My Creative Everyday

  Tonight I watched the first episode of The Blacklist . In 2013, The Blacklist was NBC's highest testing drama in 10 years. It was renewed for its tenth season in February. From 2014 to 2020, the series was nominated for numerous major awards.  Jon Bokenkamp is The Blacklist's writer and producer. He was encouraged to enter a script writing competition by a friend. After he won the competition, he landed an agent along with his first paid assignment, rewriting a horror film   I first watched The Blacklist years ago. From memory, the first season was great, but it became less compelling viewing over time. I remember, they introduced some cool characters and there were always twists.  It's fascinating studying tv shows, films and books when you're writing a novel. I've written more than 30,000 words of a 80,000 word novel. I edit as I go and think about how can I make it better.  WARNING - This post contains spoilers as it explores the episode's plot. ...

10 days ago I challenged myself to dance to one song every morning until the end of April.  I didn't know if I could do it, but I was looking forward to it as I love to dance but rarely do any more.  These are the songs I've danced to in the last 10 days.  Shake It Off - Taylor Swift Thunderstruck - ACDC Pump It - Blackeyed Peas  Gangnam Style - Psy Heat Waves - Glass Animals  Glad You Came - Liilz (Ziezie) There's Nothin Holdin Me Back - Shawn Mendes Shut Up and Dance - Walk The Moon The Motto - Tiesto Giant - Calvin Harris I confess, on day 3 or 4, I forgot so I made up for it the next day. Today's song I got through 3/4 of it and had to do the last 1/4 a few hours later.  My living room has been an excellent dance floor. I'm definitely less stiff and have found my rhythm again.  The benefits of dance: reduces stress, supports physical, mental & emotional health, improves agility and flexibility, and provides better coordination, strength and bal...

Thirty years after the movie Pretty Woman romanticised a prostitute & a wealthy businessman rescuing each other, I wondered what sort of story could work for a sequel 30 years later. On a budget of $14 million, the movie made $463.4 million at the box office, becoming the third highest grossing film in 1990. It was nominated for Oscars, Golden Globes, Baftas  and a Cesar.  Many of the cast of the original movie had successful careers, though aren't active any longer on the big or small screen.  If I was creating a sequel, in an ideal world my cast would include Julia Roberts (Vivian Ward), Richard Gere (Edward Lewis), Héctor Elizondo (Barnard Thompson), Laura San Giacomo (Kit De Luca) and Jason Alexander (Phillip Stuckey).  My Pretty Woman 2 story would also include Alex Hyde-White (David Morse) and R. Darrell Hunter (Darryl The Limo Driver).  It would introduce some young fresh faces (Eddie, Vincent, Carla and Stephen) to play the two love interests, a...

When you're busy, it's easier to say no. When you get admonished for saying no, it's a bad habit to apologise or defend yourself. I've been flat out crazy busy working 12+ hour days, including weekends. Since it's my own business, some people have the expectation that my time doesn't matter and I should be available and responding asap to messages. Facts Since the pandemic began, I don't respond immediately any more to anyone. It's not that I don't want to respond or that I am being rude. I just don't have the time or energy. My priority has become me. I have learnt to put my needs before everyone else's. This was a hard thing for me to do. This may sound like I am defending my actions. May be I am. I made plans to meet up with someone and they did a 180 on me. They simply said I was too busy and decided they no longer wanted to meet. Actually they never want to message with me or meet ever. Period. We had agreed the place and day. The only e...

When you write the last chapter of a book, there is a certain satisfaction, like no other chapter. This morning I completed the first draft of the last chapter, 682 words, written when nearly 30% of the book is done, but it means you know where you are going. The nagging feeling of being on a long dark road is brightened by a light at the end of it.  I began the morning by editting chapter 1. There were images I wanted to include to make it feel more real, for there to be shape and substance.  It felt natural to be edutting the first chapter to moveon to writibg the last chapter. I like a rounded ending, where you are reminded of the beginning. It feels more complete.  This week I have worked out the plot of my novel. For the last few months, i's been fun just writing and seeing where it takes me, but eventually you get to a point where you feel like you are blindly fumbling about.  At my desk, with a shawl around my shoulders and a blanket on my knees, the words cam...

It began a few weekends ago when I baked bread. I had this sense of accomplishment that I had learnt something new. The process of preparing the dough, resting it and letting it cool required patience. Most of all, it made me slow down, forget about my worries and I could look forward to eating fresh bread.   The great thing about bread is that there are so many delicious ways of enjoying it. I haven't had french toast in years and did a semi-healthy version topped with greek yoghurt, warm banana and  roasted pineapple. I confess that I did drizzle some maple syrup on top too.  These days can feel overwhelming because of all the uncertainty in the world. Monday to Friday can seem hectic, like the frenzy of seagulls when they are being fed. There is something about a Sunday which demands we be there for ourselves, to nourish, recharge and listen to what we really want. It is a day to indulge a little and enjoy the little things in life, like maple syrup.  Meditat...

Children ask why? It's a great question. As adults, we forget to ask why? We don't always question why we do what we do, or why things are the way they are. If we are told a reason, we don't keep asking why? We move on.  As writers, why is a powerful question. As we muddle through uncertain times, shouldn't we be asking why even more? Isn't the why part of the solution to making things better?  The why drives a mystery. The why keeps us going. We keep wondering why when we are absorbed in a gripping story. We want to know the answer. We don't stop asking why? We enjoy the wonder of living in the world of why? So why am I writing this post?  I read an article about 3 year olds always asking why in the Metro . It led me down this merry path of musing about why?  Why do I write?  It is who I am. It is what I love. I don't know any other way than to express myself through words, putting them together, trying to make them coherent,  shaping tgem ibto something t...