I can admit to the fact that change is hard for me. I like my routines, I like the fact that I can count on certain details of my day following a certain agenda. I find comfort in knowing how things are gonna pan out.
However when it comes to motherhood, I sort of have to go with the flow or I’d have a breakdown everyday. I learned to loosen up a bit with expectations. You can’t stick with Plan A all the time, you’ve got to be prepared to kick in Plan B, C, and D at any moment.
That is something that happens with writing all the time. You come up with a genius idea in the middle of the night and realize after further review that this half-baked notion should not see the light day. Other times awesome is just awesome no matter when inspiration strikes.
Writing is one of these things where flexibility matters. Change will happen. Your first draft will not always be awesome, in fact most of the time it isn’t. So rewrites are part of your life. I know about writing changes, I used to work for a newspaper. Edits happen all the time, but the thing is when they happen … It’s a collaborative effort to help improve the story, preserve the voice, and and enhance its best parts, which is why I’ve always embraced the editing process.
Just makes things better.
However I’ve learned that not every change is for the better and that’s when you’ve got to take a stand, especially when you weren’t even aware that it was happening.
I’ve never worked with someone whose taken the liberty of changing my story without letting me know. In fact had they changed it for the better I’d probably thank them for it, but let them know that the manner in which they did it could have been handled better.
However these changes affected the kind of story I wanted to tell. My voice was changed and it was changed without permission. As you all know one of my pieces was selected to be part of a theater festival. I was extremely excited and proud that my work would hit the stage.
However, I find myself at a crossroads … well not really. I thought it was but I know what my gut was telling me to do. I’m ready to pull out of the festival.
You see, the director that was chosen decided to change my piece and not just a small enhancement, but a pretty big change that for me changes the direction of the story and essence of my characters.
So I was at a crossroads …
But the decision wasn’t hard, I know I would pull out. It was just sad that I would have to do it. I didn’t want to seem like a diva who was storming out of a room, but I knew that this change was something I couldn’t let go. Don’t know if you writers out there know what I’m talking about. Ever feel like the story becomes a story that you wouldn’t have written? That’s where I felt this was going.
So I’m at the crossroads, but not really. There’s a meeting set for Friday to see if a compromise can be reached. If not … then it’s back to page one of a new project and a renewed sense of determination to make something happen.
🙂
So I’ll write on …
IWSG
The Wish Factor 
absolutely
Thanks! It was a tough one, still kind of bummed out about it as I was really looking forward to seeing my play on stage, with characters coming to life, but it’s just a different way of telling a story, the kind of way I wouldn’t have written. Thanks for hanging out a bit.
Maybe playwriting is different. I’ve seen it happen first hand when a screenwriter sold their movie and then disagreed with changes made. The producers pulled out and he had to come up with the money to finish it on his own. It’s hard when your name is on it. It’s a dilemma!
It is hard when your name is on it, because at the end of the day you want to be able to be proud of the work, you want to be able to say … yeah I wrote this. It has my voice in it. Was a total burn. I don’t mind changes in fact I compromised and kept most of them in there, but with this last one … I just felt really strongly about it and thought they would see my perspective and give a little since I gave a lot … but it didn’t work out that way. I felt like this one change didn’t enhance the play but change the narrative, which in turn changed the characters a bit. It was a total bummer. Heading over for some more chocolate recovery. Thanks so much for your input though, I appreciate it.
I had a similar experience with a short film I wrote. The director completely changed the ending, sort of turning the story into the exact opposite of the story I was trying to tell. I was actually going to ask to have my name removed from the credits, but then production was stopped and, fortunately for me, the film was never finished.
Duuuuuude! I’m so glad someone gets me. I know things are a collaboration but when the change doesn’t enhance the story and changes the feeeel of your story the story in the story… Just not what you had in mind. Thanks for your support 🙂
Working in a collaborative environment shouldn’t mean that someone else gets to stomp all over your work. Good luck to you. I hope things work out okay with your story.