Sparks Ignite, I'm Training For Thought, About No One, And Nothing In Particular, Watched The Sick And Suckered And Drove, Resent Nothing

--"Straight Lines", Silverchair

I don't often write about other people's sites. To me, rule number one is to stay true to my own stories and what makes me tick rather than regurgitate what other people are saying. It's easy to post up a link to something spectacular that isn't yours, jot down a few comments, and call it a blogging day. I've always thought that if it was to be something of value, a post needs to be two things. It needs to be personal and it needs to be entertaining. That's why I try to keep this site devoid of any memes, lists, or current events because they just aren't personal enough for me. And that's why I usually try not to become an advertisement for bigger and better blog sites because, if I think somebody should be reading them, that's why I have the list of sites we visit on the side. I don't want my whole contribution for the day to be akin to "my stuff is crap but, if you want to read something good, you need to check out so-and-so over here."

However, sometimes a site simply captures my imagination and fosters sufficient inspiration in me that I cannot help pay tribute. TheHill88 always brings a smile to my face, while at the same time revealing a delightfully entertaining (and personal) side to its owner, Miss Caitlin Hill. Originally, I planned to write out my own take on what it means to be entertaining and personal, but The Hill88 beat me to the punch. When I came across the following video, I was floored at how well done it was and how much it lifted my entire day. This is my goal, to craft posts half as entertaining as this. I figure I'm personally inclined already, but I want to strive to be personal as well.


there’s good will inside of me

I know, I know, I know. I don't do cameras and you have my permission to shoot me if I ever get the urge to videotape myself. But it's not only the fact that she puts herself in the gaze of the audience on a day-to-day basis that I admire about Miss Hill. It's the fact that she puts so much planning into her experiences and that's a talent I've never quite seemed to master. Sure, she does improvise a lot, but there is a level of professionalism that I've never possessed. Simply put, whatever you read here is pretty much written ten to thirty minutes before I post it. I've always relied on my skills as a writer to stumble upon what I'm trying to say. I've always eschewed drafting or planning of any kind when it comes to this business of art. However, after seeing that video, I know it's simple fear and lack of will that prevents me from giving my projects my all. I've always been a laid-back kind of guy when it comes to schoolwork-type projects or writing projects. I knew what I wanted to say, I had the basic tools to say it, and I have a fairly good imagination and vocabulary. Because of that I've always stuck with my guns and put out above-average effort on my first.

Now I see I can do better. More than that, I can actually see the difference in taking work just that extra bit more seriously. I'm noticing that too much polish and taking one's time are good things.

I'm noticing this because it's becoming clear to me that if I want to be taken seriously as a screenwriter, I can't hang on bad habits. I can't write from page one to "the end" and call it a day. I also can't write without an outline or blueprint of where I want to go. I'm not that talented, which comes as a shock to me, surprisingly. For as long as I've known I've had people tell me I could write well. I've had English teachers give me perfect scores for essays I've written only four hours before class started. I've had college professors actually tell me I could skip composition classes because my papers simply outclassed everyone else's. Slowly but surely, I began to think that as long as I trusted my instincts and avoided second-guessing my initial drafts I could do no wrong.

I stopped writing after the thought. As soon as I was done writing about something, I never revisited that writing. Ever. It just wasn't something I did.

Now I'm thinking it's time.

Caitlin takes weeks sometimes to cull together one of her posts and takes the time to make sure everything is staged correctly. Yet it always seems like it's something she's thrown together. That's the mark of a project being well thought out and expertly carried out from page one.

I've got the expertly (okay, above-averagely) part down pat. Now it's about time I spend the time writing out the project to explain how the project is going to get written out. It's about time I start making sure all my ladders are in place and secured well before I start climbing those heights. It's about time I start thinking the project is more important than my own ego.

It's about time, like Caitlin, I move on to newer pastures without changing who I am and what got me here in the first place.

Yours Swimmingly,
mojo shivers