I hate the end of the year because I always feel forced to take stock of how I have succeeded and failed over the previous 12 months. What I learned this year was that I control how I perceive my success and failure and that only I can make the choice to have my glass half empty, or half full (of beer, champagne or wheatgrass juice).
So, my advice to you is to make the “script of your year” into a happy one. List all of the good things you have done for others, and do one more before the end of the year and then, use that event as something your character does in your screenplay. A villain doing something good creates depth and adds value, while a hero doing something good confirms their goodness.
For example, in real life, I recently gave a homeless person some money. I always try to do that, but this time, the person I was with patted my shoulder and said, “Good job.” This was a “duh” moment for me, as no one should ever go hungry, and I was surprised at this person’s sarcasm.
So, in my next romantic comedy, I plan to take this real life event and transform it into a scene: the decisive moment at the end of Act 2 when the heroine decides which guy to end up with.
Or, if I were writing it as a horror movie, the homeless person would grab my hand and attack the date.
And, in a fantasy, it would be a test of humanity and my insignificant act prevents an apocalypse (yes, this could also be a Kevin Smith movie).
Now, take your own good deed and apply it to your script.
Good Luck and Happy Writing!
