Don't Forget to Write!
Hollyweird's Holiday Hiatus Begins... After this!
Hi all --
I'm writing this from some very expensive (and very spotty) American Airlines WiFi as I fly to New York for a long weekend to see old friends and new theater.
As we're in the final sprint to get everything done for the end of the year I personally am feeling pulled in a million different directions. I'll be sending a big end of year post detailing everything I did this year (see previous years here here and here) but for context I spent half the year in the room for a TV series (fun!) while also continuing to juggle a few projects that had already been in development before I was staffed -- a feature adaptation of a short story, a pitch with a director to adapt some old IP, an original feature I'm now trying to cast, a series pitch also based on some IP, a new feature assignment I've recently started working on, and... probably some other stuff I'm forgetting.
Now all of those things have one or two final "little" tasks that simply must be finished before the end of the year. A letter to write to an actor to try to get them to read (before the end of the year), a newly revised lookbook to send to that same actor (also before the end of the year), oh, heck, maybe even some notes on the script before we send it to that actor, a bunch of pitch meetings (also before the end of the year), a note to the rights holder asking to extend our option (also before the end of the year), and a new treatment for the new assignment (this is mercifully not due until early next year)...
It's... a lot of stuff! And it's all good! It all does eventually contribute to whether or not these things get made. But, it's also a lot of coordinating of a lot of different people and ideas and deadlines and not a lot of sitting down to think deeply about writing! So this is a friendly reminder to myself (and to all of you) that creative work only happens when there is space for creativity. Don't get so energized/depleted (depends on the day) by the emails and calls and meetings that you forget the point of all of this, which is: TO CREATE.
There’s a certain amount of work that can sometimes be easier to fall into than actually sitting down and creating, and that work is… basically everything else. E-mails back to people, phone calls, coffee meetings, outreach, checking back in, updating your bio / website… These are tasks that are technically important, yes, but they are also tasks that are much easier to cross off on a to-do list than “write a good movie” or “develop new idea.” And so it is often a bit tempting to look at those tasks as they pile up and say to yourself… “maybe I’ll just get started on those.” I am here to say, don’t! Or, well, do. But, within reason! If you’re reading this, odds are you not only have these kinds of important/achievable tasks, but also the much more nebulous ones that require will-power. So, remember, will-power is a limited resource. Try to carve out a little bit of time to use it on the stuff you’re really passionate about. And if that’s coffee meetings, then god bless you.
I'm going to be taking the next two weeks off from all of my "non-creative obligations" so Hollyweird will not be back until that end of year roundup, which will be in your inboxes January 3rd. Until then, I'll be writing and reading and watching and trying to slow down and make some room for creativity. I hope you all can create a little bit of space over the holidays, for whatever it is you'd like to get to do. It's amazing how the minute you stop being busy, you start wanting to make things. Almost like creativity is a natural human motivation.
Anyway! Happy end of the year, I'm excited to share with you my big "2024 in Review.” And just a reminder that we will be doing another Hollyweird Hang the first Sunday in January (January 5 from 1-2:30PM PT). More details on what to expect there (maybe we review the previous year, maybe we talk 2025 goals, maybe we just shoot the shit, I'm open to your suggestions!) in the new year.
C
“Will power is a limited resource” - took me too long to admit that to myself!