by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Since my recent creative existential crisis when I realized I needed a “Plan B,” I have decided to expose myself to screenwriting culture. The idea is, this process ends with me buying FinalDraft and actually writing a screenplay.
As part of this, I have started listening to the Scriptnotes podcast. It’s very educational, but also very, very depressing. I’m a middle-aged man who lives in the middle of nowhere. It definitely seems as though screenwriting is completely different than novel writing.
With novels, it is at least within the realm of possibility that one might write the ever-elusive “breakout hit” novel out of the blue. As far as I know, it’s almost unheard of for someone to write a “breakout hit”screenplay. So, to listen two professional screenwriters talk about their careers is pretty depressing to me.
But I definitely need a “Plan B.” I like the idea of bouncing back and forth between a novel and a screenplay.
And, as I’ve mentioned before, I have something of a “secret weapon:” my personality. I love to schmooze and I know myself well enough to know that if I “somehow” found myself at a Hollywood party that I would talk to everyone and be so conspicuous and interesting that everyone would want to know who I am.
The idea of writing a screenplay and then traveling to LA to see if I can weasel myself into a showbiz party is quite appealing on an existential level. Imagining having a conversation with some showbiz big wig at a party who is curious as to who I am and how I ended up talking to them.
Yet, I am well aware that all that is extremely delusional. But one man’s delusion is another man’s dream.
It would make for a great story, if nothing else.
