Who me? Writing?

OK, I haven't talked about writing in a while. Mainly because there hasn't been any. The only writing I'm doing these days is this blog and even that has been really sporadic. I don't have writer's block - it's more like writer's too damn tired to care block.

I really have to give it up for the moms who work, especially ones who work from home! I don't know how you do it. I'm exhausted all the time and I have the luxury of not doing anything if I don't feel like it. Well, anything but taking care of Baby Girl, of course.

Anyway, back to the writing. Nothing much has been going on for the writing partner and me lately. We've been talking about starting a new spec screenplay rather than wait around for a pitch or writing assignment but we're not that motivated right now.

Although it looks like we may have another pitch meeting coming up soon. The Fabulous Manager called the other day. (OK, yes, she reads this blog and it doesn't hurt to suck up, but she really is fabulous.) This was our conversation.

FM: So, remember that idea you had last year - X?

Me: Um, yeah. (vaguely)

FM: Do you think you could pitch that?

Me: Sure. (I always say yes. It must stem from my acting days where you always tell the producer yes when they ask if you have a specific skill. The idea being that, if you get the job, you can always learn to shoot a bow and arrow, skin a goat, hang-glide, etc. Bruce Campbell has a hilarious story about lying about his horseback riding abilities for Brisco County, Jr. in If Chins Could Kill . I highly recommend it. But I digress.)

FM: Did you guys do a treatment on that?

Me: I don't think so.

FM: I seem to remember seeing one.

Me: Really? (check the computer) Ohmigod. We did. I don't even remember that.

FM: That's why I'm so fabulous.

Ok, that last sentence may not have happened the way I remember it. But I do find it sad that I can't even remember half of the ideas, pitches, treatments, etc. we've done over the last three years.

It's probably a form of self-preservation. Who wants to remember all the work that you've done that didn't sell?

Sometimes, I think it gets harder and harder to be motivated the closer that you get to success. When you're writing screenplays and no one's reading them, you can tell yourself that if only someone would read your stuff, you'd be the next Charlie Kaufman.

But when you've got representation and people are reading your screenplays and you're having meetings...and you still can't sell anything?

Then you know it's you.