What Charles said. That is why writing my books was so much fun (well, not always fun, but always interesting and creatively satisfying - an amazing experience) and why, if I can write more, will continue to be fun. Because I write what I want and there are no opinions or executives to tell me about "acts" and "arcs" and "journeys" and all those other bullshit phrases which they don't even know the meaning of. I do it for me and when I'm happy, that's it. If people like them and respond to them, faboo. If not, tough beans. It doesn't mean I don't converse with the people who do the editing, or think about what's being suggested - it's simply that I make the choice, not them, I decide what feels right and doesn't. That's the way I deal with my friend Margaret - my muse. If she points something out, I look at it and invariably change it because she's always right. She never really suggests anything, just that something didn't feel right to her. The movie and TV business is filled with children who only know from screenwriting classes and recent movies. They only know what they've heard from others (all those silly catchphrases). And, sadly, they make the decisions and they give the green-lights, and that is why so much crap comes out year after year. Even the indie scene is like this now - it's nothing like it was in the sixties or seventies - it's all about landing other jobs or showing off, and if anyone thinks Miramax or Focus are INDIES, think again - they're just smaller versions of major studios. Could The Honeymoon Killers get made today? Nope, not in the way it was made then, which is why it's a good film. Could even Nudie Musical get made today? Nope, not in the way it was made then, and the way it was made then is why it has endured and why it originally caught everyone by surprise. Every indie today is slick and professional and perfect-looking, no matter what the cost (although the cost would surprise you in most cases).
