Tag: writer journey

On Monday, May 5th, 2025, I finished writing the second half of act two for my latest feature film script! Act two is done, folks! I made it through the meat of the script, and I am so happy with this achievement. Armed with the feature film treatment I created during my time at the Sundance Collab, plus Jeffrey Alan Schechter’s book, My Story Can Beat Up Your Story, I traversed the belly of the beast! I feel so accomplished. In a previous blog entry, The Good, The Bad, & The Second Act, I wrote: “‘Yeehaw! Onward and forward!’ is the battle cry as I march through the good and bad of act two.” And that’s exactly what I did. I felt compelled to keep writing. These characters kept speaking to me. I kept thinking about them. New and improved dialogue kept popping into my head during breaks to replace placeholder dialogue I wrote within the script. Keep reading below 🙂

I also continued utilizing the timing method I used while writing act one to see how long it would take me to write act two. The first half of act one (the wanderer phase) took me 30.5 hours to write. The second half of act two (the warrior phase) took me 13 hours and 22 minutes. So, it took me 43 hours and 52 minutes to write act two (less than two days!) And yes, technically, weeks have passed from when I started writing act two on March 4th to finishing it on May 5th. But there is something so cool about saying it took me 43 hours and 52 minutes to write it. Keep reading below 🙂

The next step is to celebrate. Then, start writing act three (spoiler alert: I already began writing act three on May 6th, 2025! I could not resist!) Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

I’m still writing and progressing with the second half of act two for my latest feature film script! I’ve written scenes for the following pairs of reversals: Yes 11, No 11, and Yes 12 (In Jeffrey Schechter’s book, “My Story Can Beat Up Your Story”, he mentions that there are 28 plot points in act two. There are 14 in the first half and 14 in the second half. These plot points are grouped into pairs known as “yes/no reversals” because they alternate between the protagonist taking a step toward answering the central question and them taking a step back from it.) Keep reading below 🙂

I also returned to earlier scenes in act two to strengthen some dialogue and make it more specific. In addition, I tightened the timeline to maintain the urgency of what my protagonist is going through in this warrior phase of act two. Keep reading below 🙂

The cool thing I’m experimenting with in this script is utilizing a series of yes’s and no’s within each pair of reversals. In other words, I’m not just using one situation that creates one YES or NO for my protagonist. I’m using a few of them. For example, I wrote three different scenes for plot point Yes 8. These scenes each provide a unique YES situation that propels my protagonist closer to answering the central question. Plot point No 12 contains four different scenes. These scenes each provide a unique NO situation that pulls my protagonist away from answering the central question. So, instead of using one situation to create one YES or NO for my protagonist, I have a series of situations to increase and solidify the stakes. Now, this may make my script longer, but at least I can always cut it back! Keep reading below 🙂

I need to write the scenes for the following reversals in this second half of act two: No 12, Yes 13, No 13, Yes 14, and No 14. Once I do that, I’ll be done with act two! Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

I’ve begun writing the second half of act two for my latest feature film script on April 22nd, 2025! So far, I’ve written scenes for the following pairs of reversals: Yes 8, No 8, Yes 9, No 9, Yes 10, No 10. Still armed with the feature film treatment I created during my Sundance Collab course, my dialogue for these scenes flowed out pretty smoothly. I had a beginning, middle, and end. I focused on the event and the emotional life of the characters. Keep reading below 🙂

There were a few instances where my dialogue became a placeholder. It wasn’t quite right, but I was at least in the zip code of what I was trying to write. In those instances, I took a break and stepped away. And when I did that, the answers popped into my head. The dialogue appeared much more clearly. “A-ha! I got it! That’s it!” I immediately grabbed paper and pen and wrote down this new and improved dialogue that took the scene to another level. It was a lesson in patience and trust, knowing that the actual dialogue would eventually come to me. Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

Last week, I wrote that I was quickly approaching the halfway mark of act two of my latest feature film script. I also indicated that my goal was to complete the first half of act two in two to three weeks. Well, I accomplished my goal earlier than I had anticipated (in three days on April 20th, 2025!) That’s right! I am done with the first half of act two! I feel so good, happy, and accomplished. Something just compelled me to complete it sooner than my original goal of two to three weeks. And according to my timing method, it took me 30.5 hours to write the first half of act two. Keep reading below 🙂

I am thrilled with the growth and progression of this script and I look forward to writing the second half of act two. But first, I need to celebrate this win! Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

I’m quickly approaching the halfway mark of act two of my latest feature film script! What’s left for me to write are scenes for the following pairs of reversals in the first half of act two: Yes 6, No 6, Yes 7, No 7. I can’t wait! The writing process has moved smoothly and has provided me with opportunities to do further research to heighten and strengthen my scenes in act two. Prior research, current research, and organization have been incredible because there have been several times when these dynamics came together to create a domino effect of seamless writing. A domino effect where things fell into place and a beginning, middle, and end with the scenes occurred. Keep reading below 🙂

My goal is to complete the first half of act two in two to three weeks! Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

