Chapter XV: Back pain.

Some people who know me know that I used to be the victim of extremely terrible back pain. Occasionally, I'd wake up in the morning and my back would be afire with pain. Pain that wrapped around my back right to front right torso. Pain that made it hurt to walk, eat, or even breathe if I didn't favour the left side. not long ago, I solved the mystery - I had been sleeping on my right side for so long it had damaged the muscles somehow. Don't ask me, I'm not a bloody chiropractor. I began sleeping on my left and back, and the pain went away.

Last night, as I mentioned before, I had a terrible time sleeping. I don't know what happened, because when I woke up I felt fine, but around 6 this evening I began to feel completely shaken by the usual pain. I hope I sleep better tonight, so that the pain is not present tomorrow.

Part of the reason I couldn't contain myself last night was because I was lit up with ideas for my script, currently entitled "Summer at Sixteen." So many scenes, lines and concepts were running through my head that I couldn't just settle down and fall asleep. Today, after some delaying, I wrote about 20 pages worth of script, building on yesterday's initial 9-page burst, all of which comprises an entire first act.

Writing a screenplay, at least for the first time, is a unique experience - especially if all you've ever scripted is a 1-act play and several circa-22-page comic books. Story structure is extremely important. You don't want to build too soon, there's a lot of groundwork to be laid. The mood has to be maintained very strictly throughout that entire part, and it has to build. At the end of the act, I had a few very big reveals about a couple of the characters, which should fit in well with the way the 3-act structure is supposed to work. (Listen to me, I sound like a real wannabe screenwriter!)

If I keep at it, I'll be able to meet my deadline, of "Early July-ish." I always said I'd be able to write more if somebody paid me to sit down and write. I never thought it would actually happen, though.

As for what the script's about? Well, the more of it I write, the more it seems like an extended prequel to "Half-Past Eight PM," but not quite. It's about teenagers, dealing with shit that is completely beyond their control. I think the idea that most problems are beyond our control makes for some great character distress, and therefore great stories. Making the best of a bad situation, and whatnot. It's darker than "Half-Past," with somewhat less comedy. It's going to be delicate to fashion, so I hope Ana feels up to the challenge.

Me? I just hope I can Keep on Rockin'
~Scott Williams