Thursday, May 27, 2010

CREATIVE ADD

Do you have a hard time focusing on one project at a time?

I find this to be the case in both writing and my life. If you're an inventive spirit whose mind is swimming with ideas, this is a syndrome I affectionately refer to as Creative ADD. For years, I suffered at the hands of it. Starting a project only to have my concentration sucked away by a new, more exciting one, which resulted in more than a dozen unfinished screenplays.

I grew accustomed to not completing my projects, dragging my files with me everywhere I moved, up until last year. I began a project that would be my biggest undertaking as a writer, a novel. From the beginning, I worried that it would become yet another buried box at the back of my closet, but I forged ahead, writing 10-20 pages a day until three months had passed and I found myself looking down at a completed manuscript.

At first I considered it a miracle, but then I decided to evaluate my writing process and see if there was some magic formula, I could apply to the other scatterbrain areas of my life, and here’s what I found:

1. Appeal:

a. I created a mock cover for my book as a source of inspiration.

b. I also was sure to print out my daily pages. There’s nothing like holding your progress in your hand to propel you to do more.

2. Consistency

c. I vowed to write every single day, good or bad, long or short, typed or hand written.

3. Timing

d. I didn’t set an impossible deadline for myself. I knew a Novel was a huge undertaking, and that it would undoubtedly take time and patience.

e. I also kept a calendar marking my progress.

4. Rewards

a. I awarded myself with a new book every time I completed a couple of chapters.

I applied these methods to some of my unfinished projects and have found my creativity a great deal more manageable. Now when I get a new idea I take an hour or two out of my day to write a summary and add it to my list of projects in development. As a writer every project comes with a sense of urgency and my curiosity pulls at me to pursue it. I’ve found that writing a detailed summary helps alleviate some of the pressure in order to bring my focus back to my current project. And if the new idea is really eating away at me, I consider it motivation to finish sooner.

The result, two completed novels, three screenplays, and five new ideas, to add to my already massive portfolio. Every day I get a few steps closer to the end.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

A Good Day

I just finished my edits for TB: Genesis and I have to admit I'm a little sad. Every time I reach the last page of edits or reading it I sulk a little. I'm too much of a fan, I know. At least now I have book two to comfort me.

I'm very much looking forward to the feedback from my BETA readers and my editor as I prepare to start my next Novel currently titled SOUL STONES: CURE, as well as completing my current Screenplay.

Saturday, May 22, 2010


Today is a big day. I'm attempting to finish editing the last sixty pages of my Novel

True Beginnings: Genesis

I wrote the novel in 3 months, but sat it aside for another few months while I created the sequel, TB: Feral (No cover for this one yet.)

I am so excited to finally be able to read through the final version. I've been speeding through the edits for almost two months.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Here goes nothing.

Starting a blog has been on my to do list for the past nine months and I thought now would be a good time to actually do it.

So I know the first thought coming to you is: "What's the purpose of all this."

Well in a few words as possible, I'm a writer. I've written screenplays for nearly a decade and most recently ventured into the literary world. Now I'm trying to navigate the treacherous waters of New York publishers and Hollywood produces, as if my writing aspirations weren't hard enough already.

I began writing novels nine months ago and I'm getting read to begin the journey into my third. It's been an amazing journey so far.

So that's a bit about me. Now onto the blog. What can you expect to see here?

  • Some of my craziest thoughts.
  • News about my upcoming Novel and other projects I'm working on.
  • And random everyday life things that I feel compelled to share.
What you won't see here?

  • What I had for dinner?
  • Who pissed me off during the day?