“I don’t write. IT writes.”

So there are now two days to delivering the script! The process went from:

1. Initial idea (1–3 lines)
2. Pitch (1–3 pages)
3. Story (5–8 pages)
4. Expanded outline (10–30 pages)
5. Rough Draft (50–60 pages)
6. First Draft

My end of the log was to create the rough draft. Given a solid outline, I can easily knock out 5–10 pages of rough a day, but I have to go into pure flow, and pay no attention to spelling, grammar, or whether I got the “perfect” image. The conscious mind tries to control, but it is the UNCONSCIOUS, the “boys in the basement” (Stephen King’s phrase) that actually makes the magic.

“I do not hit. IT hits” Bruce Lee said.

“I do not write. IT writes” might be a parallel.

Yeah, but for “it” to write, I have to type. Works like that. You have to do the work so IT can make the magic. And if you do that work…and learn to identify diamonds while they still look like pebbles, you have discovered a major secret.

The way I put it is that steps 1–4 are like designing a statue. But step #5 is like dragging the rock up out of the quarry. It is just discipline, and work, and learning how to deal with your fear. EVERY TIME, and I mean EVERY time I deal with steps #5 and #6, I hit a point where everything looks and feels like crap. I mean, I can see the finished product in my head…why the #$%% does this first draft SUCK???