Writing Schedule

January 2, 2008 by Dave.

I was cleaning up my room the other day (which in my recent state of mind is a big achievement), I found an old writing schedule I had set up in hopes to get some writing done with a very busy schedule. If the dates are correct on it (2003), I hadn’t learned about Sophia’s existence then, I was struggling with a screenplay based on a failed relationship that I still wasn’t over, and dealing with a third year working a second shift and still not having adjusted to it (read, not having any social life). Still I was also trying to write and make ends meet, and trying to get published as a writer and/or produce a film of my own ASAP. So I guess I came up with the schedule to get my act in gear. I’ll list it and explain why shortly.

Monday—Screenwriting

½-1 hour writing before work/1-1½ hour after work.
@ work, look up prodocos (if time, read Trigger Street scripts)

Teusday—Screenwriting

½-1 hour writing before work/1-1½ hour after work.
Read screenplays (Note: not sure if this was my screenplays, others like Trigger Street, or scripts I have in my collection)

Wednesday—Poetry

Write six lines (at least) or one stanza of poem—before and after work.
Look up magazine publishers (Writer’s Market 2003)
Prepare/mail queries (one per week)

Thursday—Poetry

Write six lines (at least) or one stanza of poem—before and after work.
Look up poetry sites/web research (where to publish)

Friday—Film

All preproduction—location scouting, budget, art department prep.
Determine materials needed. Where to get? How much?
If writing, only short film writing—1 page max.

I don’t think I stuck to it long. Seeing that I found it in a pile of papers in my room is a good indicator that I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong I still was able to write a few more screenplays over the years even with the addition of a child and a second job (teaching for at least three semesters). So I do have some internal force going my way. But lately I feel like I’m biting off more than I can chew and need to get some stability. Plus since I am under still under similar pressures I was back then (or at least put on myself back then), I need to get myself organized. I’m probably going to modify this a bit to work on these days and try to schedule gym workouts within it as well (I’ve decided I do want to try to live to see Sophia grow up). Not sure if it will fall by the wayside or I’ll internalize it, but I need to start somewhere.

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