ANDRE BEGIN

The more I get into screenwriting, the more I love it. To be able to take characters from my imagination and to give them life through my stories is a source of huge joy. For the stories to meet with the approval of producers would be my dream come true. I guess you could say that this is my new bucket list item.

When it comes to the writing and editing process, most of my screenplay work is done on the computer. However, just like my creative process for the blog articles, for final edits, I like to work from paper copies, as it usually helps me catch mistakes I did not see on screen. That being the case, I end up with 100-page drafts requiring secure disposal.

As much as I appreciate my little light-duty shredder, it is getting older and is not quite as efficient as it used to be. When shredding just one or two pages at a time, a 100-page screenplay can be quite time-consuming. After shredding several draft screenplays over the span of a couple of years, I realized how that time could have been better spent working on the next stories.

On a recent visit to my trusty office supplies retailer, I took a deep dive into the shredder section to see what was available and what might suit my needs better. One option would have been to go with another budget-priced light-duty model, but at the rate at which I was shredding screenplays, it would have been a matter of time before I ended up in the same position. I then considered models at the next level up.

I decided to go with a model that could handle 12 sheets at a time, but that also had a feeder attachment in which I could insert an entire script and let the shredder munch through the document. It was a more significant investment, but when I contemplated the time and energy savings as well as the freedom it would give me to spend more time on other aspects of my writing, it seemed like a bargain.

Shortly after bringing the shredder home and the grand unboxing ceremony, I was oohing and aahing at the size and heft of the machine, as well as the handy feeder attachment. Who knew I could get this excited about office machinery?

Not surprisingly, it was put to good use right away, shredding through the backlog of draft documents I had accumulated when I was short on time. Within an hour, I had completed the backlog, filling the complimentary shredder bag that was included with my purchase.

The next time I had a screenplay to be shredded, I was impressed at how quickly it was turned into confetti, allowing me to move on to the next step in my writing project. In that moment, I knew that this was the right tool at the right time.

I admit that it’s difficult to rationalize certain investments in my creative work when I haven’t made my first big sale yet. However, in having completed six screenplays with an abundance of new ideas waiting in the wings, I am convinced that I still have time, energy and interest in continuing down this path. That being the case, the shredder will get used… a lot!

As a result, I view the shredder as an investment in myself, much like the training courses I took, the software I bought, the workshops I have attended, and the business cards that say “screenwriter.” I just have to believe that at some point, with continued passion, hard work and most importantly… the right tools, at some point, the investment will pay off.

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André