In Which I Stop to Say Thanks…

Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.  Like most playwrights  — most writers, actually — I spend a fair share of my day complaining about what’s not going right in their writing life (it ain’t just a career, folks).  

I’m stuck.  I can’t finish this scene, act, play, draft, etc.

I can’t get an agent.

My agent isn’t returning my calls.

Nobody’s producing me because I’m Black, Latino, White, Asian, female, male, straight, gay … or any combo of these.

That play sucked. Why aren’t they producing my plays? My plays are good!

I’m going to stop there because there are a litany of other complaints (legitimate and otherwise) that writers publish from their lips every day.  For instance, I recently noticed when talking about the play I have in progress, I say that no one is ever going to produce it.   Why do I say that?  Maybe in defense.  Maybe in some weird way I use the negativity to protect my instinct to scale the play bigger, despite market conditions. Whatever the reason, I’m going to stop saying that.

I’m going to stop saying things like that because I have a lot to be thankful for.  And I bet most writers do have something to be thankful for.  I was talking with my best friend about 10 minutes ago, and she reminded me how far I had come in the industry in such a short time.  The hard shell of my daily grumbles cracked open and spilled out delicious memories.

  1. When I applied to be in the inaugural Emerging Writers Group at The Public Theater, I only had one reference who was actually in the theater (a fellow playwright who also self-produced his work like I had) and my other reference was my best friend (who was also my manager at the time).  I was chosen to be 1 of 12 out of more than 700 applicants.  My writing (and blackmailing God) got me there.  
  2. I have a wonderful agent who believes in my work.  How did I get my agent?  I had flirted with a few other agents during my time at The Public, but my agent came up to me after the reading of my play, RED ROOSTER, and gave me his card.  He called the next day to inquire about me and set up a meeting.  We signed when I met him in his office … something he doesn’t normally do.  My writing got me there.
  3. The play I had written to get into the Emerging Writers Group landed me a playwriting fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.  
  4. Being in the EWG, introduced me to 11 other fabulous playwrights.  I adore these writers, and we still all crackle and pop when we get in a room together.  It’s a nice feeling.
  5. Through Twitter, I’ve met other fine playwrights and theater people across the country.  Community is one of the biggest gifts any playwright could ever receive.  

Those are just five reasons to be grateful.  I’ve got more, like writing plays that really say something or having a family at The Public (especially in the lit department) or creating a new word for a futuristic play.  And, I bet, if any writer looked around their writing life, they’ve got plenty to be thankful for … even if the only thing they can see is their passion for writing.  After all, we wouldn’t keep writing despite all the grumbles if we didn’t really love writing.  

I’m using the same new approach with my novel — even though I didn’t have many grumbles about it to begin with.  I’m grateful for every little step forward … a friendly congratulations, getting to hold it in my hands, everything.  Hope this post helps you do the same.

  1. piaquarterly posted this