Defeat keeps on going
“My Glorious Defeat,” the article I wrote for Men’s Health, is now up at MSN.com. (No, I don’t get residuals.)
johnaugust.com
(a ton of useful information about screenwriting)
About
This site is run by screenwriter John August. Most of the time, he answers reader-submitted questions about the craft, but occasionally he goes on tangents that run far afield of writing and filmmaking. You'll also find info on past, present and future projects.
For photos, blurbs and other self-promotion, you can check out his Facebook fan page.
Articles
October 13th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
This is an important lesson. It’s one that has taken me a long time to accept, and success has only come from mustering the courage to take a risk.
One of your personal accounts was familiar to me, too. The same thing happened to me when I lost my junior high election for Student Council Treasurer. I lost by four votes, and my opponent spent the last two days before the election handing out full-sized Snickers bars. The cad! Luckily that’s also a nearly-forgotten footnote in my mind as well.
As an aspiring (paid) screenwriter, I am of course secretly hoping that our paths continue to have some sort of similarities…
October 13th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Would that be considered “new media”?
October 14th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
As with all your writing, a thoughtful and thought provoking piece.
I’m curious - and that’s all, this isn’t a bash or sideswipe at all - about how the audience of this piece impacted your writing of this piece. The tone is a bit different - a little less nuanced, more traditionally structured and, dare I say it, more ’straight’.
As I am aware of your sexuality through teh context of this site, perhaps I am ‘reading’ somehing that’s not there. And would I have made the same connection if it was written not for Men’s Health but for The Economist?
I’d be keen to hear if these are considerations you have in writing ‘first person’ stuff (like this blog and publicity for The Nines) rather than screenplays?
Thanks again for your blog, it’s terrific.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
That was a fantastic read. Very timely for me, personally. Not that I’m going through a huge failure. I’m actually trying to achieve some goals - but this puts it in perspective. Thank you!
October 17th, 2007 at 8:39 am
From those of us who are constantly failing - thanks.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:59 am
John,
Great article man. You hear stuff like this all the time at school, but none of the lectures from any of my teachers actually had me feeling confident. Thanks oh-so much.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:48 am
John
I have “My Glorious Defeat” in my favorites file under the heading ‘Life.’ I left a very stable situation to take a chance at fulfilling a dream. Now I am in the middle of the “unavoidable crash,” and your words gives me strength and hope. Thank you. You are right, though, I would rather not live “a life of vague disappointment.”