RIP writer that could have been

So as writers go, we tend to have writing groups. And these days, some of those groups are online. Which means we end up being online friends with people we never meet in person. Luckily I've "met" some really great writers that way. And one of these, Sandy Corkins-Schmidt, just passed away this week. I never got to meet her. I barely knew her. But I do remember her smiling face, seeing kind words posted from her. I know she placed in several screenwriting contests this year. And of course when everyone online heard of her passing, there were only kind things to be said about her. But what does this have to do with you? Well, she was young. I would assume in her 40's. Which to me, is too young to pass away. So the reason I'm writing about her, to you, is that I hope this reminds all writers, that you need to stop waiting to get those screenplays and TV scripts written. Because we just don't know when it's our time. Life is short people. And if you aren't doing what you love,  you aren't following your passion to be a writer, then why aren't you? For me, my dad passed away when I was 23 and he was only 51. It was the most tragic thing that had happened to me. But it taught me never ever to take life for granite and to live every moment to its fullest. It's given me the passion to always keep writing and never waste my time doing anything unimportant when I could be writing instead.

So please writers, stop procrastinating. Stop watching too much TV when you could be writing your own TV scripts. Stop hanging out with friends ALL the time, when you could hole up and finish your outline or your rewrite. You're a writer. You're meant to write. You have the passion to be a successful writer. And if you waste too much time, you'll never see your dream realized. To me, writers were put on this earth to tell their stories. So tell your story. Before it's too late.

In honor of mom

Well it is Mother's Day, so I guess I should write a screenwriting blog about my mom, right? My mom wasn't a writer, and she didn't follow her passion to be an artist. She did have talent, but she didn't believe in herself. So what exactly can I say about my mom that's encouraging when it comes to writing? Well, I hated seeing her not follow her passion and what she was talented in. But she grew up in a different time where women were homemakers no matter what. Sure some women broke that mold, but not many. So maybe I owe her that for encouraging me to fight to follow my passion.

And I will say she loved movies, she still does. She loved TV, she still does. She sees the world in movies and TV truthfully. Whenever she talks about life it's always another TV show or another movie she brings up. How much she loved it, or what message she got out of it. If it wasn't for her love of TV  and movies maybe I wouldn't be interested in writing movies and TV in the first place. Her love of watching these stories turned into my love of creating them.

So although we approached our passions for things in life and creativity in different ways, we're not that different really. And what I can say about my mom, is she's always proud of me. Proud that I'm following my dreams and not letting anything get in my way of going after what brings me joy. So I am thankful for that. I owe her thanks. Some writers wait till they win the Oscar to thank their moms. Maybe Mother's Day is all we ever really need.

I'm an introverted writer who likes being social

What to do when you have the need to hide away to write, yet have friends you'd like to see at the same time? How does a writer juggle it all?! We writers are stereotyped as the person who hides in their room, sits at their computer, smoking, drinking, hiding. But are we all like that? Maybe that's way too much like JD Salinger who supposedly spent the last 40 years of his life in almost total seclusion. But the writers I know, don't seem to be such social pariahs. Alas, we do need to find time to write and put our writing first. So it's the subtle dance of finding time to write along with finding time to socialize and come out into the world. I know for me, I think I used to think I owed friends and family my time. Like if I wasn't spending time with them or making the rounds, they'd think I didn't care. But more recently I realized that being true to myself and my passion and art was actually more important than worrying about everyone else's needs. So even though I have found myself being less social and writing a lot more, which makes me happy, I do find that I miss making time for the other things I enjoyed, like friends. So what's a writer to do? Well, for me, I just remind myself that yes, I might not be seeing friends as much, but my writing career is benefiting from being more recluse. Plus, I do have a husband and child, so it's not like I don't have any social contact. I am also a gym rat and visit the gym five days a week. So I do get to chat with my other gym rat friends at least almost every morning. On occasion, that doesn't seem to be enough and I find myself getting cranky around the hubby and my son and that's when I know I've been holed up too much and it's time for some girlfriend time. It's a hard balance fitting it all in. Being a writer can be a lonely job. I've had people who don't really get what it means to be a writer and they'll say, "That's so exciting!" And since I've yet to work on a set yet, I say, "No, not so much. But it makes me happy." And that's what matters. So, alas, I'll be home writing tonight, being anti-social but happy at the same time. And summer is fast approaching so I'll be very social with my son out of school and making plans with his friends and other moms. And as social as I will be, I'm sure I'll be longing from my solitude when I can hole myself up and join my other friends we like to call, "characters" in screenplays.

Why I heart Jack White

Okay, if you don't know who he is, go find out now! Okay, kidding, sort of. Jack White is the brilliance behind the White Stripes. He's one of our generation's most talented musicians. It's not my opinion, it's just fact. He's like a true rock god. Seriously. Saw him last night at the Wiltern and wow, just reminded how amazing he truly is. Now I'm not just writing this to brag about going out. Because yes, I don't do much of that any more. But I'm writing it because of his passion to his art. We writers need to remember that that's our job too. That's what sets us apart from other writers who do not have that passion. See, Jack White's passion is so completely and consumingly intense. He doesn't hold back, he doesn't apologize for it, he just lets his passion come out in what he writes and when he performs. And as writers, we need to remember that's what we are supposed to do and be. I remember years and years ago when I was first discovering I wanted to write screenplays, and I would talk with excitement about certain movies I loved and why they were good. And some people who weren't into film would sort of look oddly at me, like, what's her problem? And I felt almost like I had to apologize for my excitement. But then another time not long after, I was around other writers who also loved the craft and loved true and utter talent, and they had as much passion for the craft as I did. And we all got so completely excited and that's when I realized, I don't need to apologize for my passion! There was no reason I needed to hold back. I just needed to find other people who were just as excited as me! And when you have that kind of passion, when you let it flow through you and your work, it becomes true brilliance. I mean think of you favorite movies or directors or actors, are they milk toast and bland? Or are they intense and almost shoot off the screen when you seem them? Of course it's the latter. And we writers, we need to pour ourselves into our work and not hold back. Go for it with all your heart and all your gusto. Because what's the point of writing if we're not going to do it 200%! So yes, Jack White is amazingly awesome. And seriously go look him up on youtube. If you don't get him, then keep watching him till you do. The guy is pure brilliance. Then once you've been inspired enough, go write your screenplays with as much passion and I promise you, you'll get noticed by Hollywood. It would almost be impossible not to.