my writing crisis, Degrassi and what’s going on in my classes

Wednesdays I devote my time to write. So this past Wednesday I was up real early, fired up my laptop and was excited to get to work….that is until I could not open my file. Apparently, it is corrupted. I’ve done everything possible to tryo to retrieve it, but I can’t. I went through a range of emotions…well mainly anger and then being bummed out. I sat there on my bedroom floor, just thinking about what I can do.

Luckily, I have an old file from the FCB beginnings, I can work off of that. I also have an old hard copy that I can rework. Last Wednesday, I spent the whole day at the library and cranked out six pages. Now they’re gone gone gone as well as twenty or so pages that are not a part of my hard copy.

So what did I learn from all of this? Well, I know I’m such a doof about it, but now I’m going to go “save crazy” and save my files anywhere I can. Email, all of my jump drives and my hard drive. (my current file was on a jump drive, so this time around, I’m going to be extra EXTRA sure things are saved)

After I’ve accepted the fact that I have to rework everything. I’m thinking this may be a good thing and when I rewrite, I can work on the details in my writing and slip those in while I’m working on the scenes. My first draft is a bare skeleton and I intended to go back through and add more dialogue, details and descriptions—-something one of my English professors lectured about back in 101. It is a method I still hold on to, and will do on this upcoming draft.

This semester, I’m taking this great course on fiction adaptation into film. I’ve never realized that there are TONS of short stories and novels that are turned into film and we just don’t realize or even know about. What also impresses me is thatthese stories pique the interest of the YouTube world, where people like you and me film their own adaptations of short stories. One of the current stories assigned in class was Charlie Fish’s “Death By Scrabble.” You can read it here, if you’d like. As part of the assignment, we need to see/compare the film version.

A search on YouTube brings up many versions! Amazing.

here is an example of one

My last note, Degrassi: The Next Generation is my newest obsession. I remember Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from days of yore, and how it made a bold statement on adolescents dealt with abuse, sex, alcoholism, homosexuality, drugs, etc. That seemed pretty cutting edge for a show about teenagers, in fact the show faced some editing and censorship, especially on the topic of abortion.

So now, I’ve jumped onto the bandwagon of The Next Generation. I used to scoff and quickly surf past the N channel while at home, mainly because I could care less about that rinky-dink “teen” programming like Zoey 101. Even ABCFamily thought they could be on par with the N and air The Secret Life of the American Teenager or whatever its called. Just based on the commercials, I know there is a 15-year-old who is pregnant. For some reason, I haven’t had an interest in catching an episode.

So anyway, Degrassi. I started watching the other day because nothing else was on. After a few minutes in, I thought huh, isn’t this something.

Another episode was on, and I watched that. I am instantly hooked.

Why?

I like that all the characters come from all walks of life. They each have a story about where they come from. The only thing that does crack me up is that everyone is intertwined with each other. They date each other, hook up with each other and cause drama with each other.

Well, there is a Degrassi marathon on now, just as my morning-thon of Psych is wrapping up. I think I know what I’m doing while I write.