Adventures into Screenwriting - P1 · 6:58pm Mar 9th, 2018
Following the desires of my Discord server, I've decided to do a small series of blogposts to track my progress with my writing courses. And by desires of my server, I mean: "guys if I did blogposts tracking my scriptwriting class progress, would y'all like that?" "sure mono if you want to" "gOSH CONTROL YOUR EXCITEMENT"
So part 1 is here, covering the topic of anxiety, a little bit of validation, and moving on from them horses.
The classes are being held in a small work place in Santa Monica, CA every Sunday. We're ten students so far, and it seems to be a very diverse group--two mexicans including me, five afro-americans, one latina (I don't know from where), and two caucasians. The majority of us are women, too.
The class was being taught by two professors, whose first names I remember but not the second ones and I'm too lazy to go and google them ATM. It was Ron, who is our primary teacher and reviewer, and then Tanya, the founder of the writing course.
The point of this class is to be able to write not a perfect first draft, but a perfect outline which can then be used as a draft. Our first class was about a ton of different concepts that I'd never really heard before but seemed obvious upon hearing them.
We all each talked about what we wanted to write, as well, and while I'll later discuss my own personal event, I want to relay a quick anecdote. As many of you know, a big 'problem' with me has been the...downplay of fanfiction VS original fiction. I'm pretty sure that part of the reason I'm taking this course was so I could feel like a "real author"--which is BS because fanfiction doesn't make me any less of a real author/writer, if maybe not an author because I haven't traditionally published anything.
So, we started talking about the differences between writing PILOT EPISODES and SPEC SCRIPTS. Pilot episodes is essentially a completely new idea, whereas spec episodes, which are required for writing contests to get into legit writing programs/fellowships, is taking an existing show and writing a new episode for it.
I'm sure this sounds familiar.
So, I was sitting there listening, and one of my classmates spoke up. She said that she had written many a original pilots, but that spec scripts were insanely hard for her. She couldn't wrap her head around being able to write an episode for a show with characters that weren't hers. And I want you all to know I was sitting there looking at her like "LADY, IF YOU KNEW WHAT I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME ON".
It was incredibly.... I DON'T KNOW, it just felt so strange because all my life I've heard people diss fanfiction as being easy, and to be in a professional setting where people were nodding along to this lady about how something so easy for me feels so hard for them, well...
Well, it was really validating. I felt very smug about that, TBQF.
EXCEPT THEN, I HAD MY BUTT HANDED TO ME WITH ORIGINAL STUFF.
Well, actually, no, I didn’t.
Essentially, our first task for the week was to fill in this massive brainstorming sheet regarding our story. In my case, I wanted to do a COMPLETELY ORIGINAL PILOT to finally prove to myself and the world that I can do original fiction.
And I realized something very important. It felt to me as if fanfiction was simpler because there are no limitations because fanfictions, I guess, are less subjected to society’s skewed views? It was the first time in an incredibly long time where I didn’t fear to be judged by my writing ability, but by the content and subject of what I wanted to write.
I had to come out to my dad as Bi yesterday just so I could show him my story without being judged. It was awkward and a little uncomfortable, and though he wasn’t upset, he wasn't super accepting either? He was mostly accepting while being in denial. but the good thing is that it was over in ten minutes which I'm guessing we were both glad for.
Anyway!
I think my first issue, as the TEL Dissy server can attest too, was that I felt like THIS WOULD DETERMINE MY FORAYS INTO OF FOREVER. I felt like I was working for a job interview, and honestly, in a way I am? This class is also meant to prepare you for the Writing Fellowships, which are essentially professional writing contests, sooooo…
I spent Monday and Tuesday agonizing over what to write. For the past few weeks, I was DETERMINED that my first foray into this would actually be a non-pony exploration of the universe from Death’s Stolen Diamonds/In the Twilight of Death.
This was the plan up until I saw our brainstorming sheet, and I goddamn panicked. I like panicked, you guys. That thing is meant to break down your story to the core, and I still had a so much left to plot out, AND I ONLY HAD 5 DAYS TO DO IT. You had to figure out flaws, and redeeming traits, and story conceits, and what made your story different, AND IT WAS STUFF I'D DONE BEFORE BUT NOW IT WAS serious.
I was so stressed up about it, I actually became physically ill. My roomie Swan woke me up at seven on Tuesday, and I stayed in bed for an hour almost catatonic from stress. I was convinced I was a failure at the class and would be the worst, AND I’D ONLY HAD ONE CLASS.
