Kurt and Tina

I have something shocking to reveal and, of course, I chose the Internet as the avenue for its revelation...

I want to be a writer.

Please breath. No heart attacks or strokes, I have enough on my conscience, believe me. Okay, Okay, I guess that wasn't a real revelation unless you have never spoken to me before but if that is the case I am not sure why you are reading this. Hmmm. Food for thought.

I have a few things going against me as far as turning my love of writing (particularly of writing TV show and novels). I am a bit older (not old; older) to be starting a career. I don't have anything that constitutes "professional" training. I don't have any real connections. And I have a long history of dreaming big and quitting early.

But that's okay. Because I love writing and I know that I am good at it. I am better than average. I am better than above average. I am one of the best writers you know, that is how confident I am, because I don't even know all the people you know. But I know I am one of the best writers in the group. And you know I'm entertaining!

My heroes of the moment are Kurt Sutter and Tina Fey. They are both showrunners (Kurt for Sons of Anarchy on FX and Tina for 30 Rock on NBC) and I think they are both brunettes that wear glasses. And that is where their similarities end. Tina Fey started out at Second City the famous Chicago improv club. She started young and she worked her way through the comedy television ranks as a writer for SNL and later as the head writer (which is amazing - women comedy writers are in the minority). Now she is the showrunner for 30 Rock, which is hysterical. I am inspired by her humour, her drive and her intelligence. And her glasses, because I rock them too and I like them!

Kurt Sutter is a very different story. He didn't even try to be a TV writer until he was older. He spent a lot of time floundering in different jobs and being wasted. I know nothing about that... wink, winker. He finally realized that writing was what helped him channel all his "stuff" in a healthy way. He doesn't compromise, he writes what he wishes he was watching and he's conquered his demons and uses them to his advantage. That is my greatest hope for myself. I have plenty of demons, after all.

I think that having role models is important. You shouldn't compare yourself to someone else but having a goal and examples of a person that overcame some of the same obstacles I have faced is almost healing. It fills me with hope and drive and excitement for the future.

So thanks Kurt and Tina. You rock. You 30 Rock.

Thematic Elements

I love a good drama. I love a world that is like mine but slightly off-kilter, a world with its own set of rules. My current favorites are House, Sons of Anarchy, Dexter and The Vampire Diaries. And, yes, all of the main characters have, how can we say it nicely? - personality problems. But that is what is interesting. How is House going to solve this case while insulting everyone within earshot? How is Damon going to convince Elena that he loves her while still enjoying the occasional sip of sorority girl? That is just good viewing. The mythology of these worlds and all of the intense conflict that follows is what keeps me tuning in.

I hate a good drama in my real life. Sure, if this craziness was being viewed by a television audience everyone would be on our side and know that we are in the right and that we are the good people. It would just be a matter of which episode will set everything right. Being in the middle of it SUCKS. Not being the author SUCKS. Not having my nephew SUCKS.

My hope for this year is that all of the new drama I experience is confined to the television screen.