Over the holidays, I shifted my attention to three TV series and put a novella on the backburner.
The grand plan for 2022 began with my focus on four TV series. How it will end will depend on how long it takes me to get those four projects and myself pitch-ready. The latter of the two is arguably the more difficult task. But after a humbling 2021, I think I am ready to go again.
What does pitch-ready mean?
As far as written work that means, most importantly, four solid pilot episodes. But that is only a part of the written work that needs to be done. Each series needs a catchy logline, a synopsis, a bible, and an elevator pitch. And in some cases, I may do a pitch deck, a step outline, and/or a treatment, but I will try and avoid those if possible.
Once I have all four of these projects and myself ready it will be time to pivot. With the pandemic, hopefully releasing us all from its clutches this year, I am ready to go all-in once again. And I am also open to writing more literary material. But first, I have to spread the word about four amazing tales that I strongly believe millions of people would love streamed into their homes.
Finding the right people is one part, selling them on a story is another, but the trickiest part is to sell them on me. My ideas are fresh and thrilling but I have been plodding along at writing for a few years now and stayed off people's radar for the most part as I stockpiled stories and sharpened my skills.
I know I could be a golden goose for the right producer(s). Not that I believe that everything that I have written is a golden egg. Hardly. But my experience over the past twenty years has shaped me into a prolific world builder.
Each of the four TV series that I will be putting up for sale this year originated in my head. I don't write other people's stories. I am not looking to be hired to write an episode of the Mandalorian. Although, The Book of Bobba Fett probably could have used my help.
These four series are original stories that have been inspired by my observations of society, art, and the world and the universe over the past two decades. They are in some ways a reflection of that time and in some cases a look into the future based upon those observations.
In the early 2000s, I struggled to pitch my own writing projects. My self-confidence was low and sometimes just getting read was difficult. It was probably for the best because my early screenwriting work was a little clunky.
The fact that I have had to work away from writing in order to have time to write has taught me a lot. I've learned to be able to separate myself from the work enough to be a bit more objective when need be. I am a much better salesman too.
The next few months will be a bit chaotic as I work to polish these projects and prepare them and me for the pitch push. This is my entire writing focus as of now. However, to keep my mind fresh I hope to begin the world build on one brand new project by year's end. Also, I am looking to possibly publish House Fly before 2023, which may become a top priority in the summer. And I may have to push a new project to 2023 to properly prepare House Fly for release.
This is a year to pivot and I have been promising myself a chance to do so for the past year. I was frustrated to not have the time to do so last year for a number of reasons. As of right now, it looks like I have done enough over the past year to allow myself to make that pivot this summer.
Last summer was hell. I had just come off a big rejection and a separate opportunity to invest in myself fizzled out. Yet, I have bided my time since then, put my nose back to the grindstone, and just carried on. Because I did that I am now sitting in a better position today than I have in over a decade. Now I am able to make that pivot this year. To hopefully make the progression I need to get me and my written work where it needs to be.
We will see. I am very hopeful for the rest of the year and the opportunities that lie ahead.
