“You’re always becoming a writer”

Author Edward P. Jones offers this insight: “You’re always becoming a writer.” I’ve been reminded of this recently with a spate of emails I’ve received from people who have participated in the Go On Your Own Quest initiative. A number of them are first-time writers, so in this process of pounding out an original screenplay, they are in a quite literal way becoming a writer.

Others who have contacted me have completed novels, short stories, plays or screenplays before, and yet this has been a learning experience for them, too, as they become more of a writer.

I’ve even received a couple of emails from professional writers who used the GOYOQ structure to force them to jam through a first draft. So even here, they are becoming a writer while being a writer.

Just as our stories represent journeys, so does our writing life. Each day we sit down to ply our craft, we learn something, we embrace something, we act on something about what it means to be a writer.

Two more weeks to go. When you type FADE OUT, you will have accomplished to the topline goal of GOYOQ.

You also will have learned this lesson:

“You’re always becoming a writer.”

The Quest” has entered Week 23! And so did Go On Your Own Quest, an opportunity for anyone to follow the structure of “The Quest” to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write a first draft [Pages — 10 weeks]. It’s a 24-week immersion in the screenwriting process and you can do it here — for free!

Today and every Monday through Friday for 10 weeks, I’ll use this slot to post something inspirational as GOYOQ participants pound out their first drafts.

For background on “Go Into The Story: The Quest,” go here and here.

For all the previous weeks of Go On Your Own Quest posts, go here.