Writing in a Turtle Shell

Each writer has their own way of working to get the words on the page and a project done. I like writing in a turtle shell. The thing about writing is it is like people’s lives – different.

Writing in a Turtle Shell

I prefer to disconnect inside my writing turtle shell by turning off my phone and leaving it off. Dealing with emails and social media like Twitter is easy because you decide when to respond or not.

The phone ringing is a different story. When writing I can become easily distracted by phone calls and am not able to get to back to letting words hit the page freely as my mind is clicking.

I have learned to stop fighting the type of writer I am. It is what it is. Family and friends have accepted that I go off the radar into my writing turtle shell.

I do not blame people for not getting writers because they are a strange tribe of creative souls that all function different when writing.

I am one of those people that write in streaks and bursts that lose track of time. Scheduling blocks of time to write each day just is not my style. I admire writers that are able to work that way.

I have always wanted to learn to work that way as a screenwriter, but it has never worked out. I thrive in my writing turtle shell at any given hour when creative mojo is working.

Starting and stopping when writing is not a creative talent I was blessed with in life. I dig in and go hard as long as the words are flowing. Slice of Americana Films coproducer Tim “Timbo” Beachum jokes me that he knows if I am working on writing a project I go off the radar for a while.

My head and limbs will pop out of my turtle shell when I feel I have made real progress on the writing task.

Writing in a turtle shell is easier when you are working on your own creative projects without a deadline or client that wants to see drafts.

Freelance writing for a couple of environmental firm clients has been a good gig I am very thankful for. It still has not stopped the writing in a turtle shell mentality that I have.

Once a deadline is given and drafts have to be submitted by a certain day and time I still shut my phone off until I finish a draft. It is cool the two main environmental firm clients I have understand it is best to email me their feedback and not call me when I am working.

I write at different hours depending if I am feeling the words or not. Sitting there forcing words has never been productive for me. The words are crap when I try to work that way.

I might not write for a whole day then I might go on a marathon writing session. It all depends. Fighting it is a waste of time.

Right now a final draft for the last segment to be filmed on the Desert Tortoise is due Monday for an environmental firm client. Been working solid last few days with phone off and making solid progress on it.

It is very possible the good writing flow will continue and they will get their final draft of the shooting script for the final segment sometime tonight or tomorrow in the wee hours. I do not punch a clock as a writer. I go with the flow as much as possible.

This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing FADE OUT