Write Like You Mean It

I've had a run of bad luck over the last year. It started last summer when my step daughter had a nervous breakdown and ended up in a secure hospital for a month. Worrying times, especially the first week or two when she was like a total stranger.

I had a script to write bang in the middle of it. I actually looked forward to the time I had to sit down alone and write it. It was like an escape from the pressure. I sent it in and guess what? The notes came back that basically it was whale turd. In fact it was a whales' communal toilet.

See, no matter what I thought at the time, I clearly lacked focus. Yes I escaped some external pressures by doing it, or rather maybe cranked them down a couple of notches, but the clarity and focus that good writing requires just wasn't there. And there is a very thin line between acceptable and non-acceptable as far as pro writing is concerned. A couple more like that and I might be searching for alternative employment.

Since then, my father in law has developed Dementia and had to be put in a home, my Grandmother whom I was close to died and a few weeks ago my wife informed me she wanted to seperate.
Lucky white heather anyone?

At each of those times I've also had to deliver scripts. They were probably some of the better ones I've written. Because I learned my lesson. If you can't write like you mean it then don't. If you can 't banish everything else from your mind for those hours at the keyboard then go do something else for a few hours, or even days if you can spare them. Focus and clarity. Without that the chances are you'll be writing drivel anyway.