I ended up discarding Death!AU and spent several hours looking at prompts until I found one I liked AND EVEN THAT I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING IT OUT.
Until.
Until, of frickin’ course, after hours of begging my brain to cooperate, I finally gave up, sighed a long sigh, and asked myself: “...How would I handle this if it were a RariTwi AU?” AND OF COURSE THEN MY BRAIN SHOOTS WORLDBUILDING, AND DYNAMICS, AND PLOT AT ME.
But, still, I felt very...new to this universe, so IN A MOMENT OF DESPERATION, THERE I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN EL INTO A FRICKIN’ TV SHOW. I then stopped myself and reminded me that no, I did not put TEK on hiatus so I could use my time to write TEL.
I also considered doing Bodyguard!AU, but… it felt easy for me. I wanted to do something that would really test me, that would show my creativity--not that bodyguard!AU doesn’t, but...
So, I went back to Death’s Stolen Diamonds, because that universe has always felt different to me. I always felt that Death!AU wasn’t meant to stay pony. For those of you who haven’t read it, IT’S BASICALLY AN AU WHERE RARITY IS A REAPER AND TWI’S AN ANGEL AND RARILUNA.
The biggest hurdle for me was to figure out how to transform what is essentially a simple story into a _TV show_. The characters themselves have taken on their own life and iterations, which was great, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out. What would the show be about week to week? What themes would I explore? Would it be a procedural like a cop or doctor show, or a series with an ongoing main plot thread? It was driving me mad, and I was really starting to question my ability as a storyteller.
I ended up having a massive discussion in my server about it, after which THE AMAZING CARABAS came to the rescue and became my soundboard for ideas. He is awesome. He’s also a very talented writer. Go read his stuff.
Carabas and I had a huge brainstorming session, and I finally figured out how to translate it into a series. My editor, Beltorn, was also huge help, as he was nitpicking the little details and inconsistencies. Finally, by the end of it, I had the series themes, the arcs, the plot, THE REVEAL OF THE LAST EPISODE, THE DRAMA, THE ROMANCE.
And now I’m incredibly pissed off that I didn’t do the pony version this way BECAUSE DAMN. Speaking of which, depending on how these classes go, I might cancel DSD and turn it into completely original... We shall see.
Anyway, I finally sent it in yesterday night, and all my other class companions sent in their own brainstorm sheets. I’ll be reading them this weekend, so that we can all give each other feedback on Sunday.
Truth be told, I’m still afraid of this. It’s still scary to take ‘critiques’, but I know that me being afraid of this is exactly why I need to do this. I want to improve my craft, but I really want to work on my self-esteem via this. I _know_ I’m not too bad of a writer—I’m okay, but I can always strive to be different—but it’s still scary to be judged on original fiction.
What if I’m not good enough? Bleeeeeh…
But, I’ll try my best! And I’m excited to make friends and learn to collaborate with others.
Right now, surprisingly, I’m really pumped to write a bit of fanfic stuff. I came up with “episodes” for a potential bodyguard!AU style TV show, and since I’m not doing that anymore, I can totes swipe the episode ideas for actual BG!AU, so expect one of those soonish.
I'm also going to fill in the brainstorming sheet with TEK, because I feel like it'll really help me out a lot for my themes and to have it more grounded than just in my head. It'll be fun.
Anyway, that was it for today!
See you next Friday with my next class blogpost???
- Mono
Sounds about right lol
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Yup, that sounds like the server 100%
I'm glad to hear you got what you needed! I look forward to hearing about your progress!
Okay, now that I've made my little joke and read through, I'm going to restate something I've mentioned in DMs:
I'm super proud of you for doing this and excited to see you pursuing it. It's not an easy path, but chasing your dreams is worth it. As for your nerves, I'm glad to see that you got the help you needed to get through your anxiety and get through planning out a story arc for this original idea. Given how your other works have hit me, I'd love to see it fully developed and on my TV/computer screen ^^
Knock 'em dead, ducky.
That was really interesting. Would like to see more of these if you want to keep doing them.
Soooo maybe I'm weird for thinking Reaper!AU to be very soft for dark things? Also weirdly whimsical af?
omg
I recall mentioning spec scripts and pilots to you long ago; glad to see you're getting a chance to try your hand at them and even more glad to see it's going well. Keep at it.
