To Busy Writing to Write

But I have to tell you I'm extremely jazzed.

Last week I sent my script, "My Immortal", over to a writing peer of mine who promptly tore it to shreads and told me what a pretentious bore I was being, muddling down a script that should read fast and crisp with too much prose. 

It may sound like he was being mean but in fact he was using what he's learned as a screenwriter as tough love to make that script better.  That's what critiques are for. 

Undaunted I sent him "Comic Squad", and though he felt the first act suffered the same verbosity that "My Immortal" did, but after the first act break things started moving like they should and it's a really strong script.  So strong, he offered to sign onto the project, help me clean it up, tighten it up and pass it along to some of his contacts. 

This is very good news - and so I've been busting my hump with a rewrite off of his notes and his suggestions.  We still have a long way to go, but he wants a pretty polished product in two weeks so we can start getting this puppy in circulation.  I worked through the first act (first 20-30) pages yesterday, only to come up with another plot point that needs to change some things around yet again. 

He also read the sitcom script I wrote and sang nothing but praises so far... so that's a very VERY good thing.  I ended up tearing it myself and switching it around because the more I read the more I realize I don't know what I'm doing.  And I want this to be the very best it can be.

My best friend Jeff has agreed to sign onto the project, so like Jerry and George we are going to tackle the arduous task of sitcom writing as a team.  The more we go along the more Costanza-ish I become. 

And to top it all off I'm trying my hand at pitching, entering a contest that would garner me a free entry into a screenwriting contest.  I got so ambitious I sent them a pitch for a story that isn't even done yet (hey, they offered).  If it wins an entry that means I'll be plunged into another project.

But I gotta tell you I just couldn't be happier.  This is what I want to do - this is what I feel I was meant to do.  I lose myself in the process, I get high from the challenges, I love getting my hands dirty and walking away with something that makes other people excited, happy, laugh, cry, scared, etc. 

So I'm determined to win this sitcom contest.  This is a foot in the door that would open up the world for me.  I was so excited to get up and write I nearly hopped out of bed at 4am this morning. 

This is not to suggest that the weight loss has taken a backburner.  Not in the least.  I've made the walk every day this week.  I spaced the Pilates completely, through work or writing.  I get the house to myself during the day while Steven is at work and the kids are at school, so I've enjoyed being able to do these things in peace.  By the time I think about Pilates, the kids are generally home already.  So next week, I promise.

I've also been doing well on the food, generally not even getting to 1800 calories a day.  I have to wonder if that's good for me or not because the weight loss is stagnant again.  I wonder if eating MORE would help me lose more.  My body is burning up a ton of calories in exercise - maybe if I ate more it would speed up the metabolism process.

Truthfully I'm seriously under what I should be eating.  They say not to shave more than 1000 calories off of the calories you burn, and according to fit day I burn about 3800 a day.  So that would suggest I should eat 2800 calories a day, and I've been aiming for 1800. 

I think what I'm going to do is to buy salad stuff and eat a lot more frequently.  I know I always say I'm going to do this and never do, but I'm just going to have to force myself.  If I cut all the stuff up and put it in tupperware over the weekend, maybe it won't be such a pain in the you know where to prepare it all week.  If I had a personal chef I'd be thin by now - I just hate to get in there and cook.  And I'm a good cook too, so go figure.

But I figure if I get stuff like chicken and cheese to use as protein, and just eat till I'm content on stuff that won't really affect my totals all that much.  Maybe raise the bar to 2000 calories on the "real" food.  The idea of eating more than 1800 calories seriously bothers me.  I feel like I'm going to undo what I've done. 

However if I keep up the walking, and up the weight training, it really shouldn't affect the weight.  Active people require more calories. 

I've got a TV show to prepare for - I am in serious training not only in writing, but in personal appearance also.

I'm going to succeed.  Bottom line.

Oh, and I know it's the first but since I can't get to GNC till the weekend, I'll do the photo update on Saturday. 

**side note, Journey2Sarah asked about the people in Las Vegas I met, and it was that couple of independent filmmakers who were shooting a documentary.  One of the ladies was kind enough to offer a read of one of my scripts, so I have her email but I'm sitting on which project I should send her - knowing I'm going to have to go in and clean it up to be extra professional looking by the time I send it.  It will probably be My Immortal or another drama I have, Dirty Little Secrets.  I'll just have to read through both with a fine tooth comb to figure out which one is stronger.