Disenchanted by My Chemical Romance
Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me} by Simple Plan
Hold On by Good Charlotte
Nothing Is What It Seems (Without You} by Saosin
Finding Me Out by The Friday Night Boys
A Party Song (The Walk of Shame} by All Time Low.
Long Shot by Kelly Clarkson
Time after Time by Quietdrive
Happiness is Overrated by The Airborne Toxic Event
Counting Stars by Sugarcult
Take Me Home by The After Midnight Project
She's Got a Boyfriend Now by Boys Like Girls
Fighting my Way back by The After Midnight Project
You Never Notice Me by Saosin
The Silence by Mayday Parade (the song Embry was singing}
If it Kills Me {from the Casa Nova Sessions} by Jason Mraz
Say {All I Need} by One Republic
Take a Bow by Rihanna
World of Chances by Demi Lovato
Who We Are by EVANS|BLUE
Satisfy by Vedera
Back to the Middle by Vedera
Nobody Does it Better by Carly Simon
Confessions by Usher
Never Gonna Be Alone by Nickelback
The Lost Get Found by Britt Nicole
Don't Think I Don't Think About It by Darius Rucker
Please Don't Go by Barcelona
You’re Not Alone by Saosin
Miserable At Best by Mayday Parade
Six months ago, on November 1st, 2009, I started writing a novel called Full Circle. It was only supposed to be 50,000 words and was only supposed to take a month, the month of November, to write. There is a competition each November called NaNoWriMo or National November Writing Month. I decided to participate because let's face it, I had nothing better to do.
I reached the 50k mark halfway through November and decided to keep going as my novel was no where near being finished. November ended, December began, and still I wrote, pecking away at the keys of my laptop as the winter months progressed, January, February, March. Then April was upon us and silly me was still writing Full Circle.
This month has been completely chaotic. Finishing Full Circle, trying to write my script for Script Frenzy, and working on my fourth novel, Unattached.
As you can see all I do, pretty much, is write. It's like therapy for me. I heap my issues on my characters and make them work it out for me and then I'm cured. Not really but you get the idea.
Yesterday I sat down with my notes and began to write, staring at my computer screen and wondering how in the world this roller coaster ride of a story was to end. Happily of course, there had already been way too many tears, but it had to be realistic. I like to think that I write fiction that could really be taken from a day in the life of "insert your name here." I hate reading a book and thinking to myself, "that could never happen."
Except of course if I was reading Twilight or Harry Potter. Then it could totally happen because let's face it: vampires ARE real AND they sparkle. Who knew? And Harry Potter? Well you'd have to be the anti-Christ to not like Harry Potter...and to all you naysayers who wrinkle your nose at Harry Potter...I am a convert. I thought the idea was lame until my friend Becky made a deal with me. Read HP and she'd read Twilight.
Anywhoo...totally getting off topic.
I write stuff that could happen to Plain Jane in Tiny Town, USA, all with a slightly fictitious twist. So as I was saying I started the epilogue, the final chapter to the beast herein known as Full Circle. It took all day and half the night as well. You see it took so long because I had it written, all nice and pretty and then gremlins stole it. I tore my room apart looking for it, only to find the alternate ending. So I had to rewrite it. No biggie, normally the re-write is seven times better than the original.
Then today I found the original. I typed it and saved it in a folder and didn't label it right. I opened it and read it. Oh wow, hot, steamy garbage. I'm seven kinds of glad that I couldn't find it. But last night around ten o'clock I finished it. It was short, sweet and to the point and my poor, formerly heart broken main character got her happily ever after.
I tried to write more of my script, it's been sitting abandoned for a few days now, patiently waiting for me to finish it, but I'm worn out. So I started messing around with Photoshop this afternoon and decided to commemorate the completion of my third "novel" (I use that term loosely as I am not a published author...yet) by making nerdy book covers.
Here's the one for Full Circle. I had the worst time with this one, the story is so chaotic that it's hard to come up with an image that can fit and encompass the story. I used an image of a solar eclipse more for the lighted circle than the eclipse. *shrugs* Like I've been saying. I'm not an artist, just a geek who can use photoshop fairly well...the title came from the title of Creed's new record Full Circle, and the title track Full Circle. I am a HUGE Creed fan and one night I was listening to the song and I told my friend Jenn it seemed like the song was written for the story. The story was inspired by Mario's song, Soundtrack to My Broken Heart. I was making lunch or dinner one night and the song started playing and the plot, scenes from the story popped into my head. I darn near sprained my wrist trying to write it all down. So much of Full Circle came so easily it should have been illegal. So much of this story is dedicated to a good friend of mine who is no longer with us. Many of the chapters in this story helped me get over not having him around any more. Some of the chapters I can't read because they make me cry so much. How odd is that, that a story I created and wrote can make me cry.
