Cabellas

Monday, July 30, 2012

A Writers Vision

Someone recently asked me, "why do you write?"    Writers are never satisfied with the result, and always critical of what they produce.  The best writers I am told are always looking at their work wondering, what could have I said or done to make it better.  So why do we do what we do?  There are many reasons including sharing information, continuing interest in topics I have a passion for, and what I consider personal therapy in keeping the creative juices alive in me.   Developing skills to communicate in a manner where others desire what you provide and can relate to a topic is part of an evolutionary process.  When I wrote my book "Complex - A Guide To Apartment Management," the ink was barely dry and I was already looking at what could have I done to make it even better.  This was after almost a year of writing and editing, and you would have thought in that time it was the best it could be.  Even today when I receive compliments on how this publication inspired others to exceed and excel in property management or introduced them to our industry, I still am second guessing and asking myself, "what if?" 

I write about those things I enjoy, have knowledge and experience in, as well as subjects where I have life interests.  Writing an article for UNITS Magazine may focus on the business side of my brain as an industry professional and property manager, while writing a screenplay about scuba diving or magic brings another form of enjoyment which I find is exciting as I push my creativity.  As an example while our industry is constantly evolving, most of what we do has been wrapped around basic principles and practices.  Coming up with a new marketing concept or resident activity can be measured in income and occupancy, however, innovation in what property management professionals is limited in many aspects by finances and staffing.  On the other hand when I write a novel or screenplay, I am only limited by my imagination.  Both are gratifying as stated in the above rationale, and each allows me to use as a means of communication.

Those of you that know me understand my passion for property management and helping others exceed and excel is exciting to me.  Not all of you know I have another side, and that is writing for personal gratification.  I have written two movie screenplays and started converting one screenplay to book format.  The first screenplay I wrote is called, "Quarry - What lies within?"  It is the story of a rock quarry which in blasting for granite, struck an underground aqua fir and releases what was thought to be extinct...a megalodon shark.  After all, great white sharks are said to be on offspring of the "megy" as they are called, and since we know more about the moon than we do our oceans and water systems who is to say they still could not exist. The story is based on a group of divers and the quarry they dive in on a regular basis.  My diving hobby and knowledge of sharks inspired me, and with some research and creativity developed the screenplay.  Actually had Warner Brothers as one time looking at the script.  Have not received any options yet, but that never held me back from writing other works.  I have just about completed the first draft to put this writing into book format, and who knows what the future may hold.  The second screenplay which I just completed recently also involves something I have knowledge and interest in...magic.  Having worked in the intelligence field and performed as a professional magician for a number of years, the two seemed to merge into "Wizard - Dirty Secrets."  It is the story of a professional magician who just happens to be a spy for a secret government agency called Military Assisted Global Intelligence Command (M.A.G.I.C.).  Using magic, illusion, and a team of specialists they fight terror and threats to our country and the world.  I have already started a sequel to the first, and hope to expand the screenplay into book format as well. 

Writing can be fun, inspiring, and keeps my mind active.  Often wondered if searching on the internet for information about Uranium 235 if the FBI would come knocking on my door wondering what I was doing.  Probably have a file somewhere in the agency archives wondering who this person is that researched how to make dirty bombs.  Hold on, need to answer the door!  Just kidding of course.  None of us knows what the future may bring or what taking a risk may provide in rewards.  Failure is never having made the attempt, not how high the bar may have been set.  Find your vision in whatever you  do and no doubt you will be inspired as I have been.