November 15, 2009
Where’s that coupon for the free yoga class? I really should organize all of my pictures into files on my computer. A friend of mine wants me to go drink a bottle of wine with her. Okay, I’ll do that. I let Pleasure get in the way of Procrastination. But only because Responsibility always gets in the way of Pleasure. And all three get in the way of my writing. Especially that nasty bastard Responsibility. For me, everything I have-to-do-but-would-never-do-again-if-I-had-oodles-of-money, is part of that loveless marriage I have with Responsibility.
Do I have a new friend request? Damn it, Procrastination! Not now… I am trying to write my blog!!
So obviously disciplining myself is difficult, and finishing the last 15 pages of my next script, an action/comedy which we’ll refer to by the initials “T.T.,” seems nearly impossible. This is why I am going to ask for your involvement in the process. My commitment, to you, is that I will have T.T. complete by my next blog, in two weeks. That’s it, no excuses. If I don’t deliver on time, well, it’s kind of on you now. So, do your job and hold me accountable!
Okay, Mr. or Mrs. Screenwriter/Filmmaker/Dreamer friend out there? What do you need to do? How can I return the favor and hold your tender little feet to the fire? Do you have something to finish… or maybe something you need to start? (That’s what I thought.) Please comment here and get it off your chest… I want specifics, deadlines, pages, the steps involved.
Writing should be our Joy. It probably usually is, just not always. But here’s my experience: the non-joyous work brings progress, and progress brings Joy. It’s like saving money for a vacation… it sucks and seems to take forever, but guess what? You’re not going on that trip otherwise. And I want to go sooo badly, don’t you? So let‘s GO! Okay, here’s the first thing we’re going to do… Cut and paste the quote below onto a blank page:
“The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working. Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand with as much regularity as an accountant settles down each day to his figures. They didn’t waste time waiting for inspiration.”
Now, change it into a nice font and make it larger. Big! Now print it out and tack it on the wall somewhere. I put mine right above my desk. If you’re really in bad shape, print it over and over and put it in your areas of distraction. Tape it to the TV, the fridge, your cat. If needed, print it on to a tee-shirt, one for you, one for Procrastination, one size XXXL for Pleasure’s fat ass, but nothing for Responsibility. You have to look at that sour puss everyday whether you like it or not. We’re stuck with Responsibility, indeed.
I’ll see you in two-weeks.
