The Westminster Confession of Funk

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I’ve been working on a new screenplay and thinking about the odd task of writing.I’m a plotter (not a pantser, which will make sense to my fellow writers). I’ve got a color coded, plot question system that I’ve developed and tweaked for years. I know the twists and turns of every story I write before I ever drop in the first scene-setting word.The job is always the same: write the next scene.In fact, that’s the profession. Write the next scene. Spike Lee, in his masterclass, says, “when I’ve got 40 scenes, I’ve got a movie.” Every story is a series of scenes. If you want to write, learn to write scenes. That’s the minimum job requirement.Poems are a series stanzas. Arguments are a series of premises. Stories are a series of scenes.It doesn’t matter how well crafted a plot is. It doesn’t matter if the tale is hurtling headlong where I want it too, the job is still to write the next scene.If that’s the job, then the skill is, “he can write the next scene.” I’ve read book upon book about plotting. I’ve devoured volumes on character arcs and world building and dialogue. But you can only learn to write scenes by writing and editing and rewriting again.The role that each scene plays is to advance the character away from the lie that he is telling himself and towards the truth so that he can become the man that he needs to be to overcome the obstacle in the plot’s path.If you can do that consistently, consistently write scenes that puts pressure on the lies the character is telling himself, then you are ready to be a screenwriter.But this is how everyone is a screenwriter. If you want to write a love story between you and your spouse, if you want to write a story of heroic fatherhood with your children, if you want to write a story of overcoming all odds and finding success, you can only write that story one scene at a time.You know where you want the story to go? Write the scene in front of you in that direction. You want to be the third act hero that defeats the big baddies for your wife and kids? Then control yourself in the scene you’re in now. Love them in act one with the strength you have at your disposal. You want to lay down for the love scene later in the play? Then lay down your life now in service and kindness.We often go to the finale in our imaginations, setting up expectations and anticipations, but we only have the scene we’re in. We can only write the scene in front of us. We should know where we want the story to go, but the job is write the scene you’re in.Write your character’s scene towards who you want to become. You want to have self-control? Have more of it in this scene than the last. You want to be brave? Have more courage in this scene than the last. You want a better relationship with your kids? Be a better parent in this scene than the last. You only will ever have the scene you are in.Reflect on the ways your past failure scenes put pressure on the lies that you tell yourself. Confess those lies as lies. Begin confessing the truth. Character growth in movies resonates because it can happen in real life too.It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the enormity of a writing a whole screenplay, but the job is always “write the next scene.” So, get good at that. It’s the part in your control. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

A husband and a wife become wise be integrating one another’s perspectives through mutual love and respect. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

“1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:1–3). Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

The way up is down in God’s world. Wanting your kids to grow into greater dominion is important. The path to that dominion is looking after the prosperity of others. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

“2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:2–5). Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

“26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26–28). Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

“14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” (Ephesians 3:14–15). Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

Got a chance to preach at Emmanuel Presbyterian church’s family camp on how to put the Black Moments in our lives to use with Psalm 42. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

Comparing the Ancient Greek view of work vs. the Bible’s view of work. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe