Life can be such a downer. The day job: problems with literal "everyday Joes". I'm talking people who literal live for their day job and without it have little else. No big plans or dreams. Rather, they are consumers. Another perpetually downer of mine is the angst of being a undiscovered pre-pro, always wondering, "Will the Industry EVER take notice of me?!?!
But through it all I've found a couple sources of solace. Places where the pains of Earth come in, but and then soothed and go away.
E.C. Henry's places of solace:
- The Lord. Anytime I get real down, the bible and prayer is where I turn. Why? Because the Lord understands. I believe God exists and is active in all of lives, whether or not we acknowledge Him back or not. And I find that when I'm close to God things don't hurt as much. I get His understanding, at least in part, and the petty schemes around me don't bother me as much.
- My mother. EVERYONE should have a mother as awesome as mine. Think it's pitiful that my mom is my best friend? Well fie on you! My mother is a loving, spirit-filled Christian. She's even got the gift of tongues. She's a totally amazing woman. She will not allow me to post a picture of her on my blogsite, but if I could... You'd be blown away! During my latest venture down to L.A. my mom even wore one of my promo tee shirt to one of the prayer meetings that she regularly attends. True, sometimes my mom's "advice" hurts, but she is close with the Lord that no matter what I think, it doesn't matter, I hafta listen because God speaks through her.
- I find it so bittersweet that when it feels like my life is falling apart the most, THAT'S when the writing life is at it's best; that's when things at the keyboard are going well. It's a perplexing teeter-totter of sorts. And I don't get it. Because left to my devices, if it were up to me, I'd never hafta experience pain or loss -- and the writing would always be awesome. BUT that's not reality, as I currently experience it.
Writing can always save you. Not sure if I completely buy in to that sentiment. Kinda like you wonder about the context of this picture of a monkey hugging a tiger pup. But I know that I just can't stew over what may or may not happen in my writing career. At this point in my life I could care less about the day job. Yes, I'm making good $$ right now, but it's not where my heart is. I find it very hard to connect with "average everyday Joe's" and the mundane details of their life and the things they enjoy.
Writing is a portal to the magic. It's a place where I don't exactly know what's going to happened next, but I know that when I'm done with it, it will be good. I believe in my writing. I work very hard at it, and even now when I fail, like I get a bad review, or get stuck; it doesn't bother me like it used to. I no longer feel the need to prove to other people that I can write. I know I can write. And I know I can write well.
Right now I'm having a blast doing a beat-by-beat analysis of my latest spec. script, which is entitled, "Bubblehead Saves the Day." Gone are the worries of crafting master scenes. Now it's all about grafting in the poetic side, and telling a clean story beat by beat.
One thing you may not know about me is that I have fun when I write. The middle part of writing; after the 1st draft and before the final polish, is fun for me. Writer's nirvana. There's a lot of freedom I feel after I know the basic course of a story. It's like now the fun can begin. Of course that all ends on the tedious final pass, line editing, which sometimes for me can be more grueling than getting stuck with the plot logic of a 1st draft.
Writing can always save you. Throw the Lord and godly mother into the mix and you have an everlasting remedy to carry you though the darkest of days.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
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