So the coronavirus is surging, my county is under a
stay-at-home order, it finally feels winter-ish, and it's even raining today...what
better time to take advantage of my Master Class subscription? Full disclosure:
I'm not affiliated in any way, nor being paid, this is just an honest plug.
Master Class is well worth the price. From Arts & Entertainment to
Wellness, there's something for just about everyone.
I'm currently in the middle of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting
class, which meshes nicely with watching The Newsroom (HBO, 2012-2014). I don't
see myself writing a screenplay, but at the nuts-and-bolts level, writing is
writing, and in my opinion, Sorkin is brilliant. An added bonus is that he uses
scenes from The West Wing, A Few Good Men, and Steve Jobs to illustrate points.
I've completed Malcom Gladwell's writing class, Margaret
Atwood's Creative Writing, David Mamet's Dramatic Writing, and Neil Gaiman's
Art of Storytelling. Next up, Walter Mosley's Fiction and Storytelling. Each
time I watch a class. I'm left equally inspired and wondering if I know what
the hell I'm doing. And according to the pros, that's as it should be. Writing
is work, and it's not supposed to be easy. Glad I've got that part down...
Besides the pure enjoyment of hearing those who are
successful talk about how they approach their craft, it's gratifying to know
that even the pros often face a blank screen and blinking cursor and think they've
written every word they know and are out of ideas. But they keep going.
Will I ever "master" writing? Most likely not, but that's
hardly the point. I won't stop trying.
So true, Denise! Glad to hear you're following your passion. I've been doing the same, and writing is both fulfilling and frustrating. Like any talent, practice is needed to hone your craft, so I try to write every day. Classes are helpful, but there's no substitute to getting your own stories on paper and finding out what you're characters are all about as they often have minds of their own! Also, try a writing/critique group. The help and support of others in the same boat has helped me tremendously. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matthew! So true that there's no substitute for just getting it on paper. As they say, writing equals butt in chair, so good for you for writing every day. Best of luck to you as well!
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