Jettisoned Ideas

 I have come to realize over time that some ideas I have for screenplays (mostly, I don't have this level of retroactive assessment for short stories and novels... mostly because most story ideas I have lately I immediately default to thinking of them as screenplays ideas... something I need to work on... I need to keep writing short stories and novels... like Socrates said about writing effecting memory, if I don't practice those skills, they will atrophy) are one of the following: redundant (in that I already have a screenplay too similar to that story), not interesting to me anymore (meaning the muse has left me since I conceived the idea) or is not worth my time anymore (in that I have other, more pressing stories, that take priority over it).

I bring this up because three screenplay ideas that I conceived in a fit of inspiration...  I am no longer excited to write.

The first is called Depths. It is about a lake monster in a small town in Missouri that may or may not be supernatural and has a personal tie to the main character (the town sheriff).  I was inspired to write this script during an advanced sneak preview of the movie Antlers in late 2021. But with my scripts Flatdog (which I am currently pitching) and Dweller (which I really wrote just for fun), I think I have covered that ground already.

Then there is Grotesque (or Gruesome, I've oscillated between which title I like best). This is a serial killer horror film that borrows heavily (and it knows it) from Edgar Allan Poe. I wrote this outline in a huff when I caught the bug of outlining future screenplay ideas in accordance with Syd Fields's three-act structure. I look back on the outline now, I am just not sure there is enough there to fill 90 pages. And, if there is, I am unsure if I still have the passion for the project to write those 90 pages. To be fair, I had this idea ten years ago. A lot can happen in ten years.

Then there is a project I conceived last summer (when running my miles) called Ethos. It is a post-modern, subverted slasher movie that I was inspired to write by my love for In A Violent Nature (which I saw late at night in theaters during its run). I wrote out a page of notes (I guess it could be called a treatment), but, just since last summer, I have lost the passion for this project as well.

Now, I nearly deleted the file of notes I have for Ethos, but then I thought better of it. 

My advice: never jettison ideas you've lost passion for. You may rekindle that passion at some point. Or you may take bits and pieces from that story (spare parts) and add it to another story.

Further advice: just realize that you don't have to fully realize (or "flesh out") all the ideas you have. Some of them can languish and remain unwritten if you don't have the passion or inspiration to give them life. Prioritize what you want to write, at that moment, and you will get infinitely better results. 

That is my two cents for today.  

Writing List

 Last summer I (very ambitiously) wrote out a page and a half list of the writing and revision I wanted to get done that summer. I taped it to my wall, with one strip of tape at the top, so I could flip it over and check each item off (I adjusted the bulletpoints so that they are big empty circles to create a checklist).

I also compartmentalized this list into different sections: screenplays, short stories, outlines (for future screenplays) I need to create, screenplays I want to revise, etc.

Anyhow, today I consolidated the many (yes, I had more than one) writing lists I had up on my wall. I also took off the word "summer" and just made it "writing list 2025" (I don't want to limit myself; these are my writing goals for the rest of the year).

At any rate, I am rather pleased with myself.

It may not seem like a big accomplishment to you (my reader... if indeed anyone is reading this), but to an idiosyncratic writer, to be able to narrow your focus (which is something I endlessly preach to my students (both college and high school) when they are writing essays) is a priceless skill and behavior. 

I suppose I picked up this habit of making checklists and taping them to my wall in high school (which continued on into college).

I would take a sheet of notebook paper (or write it out on a computer, and print it, if I could afford the toner and paper), write down all of my assignments, tape it to the wall, chain myself (symbolically) to my laptop and just churn out assignments (papers, study guides, etc.) one after the other.

Each time I'd finish an assignment, it was my moment of zen to be able to stand, stretch, pace for a bit, then go to the list on the wall, take a black Sharpie and cross out an assignment.

I get that same level of fulfillment and satisfaction (though on a creative level, rather than an academic one) doing this.

I am very happy with the road I have ahead of me, now that I have a simpler and more streamlined map to follow.  

Copyright Complete

Well, I just submitted every screenplay I've written since 2013 for copyright. 

They no longer let you just name your collection (they name it for you) and they no longer just let you bundle everything together and just have a table of contents. 

I had to submit and itemize all the screenplays in this collection.

