In this survival guide the author wryly admits to having
been creatively writing since aged eleven. He says that writers
are born that way, they can't help it, and they will either
explain how they love writing or how they hate it because it is
so hard to do well; or both, sometimes in the one sentence.
LIVE TO WRITE ANOTHER DAY encompasses screenplays,
stories, advertising, stage plays, web content and other
material, with personal experiences.
Procrastination, not to be confused with putting off ever
starting, or writer's block, is part of the skill, says
Dean Orion, letting writers figure out the content in their heads
and develop the story before going near the page. So don't
worry about it!
Screenwriter Woody Allen is quoted, saying
that eighty percent of success in life is just showing up.
When a writer has a routine and sticks to it, that becomes
the writing space. Orion gives the example of borrowing a
friend's office after hours for peace and quiet. Research
before starting even the lightest fiction is strongly
recommended and Orion gives examples of how he personally
outlines a story and builds up characters before beginning.
As most of his work is screenplays he tends to focus on
location and jumps from one scene to the next.
Orion emphasises that constructive criticism is very useful
but the writer may have to address issues on different
levels. If someone says they did not like a character -
why? Use the ideas given to you to make the story better.
Writing with a partner however involves giving up half of
the creative autonomy so requires a lot of trust as well as
respect. Pitching a project to a prospective buyer or
reader will be done differently by different people; Orion
gives examples from his work on The Invisible Man. You're
not just pitching the work, he says; you are pitching
yourself. Are you someone that the other person wants to
work with?
"Financial success is one thing and artistic success is
entirely another," Orion warns. I found a lot of similar
pithy advice in this short, friendly book, with discussion
topics, and while not all of it will apply to every writer,
it would be useful for someone thinking of becoming a
writer for hire, or a creative writer, to see the pitfalls
and gain the benefits of a professional's experience. Orion
advises those considering writing to surround themselves with a community
of
writers. Picking up LIVE TO WRITE ANOTHER DAY would be a
good start.
Not too long ago I decided to write a book about my
creative writing process, and the many experiences that I've
had throughout my career. The inspiration behind it was
pretty straightforward. I simply wanted to share what I've
learned over the past 25+ years with other writers.
It didn't take me long to realize however, that
the book I was writing would only partially be about
process. The other part would be about psychological
survival. Ironically, what I learned from this little
adventure was that the two things are really one in the
same. Having a process that you can rely on is your
lifeblood as a writer, and if you are going to have any hope
of surviving in this profession, that process needs to
evolve and grow with you.
When you buy this book you'll get a
step–by–step walk thru of the process of
creating original stories, both "on spec" and "for hire," as
well as helpful hands–on checklists at the end of each
chapter, all framed through the first hand experiences of a
writer in the trenches.
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