Quantum Storytelling

As I’m studying a lot of TV show writing lately, I notice that the ticking time bomb or clock is used as a tension device a lot more in TV shows than it seems to be in movies. It seems to be a general symptom of TV show writing: Pressure cooker of delivering consistent threats to the characters in every episode without repeating specific events.

In many ways it seems like the writing environment for a TV series is a lot higher pressure than that of film, for exactly those expectations of consistency and constantly raising the stakes. If a movie has a lull, it’s forgiveable because it may not damage the entire movie as a whole. If a TV series lags or stumbles, it could lose its spot or not be greenlit for another season.

There is this constant pressure applied to the writing of a TV series, and that pressure on the writers seems to be mirrored in the stories as well. The characters are always hanging on by a thread, skin of teeth, as I imagine the writers are as they struggle to raise the stakes from episode to episode.

What kinds of ticking time clocks have you used in your stories? If not the literal ticking time bomb then what others?

And do you think that real life pressures or a ‘ticking clock’ sometimes has a positive effect on the writing itself?

In the last few weeks I’ve seen my pace of ideas slow down, and I’ve found myself going back to the meme trough. I’ve started borrowing DVD sets of TV shows I haven’t seen yet, such as Stargate SG-1 and Battlestar Galactica. For being a sci-fi fan, I’m relatively unwashed as far as TV series go. Thankfully the office I work in is ripe with fellow sci-fi fans who have full shelves of TV on DVD.

I’ve found myself reading more as well. I’m not sure is just the ebb and flow of things, but it’s been less about output lately and more about input. I need to restock my brain with some memes. At the same time I can’t help but wonder if this ‘research’ is prolonging the inevitable completion of my work.

Do you go through similar cycles? Is research an addiction for you? Procrastination? Or is it merely a refilling of the well?

Update: It appears I had some kind of cosmic luck, and there aren’t any other stores with Moleskines on clearance. Apologies to those who got excited and ran out looking for them.

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My wife and I were in Bed Bath & Beyond and as we poked through the clearance section she pointed out some Moleskine notebooks to me. “Surely these are in the wrong place?” I thought to myself.

No, they weren’t in the wrong place. The initial clearance price said $4.99. Then we noticed a sign saying additional 30% off.

It appears Bed Bath & Beyond wasn’t very successful at selling Moleskines. Hmm, I wonder why. Maybe because they sell home products and a Moleskine is something you’d find more at a book or stationery shop?

It looks like they won’t be selling them anymore.

Maybe this was just the store nearest me, but if you’d like to stock up (possibly on a lifetime supply) I suggest you head to your nearest Bed Bath & Beyond and raid the clearance section. You might want to call your local stores before you rush over there, as I can’t be sure this wasn’t just my store.

If you find some Moleskines come post here about it. I’d be curious to find out if these amazing deals were going on at Bed Bath & Beyond stores all over the place?

You heard it here first!