Therapist Dennis Palumbo on the inner life of writers
Dennis Palumbo, MFT, is a writer and licensed psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in creative issues. This is from an interview for Shrink Rap Radio:
Initially, when you start writing, or at least when I started writing, you think the reward is, wow! It’ll be so great to see my words on screen, to see my name on screen…
I think what happens over time when, because you’re a writer – especially once I became a screenwriter – you’re very powerless as a screenwriter.
And what happens – and it’s a subtle change, but I think it’s the one that most mature writers go through – is the gratification becomes personal… the process of writing becomes its own reward… you tell the story the way you want to tell the story, and then hope for the best…
The frustration, I think, boils down to the fact that I believe screenwriters are the most crucial aspect of a movie, and they’re the ones with the least power and the least control.
Continued in article Therapist to the Hollywood Stars.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:49 am
If I haven’t thanked you already (and given my rapidly-dwindling middle-aged brain cells, it’s entirely possible I have), I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your posting this excerpt from my Shrink Rap interview.
Also, I invite you to visit my website, http://www.dennispalumbo.com, to learn about my recent book, a collection of mystery short stories called “From Crime to Crime.” (Tallfellow Press)
Anyway, thanks again.
Dennis Palumbo
Psychotherapist and author