Saturday

[alanajoli]

So, awhile ago, I was working on a musical based on the Passion of Christ (not the movie). Where Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar both left off at the crucifixion, I started from there, from the moment when the followers of Jesus of Nazareth really thought it was all over. What can you do in a moment like that?

As it formed more thoroughly, I realized it would be a play about Simon Peter, three acts mostly following his transformation from the one who denied the man he believed to be the Messiah to the one who led the followers who were left behind (at least through the first few chapters of Acts). The idea worked incredibly well in my head, and I think the music was actually reasonably strong, but I got stuck at the point where I asked others to read and offer feedback, then waited on that feedback for long enough that I lost momentum completely. (That's something that as a writer, I should know better than to allow, but I succumb to it all too often.)

I remembered it for the first time in a year or so today, that old project left in a notebook, half the songs entered into the free music composition software, Finale. (One of the songs was so syncopated, I never could get the composition software to reflect the timing--more a limitation of my musical theory than the software, I suspect.) I wonder, thinking about it now, if I'll ever get back to it, and what in the world I'd do with it if I did actually finish it. I certainly can't compose a full score (that's way beyond my musical talents), so eventually I'll get to that stumping block when I need others involved. It could be just like waiting for feedback all over again.

But then, I suppose I won't find out until I get there. Maybe one day that inspiration will fill me again and I'll be compelled to write that story again, just like I was when I started it. But until then, I think I'll keep on with the fiction. ;)

Comments

[bccreations.livejournal.com]

I don't wait for feedback because everyone is so slow on giving it (if they give it at all). When I post something for review, I'm already working on the next chapter (or more). If I receive quality feedback, I'll then go back and revise as appropriate. It may mean that I have to revise the newer stuff I wrote. But the frequency of that happening compared to the frequency of me not getting feedback is high enough that it's still a better strategy.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to learn to be much better about that, especially if I have a deadline. I think for my next piece, unless I get stuck, I'm going to wait until I have the whole thing finished before I send it to anyone--which means if they never get back to me, I can revise and eventually submit without feedback. I prefer having first readers and copyeditors... but if you have to move on, you have to move on.

[waywardbound.livejournal.com]

If it opens with "The Bright Side of Life" and goes from there, I'll pre-order the soundtrack right now.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Ha! I'll keep that in mind for the final draft. ;)

[holmes-iv.livejournal.com]

Happy Easter!

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

And you as well!