Screenwriting : Nov Write Club Week #3 - Updates by Dawn Prato

Well! This has certainly been a productive month full of networking, attenting webinars again, and making progress with my own work. Finding that initial balance was tricky, and required I buck up and get a bit more disciplined with my schedule before and after work, but I'm pleased to report that so far, so good!

Though there isn't a ton of visible progress to be seen (still hand-writing a novel in a notebook, though I plan to transfer that to a Word doc this weekend), my writing partner and I have been consistent with our writing meetings. We've gone through all the feedback on the first draft of the YA novel, organized it, then listed out which alterations need to go where, chapter-by-chapter. It's reinvigorated my will to write, after a year or two of not seeing many results and being fairly discouraged.

Now, however, I'm waiting to hear back from a couple script requests (that 3+ month wait is DIFFICULT, my friends!!) and I'm developing an idea with a partner, but I've (so far) managed to keep a life-work balance. I think it helps that it's gotten chillier, so I have less of an urge to be outside and more likely to be found wrapped in a cozy blanket with a mug of tea nearby.

On the subject of advice about feedback, I think one of the best pieces came from an author (and echoed by a few instructors and personal experience). When someone gets very, VERY detailed in a suggested change, "have her walk instead of run" for example, it usually means it's more likely that note can be set aside. But if there's a comment like, "I don't know what's missing here but this moment isn't landing for me"/it's a bit more vague, that usually indicates there IS something to take a closer look at. It does take a bit of finding the "note behind the note" (a phrase I used to hate but have grown to love because, well, it's true....), but it often leads to places and changes I wouldn't have considered before.

I would like to take a look at a logline for my TV pilot, "Future King" - it's okay, I think, but could be a bit better. It's a fantasy, hour-long concept, and the logline is as follows:

After accidentally waking King Arthur in the modern day, a disillusioned businesswoman must sort fact from fantasy if they're going to survive his enemies both ancient and new - trouble is, she may be one of them.

This November has been so lovely for so many reasons, and I love seeing everyone's progress :) Keep up the good work! One week left, and at that point things like this start to become habit, so let's see about carrying this energy through the holidays (tricky, I know!).