Ask the Author: Melton Cartes
Answered Questions (5)
Melton Cartes
Oxygen Wars was an idea my best friend from high school and I had, way back when, that we first wrote as a screenplay.
It was inspired by several obvious great films, 2001: A Space Odyssey, THX-1138, ALIENS, and a couple of other things and basically was an idea that tumbled out of a 'what if' conversation we had that seemed to push humanity to a nightmarish extreme... and probably coffee.
It was inspired by several obvious great films, 2001: A Space Odyssey, THX-1138, ALIENS, and a couple of other things and basically was an idea that tumbled out of a 'what if' conversation we had that seemed to push humanity to a nightmarish extreme... and probably coffee.
Melton Cartes
If it's from scratch, I look around the world and see what needs fixing. Sometimes unsung stories or heroes can help fix the world by having their stories shared and becoming known.
If I'm already working on something, finishing it is inspiration enough.
I worship at the Altar of the Crap Draft. Without something on paper or in pixels, it's "just a good idea." But as soon as it's put down somewhere, it can be shared. That means I can share it with trusted advisors, get their input and genius, and even share it with myself six months later and get something close...
That phenomenon turns me on and easily can get me writing. I'm curious perhaps more than anyone else what's in there.
If I'm already working on something, finishing it is inspiration enough.
I worship at the Altar of the Crap Draft. Without something on paper or in pixels, it's "just a good idea." But as soon as it's put down somewhere, it can be shared. That means I can share it with trusted advisors, get their input and genius, and even share it with myself six months later and get something close...
That phenomenon turns me on and easily can get me writing. I'm curious perhaps more than anyone else what's in there.
Melton Cartes
I've finished the first draft for an animated feature-length screenplay that my animation studio is interested in producing.
I'm also gearing up to novelize another screenplay that I wrote with my best friend from high school; very excited about that.
I'm also gearing up to novelize another screenplay that I wrote with my best friend from high school; very excited about that.
Melton Cartes
Read! Read! Read!
Write. Don't perfect, just improve.
Write whatever you're working on with a clear focus that this should not be your 'one-and-only' novel or screenplay and that when you reach your fourth or fiftieth you may solve problems in your earlier work and maybe even revisit them.
It's not about cracking one nut.
Write. Don't perfect, just improve.
Write whatever you're working on with a clear focus that this should not be your 'one-and-only' novel or screenplay and that when you reach your fourth or fiftieth you may solve problems in your earlier work and maybe even revisit them.
It's not about cracking one nut.
Melton Cartes
I don't. I don't believe in it. That's a bit obtuse, but let me clarify. If I want to write a new story, I don't stare at a blank page per se. I think of a problem in the world that I want to solve or a situation that irritates me. Similarly, I might come across a situation that is intriguing or even offensive that riles me, something that I think I can turn into a tale. Other times I might ponder on characters who could transform the most, in dramatic ways, e.g. a bad person becoming good; How does that happen? Can it? Why?
If I'm already working on a piece and feel stumped, I start editing what I already have written until I "pick up the scent" and then three hours later I seem to have made progress.
I'll never forget the story of William Peter Blatty when he was blocked and a Jesuit professor told him to open the newspaper and he found a story that became The Exorcist.
If I'm already working on a piece and feel stumped, I start editing what I already have written until I "pick up the scent" and then three hours later I seem to have made progress.
I'll never forget the story of William Peter Blatty when he was blocked and a Jesuit professor told him to open the newspaper and he found a story that became The Exorcist.
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