Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Yesterday was a really cool day. Emma Donoghue, the author and screenwriter of the academy awarded story Room, came to our campus. 

I saw the film before I read the book, so it was interesting seeing the changes she made for the screen, and reading all the intricate details in the book that you don't get to appreciate in the movie. 

She read a snippet of her book to us, before the floor was opened up for questions. She was amazing. She talked about her writing process (she spent six months planning and researching for her novel before she wrote it), how to combat writers block (just keep writing)--even I got to ask her a question. I asked her what it was like translating her book to script, and then seeing it play out on screen. She said it was an interesting process. She didn't sell the rights to her book for a long time, because she wanted to find the right person to direct it that won't turn it into a typical "Hollywood film", loosing the story's meaning. So when Lenny Abrahamsson got in touch with her, she knew straight away he was the right person to make the film. She and him worked closely on the script, and she talked about the collaborative process; picking and choosing which parts in the novel to keep and what to take out (for the film, she had to cut out some of Jack's family members). She wanted to be kept in the loop with the project, which Lenny was happy to oblige. She loved how the film turned out. 

She also said it is important to write things that scare you. She never wrote a script before Room, so that scared her. But it lead to one of the greatest successes of her life. She took a chance, and it worked. 

After the panel, she signed our books. When she signed mine, she accidentally messed up my name, which made us both laugh. I asked her about the publishing process, since I am an aspiring writer and want to publish someday. She gave me some advice and it was very helpful. 

It was great listening and talking to such an accomplished writer. She was able to do what I dream of doing, and I can't wait for that to be a reality. 

-Syd.