It’s 2021! What a surreal 2020 and what a quiet start to the new year! I am so excited for it to be the first full week of January and I can really get back to working on my goals. This is not going to be a breakdown (we’ll get back to those soon enough!) but more personal. I was looking back over the past year to determine how much I “accomplished” and if I had any resolutions for the new year… and I couldn’t come up with anything new.
Back in March, I lost my 9-5 job and began trying to figure out what I wanted to do next. I had been freelancing for a while, but had never felt comfortable enough to make the jump. I did not lose my job because of the virus, in fact, my last day was two weeks before the shut down. I hadn’t even been thinking about the virus prior to this as I was working so many hours. I hit the ground running on the writing front. I even started a “Quarantine Challenge” as I got back to work on this blog!
Then in late summer things took a turn. I hurt my lower back and it continued to get worse. This caused me to be stuck lying on the floor of my apartment for a few weeks. When you’re already struggling with the confining life in a pandemic, being immobile does not help. I played a lot of Sims.
What was interesting about all of this was that in the weeks leading up to the injury, I kept thinking, I don’t feel grounded. I don’t feel connected.
I’m extremely fortunate that, while COVID has definitely effected my family directly, we have not had any losses and I have not had anywhere near the same financial struggles as I think most people who have lost their jobs in a pandemic. I live with my sister, so I’m not alone, and I don’t have a spouse or kids that I would have to constantly be considering their needs. This also means that when I was on my back, all I could think about or worry about was my back. I learned how to be present. I’ve always been religious to some extent, but struggled with spirituality. In the last few months, that has completely changed.
I feel grounded. I feel connected. And I have a clear vision of my purpose.
I always knew I was a writer, specifically a screenwriter and producer. But I hadn’t really thought about what that specifically looked like to me. Now I know.
I didn’t wait until 2021 to start fulfilling my purpose. I work on it every day. So I don’t have any resolutions for 2021 because I love what I have so much now and I simply want to build on that momentum by setting new goals.
What does that mean for this blog?
I means more breakdowns! But also more of my own art on display too! And selling that art online! And writing blog posts that get really dig even further into the craft. And this is in addition to freelance writing, which I’ll be sure to post here going forward, especially if it involves screenwriting.
The reason I love having a blog is simply because I am so passionate about screenwriting, understanding storytelling, improving my writing, and working with other writers. Part of why I always kept and focused on my 9-5 development jobs was because of how great it was to help writers improve their projects. There are a lot of people who work as “coaches” for screenwriters, and I’ve definitely considered that path, but it just seems kind of insane that the gatekeeping in the industry has gotten so difficult that you would need to pay someone to do all the things that a manager does.
I don’t want to stop working with writers and, if you’re interested, with you! In the coming weeks I’m going to share new services for Script Consultant work. These will be on a “per project” basis, not long term coaching. And the reason is because you can ask me anything here! Or on Twitter or Instagram DMs. I’m not holding back information. I’m not going to sell you on the idea that I can get you in doors because that will always come down to what’s on the page.
I’m off now to do some writing of my own and watch some grea4t new movies. I hope you were able to see the silver linings of 2020 no matter how small and are off to a great start in the new year!