self-imposed writing challenge (sept. 2022)

SEPT 2, 2022 – SELF-IMPOSED WRITING CHALLENGE DAY 2

I am writing this mid-flight. The guy next to me ordered a Jack and Coke. Goat. Anyhow, I was originally going to not write but I can’t fall asleep and there’s free Wi-Fi (thanks JetBlue) so here goes.

I’m on my way to New York City. Going to visit my aunt/older sister and I’m very happy. But it has me thinking about the potential for this story I want to craft. For one, I want some pieces of my family to be involved in this story. Obviously, outside of the racial similarities, I want a piece of me to live in this play. Those tend to be the best plays in my opinion. So for this trip I’m going to see what I could potentially use.

Another thing I want to potentially add to this piece is a true main character. I have to avoid falling into a trap of ensembles. It feels antiquated.

SEPT 1, 2022 – SELF-IMPOSED WRITING CHALLENGE DAY 1

Today marks the official beginning of my self-imposed 30 day writing challenge. I will be attempting to write every day for this month of September. All posts for this month will feature a title of a song by Anderson .Paak.

What will I be writing about? I’ve rooted around an idea for a play this month. Much in the vein of August Osage County. I started my journey by passively consuming episodes of the Netflix reality show, Bling Empire. And what a piece of work. You see, I am thinking of crafting a play centered around an Asian family. I have yet to even decide which direction I want to go in. I want there to be a satirical angle to it. But I don’t want to lose that drama aspect either. I want elements of surrealism and I’m thinking of setting it in a more modern, but specific setting. I wonder what that will entail. For me, I have been intrigued at the current state of Asian American theatre. It seems that a lot of writers are more interested in participating in conversations about the diaspora rather than the day-to-day Asian American. I am incredibly white-washed and I think my writing needs to reflect that side of me. The one who yearns for that connection.

Back to Bling Empire. It should go without saying that the show sucks. I hate reality TV. The characters are all vapid and consumerists douches. Kelly is with an abusive dickhead. And Kevin can’t keep it in his pants long enough around Kelly that it’s creepy. There’s not a one person on that show that doesn’t suck. My eat the rich hunger turns on during the show. But that’s me being critical. I think there’s enough humanity to understand who these people are. They are pieces of work. Obviously dramatic. But there is character to them. I need to tap into that aspect of them. That’s what I believe will allow my play to shine. Find the humanity in the people an audience finds shitty.

I don’t have a title yet, and I am under no pretenses that I will end up finishing this play in a month. But I need to do something… Please!!!

Pretense & Circumstance

Category: self-imposed writing challenge (sept. 2022)

maps – anderson .paak

the chase (feat. kadhja bonet) – anderson .paak