Have I gotten your attention?
I have written the first 4 scenes. 4 scenes in 2 months? Yes. Shouldn't I do more? YES! Do I have time? No.
I've discovered some things about my writing during this process:
1) I HAVE to get over the need to be perfect the first time. It's a draft, it will be revised 50 times between now and the first read through. What I need to focus on now is just GETTING the dialogue down. This is an issue I have with writing music as well, I want it revised and perfect the first time out of the gate. I need to embrace the revision process.
2) I need to make time to write. I have my full time job, and my 3 side jobs, I need to set aside Sunday evening, or something to just work on the show. The reality of my life is that this ISN'T my job, I'm doing this for fun. If I were a full time playwright, I could bang this out in a week. But the process is slow because it's being done in my free time.
and 3) And I'm prepared to receive a series of "DUH!" responses, so feel free to let me have it. Scene 4 is when Emily and Christine have a major fight. My struggle is that I felt that Emily's discomfort with coming out is a major factor to why she's offended in scene 3 (When Christine lets Rob have it about his homophobia and misogyny.) In my initial revision, a lot of what I cut were comments regarding how hard it is to come out. I cut it, not because it's not hard, but because I have no frame of reference for it. (Write what you know) However, I found that what made the scene better was making it NOT so much about Emily getting used to being a lesbian, but rather that she's uncomfortable with Christine being so brazen. Also, in the song which will accompany scene 3, Christine will mention how she and Emily will probably go and have sex later tonight, and if they want they can get married. She does this to get a rise out of Rob, but it makes Emily feel like she's rushing into the relationship. Making it less about an issue, and making it more personal makes it a better scene.
Thanksgiving's coming, and I'll have LOTS of free time. More will be written.