Also... I can't imagine how it must have been telling your father that. Never doubt your own bravery to be able to face down the things you have. There's a lot of us rooting for you, never forget that as well.
I would love to see new Bodyguard!AU stories! Hope your class goes well.
Wait, you were thinking of adapting TEL?!! Please do, I sincerely believe it would be great!
Anyway I know you're busy right now but anytime you wanna talk about The Choices We Make thing let me know!
Congrats on living the dream!
If it would be OK, could you share one of your brainstorming sheets? It would be fascinating to see the results of your work.
Good luck with your class!
Awesome. Sounds like it's going well and I hope it continues to do so.
Woo, DSD show! Looking forward to seeing how that progresses.
Also, any good lessons from the class about writing/worldbuilding/storytelling or was the first class just logistics and industry stuff?
So, I was planning on making some smart-ass joke about "and then I threw everything out and did a soap opera about Professor Vivian Crepuscle and her mutual crush on textile heiress Blanche la Diamante"
But then I saw that you already had me covered on that angle
oh man, that does sound scary c.c Fiction writing and script writing exercise very different muscles, I know that much.
Knock 'em dead. :B
You got this!
I'd love to see more installments of Adventures Into Screenwriting™!
In all seriousness, though, I'm glad you found what you were looking for and I can't wait to see how this class affects your future writing.
Also, more Bodyguard!AU? Yespls.
Super proud of you for taking your craft into the next step. Good luck, and if you don't mind, keep us informed?
Definitely adopting this as a sobriquet. Though just in case anyone gets the wrong idea from reading this, Mono's role was clarifying all the brilliant ideas she already had, while I stuck to inane gurgling and looking pretty in the background.
The scripted Death's Stolen Diamonds stuff is still rad as hell. Looking forward to its inevitable screen adaptation.
I'm glad to see you've gained confidence on your first assignment, and I can't imagine coming out to your father like that. That was brave. However, I'm worried you might fall into the trap of relying on feedback from your Discord for your scripts. They are people that already know and like your stories. You have an entire class of people who don't, and you need to work with them. I'm not sure if you were expected to collaborate with your classmates for this assignment, but I recommend you get feedback from them and listen to it for future ones, even if it hurts. People will say things you disagree with, and they'll often be wrong about things, but there's often something hidden behind what they're saying that you can use.
Oh man, as someone who gets teary-eyed over criticism easily, the group critique sounds like it'd be so hard to deal with, but at the same time, it'd be so confidence boosting if they like it! You have my sympathy for the nerves regarding it, and my reassurances because I'm sure they'll enjoy your work!
I hope your Dad warms up to the fact that you're bi over time. I dealt with the same 'accepting but denying' thing too coming out as bi/pan with my mom, and I don't really plan on telling my dad unless he asks. It feels weird to come out to my parents when I'm already happily married to someone of the opposite sex...like I WANT to be out, proud, and visible, yet since there's little chance of me having a LBT+ partner unless something majorly unexpected happens...so I've worried that to them I'm just "worrying" them for no reason...UGH.
Anyway, sorry for the rant! Back on track now!
*HAS MAJOR CONFLICTING FEELINGS OVER DSD POSSIBLY GETTING CANCELED BUT TURNED INTO AN ORIGINAL STORY*
*grabs the nearest fainting couch* 
On one hand OMG! I would LOVE to see you publish something as awesome as DSD's concept revamped as an original work, I'd eat that up in a heartbeat!! But on the other hand.....MY RARILUNAAAAAA!
Dramatics aside, I'll be happy so long as I get to read the concept in one form or another, though I just wish I could have both for I am a greedy, greedy person!
Yay! Más mono!
Estoy muy emocionado y orgulloso con todo el trabajo que estás dedicando a lo que te gusta.
Cudiate, y tratá de no estresarte tanto, acordate que son clases, y de los errores se aprende!
Te deseo suerte con el curso!
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Receiving critiques and growing a backbone is literally the entire reason I registered.
Oh, I didn't mean to make it seem like I'm not getting feedback from my classmates? I ended the blogpost saying that I was looking forwards to that very same thing
Also, I do feel I should say my Discord server doesn't go easy on me at all, especially because I took most feedback from my editors (who are there to test me) and Carabas, who is a very good writer and poked and prodded at the flaws.
Awesome.