Authoring & Playwriting

I would basically listen to ADHD focus music you find on YouTube but find the right binaural noise. Then, I would focus one at a time about writing something important in detail like the world setting or characters' imaginations being played into the sitcom.

Also, I've read the juvenile graphic novel called "Curveball" where the girl named Elena who loves baseball but she never enjoys comfortable playing the sport and the pressure of her being the only girl participated in high school baseball not only it pressured by her controlling mother, but it also really ruins the fun of the sport for her. One day after a disappointing loss in a baseball game before summer starts, Elena accidentally bonks her knee and has to rest for a few weeks. While at home, Elena develops a sense of isolation and her baseball friends kind of distance her because she's not playing and doesn't connect her brother with his passion of LARPing (Live-Action Role-Playing) and never a fan of baseball or competition sports. So her grandfather decided for her to join her brother's LARPing group in order to blend in and get her some excitement for the summer much to her brother's skepticism. Elena has a lack of imagination and never understands the world of fantasies or how her brother's friends love to pretend. At first, it doesn't seem like she would blend in either and accidentally trash talk her friends' costumes and be challenged to a joust (pool noodles with a run-down office chair) for punishment. She hates it and would rather look at the sandlot (a relic baseball playground). Then, she saw someone on the tree branch while drawing. And then, Elena evolves into understanding LARPing with the addition of baseball in a non-competitive way. Let's say, Elena would rather invent a fun-friendly LARPing version of baseball than playing actual baseball and her mother listens to her and brother on how much they feel. Her mother is coaching a baseball for little girls only while Elena, her brother and six other friends are playing pretend while enjoying the sport they are fun and fun only.

That book inspired me to create the idea of adding imaginations into the kid characters' minds and they always see baseball as a more fun and has to spend time with their family on a coed youth baseball team (team where boys and girls unite to play baseball) while off the field is more wacky fun and they always have the clever imagination of using baseball in a positive form. They were never pressured, they were never treated like a competitive-crazed robots when being forced to the clinic or practices, and they use their imaginations to play baseball in a fun way. Even when they're injured, the teammates would always be there for each other and their baseball families. They just love baseball and forget the flaws of playing the sport. When they off the field, they play video games or come up with silly baseball pranks, or even their parents would have wacky imaginations too despite the dad is overweight and always split his pants while bending down to grab an object. The aunt would transform into muscles and remains at five feet, she would play the batter version of the Amazon barbarian while teaching them to do batting practices for her nieces.

It's about having a heart and comedy. But also, emotions, human, entertaining, and rewatchable to see most of the main characters use their imaginations while the game they all adore.

The good news is that I don't struggle with writers block. A hundred stories in my mind is abundant and rich always flowing prolific. I was writing a testimony with a blend of theology and sciences. Stories of Gen trilogy. Inspired by God. I can not figure out the obstacle why publishing seems so overwhelming and complicated. I can not afford the budget of financing projects scares me. So I wrote a story about the writer and the publishing journey that some could resonate with something to relate to. Why the one obstacle remains of the publishing is a mystery I can not figure out why that should be such a block. I have at least completed four books all done and ready to publish and put on a shelf on hold to not able, but disabled the available books not made available release for audience of readers, reserved and not available as of yet. I kept the books hidden from view. The creative part all done and completed. I have a strong fortress of protection to protect my intellectual property. In the story I wrote about the scammers and fraudulent violators to be found in the publishing maze and adopted into mini series of stories within stories. In this way I would give the readers a behind the scenes sneak peek reviews of coming attractions approach of special edition that people could resonate and relate to during these times. Scripts all done. That part of creative writing every day I can do and I am able to do.

Amanda Toney Hi Amanda, I’ve never suffered from writer’s block. For me, it’s just a case of knowing when to write and when to stop and do something else; read a book, watch a film, listen to some music.

Good question! A lot of ppl exercise (outdoors if possible), do laundry or dishes, organize… I find it best to do one of these things while watching, reading, or listening to a movie or book that’s in a completely different genre than my WIP. Sometimes listening to music helps too. Somehow this combination helps me back in creation mode.

Put down for a day. Listen to your favorite songs or exercise-something that gives you mental and physical peace and clarity. Listen to what is around you . The next day, think about what you have so far and where you want it to go. You have it in your head. Then read the last pages and visualize it. You should be able to start back again even if you tear up the sheet and start over. Everything needs a reset at some point. You got this !

“Admirable to return to writing with such dedication. Reconnecting with storytelling will certainly yield powerful narratives.”

Thanh, it’s never too late to return to what truly inspires you. Many writers step away at some point, but the passion for storytelling often finds its way back stronger. Every experience you gain adds depth to your voice as a writer. Wishing you renewed motivation and success as you continue your screenwriting journey.

