Tuesday, November 5, 2013

IWSG: Still Struggling

                                                                             


It's time for another edition of  Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group. Be sure to visit all of the talented members of this group that is over two years strong. The following is a repost from December 2011.

Still Struggling


She runs into his arms sobbing, "The letter came today, and they rejected my manuscript. This was the fifteenth publisher who turned it down. All of my hopes and dreams are over. I'm finished!"

He gazes knowingly into her eyes and says, "Got anything to eat? I'm starving!"

Then the director yells, "Let's take five everyone!" He gives the chiseled actor an 'attaboy' slap, before he motions the beautiful actress over for a chat. He tells her that her performance lacks realism, and suggests that she spend time with a struggling writer to better understand her plight.

The next day, the beautiful actress goes over to the struggling writer's apartment. She has trouble making her way through the crumpled up papers, magazines, and books until she finally stumbles upon the struggling writer. They are about the same age, but the struggling writer looks worn out in her baggy sweatpants, and oversized unraveling robe. She apologizes for not having showered, as she doesn't have any running water.

They end up spending the day laughing, crying, and fighting over remnants of sweet and salty snacks. The struggling writer shows the beautiful actress her pile of rejection letters while they wrap themselves in blankets to stay warm, because the landlord turned off the heat. The writer helps the actress rehearse her scenes while interjecting double doses of angst and plucky determination.

They say their goodbyes before nightfall, so that they don't have to continue rehearsing in total darkness. Not once does the beautiful actress offer to invite the struggling writer into her luxurious Manhattan apartment to have a warm bath, a nutritious meal, or sleep in a lovely heated spare bedroom during one of the coldest nights of the year.

The following morning, the beautiful actress confidently strolls back into the playhouse. She is assured that her new "method acting" approach will impress her director, as well as, entice her chiseled leading man. As she gets closer to the stage, she notices that they started without her. Her leading man is facing the director, while another woman is saying her lines. The beautiful actress with a newly acquired pulsating vein in her forehead, rushes the stage to confront her.

She can't believe her eyes. Her competition is simply gorgeous with cascading auburn hair, breathtaking features, and a perfect figure. Her voice sounds familiar, but she still can't place her. Then the director chimes in, "Sorry kid, you just don't have what it takes. We decided to go in another direction."

While the beautiful actress stands motionless, she overhears her former leading man invite his new costar to join him for a drink later. Suddenly it hits her, "You're the struggling writer that I poured my heart out to yesterday. How could you do this to me? And how could you deceive me by not washing your hair, and hiding under those ridiculous plus-size rags?"

Then the struggling writer/ knockout actress replies, "I deceived you? I bent over backwards trying to teach you how to act, and in return you let me rot in that freezer of an apartment. Besides you idiot ingrate, I'm the one who wrote this play!"

35 comments:

  1. Wonderful IWSG post. Interesting story, love the twist at the end.

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  2. Writer's revenge! LOL. That would make a great play. I totally believed the part about the struggling writer in her baggy sweat pants. :))

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  3. Your words brought a smile to my face. Good job.

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  4. Good job. You gave me a much needed laugh for the day. Oh so true too!

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  5. Love this originality. What a fun post to visit-- thanks!

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  6. Great! I loved the twist at the end!

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  7. Rhonda - Thanks for the kind words!

    Delores - Thank you!

    Luanne - No point in being uncomfortable when you're starving and freezing to death! Thanks Luanne!

    Thank you Yvonne!

    Mary - Glad that this made you laugh! Thanks Mary!

    Julie - This is quite a compliment coming from such an "original" writer! Thanks Julie!

    Carol - This reminds me that I haven't written anything with a twist lately.Twists are always fun to write. Thanks Carol!

    Julie

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  8. In the beginning I thought that that was real.

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  9. What an awesome twist! That actress got what she deserved.

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  10. I remember this one and it was just as fun to read the second time around. Perfect ending, Julie. :)

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  11. Munir - I tried to make it realistic. Thanks Munir!

    Alex - It was fun revisiting this post for the IWSG! Thanks for everything Alex!

    Julie - I'm impressed that you have such a good memory! Thanks Julie!

    Julie

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  12. I love What Comes Around Goes Around.... particularly when it's coming around. Loved it!!!!

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  13. Hi Julie,

    Such an ironic twist. A fitting ending. And I humbly thank you for being part of IWSG aka "I Was Seeking Gary." Yes, I can be kinda' delusional.

    Gary :)

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  14. What a great story and I loved how it ended. Sometimes we don't give any credit to those who have helped us along the way and it may come back to bite us in the posterior if we're not too careful.

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  15. Ha! Nicely done. Take THAT, actress. Don't mess with the writer.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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  16. Robin - It's always nice when good rules over evil! Thanks Robin!

    Susan - It does have a nice ring to it! Thanks Susan!

    Gary - It's the least I can do! Thanks Gary!

    Thanks Valerie!

    Rum-Punch Drunk - I also believe in Karma. Thanks RPD!

    Shannon - In this case, she turned out to be a double threat! Thanks Shannon!

    Julie


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  17. Hi Julie .. what a great twist at the end - fabulous story .. loved it - and could just see this as a play ... brilliant writing .. cheers Hilary

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  18. Thank you Shelly!

    Hilary - I would love to write a play someday! Thanks Hilary!

    Julie

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  19. It was great to read this again, Julie. I'd forgotten the clever twist at the end. It's a deeply meaningful story.

    Be well.
    Have a nice weekend, and Shabbat Shalom.
    xoRobyn

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    1. Thanks for the kind words Robyn, and Shabbat Shalom to you!

      Julie

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  20. I remember this story. Good one for IWSG.

    Lee
    Can dreams predict the future?
    A Faraway View

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  21. Oooh, lovely bit of justice here! Great piece, Julie!

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  22. Thank you Lee!

    Val - It's always nice when justice is served! Thanks Val!

    Julie

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  23. Good stuff. I guess you don't qualify as an insecure writer!

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  24. Dun Dun Dun Duuunnnnnn.
    Great post. :)

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  25. JJ - Sadly, I still do; though the character in my story does not! Thanks JJ!

    Melissa - That's exactly what this story needed! Thanks Melissa!

    Julie

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  26. What a great story! Wonderful perspective!
    Really clever Julie.

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