Which, I guess, in the long run is better.

Now all the titles and individual files are in the Library of Congress file in case anyone tries to rip me off.

And it now costs $85 to register something.

Whatever.

Worth it. 

I gotta get back into the habit of not only copyrighting everything I write, but registering all the stuff I am actively pitching and sending out to festivals to the WGAw. 

Gotta protect myself and my work.  

 

 

 

Copyright Office Update

 Finally heard back from the Library of Congress - Copyright Office.

Turns out if you don't log into your count at least once every 60 days, you have to contact tech support to re-open your account.

At least they gave me an email address.

Now time to send a message... and wait.

When my account gets restored, I can finally copyright every screenplay I've written since 2013... and put my mind at ease.  

Joe Hill live in October

 I have many thoughts about this (most of which I will not relay here... as I would sound cynical, resentful and jealous), but... regardless... he's a horror author... he's Stephen King's kid... and he's coming to my town near Halloween.
I gotta go see him.
I saw Stephen King live once... in fall of 1995... he was promoting Insomnia (one of my LEAST FAVORITE of his books). 
So, I figure I should see Joe Hill.
I mean, if you look at him... he's a carbon copy of his dad (both physically and creatively).
And in many years in the future when King is gone, Hill is gonna carry on his legacy. 
So ... I'm going to be diplomatic, go see him, wear my red MONSTER SQUAD "Stephen King Rules" shirt and consider that he may win me over... and his new novel (King Sorrow... a copy of which the price of my ticket gets me) may be the one that makes me a fan.
We'll see.
Stranger things, as they say...

https://www.slcl.org/events/ticketed-event-joe-hill 

 

 

Copyrighting

 So, it just occurred to me that I haven't copyrighted or registered my scripts in forever. 

(Especially important when you're about to send your script off to a producer... I know I've done this before (during various Pitchfests, etc.), but this time, for many reasons, I just feel like I should). 

I tried to log into the Library of Congress - Copyright Office (which, apparently, I haven't used since 2013) and my log-in no longer works.

However, they still have my username and email address on file.

However, instead of just sending me a password reset link (like, you know, a normal, function and competent business) they try getting me to answer a "challenge question" to which I have apparently forgotten the answer.

 The question is: "what is your profession?"

I tried "Writer", "Teacher", "English Teacher" and "Professor".

Nothing work.

So I just sent the Copyright Office two emails.

One through their online form.

The other to the email address my last copyright certification came from.

So, in the meantime I will put together a collection (much cheaper that way... to copyright a collection entitled "The Collected Screenplays of Erik D. Harshman" that contains every screenplay I've written in the last 12 years, than to register than all individually... can't remember which professor told me to do this... but it's brilliant... I know, I know... it's also obvious... but still...) of every script I've written since 2013 and wait for my log-in issues to be resolved... then I will submit my latest collection to be copyrighted.

 In the meantime I went on the WGAw and registered Personal Demons (I figure it's good to know at least one reputable agency will have it on record that I arrived at this story, these characters, this concept and plot first, in case there is any legal dispute later). 

Now, I looked at all my other registration certificates from the WGAw and it looks like registration is only good for five years.

Looks like it's the same now, as my registration for Personal Demons is only good until 2030.

And some of my other scripts that I've registered with them (like my Stygian horror script One Night in Town) are no longer eligible to be renewed (I guess after a certain point after their registration expires, you're back to square one and just have to resubmit them all over again). 

Well, here is my plan: I am going to only register the scripts I am actively pitching and submitting to film festivals.

Which means: Cubs, Flatdog, Personal Demons and Muscles & Wine.

Thankfully, they let you do it all online now and they send you a PDF of your certificate. No snail mail, no printed/physical copies.

It's wonderful!  

Alright, off to submit my script to this VIP and to bundle together all my screenwriting since 2013 into a collection and twiddle my thumbs waiting for the Library of Congress to reset my password. 

 

Afterthoughts...

 So... I had my pitch meeting Weds.

It was... interesting.

I'll withhold my full thoughts and comments and the full story until I hear the VIP's response (despite my cynicism in thinking he wouldn't follow up and request my script, as he said he would, he did indeed request my script through Stage 32).

Regardless, here goes nothing...