Photograph By SwEeTcHy

By Geoffrey Zimmerman

That concept struck me the other night while I was working on my new screenplay. I have adapted it from a novel that is about ½ to 1/3 done. I am currently on page 11 of that script, which totals 60 pages, so I know I need to add scenes. I had written into a fine scene where my protagonist is beginning to discover that she has powers; powers that she had wanted to have – and had practiced hard to gain – but now she is terrified. She realizes she can do it, and tells a friend. This is where I stopped writing, and decided to sit back and daydream. I said to myself, “You know what? This is just like flying – here’s how.
In this script, I know my direction. I know MOST OF what will happen along the way – and I know where I want the story to end. When I fly, I have a direction – I BELIEVE I know what will happen (and try to prepare for anything that does happen) along the way – and I know where I want to finish – my destination airport.
While writing a screenplay, I am performing several functions at once. In present time, I am writingdescriptions, dialogue, deciding on transitions, and looking ahead to where I want to be with regard to plot.
While flying, I am controlling my heading, altitude, airspeed, groundspeed, and looking ahead for weather and traffic.
While writing a screenplay, what I am doing now is going to (hopefully) create a smooth transition to where I next want to be – where I want to be further along on my flight. I have to plan ahead.
In my current scene, where the protagonist is talking to her friend about her powers, I want the scene to end in less than two pages, into which I will set up for the opening for another scene, where I will introduce another character who has ties to the protagonist.
Now, in this screenplay, I have planned a romance, so I must let the reader (audience) know ahead of time that this is one of the things desired by my protagonist. Planning ahead. Thinking it through. I have tools I can use (skillfully I hope) to create the effect I desire.
When flying, as I near the airfield, I must know beforehand the direction I will be landing. I must know the landing pattern altitude, so I must reduce the throttle so I can descend smoothly, and be where I want to be at the right time and point in space.
In an airplane, I have the dashboard instruments that show me what is currently happening with the airplane and where I am. I have tools like the throttle, ailerons, rudder and elevator to make the plane do what I want it to do.
In my screenplay, I have cuts, dissolves, fades, flashbacks, internal monologue, sound, dialogue, my imagination and memory to make the story do what I want it to do.
Happy writing, and I’ll see you in the air.

I’m finding these days that it’s just as enjoyable to write my stories as it is to send them out to awaiting readers.

I always looked at writing as write now sell later, or write then sell, then write, then sell, like 2 distinct actions, demarcated by some sort of fence. But, now I see that what makes me happy as a writer is just knowing that someone, somewhere, is waiting to read what I have written.

I feel this is a step since I recently held strong to the idea that I as a writer must write, write and write some more, then hit the pavement, and push, push, push.

But now I am sensing a melding of these two actions. I thought I had it all under control until the real world intervened. It seems that now is the time to deliver, for I have FINALLY let a sufficient number of people know what I am all about (writing novels and screenplays) that I am getting requests from publishers, producers, readers, friends, and folks who have joined up on my website to read my book.

I think it’s funny when I tell people about my work. Some sigh and explain how happy or fulfilled or interesting their life could be if only they could tell stories for a living.

I tell them it’s not as easy as they may think.

I find correlations almost everywhere I look.  For most of my working career, I’ve made a living as a home improvement contractor. Looking back on some of my most interesting and memorable jobs – ones that I seem to return to when I describe successes – are the ones where I had no real idea at the outset of how I was going to do the job.

This is not to say that I was flying blind, totally unprepared. I knew when going in that the job was something I was going to be able to figure out. I had done it so many times before, so my faith in these instances was strong.

For me, writing is a lot like that.

Each day I know I will be writing that night. Each night I find myself a little unsure as to how far I will go, what I will write, or how happy I will be with my work. But each night, I realize that it does come. My intention is strong. My patience great.

by Geoffrey Zimmerman

I’ve had many methods that I used to get me to where I needed to be when preparing to write.

First of all, I would call myself a “ritual” writer. I like to know what to expect from myself. It helps my unconscious juices get ready for what is to come – staring at the blank page or going over my outline notes. The “place” where I want to get myself is almost like a far-away place, a place where the world I create, my characters, their words and feelings are real.

I find it ironic, that although this “place” seems to me to be my optimum state of mind to write -  to say what I want to say the way I want to say it,  takes some real intention,  patience and faith to get there.

Some writers say “Keep your butt in the seat.” Some say “Write eight hours a day.” Some say “turn out at least three, five, nine or ten pages a day (or whatever the number they use.)

I say “Find what works, and keep doing that.” It may take time, but be patient, have faith and realize that you alone know what works best for you.

Having worked in the film industry, I have no problem talking with agents, directors or actors. I’ve recently been pitching my murder mystery idea to some New York publishers and some agents in New York and Hollywood. My first few chapters have been received with surprising enthusiasm, and the agents in Los Angeles know this story will be adapted to a screenplay, and then a TV show.