With graduation coming to a reality, I needed to survey the career landscape for future prospects. To hear about my experience at the SCAD Career Fair, check this week’s vlog.
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As my graduate journey nears the end, I’ve found myself looking for more insight into the entertainment industry. See and hear what I learned at SCAD-Atlanta’s 2019 aTVFest.
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I was finally able to part my lips and say – I’M DONE WITH MY THESIS! This quarter has been a race towards the finish line as I pulled off the hat trick of work-life balance for the past few months. All that work has led to this pivotal life-changing point.
I was finally able to let out a ‘woash’ after finish the first pass of my thesis. The entire process has been a learning experience in what hard work and determination can do for your future. From my review last May to Independent Study to emailing my thesis committee, I have grown not only as a writer but as a person. I was able to challenge naysayers who tried talking me out of pursuing my passion. Those people motivated me to break the mold and challenge the status quo. I had to follow my love for screenwriting while working within the academic system. I thanked God for the people – professionally, academically and personally – who pushed me to keep going when I doubted myself. I thought about changing course a few times before I decided to stick to my guns. I stumbled and bumbled a few times, but that needed to happen so I could grow as a screenwriter. Shaping, shifting, refining, revising, editing, crafting… these words were not only words but mantras for my thesis as the seasons and I changed. My perfectionism and stubbornness wouldn’t let me fail not without a fight, at least.
Turning in my thesis – formatted-perfectly and lengthy – allowed my mental pressures to subside, for a while anyway. I still have some feedback to hear from my committee before my thesis defense in March. Between my actual thesis and supplemental material, that might be awhile. But while I wait on them, my thesis will remain locked away for now. I’m looking forward to all the creative things I can do now that this part of the journey is done.
While thesis and graduation have been my main focus, other creative outlets have fought for my time. I ‘ve begun celebrating Black History Month by participating in #BAMuary on Instagram. I’ve done some pieces here and there, but nothing like this current project. Like my writing, doing this challenge has been a way to celebrate my culture. I’ve even though about redoing one or two similar pieces now that I have a better grip on my technique. Job hunting and freelance work have gone through the usual ebbs and flows as I work my regular 9-to-5 job. But there are some things brewing for the future. Balancing between writing and visual art has been a little easier this time around compared to last year. On the social media front, I’ve begun seeing some traction as I employed a better marketing strategy for my pages.
I look forward to continuing my thesis journey and finishing my final quarter as a graduate student.
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Being creative has its demands, sometimes, you need some inspiration. See what happened on my birthday trip to South Carolina did for me.
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The finish line for my completed work came with a mixed bag of emotions. With all the pieces falling into place, my mind has been filled with endless possibilities for my future. The creative light has begun to shine brightly in the tunnel of self-doubt.
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Having not stared at my screenplay for a month has been a gift and a curse. I’ve relaxed on having to smooth out and revise my work, but revisiting it so close to my thesis deadline has made me a little anxious. Hearing feedback from my professor has allowed me to move forward in my process. At this point, most of my writing has begun to focus line editing with some action streamlining and dialogue tweaking at the same time. In the notes I received, some character interaction needed to expand upon in terms of dialogue. Some of the dialogue seemed out of character so some more context is needed. The dialogue has come off a little date in places so I’ve begun to tackle that. The action has improved as I made it easier to read and understand even though some still needs to synthesized just a little more. Besides the feedback, I’ve begun creating music for my screenplay with some outside help from more musically inclined writers. Hopefully, within the next week, I’ll have a finished screenplay. I did receive some positive notes about the unique perspective and great character development I displayed. Sending it to a thesis committee member or two for some more feedback. In the future, an actual table reading would be the best way to hear my words as a screenwriter.
As my thesis has begun to come together, I found time to get started on some other things. I continued working on my visual project for Black History Month, which kicks off Feb. 1. Along with that project, I plan on doing some more character designs for my potential shows. Working on other writing projects has crossed my mind over the past few days as I complete my thesis. On the branding side, advertising on social media has begun helping my awareness grow. On the job front, prospects seem fruitful as I continue to job search while prepping to the Career Fair next month and Out to Launch in May.
As my time at SCAD winds down, I feel a sense of anxiety and excitement as my thesis defense draws closer. My post-graduate life is staring me right in the face. For the first time in a while, I’m a little afraid of what’s around the corner.
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Creativity requires the virtue of patience when it comes to the full picture. As I inch towards the completion of my thesis, my anxiety and moody temperament has begun to take over my mind and spirit. I’ve felt like my process has come to a standstill. The waiting and wondering have begun to weight on me as a writer.
Living in line editing limbo pushed me to a place I hate going to – self-aware anxiety. This mindset has infiltrated every aspect of my life including my writing. I’ve found myself wanting to start revising and editing my screenplay again, but without some direction, I’m stuck at a standstill. My mental time clock has already begun to countdown as midterms approach. Besides the necessary editing, I’ve begun to worry about finishing my thesis as I asked for help on the music composition. Waiting to the last minute usually isn’t my thing, but after some false starts, I’ve begun formulating some lyric (with some outside help coming soon). Being finished yet feeling unfinished has me feeling like I’m in writing purgatory. Being stuck has sent my mind into a downward spiral of insecurity and self-doubt. But, in the next few weeks, my thesis will be finalized, and all my feelings will subside.
While I wait on my line edits, I’ve gotten back to classes as usual with a project due next week (yikes!). Working on class assignments has allowed my mind to concentrate on things outside my thesis. My visual output was a little slow as I concentrated on other things (check out my Instagram page). A few things have been brewing on the post-graduate front as I waited for some news on my future (stay tuned to this space). As my thesis deadline approaches, I’ve begun cobbling everything needed for my thesis committee to review. The future as a post-grad has grown closer every day.
