Skip to content

Don’t let your circumstances be your excuse

It’s not the tools.

David Gane
David Gane
1 min read

I am writing this post on my phone while waiting for a prescription to be filled. Little kids are saying “wokka-dokka-gokka” repeatedly, and the loudspeaker keeps running ads. Not an ideal place like my office, on my regular setup, an iPad with an Apple keyboard.

When I started writing scripts, I wrote them in a coil notebook with a pen—no fancy scriptwriting software.

I’m maybe a pessimist because I expect things not to work. Therefore I practice with other tools that aren’t readily available, as opposed to my preferred means.

I think it was Stephen King who once said he’s always asked what pen he uses as if this holds his genius. The Moleskine brand has surely made money from writers buying it because a famous writer once used it.

I remember hearing of a famous writer who used to write on a corner of her table in the few quiet moments of housekeeping and kids. She made it work with limited tools. Or the one author who wrote a book on his smartphone while commuting to work on a train.

Don’t let your tools be your excuse as to why you aren’t doing the work. Or at least be honest that it’s not why you aren’t doing the work.

Blog

David Gane Twitter

Co-writer of the Shepherd and Wolfe young adult mysteries, the internationally award-winning series, and teacher of storytelling and screenwriting.

Comments


Related Posts

Members Public

What's it for?

Seth Godin recently asked two questions in a blog post: "Who's it for? What's it for?" When writing, do you know who it's for? It doesn't have to be an audience with a capital "A." It doesn't have to be for any audience; it can be for just you. But

Members Public

Journey with your characters

Most people can't have the whole story in their heads. Too many pieces, too many moving parts. That doesn't mean you must plan it out. Once your character's story takes shape, then begin. Allow yourself to be surprised and adapt, and let your imagination take you on a journey. That

Members Public

The lies our characters tell themselves

Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon tells the story of a priest and woodcutter trying to understand a murder by listening to the testimonies of the multiple people involved. Ultimately, they struggle to find the truth amongst the lies. A similar type of story occurs within each of us. We tell ourselves multiple