Back when the earth was new and...no I'm kidding. We're working backwards here. Disenchanted was the second novel I wrote. It was supposed to be a prequel to Full Circle, but added together, the drama and angst is unreal. That and the plot, well when I wrote it I didn't stay true to myself and I changed the plot to please other people which I never should have done. The title is taken from a song by My Chemical Romance, which is also titled Disenchanted. The plot, however, came from what happened to Jaguars football play, Richard Collier. He was shot in the street of a Jacksonville neighborhood and paralyzed from the waist down. I found, and still do find, his story extremely motivational. His dreams were dashed and he still gets up in the morning and lives his life to the best of his ability. It's very inspirational. This is also the story my script is based off of. I'm planning on rewriting this with different characters as a stand alone novel and the way I want it to be. Everyone else can take a long walk off a short pier...just saying.
Pictures of You is my baby, its my first novel (I wrote a lot of other stuff, none of which I ever finished) so this is something I'm exceptionally proud of. The title is jacked from the song by The Cure, but the idea came from Elton John's song, Your Song. I was doodling one day, listening to the radio and that song came on and I just started writing. Like, Full Circle, Pictures of You came so easily to me it should have been illegal.
So there we have it. Three book covers and an afternoon spent doing nothing. Tomorrow is Paint with me Thursday over at Simply Feather, so check back tomorrow and hopefully I'll something some kind of arty to show off...
If you haven't noticed by now I'm slightly obsessive-compulsive with a strong emphasis on the obsessive part. Over the years I've had many obsessions ranging from Tinkerbell and cherries to Twilight and Harry Potter novels.
I can't help it, it's my nature. I find something interesting (and it might only be interesting to me...i.e. my obsession with knitting, then my later (and current) obsession with crocheting) and then I go NUTS! I eat, sleep, drink, BREATHE the obsession.
After a while it starts to fade and then I'm on to my next zany thing. This month, my obsession is script frenzy. Its challenging in an I've-never-done-this-before kind of way, but easy in a seriously-how-is-this-a-challenge- kind of way.
I like to write so its easy, but taking away all the details is the hard part...but, on the other hand it gives you more creative freedom. You can write a scene in a novel one way, but taking it from the page to the screen forces you to perhaps look at another way of doing it.
This is what happened to me yesterday. I got to a point where Beth, the main character, was recalling what happened to her parents, and the way its written in the book is like this:
Nick sidestepped a couple making out in the middle of the hallway. “Where are you from?”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Jacksonville, Florida,” I told him.
“Did you like it there?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding my head. “It was my favorite place to live.”
“How many places have you lived?”
“Well,” I said, “There was Chicago, Tennessee, and most recently, Florida. I lived in Florida for almost seven years. ”
Nick’s eyes widened. “Damn, are your parents criminals or something?”
“No,” I laughed. “My dad is, I mean was, a football player.”
“Anyone I might know?”
“Pete Dwyer,” I said softly. Nick stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared at me.
“You’re Pete Dwyer’s daughter?” he said incredulously.
I nodded.
“Dude, he’s a God. What the hell are you doing here?”
I stared into Nick’s sky blue eyes. “I-uh, um, you don’t know?” I whispered.
“Know what?”
We were approaching the cafeteria. I saw Josh standing on his toes searching for me. He caught my gaze and waved. “Beth!” he called and proceeded to elbow his way through a group of seniors standing on the grass outside the cafeteria.
“Hey kid!” I called.
“I thought I missed you,” he said breathlessly.
“Nope, I’m a little late. Nick was showing me how to get here. Do you mind if he sits with us?”
“What’s up man,” he said to Nick. “No Beth, I don’t mind.”
“Alright, well c’mon then,” Nick said, leading the way into the cafeteria. After we’d gone though the line and sat down, he started asking about Pete.
“So what didn’t I hear about your dad?” he asked.
I glanced at Josh; he was deep in conversation with his girlfriend from next door.
“He died,” I said numbly.
“No freaking way,” Nick breathed, his eyes looked moist, like he was going to cry. “How? When?”
“A week ago. He killed himself. Got drunk, and wheeled himself into the pool.” I dropped a greasy fry back onto my tray.
“Why?” Nick asked.
“No one really knows for sure,” I shrugged. “I think it had to do with my mom’s death.”
He set his Pepsi can down, “I heard something about an attack on an NFL star, but I didn’t really pay much attention. What happened?”
“Three weeks ago, my mom and dad were car jacked after leaving the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. My dad was taking a short cut, trying to avoid traffic, well he stopped at a four way stop sign, and some guy comes up and shoves a gun in my mom’s face, ordering her to get out of the car.” I stopped and took a deep breath.