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Getting back into the groove of things has been both exhausting and joyous. Being in the final stretch, I’ve been a mixed bag of emotions as I focus on my work and prepare for post-graduation life. This quarter has become make or break for me.
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Working on other projects outside of my thesis has allowed me to test myself as a writer. Rewriting is a process a writer has to take from time to time to find the core of original work. I found myself going back and forth between moments of creative joy and draining mental exhaustion. Whittling a 45-page screenplay to thirty is a hard task in itself but starting over is another beast. I’ve found myself battling back and forth over the direction of the story and the characters. After a while, I created a loose outline for me to follow which made the process easier. Hopefully, this rewrite will be the foundation for my life as a professional content creator. While the rewrite has come into focus, my thesis still needs some tweaking and adding for it to be perfect for consumption. But I have some things in the works (keep watching this space).
Besides writing, I’ve gone back and forth with various visual projects (watch this space for more in the coming weeks). After finishing some character designs, I’ve focused more on concepts for potential series projects. I spent the past week getting back into the balancing act of school, work, and life. Experimenting with social media marketing this week has had profound results for this website (so a big thanks to my new followers).
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After resting up this holiday season, I’ve dived into this quarter head first. Before this quarter is over, I will have a full screenplay ready for the next phase of my journey.
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Creativity has been my calling since I used to draw and write on yellow legal pads. Over the break, I channeled my creativity into different avenues. No matter what medium I chose, storytelling has always been at the forefront of my mission and purpose.
During my time away from this blog, I found myself using my time wisely to grow as a writer. Finishing the first draft of my thesis allowed me to focus on work on a litany of shows ideas. I began to focus on two pet projects – a children’s series and a rewrite of a teen dramedy. Focusing on screenwriting outside of thesis helped me to grow as a screenwriter while putting ideas to paper (or computer screen). I worked on some fiction and nonfiction pieces I had been toying with for some time. They allowed me to tweak and restructure what was and wasn’t working. I needed another writing outlet besides this blog. Writing has become an extension of my overactive imagination as I combine reality and fantasy with my words.
Besides writing, I’ve been working on my visual output as I stepped up my Instagram game. I managed to work on some character designs along with some concept ideas for future potential projects. I went through an awkward time with my social media marketing as I gained followers while feeling anxious about my online presence. All this creativity has helped me to grow my presence on social media along with my website.
I allowed myself to rest a little bit as Christmas and New Year’s rolled around. I needed some creative and personal space as school begins in a week. While my thesis journey nears its end, I find myself feeling both joy and anxiety.
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After taking a break, editing, revising and rewriting became second nature in the writing process. As an aspiring screenwriter, the writing process became more about clarifying and streamlining my screenplay. Getting outside critique allowed me to see my screenplay with new eyes.
The break caused me to refocus my writing efforts when it came to my screenplay. Over the past few days, I drew upon outside critique to keep me in line when it came to the story. Streamlining my actions became an important part of my rewrite as I tried synthesizing my words for better interpretation. In case of future readings, I wanted the readers or actors have more room for artistic expression. In the notes I received, some scenes needed reworking so the dialogue and characters could flow better through the story. I had to watch out for some repetitiveness with phrasing and wording. I found myself combing through every word trying to make the reading experience easier. It made me have to think out of the box in contrast to my “everything on the page” approach during the first draft. Expanding some scenes and condensing others fell in line with streamlining the script for a better story. In working on the story structure, I found myself working on the dialogue. I felt some of the dialogue was a little stale and needed to be refined. Some dialogue was added. Some were synthesized for a more natural feel. Others were expanded for better character development. I did receive some positive notes about the unique perspective and great character development I displayed. As more feedback begins to come back in, I’ll be able to rework and revise the screenplay even more as I continue on with my winter break.
I went on a creative hopping spree this week as I bounced between screenwriting, branding and visual output. I began to focus on some character and graphic design throughout the week. I began thinking about what my project for Black History Month next year. Working on other writing projects has crossed my mind over the past few days. Posting on social media and my website have begun to slow down as I focused on creating actual work.
As my winter break goes full swing, I can breathe a little as my thesis class is around the corner. I still have some loose ends to tie up before the quarter starts, but my thesis journey begins to draw to a close. For the first time in a while, I’m not afraid of what’s around the corner.
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While screenwriting is a great outlet, other forms of writing and creativity can help to replenish the think tank. As a multi-faceted individual, I thought about other ways to channel my creativity. Whether visual or written, storytelling became a part of DNA as I gained perspective from every single thing I created.
This week, I found myself in a creative lull. Since finishing my first draft, I found myself trying to enjoy my life for once. I channeled my creative energy into preparing for Thanksgiving cooking. Baking and cooking is another creative outlet I love pouring my all into when I get the chance. All the hard work paid off as my family and I had a great Thanksgiving (despite the mess we had to clean up). I did take some time to work on my logo (check out the site). I applied for some freelance jobs (waiting for post-Thanksgiving replies) while working at my regular nine-to-five. Spending time with friends was another far-off concept I got to participate in. I enjoyed my personal time for the first time in a while. This break was much-needed and deserved.
After a nice break, I got into rewriting and editing my screenplay. I’ve found the act refreshing after so much thought and time poured into the original draft. Along with my own revisions, I’m finally getting feedback on it. Hopefully, I’ll be able to incorporate some ideas into my script. I’ll speak on the subject more next week.
I’ve allowed myself to rest a little bit as winter break goes into full swing. Finding a work-life balance will definitely be a goal over the break. The light is shining brightly as I signed up for my thesis class. My thesis journey seems to wind down with this final step in the process.
Come back next week for more on my journey to creating my Master’s thesis.
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