Hi Reader,

Now that November is here, Remembrance Day is just around the corner.

Every November 11, we take time to remember the brave men and women who served, and especially those who gave their lives in war so future generations could live with freedoms they never got to enjoy themselves.

For me, it’s an important date to mark on the calendar. It gives us a reason to stop for a moment, step outside the normal rush of life, and remember that many of the freedoms we enjoy came at an enormous cost.

That should always come first.

But I also think the idea of remembrance can inspire another kind of reflection.

Remember the people who helped you get here

Creative work can feel incredibly personal. We write the words and make the decisions. We spend countless hours alone trying to solve problems nobody else can even see.

But very few of us really get anywhere alone.

Think back over your own creative journey. There was probably a teacher who encouraged you. A mentor who gave you advice when you needed it. A colleague who opened a door. A friend who listened to your idea for the tenth time. A spouse or family member who gave you the space and support to keep going.

Those moments matter.

And even something as simple as reading another person’s screenplay or manuscript is a gift of time. That person could have been doing anything else, but they chose to spend those hours inside your story.

I think that deserves gratitude.

Your creative circle matters

Sometimes the people around us have taken us as far as they can.

Now, that doesn't mean they've failed us. Quite the opposite, actually. It might simply mean we need another perspective.

When you’ve been working on the same screenplay or novel for months, it becomes difficult to see it clearly. Your friends might know the story almost as well as you do. Your writing group may have already given you everything they can.

Sometimes, what you really need is a new voice.

Someone who can come to the work fresh and ask questions nobody else has asked:

• Why isn't this character working?
• Why does this scene feel slow?
• Why isn't this emotional moment landing?
• Why does the dialogue feel different from what you intended?

And most importantly:

• What can we do to fix it?

That’s why it can be so useful to expand your creative circle from time to time. Talk to other writers. Find a mentor. Get professional feedback. Have someone read the work who understands story, character, dialogue, pacing, genre, and what you're trying to achieve emotionally.

That’s a big part of what I do through my coaching, screenplay coverage, and developmental work.

My goal is never to turn your story into mine. It’s to help you see your own story more clearly, figure out what’s working, what isn’t, and how to move the project closer to the version you originally imagined.

Sometimes, what you need is another person in your corner who understands the road you're on - because they've travelled it too.

So as Remembrance Day approaches, take time to remember those whose sacrifices gave us the freedoms we enjoy today. And maybe take another moment to think about the people who have helped you along your own journey.

Then when you get the chance, do the same for somebody else.

That’s one of the best ways we can show our gratitude!

And if you want help with your screenplay on a human level, and from an experienced writer and story coach, then click one of the links below:

👉 My coaching calls - great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!​

Book Your Coaching Call Here!

👉 My coverage packages - a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!​

Click Here for Coverage!

👉 Rewrite to Greenlight - my ongoing developmental editing program for taking a script from almost there to funding or production-ready: Click here!​

Book a Free Strategy Call Today!

I’d also love to hear about your own Halloween traditions. What does Halloween look like in your family or hometown? Let me know!

Until next time - keep writing, and stay creative!

Neil

​

P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

And see my latest feature, Contamination, now on Fawesome, Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango, and Hoopla!

Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking:​ www.neilchasefilm.com.

Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.

Check out my Gothic horror-western novel, Iron Dogs, available in eBook, print, and audiobook.

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