RuPaul, rugby, and the two feature film scripts I’m writing. What could they possibly have in common? I guess RuPaul and rugby both start with the letters “RU.” But what about the two feature film scripts? Well, RuPaul and rugby were celebrations I utilized while writing act two of my latest feature film script and the second draft rewrites for “The Third Act” script with Kelly Tighe. I watched a few rugby games on TV while having glasses of champagne, and I FINALLY started reading RuPaul’s memoir, “The House of Hidden Meanings.” These celebrations reminded me to pause and take some time off to relax, rejuvenate, and take stock of my accomplishments thus far. And yes, LOL, I have to admit that I could hear some of my characters talking to me while I was celebrating. They were infiltrating my mind with ideas and potential dialogue for scenes. There were a few moments where I responded to them with, “Oh, that’s good!” and I made written notes so I wouldn’t forget. And then, there were other moments where I told them, “Shhh. I’m celebrating. Leave me alone.” LOL. Keep reading below 🙂

I’m progressing steadily and approaching the halfway mark of act two of my latest feature film script! Kelly and I have also met a couple of times this past week and made forward progress with “The Third Act.” We’ve continued implementing notes from the feedback and tightening up dialogue and scenes. Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

This past week was a little more research-based in order to help inform the dialogue of my new scenes in act two. My research included: 1) Reading a few news articles regarding the upcoming season of a particular rugby league. 2) Watching a video analysis about a particular team. 3) Watching another sports film to analyze their approach and structure to this particular film genre. Keep reading below 🙂

And just for fun, here’s a little bit of dialogue that made me smile so far in acts one and two: “Vodka soda, please. Make it a double.” and “Hey! You got my good side!” and “Ay-yo! I knew I would like this one!” Of course, you’ll have to read the scenes for context! Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

Let’s focus on the third goal. I mentioned in my last blog entry that act two is the meat of the script. I should also add it’s the belly of the beast. It’s twice the size of act one. I sometimes find act two to be daunting to write because I have to keep the momentum going as I walk through the thicket of the woods, the thicket of the jungle. “Will I ever make it out? Will I make it to the other side?” Act two takes the longest for me to write (anyone else feels the same way?) Keep reading below 🙂

That being said, I’ve begun writing act two on March 4th, 2025! I’ve jumped onto the saddle and I need to hold on tight as I traverse act two. “Yeehaw! Onward and forward!” is the battle cry as I march through the good and bad of act two. Armed with my feature film treatment, I established the central question at the end of act one. I wrote the scene that formed the act two break/break into act two. My dialogue flowed in scenes and I introduced new supporting characters in act two. I made sure to keep focusing on the event of the scene, to fill it out emotionally in terms of what the characters were feeling, and to make sure the scenes had a beginning, middle, and end. New questions came up that encouraged me to conduct further research in the moment (and further research in the days ahead.) “Yeehaw! Onward and forward!” Keep reading below 🙂

Until next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I am focusing on three goals this year. Those goals are: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. 2) Complete the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. 3) Write and complete the first draft of my rugby feature film script. Each week, I will provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging.

Yes, you read the title of this blog entry correctly! On February 12th, 2025, I started writing the script for my rugby feature film. Armed with the feature film treatment I created during my time at the Sundance Collab, in addition to supplementing it with Jeffrey Alan Schechter’s book, “My Story Can Beat Up Your Story,” I got to writing! On February 26th, 2025, I finished the first draft of act one. Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Wait a minute. Days have passed between February 12th and February 26th. How did he write act one in 7 1/2 hours?” Keep reading below 🙂

One thing I wanted to experiment with for the first time as a writer was timing my writing sessions. Yes, technically, days have passed between February 12th and February 26th. However, according to my timer, I logged 7 1/2 hours (7 hours, 33 minutes to be more precise) of writing time across the days I wrote act one. That really put things into perspective for me (7 1/2 hours versus “several days” of writing). And it got me thinking: Which is the best way to measure writing time? By utilizing a clock? By counting each day of writing? How do I quantify my writing time as it relates to dealing with a network, movie studio, agent, or manager? Are they looking at the recorded time or the days/weeks/months it took me to complete something? Is it more impressive/accurate to measure progress using hours and minutes, or is measuring one’s progress by days/weeks/months the standard that will always prevail? Keep reading below 🙂

That being said, this is still a big win for me! I was able to accomplish this feat through the prior work and research I did. With each scene, I got out of my way. I didn’t focus on getting it absolutely right or being so precious with the dialogue. I focused on the event of the scene, how to fill it out emotionally in terms of what the characters were feeling, and making sure the scenes had a beginning, middle, and end. And of course, I will comb through act one later to make edits. Keep reading below 🙂

Act two is the meat of the script, and I am curious to see how long it takes me to write it using the timing system. I am confident that my prior work and research will come through for me again. I am also prepared for any roadblocks that will come up and force me to ask the next question or dig deeper or do a little more research to fill in certain moments. Keep reading below 🙂

Until next week!