Four consecutive days away from work did wonders for my interest and focus level in writing. The 2006-2007 school year is now a memory. During the regrouping period, I watched a bunch of DVD’s, read a few books and tackled those edits. Roughly one hundred and forty pages remain to be implemented.

It’s been a long road and the end of this journey is near. The Last Track took almost three years to move from a very rough draft to something I can pitch to any agent or interested party with confidence. There is really nothing more I can do with this manuscript that would improve it more than changing the toner cartridge in the printer; I left nothing on the table. Back then, if someone told me what a pain in the ass writing a novel is, really the effort it takes to get it right, to make it the best I’m capable of, I would have pushed them down the stairs for heresy. And I wouldn’t have listened, either. Writing is mystical, magical, worth any sacrifice. Right?

More often than not the process has been fun, and it is its own reward. Ultimately, I did it because I have to, and no matter what happens now, to me the ride was worth the fuel cost for the trip. Even at full retail. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth a divorce, but that’s another discussion.

Though all the above rational are valid, I’ll state this with absolute conviction: I’m aching to start another project. Whether it’s resuming The Confession, or a new screenplay idea, I’m ready for new ground. Oh, the places I will go. 😉

At…long…last I reached the halfway mark on Oriana’s edits. Yay!

Never have I struggled so much with revisions. Line edits have proven incredibly painful for two reasons:

1) Her corrections are right on the money. Every time I start doubting the red pen, I read the before and after version aloud. Oriana: 841. Me: 5.

2) Where she misses the mark–this is rare–she’s close enough that I yield. Begrudgingly. When I make some bank doing this, I’ll call more of the shots.

Hope to finish all line edits on The Last Track by June 18th, which is the point full on active querying resumes–if necessary. In her infinite kindness, Oriana offered a second pass, probably very granular touch ups.

My check for the Nicholl’s competition cleared, so it’s a good bet my entry reached them in time. In six weeks they announce semi-finalists, which is a good turnaround for judges who consider 5,000 screenplays. By the way, the only contest I would consider entering that has a fee is Nicholl’s, because no other competition offers such a generous prize ( $30,000 ), publicity and a chance for five pitch meetings with studio executives. A review of the last ten year’s winners reveals that within two to three years of taking home the gold, nearly the entire winner’s circle are full-time screenwriters. Therefore, there is a direct and tangible benefit of winning the contest.

And a chance like that is worth a few bucks on the front end.

Editing is fun

Editing is nifty

If I’ve seen one red mark on this novel

I’ve seen fourteen thousand and fifty

Of course I do jest

I love your eagle eyes and your red pen

For at finding my mess ups, you are the best.

I owe you many thanks

I owe you many beers

And for all your hard work

I owe you some cash.

I could not realize

I could not imagine

How hard it is to listen

To truths about the story I knew inside, but could not express

Or write on the page

Spent most of the weekend outside enjoying the unseasonably fine weather, including a four hour hike on Sunday.

And while amongst the sprawling pines, a great idea for a screenplay hit, about a guy in his late twenties devastated by a divorce, who turns everything he knew about dating upside down.

In between Oriana edits, I’m working on character sketches for that new project. And lusting for summer break.