Just Jot January, a blogging event I recently came across.
The Coffee Break Screenwriter: Writing Your Script Ten Minutes at a Time, the title of the book my mom got me for Christmas.
I’m thinking these are signs, that I’m supposed to try to get something down every day, no matter how hectic things get, no matter how stressed I might feel on some days.
I’m thinking ten minutes of daily writing will be good for me, especially when I feel stretched too thin, like I’ve already booked 1600 minutes of the 1440 in a day.
Am I writing a screenplay? No. I’m not sure what a screenplay is.
Do I have a story to tell? Yes.
Do I assume they’re probably very similar and that reading this book and doing the ten-minute writing exercises will apply to the writing of my story? Yes.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t looked closely at this book yet. I have no idea if I can get beyond the first few pages. If it doesn’t apply to what I’m hoping to write then I’ll abandon the project. Or, I may decide that my story is not worthy of being written. Or, that I do not have the time, skill, or commitment necessary to make it happen. These are things that I need to figure out anyway.
Time will tell. For now, just ten minutes a day. One day at a time.
A String of Pearls 
Jan 06, 2014 @ 08:32:16
Sounds like a great idea! Every project has to start somewhere, and ten minutes at a time seems as good as any to start. When I was doing NaNoWriMo one year, a bunch of us got together in a room and challenged one another to write as many words as possible in the space of ten minutes as we could. We turned it into a competition. It’s actually amazing how much can be written in that length of time!
The more you write, the better you get, so I would definitely give it a good try.
Thanks for joining in on Just Jot it January! 😀
Jan 06, 2014 @ 09:17:52
And thank you for putting Just Jot January together. I love “competition” like that when it’s always a win-win for everyone. I’m actually looking forward to the challenge of trying to LIMIT myself to ten or so minutes per day (for this particular project at this stage).
Jan 06, 2014 @ 10:50:57
Less is sometimes harder to do than more, isn’t it?
Jan 06, 2014 @ 08:43:08
I’m thinking the opposite…ten minutes of rest would be good for me. LOL
Jan 06, 2014 @ 09:18:44
🙂 I think by focusing on the TEN minute thing I will spend less time writing and more time resting.
Jan 06, 2014 @ 13:54:06
I am glad the book triggered some response. I love film — the whole artistic presentation to support a story or an idea. Give it a try. Who knows?
Jan 06, 2014 @ 15:08:36
That’s what I thought. How could it hurt? And I think my story has the basics ingredients of a screenplay.
Jan 06, 2014 @ 17:08:52
Sounds like great ideas. I’m sure your story is interesting. No matter how you choose to write it, someone will appreciate it.
So which actress would you like to see play you on the big screen?
Jan 06, 2014 @ 17:46:28
Ha ha, that’s funny. I have looked like Meg Ryan in the past – when I was thinner, had shorter hair, and had the bedhead thing going on. Yep, just like her. 🙂
Jan 06, 2014 @ 20:37:34
Since a screenplay has to have a strong story that moves along, I think it’s a great plan. I so want to join you, but I have too many things going on myself. I did sneak a peak at the book preview though. It looks awesome. I love the way everything is bite-sized: the lessons, the ten minute writing activities.
All you need is a schedule of how often you will do it. For example, it wouldn’t have to be every day to start. It could be 3 or 4 times a week, and then build from there. Have a “ten-minute” buddy who commits to something (even if not your project), to keep each other motivated. (That’s me waving my hand in the background.) 😉
Jan 06, 2014 @ 21:01:48
Do you want to be my ten-minutes buddy? I really do like the whole ten-minutes idea. Ten minutes to a clutter-free house, ten minutes to better cooking, ten minutes of uninterrupted reading, whatever!
What I’m struggling with is whether to put these ten minute exercises/steps in getting the story told on my blog. It’s kind of personal. I don’t mind sharing, obviously I want to tell my story, but my girls are involved. I’ll probably just have to keep it to myself for now. Anyway, do you want to be my ten-minute buddy? What do you have in mind?
Jan 06, 2014 @ 21:12:06
Well, I hope I wasn’t being too push, but yes, I’d love to be your buddy! 🙂
Several things come to mind, so pick and choose and let me know what you think.
1) If you are interested in ten-minutes to a clutter-free house, I’m totally in. We could even do some of our ten-minute blocks simultaneously for fun. But the idea of having someone else who is working on the same thing that I am would be awesome, and a clutter-free home is one thing I really want to have.
2) In terms of the story, you could still work on it ten minutes a day and not put it on the blog. There are other ways to share and get feedback that protect your daughters. If you’re interested in having accountability for following through on a certain amount of time writing it per week, for example, I’d be up for that. I’d even be willing to be a pair of eyes for you. If you’re interested, I have a book idea I need a reader for as well. We could do this type of project through email, and keep it out of our blogs.
3) Uninterrupted reading for 10 minutes? What’s that? lol But hey, I’m up for exploring possibilities.
P.S. I did answer your question about the textbook project back on that Moment in Time post. No problem if you found it already, but just in case you didn’t, I thought I’d tell you it’s there. 🙂
Jan 06, 2014 @ 21:24:55
Let’s start with the ten minutes writing project, since that is what I committed to. And, sure, let’s email back and forth. I’m at randeebergen@msn.com. I can’t wait to see what your book idea is. My gosh, woman, you sure can write a lot and work on a lot of projects all at once!
I didn’t see your response to the textbook project question, so thank you for directing me there.
Jan 06, 2014 @ 21:32:08
great! I’ll email you! 🙂
Jan 17, 2014 @ 07:51:14
Sounds like a good idea! Good luck with your ten minutes commitment! My professor used to taught us a page in a day when we were doing research paper. So that’s what I told my student when I was tutoring them. I tried to help them to always get something done in time no matter how busy they are 🙂 Time management is very important.
Jan 18, 2014 @ 09:27:08
I do better with a deadline (like when a research paper is due), but with this project there is no deadline so it often gets put on the back burner. 😦
Jan 19, 2014 @ 00:25:38
Make it your lifestyle so you don’t feel burdened 🙂 Don’t give up and good luck trying! 🙂
Jan 19, 2014 @ 11:23:16
Make it my lifestyle. I like that. It makes me want to go do my ten minutes right now. 🙂
Jan 20, 2014 @ 07:48:32
There you go! Good luck! 🙂