Last week, I got notes from ABC studios and the TV network on my script for American Crime. It’s the last step in a process of brainstorming, discussing, outlining, rewriting, writing, re-drafting, editing, and revising my episode. Now the script goes off to production and, within a few weeks, we’ll be shooting. It’s been an amazing journey to this point. I’ve learned so much.
While I couldn’t begin to recount everything I’ve gotten from this job and from my boss, John Ridley (Oscar winner for 12 Years A Slave), I can relay one HUGE takeaway.
When we started in the writers’ room (at the end of May) John already had a spreadsheet of how he wanted the season to unfold. He knew who the characters were and what the story arcs looked like. Over the course of the 4 weeks we spent in the room (4 weeks is a VERY short time in the TV world) John guided us through deep discussions on themes and events and storylines. What was apparent right away is that John brings a lightness to the work, he’s incredibly funny (he’s done stand-up and wrote for many comedy shows), and he likes to work in short bursts. That means some of our days in the room would go from 10am – 2pm. Or 1pm – 4pm. He’d end many days saying something along the lines of: “That’s enough. I’m done with this for today. Aren’t you? Let’s get out of here.” Toward the end of our time together, he announced that he was off to the UK to work on another project, leaving us to move through our episodes on our own – and the writers room closed.
John stepped away. We went home.
My big takeaway from John is about that – walking away. As I worked on my script I would step in and out of the process. I didn’t burn the midnight oil. I would work concentratedly and joyfully and then I’d do something else. I’d focus for a few hours and then I’d let my mind wander. Taking walks, watching TV, doing laundry, listening to music were all part of my work-flow. Each time I returned to the work, I came back with some new idea – some fresh perspective. It seemed miraculous to me that closing my laptop was as fertile to my process as opening it again. John encourages us to do “our version” of his big ideas. And all that walking away allowed me to channel my impulses more clearly than I have in the past.
It seems counter-intuitive. In our workaholic culture, we’re taught that breaks of any kind can be a sign of laziness. But, in my experience on this show, the opposite has been true. Diving in and out of the work allowed me to breathe, which allowed me to breathe new ideas into my work when I came back. [FYI: John is now back in the country and deeply involved in the production of American Crime as we speak – and all of us writers will be on set for our episodes.]
As you write your stuff, are you willing to lean into it in bite-size chunks? Are you willing to try walking away instead of chaining yourself to the desk? Try it in the next 30 days and let me know how it goes. I believe wonderful new ideas will find their way to you as you practice stepping away from the keyboard on a regular basis. I can’t wait to hear from you.
For more guidance and ideas for your writing life, read the blog or simply get in touch.
Happy writing!