You can do this, I reminded myself.
“She refused to get out of the car so he shot her, then drug her out of the car and shot her five more times. She died in the street before the paramedics even had the chance to get there. When my dad got out, the guy shot him four times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. He blamed himself for my mom’s death and was depressed because he was still alive, because he was paralyzed, because he would never play football again.” I twisted the lid off my bottle of water. “But what do I know? I’m just a kid,” I said sarcastically.
Nick sat there staring at me from across the cafeteria table. “Wow, Beth, I had no idea. I don’t know what to say.”
I smiled sadly. “There’s nothing you can say. It sucks, but life goes on. At least that’s what my grandmother says.”
Nick looked uncomfortable. “How are you managing to cope so well?”
“I’m not coping; I’m heavily medicated,” I snorted.
It could be better (this is just the first draft) becasuse its more like Beth is telling Nick what happened...no feeling, no emotion, just facts.
The script version goes like this (which I personally like better) (and in case you don't know V.O. stands for voice over, its where a scene is shown and you see it happening and you hear the person speaking...)
nick
It’s not really that bad. Where are you from?
Beth tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and warily looks at Nick.
Beth
I’m from uh, Florida. Jacksonville.
nick
Did you like it there?
beth
(nodding)
Yeah, it was my favorite place to live.
nick
Have you lived a lot of places?
beth
Yeah. Chicago, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and most recently Florida.
nick
Damn, what are you parents, criminals or something?
beth
(laughing)
No. at least I don’t think so. My dad, he um, he was a football player.
nick
Like an NFL player?
Beth nods, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation has gone in.
nick
Anyone I might know?
Beth wasn’t going to tell anyone about her father. But there’s something inviting about Nick’s demeanor, like he was the kind of guy you could tell anything to and he wouldn’t judge you.
beth
(softly)
Pete Dwyer
Nick stops in the middle of the sidewalk and stares incredulously down at Beth.
nick
You’re Pete Dwyer’s daughter.
Beth nods, tugging at a strand of hair before tucking it behind her ear.
nick
Are you for real?
Again, Beth nods.
nick
What the hell are you doing here then?
Beth stares at nick, unsure of what to say.
beth
I-uh, um, he – you didn’t hear?
nick
Hear what?
The pair approaches the cafeteria where Josh is still waiting. Josh is standing on his tip-toes waving at Beth. His appearance interrupts Nick and Beth’s conversation about her father.
josh
Beth!
Beth avoids Nick’s question and approaches Josh.
beth
Hey kid.
josh
I thought I missed you.
beth
Sorry, I was talking to Nick.
She points to Nick who joins them in front of the cafeteria.
josh
Hey Nick
beth
(To Josh)
Do you mind if he sits with us?
josh
Nope I don’t care.
nick
Alright well c’mon then.
Nick leads the way into the cafeteria and the three get into line, quickly getting their lunch, and sitting at a half full table.
He unwraps his burger, setting the aluminum foil aside and bites into it. Beth picks up a packet of ketchup, tears it open, and squirts it onto an empty spot on her tray next to her fries.
nick
(To Beth, prodding)
So, you were telling me about your dad.
Beth glances over at Josh who is talking animated to Aubrey, waving a French fry around as he speaks. Beth realizes he isn’t paying attention to her or Nick, she turns back to Nick.
beth
(Without emotion)
He died.
Beth picks up a French fry and dips it into the ketchup on her tray, stares at it but does not eat it.
nick
(Eyes wide with disbelief)
No way! How? When?
beth
(without emotion)
He committed suicide a little over a week ago.
Beth drops the fry onto the top of the pile of the fries on her tray and wipes her hand on a napkin.
nick
Why?
Beth shrugs and sips her soda.
nick
I heard about the attempted carjacking. The news said his wife was killed. That was your mom?
Beth takes a deep breath. Nicks line of questioning upsets her, but she steels herself, squaring her shoulders and answers his question.
beth
Yes, that was my mom. A month ago, my mom and dad were leaving the stadium and my dad decided to take a short cut through a not so kosher neighborhood.
The camera zooms in on Beth’s face as she begins to recount that fateful night.
beth
He had just won a game against San Francisco – a playoff game, and they were on their way to dinner.
The scene begins to fade, Beth’s face fades away CUT TO-
EXT. FOUR WAY INTERSECTION – EVENING
A navy blue Navigator slowly rolls to a stop at the stop sign in a rundown neighborhood. Houses line the street, their paint peeling and porches sagging. Dilapidated vehicles are parked in driveways. The nicest car on the street, aside from the Navigator is a brassy colored, 1979 Cadillac Eldorado. We see Pete and Rae Dwyer seated inside, both are happy, smiling. Rae is talking to Pete as the navigator comes to a complete stop.
beth
(V.O.)
