Through the kindness of a friend, I met on the phone with a literary agent (who is near the end of their career, unfortunately) about the book I am writing, working title “Listen.” It is a “hospice memoir,” the story is about a patient of mine, a gorgeous and talented classical pianist near my age, who died from a rare and untreatable prion disease she unknowingly inherited from her father which was silently dormant until her late forties. Her life was quite the story all by itself, even without it’s tragic end, child prodigy from Tbilisi, Georgia, ended up on stage at Lincoln Center right after 9/11.
The agent read an extensive section of the book, roughly the first third, before we met on the phone. I was pretty satisfied with the section the agent read, I have done all the editing I know to do. Others who have read this excerpt have praised it, even those who hate-read it, expecting to tell me to give up the project or to just humor me. The routine reaction after someone reads it is surprise, not unlike the surprise “wow, you look great” I used to cringe when hearing after losing significant amounts of excess weight.
Really? Just how bad did I look before?
In this case, I want to say really? so it doesn’t suck? What were you expecting? But I don’t, I smile and thank people instead, just as I did with the backhanded weight loss compliments.
Yeah, it is a great story, all I need to do as a writer is get out of the story’s way and tell it.
The agent pointed out to me that the book consists of a series of scenes, there’s no deliberative developmental narrative in between them. That’s right, the story doesn’t need embellishment or explanation. It tells itself. Events happened that illustrate every single notion in the book, including the climax. The climax itself is better told visually.
Plus, there’s the music. I am steeped in classical music, I know pieces like you know your faves or the top 40. I can call them to mind on demand. The agent reminded me that not everyone does. The soundtrack will be important. The music shared is not just a big part of this story, it IS the story.
So, the agent recommended I stop work on the book form long enough to write what is called a “treatment” in the business, the vehicle for shopping an idea around film-makers. The agent then thinks it is possible I can find some money to write the screenplay. Then I can finish editing the book later, or pay someone else to do it.
I have two obstacles here. First I have never even read a screenplay. As a stutterer, acting is not in my quiver, not even casually, so I’ve never been in a situation where I needed to see what they look like. That one I can solve with some education.
Secondly, I have really negative thoughts about people writing screenplays, much like one regards drummers and bass players in the rock and roll business. For example, what do you call a bass player without a girlfriend? Homeless. I feel the same way about screenwriting, to borrow a South Park trope, I feel it is inevitable I will end up naked and jacking it on a street corner in San Diego.
This second problem is actually the bigger one, believe it or not, but I can deal. I’ll just keep it on the down-low. If I tell you I’m working on my screenplay you can be assured that I am confident our friendship is solid. I even seriously considered sending this post only to paid subscribers.
When I get the treatment done, if the agent okays it, I’ll release it for all of you to read. For most of you it will be the only part of this project to which you’ve been exposed. It is quite an amazing story, it’s possible if we have spent enough time together in person I’ve told you.
I mention it because I wanted to explain why my writing frequency has dropped off here temporarily. The agent did assure me that I have the short-form essay (what this is) down. The agent is pretty certain I can make some extra money off of my “substantial and real short-form essay talent,” but the screenplay treatment should be finished first.
If it goes nowhere, I will still finish and self-publish the book. I’m too close, and besides, like I said, it is a story that should be told. If I do get a nibble, I can pay an editor to help me finish it, that will speed that process.
Thanks for hanging in with me, particularly if you’re a paying subscriber. That money makes this work easier.