Getting Back to (the) Story
What have I done? I abandoned my blog. Why? I needed some time, (a lot of time), to get better. Get a better understanding of the fundamentals of storytelling. I needed to understand not just what makes a story great but something far more valuable to me. How I work. What I am made of.
Most would assume that someone who’s retirement is closer than their start date would know and understand themselves. But as individuals we are in constant change. The same foods I ate five years ago, or ten years ago don’t have the same taste. The activities I loved as a teenager have been cast aside for experiences that I thought were strictly for old people. The hard question is what are my likes, and dislikes, now? What do I really want to do now? Where do I want to spend my precious time now?
The first, reflexive answer is simple – make movies, make TV shows. Beyond those first thoughts is something far more complex and nuanced. Of course, stories and storytelling are front and center. But what kind of stories do I want to make? What kind of parables, mythologies or truths do I want to create? Again, the first, unfiltered answer is easy – good ones. The details of how and what are as elusive as ever. After being lost for direction for a while, I decided to read some books. The one that pointed me into the right direction is Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins. It looks at the misconceptions that surround artistry. And believe it or not how story, stories about artists, have created a belief system that details what an artist should look like, act like, get paid, etc. For all intents and purposes, the myth of a starving artists is not true. However, one can proceed with becoming a starving artist. But who would want to become that stereotype?
Mr Goins contrasts 12 points between starving and thriving artists. At this point, being directionless is the direct symptom of not having a mentor. Mr Goins suggests a starving artist believes talent is enough, while a thriving artists seeks a mentor. So I looked for a teacher. I looked for a teacher who specializes in the most difficult type of writing: TV Shows. I figured if I can write a a multi-season TV show, I could write a screenplay for feature-length film. With my foot in the door, then I could parlay this into directing, producing and more writing assignments. Maybe, I could become a show runner for a few years. This led me to Hal Croasmun. I am currently enrolled in his television show class. The results have been astounding for me. Not only has my writing improved but the processes have improved more. The only drawback for me is I didn’t realize what I was asking for. Its a lot of work. It been difficult because I’ve been squeezing it in between family life, martial arts and the 9-to-5. There is very little time for the assignments. Nonetheless, I am gaining confidence in my writing and finding the time to re-start my blog.
What’s the next step? Like before, I’m going to create a writing assignment and walk you through the process. But this time, I have direction. To make it plain, I’ll modernize one of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and turn it into a pitch and plot for a television show.
Welcome back to my journey of pursuing a creative career and becoming a thriving artist.