A few months ago, I spent some time at my parents house going through my old stuff.  Boxes and boxes of toys, books, school projects and more filled our basement and next to them were garbage bags and a few bins.

It was time to consolidate.  The decisions were tough as I was extremely attached my belongings.  Still, the bins that remain really paint a clear picture of how I came to be the person I am today.  They are full of seeds that grew into passions and for me and no passion was bigger than screenwriting.

Inside those boxes are action figures I used to act out my masterpieces when I was younger.  Cars chases I pictured up on the big screen.  However, what really got my eyes watering was my old notebooks.

Looking through my old books, it was easy to see how I became obsessed with movies and writing.  I still remember the day I decided that I was too lazy to write novels and decided to give screenwriting a try.  I found out pretty quickly that writing screenplays may not require as many words but forces you to choose each word carefully.

It was challenging.  It was addictive.  It was fun.

The Crash of 2011

My PC crashed recently and again I was forced to go through old files on my dying hard drive and decide what needed to be kept and what could remain backed up and packed away.

This time, I was reminded of how I became a blogger and why it has become a huge part of my life.  This blog has given me all new and exciting opportunities to be creative and write about what I love.  Movies.  Screenwriting.

As I read through my old files, I eventually went back and looked at the evolution of this site and how my writing has evolved.  In doing this, I noticed a trend.

I blog like a screenwriter.

Screenplays are made up of small paragraphs that usually represent individual thoughts or ideas.  When you read one, each paragraph tends to provide an image or a shot in your mind allowing you to SEE the movie.

My love of screenwriting has definitely influenced how I format my blog posts.  Small bursts and short paragraphs that are meant to be read quickly while still communicating my thoughts to readers.

I think when a creative person latches onto their medium of choice, it’s hard to break free and enter a new arena.  I’m not sure if that’s a positive or negative when it comes to Screenwriting vs Blogging but I think getting better at one makes me better at the other.

I write everyday because it makes me happy.  Whether it’s this site or my latest screenplay I find writing to be my ticket to freedom and I’m excited every time I sit down at my computer. (The one that still works at least.)

Moving forward, I’m still committed to becoming a better writer and blogger but more than that, I’m looking forward to the future.

I’m looking forward to looking back at this time in my life.  I can’t wait to find out how the decisions and creative choices I make today will ultimately affect the person I become tomorrow.