Brainstorming

Brainstorming, what I've been doing a lot of lately. Writing things down in any of my notebooks. 

I take notes on just about everything I hear. 

In learning about the film industry, this is something I learned about producers:

* Get production crew 4 months out

* Set shoot date to keep from stalling

* For a feature film (which Strong & Steadfast just may be if this comes to fruition), shoot date should be one year out

Here's what I learned about directing movies:

* Make performances believable

* Actors should be doing something while talking

* They need to speak over each other

On any given morning, I'd write in my journal then work on a novel, a devotion, or more recently the screenplay. I may want to consider making an "irrelevant scene". Well, of course, nothing I've written is that. Let me put this in a better way. Perhaps make some short scripts of one of the scenes from one of my previous novels. Which one will I choose? Active Waiting , Twofold Love Comeback , The Unknown Missing Piece ? If I'm still long enough, I'll think of some awesome idea.

As I learned these basics of directing and producing, I wasn't above these reminders of storytelling:

* Plot: the pursuit of a goal despite obstacles (goal, motivation, conflict--my fellow authors will be familiar with that)

* A character is defined by the theme of the plot

* A meaningful ending is one in which the character steps out of his or her pattern

I take copious notes at church. What I need to remember is look at them soon afterward. One of the pastors at our church taught from John 2:1-11, message title Yes Changes Everything. When you say yes to Jesus, we open the door to spiritual transformation, a life of great adventure. Therefore, don't say, "Yeah, but" or let fear of rejection or failure paralyze you. Furthermore--and I need to remind myself of this daily--maybe many times a day--don't recite the history of failures and rejections.

How to apply all this: simply trust God for guidance, for the right place and time to do everything, to connect with the right people.

There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21, NKJV)