Twitter have infiltrated my life. I know it’s been quiet round these parts. I am spending all of my time off-line with a writing project that has taken up the brain-space and creativity. I think in terms of status updates now.

— Booked the space for the reading of my script.

— This will be the first “formal” reading. Invited audience.

— We did read one of the scenes back in June in LA with a small group of people. It went great.

— Work has continued on it in a disciplined and feverish manner despite how bad this summer has been. Discipline.

— I had David and Jen come over one night in August, to just hear the latest draft of one of the scenes I had written. It engendered a lot of great discussion. I could write an entire essay about what it is like to hear two actors read words that I have written. The first time was out in LA, and it was truly a highwater mark for me, in terms of confidence and also drive. It was an incredible thing.

— Meanwhile, cousin Mike and I have had numerous conversations about it, which would then send me back to edits – my favorite kind of productive work. I love problem-solving. When I wrote my book I loved that part of it as well. Some authors find that part (getting critiques, and then “fixing” stuff) to be agony, and I can understand that. Sometimes you see things in a fixed way. It IS what it is because that’s how I say it is! I created this! Much time and energy is spent in FIGHTING the edits. Now, there are some edits you should not feel pressured to make, as a writer. If someone is pushing you to do something totally against what you are working for, then you should fight for what you want, but you should also consider the possibility that maybe you haven’t said it clearly enough and THAT is why the person is suggesting an edit. See if you can say it better. And etc. Mike has a great ear. Not just for potential jokes (and of course he’s awesome at that), but at what I am MISSING. Every scene must push the story forward. This is not about plot. This is about conflict. Script 101. And acting 101. Any actor approaching a scene for the first time has to ask himself, “What is my objective in this scene?” The same is true for writing a script. Sometimes easy to forget that when you are in the bubble of creativity, working alone. It all makes sense to ME. I can hear the whole damn thing in my head! But Mike’s perceptive eye would show me other opportunities to bring out the essential conflict, to go deeper.

— So does David. David has been one of my primary readers all along. He is honest, perceptive, and gets what I am trying to do. That counts for so much. Because he can speak towards the end goal – he can say, ‘I see what you’re going for here, but I’m not really getting it.” Again: I love critiques like this.

— The time has come for me to HEAR these two scenes that I have been working on so hard. As Mike keeps saying to me, “DON’T TOUCH IT ANYMORE. YOU’LL WRECK IT.” Or if I “delete” something, make sure to save it as a revision – so that if I want to add it back in, I can easily do so.

— David and Jen graciously agreed to be my actors in this public reading, and Siobhan’s boyfriend Ben will read stage directions. It will be done simply, the two actors sitting in chairs on a small stage – no moving around (unless the spirit moves them, of course) – and the primary objective is not a final performance, naturally, but it’s all about ME, it’s all for ME. Does this work? What doesn’t work? What can I cut? What is said too many times? Am I being TOO clear sometimes? Because human relationships are messy, and we don’t always say exactly what we mean, prefacing it with, “Here’s what I’m feeling …” My guy character is more like that than the female character – he’s more talky, more open – but I need to let him be flawed, too, and not be clear, have moments when defensiveness or anger cloud his expression. But I can only really KNOW where these points are once I hear it.

— So this is all naturally terrifying because, duh, I want to be loved, and I want it to go well. It’s all very exciting.

— It was surprisingly easy to book the space. Siobhan had a great suggestion, to do it at the performance space at Jimmy’s, the cute little bar where she bartends. The performance space is adorable – and they do everything from ukelele festivals back there to poetry readings. There’s a door that can be shut, so the sound from the bar is not omnipresent. There are little bar tables in the room, and people can grab a drink at the bar, and then come in (crowd in) to listen to the reading.

— I set up an “Event” on Facebook and invited the world. So far I have 16 confirmed guests, and my agent will be there as well. I am so excited. And nervous.

— I can think of little else.

— But I will do as Mike says and NOT TOUCH THE SCRIPT ANYMORE – because I will WRECK IT. I have started to work on the third scene, and this one won’t be ready in time for the reading, and that’s fine.

— I think a lot will become clear about what I am ACTUALLY doing when I see how the thing feels in front of a living breathing audience.

— I am very grateful to my friends who will be there.

I am still rather amazed that all of this is happening.