The Forest For The Trees

I've begun reading a book entitled The Forest for the Trees. It's written by a big-time editor turned agent, and directed at writers. But this blog as about SCREENwriting, you say? That's true, but the book applies to all manner of writing. One portion of the book early on discusses the importance of form. The author is convinced from her extensive experience that all writers have a particular form--or, at most, two--which they are skilled at, which they can truly excel with. She also believes that writers only have talent in one or two genres. She does acknowledge that there are the occasional writers who seem to be able to do everything well, but suggests that they are exceedingly rare. Both of those ideas caught my attention because I've been struggling with related questions for a while. Is it possible that screenplays aren't my format? Anything is possible. She suggests that the way to determine what your forms and genres are is to consider what you've ever written, what you love to read, what you write about in your journal/blogs/emails, etc. Be brutally, and utterly, honest with yourself. If you realize that you love reading and writing about nature then perhaps your form and genre are nature essays. DO NOT concern yourself with what is currently selling and "hot." That's her advice, not mine, though it makes loads of sense to me. The reality is that if you're meant to write nature essays then you'll write them far better than you'd be able to do a novel. The author points out relevant examples of books recently released who would've never seen the light of day if their authors hadn't ignored current trends. Books like How the Irish Saved Civilization, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, don't seem like obvious best-seller material. Anyway, it's a helpful book and entertaining read.

Or, I'll write something else...

One responder to my most recent post suggested that I just let loose with my Stealing Eve idea. They suggested that my own pure approach would make rough similarities moot. I've decided that I agree. The truth is probably that there are thousands upon thousands--probably millions--of scripts in Hollywood, which, if we as screenwriters were aware, we might find that many of our "original" ideas are not as original as they seem at first blush. The truth is that many ideas have already been done--produced--in one form or another, and still many others have been written. Let us not worry about treading on familiar ground, such worry would only paralyze our capacity to write. Instead, let us craft the best version of our every tale, unleash it into the wilds, and hope for the best. If nothing else they'll make excellent writing samples. I hear that rewrite work pays uber-bucks (moolah, greenbacks, etc.).

More relevent to this posts title, I had breakfast with a good (and brilliant) friend of mine the day before. We hashed over ideas--his own and mine--and came up with some stuff I'm anxious to begin on. I'd forgotten about my idea for a delicious romantic comedy: one which focuses upon the challenge of finding happiness, true love, and the perfect anti-depressant. I call it Knowing Abby. Charming and intriguing. There were a couple other ideas discussed, but I don't recall the specifics without my notes. The only problem with my Knowing Abby idea is that I have a strong emotional theme--which, I guess, is good...especially for a romance--but no structure yet. The emotional core/meaning of things is what I'm really good at, or at least it's what comes easiest.

How to decide which idea to work on

It's a real bitch, figuring out which idea I want to write next. It's been two years (approximately) since my last script, and high time I put pen to paper again (metaphorically; I actually prefer to do most of my "writing" on a computer). But, now, having decided I'm ready to write again, how do I decide what to invest the pain and anguish (as well as joy) of writing in? This is the age old quandary of the writer: it's hard to write (and most writers hate writing, but love having written), and then when we decide to we're faced with difficult questions of what, who, and how.

Like most writers, I have LOTS of ideas running around in my head percolating. Also like most writers, I have a hard time separating the wheat from the chaff--the ideas that work, or are ready to be taken seriously, from those that aren't ready for primetime.

I have my horror/action film, Demon Run, that I could write...or, I could figure out a solution to my problem with Stealing Eve (the problem is that there's already been a movie made which seems like a ripoff of my concept--Extreme Dating, if you most know)...or, I could go back to my scifi/action flick...which, incidentally, I don't recall ever coming up with a title I liked (I think the one I actually liked was "Ordinary War," but which sounded flat and boring to everyone else). Or, I could write my soap opera style love story (Love Affair)...or, I could write Pirate Island...or, I could write The Wall Around Forever...or, I could write Beautiful Faces (which, again, was a title I was never completely pleased with).

The problem is that my life right now is probably most supportive of a serious story--as I'm currently devouring philosophy books and thinking deep thoughts; but, I have a natural inclination to comedy, and light-heartedness. What am I to do? Part of me really wants to write Hero Business...but that's my buddy Eric's idea, and I don't believe in screwing over my friends--even if it is true that he may not ever get around to writing it himself. Hmmm...

Man, what really pisses me off is the Stealing Eve scenario...that someone else would either steal my idea, or have the same damn idea themselves. I LOVE that idea, and I really want to do it my way. However, how do I do the idea without making it seem like I'm rehashing an idea that someone else ruined? I mean, I haven't seen Extreme Dating, but the preview makes it appear very...passe; very blah. But, they steal the idea of the whole kidnapping as a route to love. True, Extreme Dating appears to have been released direct-to-DVD, so it's not like it made much of a splash...so maybe that means there's still room for my idea. But, that could also work against my idea. Potential buyers could think that the fact that Extreme Dating was commercially a failure means that any movie with similar subject matter will be a failure.

There WAS another version of Stealing Eve that I batted around which was very different from my more cute/fun idea which got ripped off. In that other idea my protagonist falls for a foreign girl while on vacation with his family (or friends). They continue to write each other (and chat or whatever) even after they part, until one day he gets a dear john letter. Not one to be put off, he tries to find out what's going on. What he finds gives him the impression that her family is trying to end their relationship for strategic purposes...kinda a mob family decides what is best for their daughter idea. So, he sets out on a journey to find her and bring her back. There was another idea I had which had a similar theme--which I haven't decided if I like better--but a different title: The Legend of Red River (or something to that effect). But, see, ultimately it's the cute/fun aspects of Stealing Eve that I'm so in love with. The rest of my ideas or very dark, serious, thoughtful movies...and I really want to do something which makes me happy to write.

I guess that's what's most important to me right now; which means that I either fix my Stealing Eve idea, or think of another cute/fun idea.