Why Screenwriters Should Imitate Odysseus
by JURGEN WOLFF
Do you remember the bit in the Odyssey where Odysseus lashes himself to the mast? He knew that the Sirens( two seductive bird women) could lure sailors with their enchanting music and songs to shipwreck on the rocky coast of the island where they lived.
He instructed his men to stuff their ears with wax so they couldn’ t hear the enticing sounds, and to tie him to the mast so he could hear them but not steer his ship toward them. When he heard them, he ordered his men to untie him but they refused. You’ re Odysseus. You’ re on a journey – writing your screenplay.
The Sirens are … new ideas. Beautiful, fresh, uncorrupted, seductive new ideas. They sing,” We are better! We are more beautiful! We promise more! You’ ll enjoy writing us … not like that hard work you’ re stuck in at the moment! Leave that old idea, push it overboard, steer over here!”
Tie yourself to the mast!
By all means listen, even take notes( if your hands aren’ t tied …) but don’ t go there. Not now. Those Sirens will age quickly. They’ ll turn into the same( temporarily) unbeautiful hags you’ re struggling with( sometimes they’ re called Act II).
If you stay on course, a miraculous thing will happen. You’ ll write and rewrite. Then you’ ll rewrite some more. And pretty soon, that thing you’ re working on will start to look a lot more attractive.
And it won’ t crash on the rocks.
114 | WGSA MAG July 2013