The Lifeguard Beckons

Some of you may be happy to know that I am progressing on my screenplay. The title page certainly is eye-catching with my name nicely centered under the title. I also have the first line and the last line done.

Fade in and Fade out.

The lines looks nice on the page. Correct font, appropriate margins flanking the left and right sides. I suppose it would look nicer if there were words in the middle, connecting the beginning to the end.

Writing 100 pages is a little like going into the ocean on spring break. You don't want to do it. You know the water is going to be cold so you procrastinate as long as you can. You spread your blanket on the sand. You find a better place two feet away so you do it again. You find just the right place to hide your keys and money. You pretend you're flirting with the lifeguard who's not even looking your way. You move your blanket again.

Eventually you convince yourself you have to do it. That's why you drove straight through Georgia without stopping. That's why you're shivering on the beach instead of curled up in the nice warm bed in your hotel room. That's why you spent $110. 59 on a new bathing suit. So you stride confidently to the water's edge and plunge in. The cold water smacks you in the face and takes your breath away. That's when you realize that the $110.59 was spent to impress the life guard, not to risk pneumonia. You flee the icy fingers of the ocean and retreat to your room. You vow to come back in the afternoon when the sun is warmer, brighter. Besides the lifeguard can appreciate your new suit better when you're not blue.

Writing 100 pages begins with convincing yourself to plunge in and start writing. You set your margins and the tabs exactly so, you get the title page just right, then the first line, and the last line. That's when you realize that you'd rather be flirting with the lifeguard.