Don't Know Mind

One of the concepts in Zen is Don't Know Mind. Powerful stuff it is, ... or isn't, ... or heck, do you even care?

But I have just realised I should maybe be applying it to the way I've been (successfully procrastinating by) trying very very very hard to learn this whole screenplay 3 act structure malarky for a fairly long time now.
Quite a revelation, and mostly thanks to Mr Martell and his insights:

He has yet another great script tip up at his site, this one is called Three Act Conflict

"The 3 Act Structure is a tool that has been around for at least 2,400 years in storytelling - and it has lasted so long because it works. But the purpose of the 3 Act Structure is not to make sure that you have a major plot point halfway down page 27, it's to make sure your story IS a story... not just a collection of events that concern a protagonist. One of the Three Greek Unities is Unity Of Event - your story has to be about ONE event rather than a series of events. Some think of the Three Acts as "beginning, middle, and end" as a way to target a single event... to make sure the story IS a story."

Now I have spent a long time trying to work out the secrets of structure, how to get it all just right, find that magic formula.

And you know what I just realised? I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING about 3 act structure. The harder I try to fathom it out, the more I tighten my grip, the further it slips through my fingers like grains of sand.

I already have everything I need to create story. I don't need to try so very darned hard to figure it out.

"Do... or do not. There is no try."

Hmm.

Thanks Yoda.

*prolific swearing*

Phew! Thank goodness that's over!

Moving house ... Who'd do it? Huh? Huh?

Specially with the amount of crud it turns out I own. *rolls eyes*

Well, I took some time off work - spent some of it being ill (timing sucks!) and for the rest of it I was packing up my stuff for the move. Managed to get it done in time for the heroes who turned up with their van to shift all my worldly possessions.

I paid cash, strapped as I am, because the new flat is on the second floor.

Now you may be able to tell that I am British, so by second floor I mean up two very long twisty and treacherous flights of stairs.

No way I was doing all that on my own!

... And all the masochists I'd managed to con into helping me move house on previous occasions somehow, mysteriously had developed totally solid, utterly un-cancelable other plans (like watching television and sniggering as they ate popcorn, I suspect).

I threw away/recycled a whole bunch of stuff, and yet I still seem to have more junk than anyone can possibly own. Maybe the gnomes keep adding lost items to the J-space* in the back of my cupboards whenever they can?

Well the men were great. Worth every penny. (Stop snorting Lucy!)
If you are ever in East Devon and looking for a removal firm I can recommend them whole-heartedly. H. E. R. O. E. S.

So that's over and done with, phew!

Now all I have to do is unpack everything. Groovy.
First thing I've started on is my office. It's looking good. :) Lots more to do yet though.

Hopefully I'll have everything ship-shape again ASAP so I can devote myself to the writing again. First things first though: BT are putting a phone line in on Tuesday so I can be contactable again. I'll be able to relax a bit once that has happened. And of course I have to contact everyone in the world with my new details ... like the Inland Revenue and the DVLA and all those other lovely people who need to know where I am so they can bill me for this that and the other. Joy.

The sooner we get the technology to just plug a change of details in to one form on our personal I.D. webspace so we can sit back and relax knowing that all the necessary authorities, utility companies, friends, associates, freaks and angels have been notified the better says I.

Roll on the sci-fi future.

Heck we already have microwaves and iPhones. Hurry up with the rest of it already!

So now I'm back at work recovering from the stress and physical exertion of moving. It's been a busy week.

How's your week been?

*Junk