Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Time to take stock of your last year

I usually like to reflect on my previous year to help inspire me for the upcoming year. I mean we writers, we can be hard on ourselves if we haven't reached where we want to be in our careers. But what I've learned is it's not about where we aren't, it's about what have we achieved so far. Once we pay attention to that it helps us realize hey, I've done something! I am moving forward! And that gives us momentum to move forward some more. So if you're a new writer and all you can say is you've written one script then congratulate yourself for getting that done. If you've finally joined your first writing group, then hurrah for you. No matter what you can say about your success, how little or how big, applaud yourself!

I mean even the biggest actors that we see on the big or little screen get frustrated with where their careers are or are not. So don't do that to yourself. Keep applauding, keep plodding and just keep moving forward. So here's my 2013, the best year for me yet! In fact, I think 2014 is going to be a good year.

1. I got two not just one management companies to rep me. Yay! Something that I had been trying for my entire writing career. So someone besides myself is actually getting my work in front of people that want to read it. Yay!

2. I have several project ideas with a Hallmark Producer. Again, yay! If it means work of mine could actually get produced, this is a great thing in my career!

3. I have one manager that is setting up some animation pitches for me. Pitches of producers I haven't met yet. Which means, meeting more people in the industry. Always a good thing! And I love pitching, so that will be fun and exciting.

4. My other manager had me write a spec for an HBO show and liked it so much they didn't change a word. Wow!

5. That manager is getting it to the show producers for possible hire. Wow! Really? Me? It's more exciting than I can possibly get across in a blog. Let's just say, I'm giddy!

6. That manager is also reading a project of mine to possibly pitch for TV. Again, someone is reading my stuff and it could get in front of someone who can do something about it? Exciting!

7. My project I'm working on with the big Producer I'm working with is still moving forward. I got notes and am waiting to talk to his office for some clarification. But we're still moving forward and that's exciting.

8. My screenwriting blog got attention thanks to Script Magazine and Jeanne Veillette Bowerman. Thank you Jeanne!

9. I just finished a rewrite of my latest comedy feature.

10. I'm almost done with another comedy feature.

11. My indie is still in development. Getting produced this year? Fingers crossed!

So as you can see, it's not about where you're not. I feel like I'm finally in the game. It's taken me a long time. It's taken me a lot of steps forward to lead to other steps forward. So no matter where you are in your writing career, as Dory from Nemo says, just keep swimming! You just may find you've arrived somewhere even better than you ever imagined!