Way back in 2011 when I began trying my hand at comic script writing, I also purchased Screenwriting for Dummies. I wrote two silent short film scripts, but I never seriously worked on professional screenwriting format or story structure… until now! Since March, I’ve been writing and editing multiple screenplays, studying the scripts of some of my favorite movies, engaging in writer communities, such as CoverflyX, to give and receive feedback on scripts, and absorbing whatever info I can find in various blogs, such as Screencraft and the Script Lab, and YouTube channels like Film Courage.
Additionally, I’ve also been entering my work into multiple screenwriting competitions. I’ve had little success so far, but I’m learning what to tweak in my scripts as I go and I’m trying to gradually understand what it is that industry professionals look for in a screenplay.
As I stated in previous blogs, I am drawing much inspiration from Freaky and Fantastical 500, expanding on the mythology and characters of some of the worlds I established in the book and combining certain themes and storylines. While my flash fiction anthology began as only an experiment in self-publishing and an exercise in writing for me, it has compelled me to challenge myself so much more than I expected. Stories like “Love, Machine” and “Married to Murder” have already been adapted into short and feature-length screenplays by Yours Truly, and looking back at my book, I am growing more excited for the possibilities of what other cinematic story ideas I’ve already crafted.
Working on my script “Titania”, one of my original stories not featured in the flash fiction anthology, has also motivated me to create a novella. While movies are collaborative and very difficult to get made, I still plan to continue with writing books and comics to make sure my stories are told in some form. I have high hopes for “Titania” to be one of the scripts that will launch my screenwriting career, but I am also working backwards, converting the script into a novelette or novella for kids as well since I wrote it as a nod to classic Disney films (a princess + magic + monsters/villain + friendship & adventure = classic Disney).
From submitting short stories, to developing comics, to self-publishing and screenwriting, it has been a very fun experience in my writing journey. I’m still flexing creative muscles I never knew I had and finding interests in things I thought would bore. With each new challenge I am also finding better ways to tell my stories.
And with that, I just want to say that Chimera Revolutions: The Nue Gaea Chronicles will be released soon! Hopefully within the next six months at most, but it is on its way… I am also working on scripts to expand on the stories of the Chimeras I’ve had rattling in my head for more than a decade so hopefully people can read about the world of Nue Gaea and view it on the small screen if things go accordingly!
So, I think I’ve rambled enough now already. Got everyone caught up on what I’ve been up to for the last half-year… Lots of projects in the work for the screen and print. I may be creating some new pages on the site or at least updating lots of segments of current pages soon, but I will post the changes as they come… And you already know there is more to come!