Hello, fellow writers and creative artists.
I've gone silent for the past couple of months - I should reintroduce myself since it's been a while. Life has been a struggle for me this year, but I haven't given up on writing.
I've been a part of Stage 32 since 2024. I have always wanted to create films, which inspired my decision to attend college and graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication arts, with a double emphasis in film studies and theatre.
I am now working full-time as a Marketing & Community Development Coordinator in Wrangell, Alaska. I still write when I have time to sit down and write out my stories in scripts. I typically like to write in fantasy genres, particularly in medieval fantasy.
The script I'm working on now will not be for fantasy, or even a pilot, but my first feature-length script, set in the modern day and leaning into drama.
In a way, my goals for the end of 2026 is to complete my remaining scripts, and to finally get back into pitching, maybe get representation, be in the writer's room, or sell my scripts.
I'm looking forward to reconnecting with other creatives and familiar faces that I haven't seen in a while.
I hope you all are doing well. If you'd like to talk about your work, I will be here!
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Hey, @J.R. Welcome back. I recently started being more active on here again. Sorry to hear life has been a struggle for you this year. Congratulations on graduating and working full-time as a Marketing & Community Development Coordinator! Congratulations on writing your first feature script and writing in a new genre!
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Hi J.R Meek Alaska sounds like a fantastic place to be inspired to write.
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So happy to see you back in the mix, J.R Meek, and thank you so much for taking the time to reintroduce yourself. I know jumping back in after a stretch of silence can feel like a bigger step than it looks from the outside, and I appreciate you showing up here for IYW with such warmth and honesty. I’m really glad to hear you haven’t given up on the writing, even during a hard year. That’s genuinely the mark of a real writer, the ones who keep coming back to the page when life gets heavy are the ones who eventually see their work through to the finish line.
Your goals for the end of 2026 (finishing your remaining scripts, getting back into pitching, exploring representation, breaking into a writers’ room, or selling your work) are exactly the kind of ambitious AND specific goals that translate into real progress over time.
A few resources to help you make the most of your Stage 32 experience as you re-engage:
Be active in the Screenwriting Lounge! As you reconnect with the community, the Screenwriting Lounge is such a valuable space to build back into. Consistent engagement over time is one of the most powerful ways to rebuild creative momentum and relationships, and there are so many familiar and new voices ready to welcome you back: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting
Reach out to our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com to tell them about your projects and your goals for the rest of 2026. Given the specific position you’re in (multiple scripts in progress, actively pushing toward pitching and representation, exploring writers’ room opportunities), the Success Team can help you strategize the strongest path forward and connect you with resources aligned with your goals.
Register for our next FREE Community Open House on Wednesday, September 23rd at 12pm PT. It’s a wonderful way to get a full refresh on everything Stage 32 has to offer as you re-engage with the platform, plus direct access to me to ask any questions about how to make the most of your experience here. Even if you can’t attend live, registering guarantees you the full recording: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-september-2026-comm...
So happy to have you back for IYW, JR!
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Moving from medieval fantasy into a contemporary drama sounds like an interesting shift. Has writing without the world-building element changed the way you approach character or conflict?
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Welcome back, and it's wonderful to see a writer who has kept going through a difficult year and is still showing up to the page. What's the most important thing you've learned from working full time in a non film job that you're bringing to your writing?
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Maurice Vaughan Thank you! I'm glad to see you're getting back into Stage 32 as well. Always great chatting with you!
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Samantha Rivera Thank you! The most important thing that I've learned is how much authenticity matters to people. I hear it from independent travelers all the time whenever they come to visit Wrangell and why that matters to them instead of the typical tourist towns that they see. The difficult part of writing is deciding what is true and authentic to the story, and what comes across as "fake" or doesn't evoke any emotion from the reader.
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Zoltán Varga It has. For fantasy, I had to think of how the world is made, the characters' role in it, and the conflicts that arise. For this feature, I needed to focus solely on not the world, but the protagonist, inner conflict, and how his relationships change. Sometimes it feels more difficult on days because I needed to get used to another style.
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Suzanne Bronson Tell me about it! I'm surprised there isn't a dedicated film school in Alaska. The scenery alone would make people move here.
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Ashley Renée Smith Thank you! I appreciate it!
Also, thank you for the resources and recommendations! I'll look into it.
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Welcome back! It sounds like you've been through a challenging year, but I really admire that you’ve continued writing and haven’t let go of your goals. Your background in film studies and theatre sounds like a great foundation, and I’d definitely be interested in hearing more about the feature you’re working on—especially the shift from medieval fantasy into modern-day drama.
Wishing you lots of momentum as you work toward those 2026 goals. Here’s to getting those scripts finished, getting back into pitching, and finding the right people to help bring your stories to life. Looking forward to seeing what you create!
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Great to have you in the S32 Club J.R Meek. Best of luck with your 2026 writing goals!
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You're welcome, @J.R. Thanks. It's great to be back on here more! Have you written any stories that take place in Wrangell?
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Welcome back, J.R. Life pulling you away from writing for a while happens to almost everyone, and coming back to it after a hard year says a lot about how much it means to you. A modern day drama feature sounds like a real departure from medieval fantasy too, that kind of range is a great sign.
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Hi J.R.! Welcome back! It’s great to see you reconnecting with the community, and I love that you’re still writing and working toward those 2026 goals. Getting that first feature script finished is a big milestone, and I’m excited to see where it takes you :)
And if you ever need anything education-wise, email us at edu@stage32.com. We’re always happy to recommend resources that can help you with your writing, pitching, or next steps.
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Charvik Gubiligari Thank you! It means a lot.
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Michael Dzurak Thank you!
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Maurice Vaughan Not yet, but there's definitely a lot of history to make stories out of. It's very surprising when I first arrived and realized how much history this small town had.
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Branson Tiara Thank you! It means a lot. I wasn't planning on making a departure from medieval fantasy, but for this story that I've been thinking about, I felt changing up the genre and setting felt more appropriate for what I want for it.
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Sydney S Thank you! It's good to be back. If I need anything, I'll let you and your team know!
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Looking forward to hearing the Wrangell stories you come up with, J.R Meek.