My dad decided to take a short cut, like I said. The neighborhood he went through was dangerous. Kids are shot, people are killed there all the time, it’s just…bad.
A man comes running up to the car. He’s dressed in baggy, dark colored jeans and a oversized black hooded sweatshirt, a baseball cap pulled down low over his eyes. He breaks the passenger window with the butt of the gun and shoves it in Rae’s face.
Beth
(V.O.)
He ordered my mom and dad to get out of the car.
Beth pauses, taking a deep breath.
We see Rae refusing to get out of the car, she turns in her seat and yells something inaudible to Pete. The car jacker fires his gun, the black night lights up with gunfire.
beth
(V.O.)
He shot my mom then pulled her out of the car and shot her five more times.
The car jacker pulls open the car door and pulls a screaming Rae from the car. He throws her to the ground, she stumbles and falls onto the pavement, her arms shooting out to catch her fall. The car jacker stands over her, the gun aimed at Rae.
Zoom into the car jacker's face, he sneers and squeezes the trigger, flinching as each bullet is dispelled from the gun.
Pan wide to show Rae lying in the street, her body lifeless. Zoom around car to Pete quickly rushing toward Rae.
beth
(V.O.)
She died in the street before the paramedics had the chance to save her.
Pete is now at Rae’s side, he goes to kneel beside her to try to save her. The car jacker shoots at him as he runs toward the driver’s side of the car. Four bullets hit Pete, three in the upper back and shoulder, one in his lower back.
Beth
(V.O.)
When my dad went to help her the guy shot him four times. Three of the four bullets passed major arteries, he would have survived, but the last bullet severed his spinal cord.
The scene on the street fades and-
INT. CAFETERIA – LATE MORNING
beth
That was the end of life as I knew it. A month later Pete was dead, and here I am.
Nick fidgets uncomfortably in his seat across from Beth.
I feel like my name lately should be changey-mind-ey-Mary...lol...I heard about this (I'm taking off the big girl panties here, excuse the childish rant that will begin in...3...2...1) stupid script frenzy back in November and thought, eh, what the heck...I don't do the whole, over-indulgence on the details aspect when I write. I feel like it gives the reader the opportunity to see things they way they imagine it should be. My character, my setting, all that stuff...yeah I write a little that tells you the basics, but that's it. I hate it when an author tries to force you to see the story their way because 90% of the time, I see it my way regardless of what they write and it just throws me off. But back to my point, I figured okay, I could write a movie, no big deal.
HOW WRONG WAS I?!?!?
I started with Fall of the Fairytale, an idea I got a while back...still don't know the specifics, but whatever, it's saved in the back of my brain for a rainy day, exactly where I like my ideas to reside. I wrote an actual novel chapter for that then tried to make it work in script format. I got a page of scripted material and stared at the screen like "are you kidding me?" for twenty minutes; seriously contemplated giving up, but didn't.
Then I decided Full Circle, my current novel work-in-progress would make a great movie. OY VEY! The story is good, but when I tried to write it in movie form, it was so cheestastic that even the most horrid B-Rated actors and production companies wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Don't worry, I'll clean up the grammar & spelling errors and post it so you can giggle at its horridness.
So this morning, I gave serious consideration to just quitting. To admitting defeat and instead of saying I was defeated just saying I was too busy with school and finishing Full Circle and starting the re-write of Unattached to finish Script Frenzy.
So I closed the documents and walked away wondering what to do. I hate giving up, it's totally not in my nature. I may pout and throw a hissy fit (mentally) but I hate giving up - especially when it's something I know I can do.
So I sat down, scoured the internet for the scripts to my favorite movies (New Moon, Shakespeare in Love, P.S. I Love You, etc...The list goes on and on) and tried to find the secret to writing a movie...
I didn't find the secret, but I found an idea that might work. Back in September/October, I wrote a story called Disenchanted. It was supposed to be the prequel to Full Circle, but for whatever reason, it just wouldn't work..But, so not the point. I started skimming through Disenchanted and as I sat there reading it, I started to notice my problem. A lot of stuff goes on in my characters heads, and you can't really (or I can't) translate that to stuff viewers can see. Disenchanted isn't really like that. Beth, the main character, is very upfront about her feelings and emotions and has no problem telling you where to stick it. So I started writing Disenchanted in the screenplay format, looking at the novel and picking out what to keep and what to toss.
I've gotten further writing Disenchanted than I have with Fall of the Fairytale or Full Circle. Heck, I've gotten further writing Disenchanted than Fall of the Fairytale and Full Circle combined, lol. It's an interesting and challenging process. I definitely have loads more respect for people who write movies, it's not easy at all, but in all honesty, I think after this month and this script is finished it will conclude my venture into script writing.