If writing and creating feeds you soul then do it to fill your cup. take breaks, rest if you must but don't quit. If storytelling is who you are then that's a part of you that should never be ignored.

https://open.spotify.com/track/57LyPRrScKiIDD8aVxlkKc?si=klRWAPC8Q3mbzJQq0\_yINw

I was never - with a few notable exceptions - a big fan of Romantic Comedy, until my brother told me I should write one because I didn't like them. Who knew? He did.

I love this question. For me, I'm always pushing myself to explore new things or try things that make me uncomfortable. It's the willingness to be uncomfortable that takes us to some magical places in our writing

Kat, I tend to begin with the genres that naturally resonate, but I’ve found real growth often happens slightly outside that space.

Sometimes a genre that isn’t instinctively “mine” reveals structural or tonal approaches that deepen my primary work — whether it’s rhythm, restraint, or a different way of revealing character.

Even when the surface aesthetics differ, the underlying human questions often connect across genres.

Exploring those differences can sharpen one’s own voice rather than dilute it.

Kat Spencer I like to genre hop, though drama is where I live the most. Even so, I'm always looking for how I can blend other genres in so there can be more dimension.

I like to write what resonates with me. Luckily, that's a lot of different genres--romance, fantasy, and science fiction, as well as nonfiction.

Nice, that's dramatic. I haven't had a script take such a major turn while writing, but in outlines such wild things happen for me.

On the converse, I'd had characters survive due to the heroes and villains constantly foiling each other's plans.

I’m working on a novel right now where the outline says a character dies but in the writing he ended up living. It was a Jesse Pinkman situation. I grew to love him so much I didn’t have the heart to kill him, and the story is stronger for it!

Yup. I won't give spoilers, but I 100% still haven't recovered from it. I say this despite it being HEAVILY foreshadowed, even by the character in question.

I am eagerly awaiting The Backrooms movie from internet lore. It's a fascinating concept that grew into something pretty wild.

PS: I started an adaptations series in the OTT & Transmedia Lounge:

https://www.stage32.com/lounge/transmedia/Film-Adaptations-transposing-I...

More parts are on the way.

I wish they would do some good adaptations of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and perhaps Lewis' SPACE TRILOGY

I usually don't like adaptations because the book is always better. So is my imagination when I read.

A rare adaptation that worked was the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice, mostly because as a mini-series, they could (and did) stick pretty faithfully to the book.

A rare adaptation where I thought the movie was much better than the book was Julie & Julia.

I think adapting the Harry Potter books AGAIN is ridiculous. The first movies were iconic and did a faithful job to the books.

It's a necessary evil.

It's not only an influencer, it's an outlet.

Debbie Seagle - "I hope not. I’m terrible with social media; I just want to write!" - I feel that 100%. It's just not my vibe. I use it to share, but like high school, I don't tend to be the popular kid, haha.

You are doing a good job.

Yes, social media presence and number of followers can make a difference, probably more so with books than with scripts. And if you're writing books, a newsletter is vital, because those people are your fans and the ones who'll automatically buy your book, and hopefully leave good reviews and tell their friends about your work.

What you’re describing about the “two brains” is very real, and I think a lot of writers underestimate just how different those muscles are until they actually try to cross over.

The part that stood out to me most is the shift from internal truth to external proof. In novels, emotion can exist privately. In scripts, it has to behave. If a character is grieving, it’s not what they feel, it’s what they do, avoid, or fail to do that reveals it.

I’ve noticed that writers who make that transition successfully don’t just “cut down” their book, they reinterpret it. They start asking different questions:

– What is the character choosing in this moment?

– What changes because of that choice?

– What can the audience see that replaces what the reader used to know?

Also, your point about architecture is important. A lot of authors resist structure at first, but structure isn’t there to limit voice, it’s what gives the story momentum once it leaves the page. Without it, even great concepts struggle to hold attention visually.

And that last point about IP is where things are really shifting. Writers who can think in terms of world, continuity, and scalability already have an edge. It’s no longer just about telling a story, it’s about building something that can live beyond one format.

Curious from your experience, when authors struggle with adaptation, is it usually more about letting go of internal narration, or more about restructuring the story itself?

Okay for me-- I know the adaptation part is honestly about relooking at the continuity as a whole and why did it work on paper? Then it's how much of this is overlap, how much is just giving repetition of three to make sure the audience understands. With shifting it over- it's that 3:1 ration- every 3 pages is one page of script. So it means considering reorganising the structure for more impact. It means learning how to stop telling narratively and start showing it in ways that can be seen on the screen. Now I am a plantster- the hybrid of pantser and planner- I plan the beats, I may have must have scenes put in their place and let myself write to those points as an author. But as a screenwriter- I've learned that detailed scriptment outlines with dialogue notes, SFX/VFX notes-- are my WORLD.