I recently paged through some random notes I've left myself.  Sadly none of it was useable so I'm going to start from scratch.  With this entry I want to be aware of some of the mechanical mistakes I've made with writing.  My use of adjectives sometimes makes this all a bit wordy and long winded.  That was always my problem with script writing.  My pro's were always way too wordy.  I had an instructor at Columbia who was awesome with pointing this out.  If there's one universal lesson I learned while at Columbia it was to learn how to take criticism.  No one likes to be jabbed at. Especially when it comes to artsy shit like script writing.  When there isn't any money at stake and its all emotion and expression I think it can be even harder to take criticism.

The reality is that when you're sitting in a classroom and having people tell you why your script needs work one must have specific examples of why the script needs work.  For example, if its a spec script for a certain show and the script lacks the universal voice already created by the show, then a spec script must follow that voice, that structure that has made the show what it is.  For me, if I'm pulling in low six figures to write(and that is the going rate for any staff writer who's working on a network series) then all the show runner has to do is tell me how high to jump.  When I was in college and there was no money at stake it took getting used to. I'm at a point creatively where I always welcome feedback.  The reason is you can only get better if you open your ears and shut your mouth.

This memoir that I was writing I got some professional but very brutal notes on.  Actually, the notes I got were things that I never would have thought of either.  There's a particular part in my book where I discuss some of the rest stops throughout the country.  To me-- I thought it would be kind of cool to be very specific, although it was brought to my attention that if a reader is from some random part of the world/country, then why is it important to mention a dingy eatery in Amarillo Texas?

Its been months since I've read over my notes but thats the 1 that tattooed into my brain.  1 day at a time I take steps to edit and touch up and add to this book of mine.  

I suspect that much of the general public is under this daze of overnight success.  The internet isn't helping by showcasing people who simply have the time and lack the bills to pay to sit around and do something viral.  If one is to examine any long-lasting and timeless artist they'll find that the art is never rushed. Its a stretch to say anything strewn about the internet is artistic, but I'll let everyone else determine what they'd like to call art.  

With regards to literature/writing it can take several years for any author to stamp their thumb print into history.  For music it will take time to create a base.  Nothing is done overnight.  For comedians it can take over 10 years for any kind of fame.  Jerry Seinfeld spent 15 years of his life working small clubs before Johnny Carson even sniffed him out.  15 years is a lot longer than people realize.

From reading the news, and paying attention to the world around me it almost feels as if there's a shift to instant gratification; I'll forever drag my feet and insist that success comes with putting in the time and work.  To play devils advocate, maybe I've just been observing the wrong crowd.  There's always that side to the coin.

I had mentioned getting work criticized earlier in this piece and with that I want to mention how recently I've dived into analytics.  Sure its easy for people to say "we don't do it for the ratings" or "Record sales don't matter--awards don't matter". I call bullshit on that. Because while it may not direct the artist, every artist is just slightly insecure enough to want to know who's enjoying their work and who isn't.  I'm guilty as charged. When I was writing music and lyrics it was a fucking thrill to know who was into my music and who wasn't.  It's almost a primal sexual addiction to know dumb mundane details about how my writing affects others.  It's not enough to make me fucking looney tunes; but it does interest me and I can't call bullshit on others without calling it on myself.

Kurt Cobain comes to mind when it comes to famous people who always cried about not  caring what people thought or also saying things like "we never expected to become famous" I've always kind of said "Well no shit" when it comes to successful musicians/entertainers who tell the media they never expected success. I would hope that these people don't just sit there and expect to be successful. They were busy pouring their  life into what they love.  The fame, the money, the album sales, the ratings thats all a product of society.  Regardless of money and awards there was always going to be a variety of art forms out there.  So I kind of scratch my head when  I hear people say they never expected fame.

There might be people out there who feel entitled enough to be successful, and maybe they'll hit the success that they feel they're entitled to--but if you ask me those who feel entitled won't do well in the long run.

I titled this "The shouting's over" Because its a very short phrase from the Green Day song "X-kid" and its the best way to sum up how I feel about my personal life.  The whole line reads "Bombs away! Here goes nothing the shoutings over hey X-Kid!" and it repeats itself after that.  If you listen to the song, which I posted below you can hear the whole song and I relate to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Asz1HxWPzg

As near as I can tell its a coming of age song of sorts..  For me I'm exhausted and the shouting's over. Some days I've literally walked around my house and turned on lights or turned on the radio to make the place feel lived in.  I see the song as an exclamation point in my life which means its time to start a new sentence in life.  If my writing was a glass of milk it would have spilled all over the table and I'd be busy cleaning it up with paper towels.  Criticism-- be it constructive or mean will be helpful in some way or another.  Don't let it control you as a person-- simply let it guide you.

Thank you for reading.