One lesson I learned this summer

is that screenplays take longer than I thought to write.

Far longer.

And without proper preparation that time increases.

I'd say 80% of my script is outlined by now. I feel I'm missing some logical connecting scenes and only one of my main characters gets all the fun stuff. Work and procrastination make it hard to beat it out on a regular basis but bit by bit I'm fleshing it out.

I hope my UCLA class helps me out with creating a fully fleshed out script by the time it's over.

In writing news...


Yesterday I received the three books assigned to me for my UCLA class.

Never has reading assignment been such fun.

I finished Blake Snyder's Save the Cat this morning - a book I'd heard about and had been planning on getting for a while, specifically for the BS2, which I've seen posted on a number of sites.

I got so much out of this book. I wish I didn't have to work today so I could immediately put it all to use on creating next summer's blockbuster :)

The next book on the list is Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. I don't yet understand why this one was on the assignment list but given my own latent comic project, I'm excited about it.

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In other news...


I'm defending my thesis on pole dancing this Saturday.

UCLA

So I've just enrolled in a screenwriting class at UCLA
which means I've now been a graduate student, both under and post, in four different countries now.

My cousin tells me the UCLA sports team are called the Bruins so I must go and study up on them :)

Obligatory Eureka post

Yes!
My new method worked.
I've plotted out my screenplay.

Three more screenplays to go.
Oh, and a novel.

Screenplay writing

I've learned in the past weeks that I am unable to write a screenplay without first writing the story down as a short story.

Better late than never.

In a way it feels like a waste of time but given how much time and effort I would otherwise waste on coming up with stilted storylines before scrapping them, it really probably isn't.

I wonder if the same would work with the novel.

Right now I'm working on about 4 screenplays; first writing them as short stories. When that's done I will do the same for the novel and hope it inspires the rewrite.

David Foster Wallace

I need this on my blog.

David Foster Wallace's commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005:
This is Water - Some thoughts delivered on a significant occasion, about living a compassionate life.


Part 1 -

Part 2 -
I especially liked 00:08:00 onwards

Update - Novel rewrites

I seem to be much more diligent about my other blog probably because it's a fun and silly break in the day (and I get to talk about me me me without feeling narcissistic).

In between work and procrastination (bane of my life) though, I'm progressing on the rewrite. The next time I'm home long enough to work on it I'll be on chapter 11 which is cool. (only 15 to go) The most fun part is creating my own mythology and letting my imagination roam.

Everytime I go in for a new draft or editing I end up changing so much of the original concept, it's crazy. I still have all my diary entries about the original concept, one day I'll have to do an entry or comic (or both cause I really like talking about myself :) )about that.

Hopefully this is it though - this is the rewrite that polishes the book for an agent and publishing. And hopefully I'll settle on a title at last cause the one I had - In Dreams Begins Responsibility - (a Yeates quote) doesn't work anymore.

*fingers crossed*

The Misadventures of Deana - a comic

I just created a new blog to showcase my new 'comic'.
It's called the Misadventures of Deana and can be found => here

First episode is up!

Today, on the eve of my deadline -

I finally handed in my 125-page thesis today!

Now...I've only got to get it approved then defend it in September. *shudder*

Also had the most awesome Korean bibimbap today.

Didn't get any personal writing done today but I do have a concept for a web series which I shall now get to work on -

overall a pretty good day.

To celebrate here's a vid from 2009 of Prana at the first French national pole dancing championship. She also used to teach me back when I had the time and money to go...le *sigh*

At work yesterday

I mentioned to one of my coworkers that I've got Bioshock posters in my room -
and this customer picks up his food and goes

"Whoa - Bioshock posters...backing away from the crazy lady now."

then had the nerve to smile at me like "eehh just kidding lolz".

Of course because I have to be polite I smiled instead of telling him to mind his own business but what the shit is so creepy about a poster/art work on one's wall?

I've also got a huge Dali print above my bed, am I fit for the loony bin?

*sigh*