Independence Day

Are you looking around for something to write? Is that next great idea, somehow, just beyond your reach? With summer upon us you may actually have more time to write, but maybe you just can’t think of something that you’re passionate enough about to become your next project.

I think if you wait for the lightning bolt of an idea to strike, you could be in for a long wait. Think about it—if you have the attitude that you have to be ‘inspired’ in order to write, that can become a great excuse not to write. So I’m a big believer in finding ways to jump-start the writer-within and come up with an idea so that, in the end—you’re writing something you’re passionate about!

One way to do this is to simply start with a title—and something as prosaic as “Independence Day” is an example. Now, we all know that the action adventure film of that name, and its two sequels, has become something of a franchise. But try to get that out of your head and think differently. What if the word ‘independence” in the title didn’t refer to the holiday? What could it be referring to? Asking a question like that can be the beginning of coming up with a different kind of idea.

So what could it be? Maybe ‘Independence Day’ could refer to the day a prisoner is going to be released from jail. Imagine the possibilities. You could begin with the prisoner in jail, looking forward to his release day. Your film could follow him in prison for the first act and then he’s released at the beginning of act two and the film’s about trying to be independent after so much regimentation—and it isn’t easy. And where does your film go? You could have him rediscover true independence and vow never to let it go. Or you could have him unable to exist in the world of independent people and do something on purpose to get arrested again and return to a life where all his decisions were made for him.

Another possible scenario—you could begin with the day your prisoner, a woman this time, is released. She walks out the door expecting to be greeted by her husband—but he’s not there. She takes a bus into the nearest town, uses a pay phone to call him, but the number is disconnected. She calls a friend and finds out he’s been living with her sister! Her sister’s her only remaining relative. Talk about independence—it’s being forced upon her. So your film is about her discovering what it means to actually be independent, and she’s determined to stay that way—she’s never going to put herself in a position where she can be so hurt again. Your film then becomes about her eventually discovering that being independent doesn’t have to mean being alone when she starts dating again. But then her husband comes to her and begs her forgiveness—he loves her, not her sister… in fact, he says, he was drawn to her sister because he was reminded of her and missed her so, but her sister was a poor substitute. So there’s her dilemma—does she remain alone, but continue dating this new guy she’s met, or does she go back to her husband… If you write this well enough, it’s a really tough choice for her and we’ll wonder which way she’ll go.

Independence Day… think about the range of situations that title can conjure up and then start working on one of them!

Copyright © Diane Lake

02Jul17

Email Diane a question to Diane@DianeLake.com