I really wasn't expecting a lot from this flick. It wasn't any of the actors or even the plot synopsis. It was the whole idea of doing a comedy about a writers group without resorting to overdrawn caricatures.
Luckily, as close as this actually gets to that kind of portrayal, it luckily just manages to just avoid it.
But, we're all here to see what this movie says about the writing life. And those lessons are plentiful.
The primary takeaway from this flick concerns writers groups. I've been in several and the stereotypes are all there: the diva, the "serious" artiste, the wannabe, the all talk, etc. It also covers, in detail (as part of the main plot) the jealousy that happens in such a group as one or others find success and the tendency for others to try to ride the successful member(s) coattails. I too have experienced this on both sides, having folks ride mine while I was writing for Gene Simmons and being jealous of the success of good friends whose success surpassed mine when that gig ended. The best way to avoid this, in my experience, is to build a better network that extends beyond just the members of your writers group.
As pertinent as that message is in this film, the one that really hit home for me is about the nature of actually getting published. This movie demonstrates three key points almost perfectly in spite of the wink-and-a-nod, laugh-track type of humor. They are thus:
- It takes more than mere talent. You also need a network and the diligence to put in the work (see next point).
- Nothing happens until you put words on paper. (Or in a digital file.) You could be the finest author alive but you'll never get published until you have something to show to an agent or a company rep.
- There are multiple paths to getting published, ranging from self-pubbing to agents to the big pubbers. And all are valid, though the payment and prestige will differ among them.
The final point I picked up from this flick is perhaps the most important for writers. There are different approaches to putting words into stories. You can be a lit major and have an amazing academic understanding of the art form and the masters of it. Or you could conversely be a more experiential writer who pulls from personal experience and couldn't name a single O. Henry award winner without looking it up on Google.
Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, the goals tend to be the same -- get out of your head. Don't psyche yourself up without putting in the work. Don't psyche yourself out so you doubt yourself and develop imposter syndrome. Don't psyche yourself out by demanding perfection. Just get out of you head and tell your damn story.
So, I guess I liked this little writer's group mockumentary a good bit more than I thought, huh?
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