In the mid-90’s (this is for all my Gen Zers out there) there was a little film called NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY. It would take way too long to try and explain to you the cultural significance of this movie, from its humble beginnings as a wildly popular skit on SNL to helping secure the rise of Will Ferrel as a major player in the comedy film scene. Instead, I’ll leave you with this GIF and move on to why I want to talk about it today:\

Comedy Roxbury GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
If you see people doing this literally anywhere, it’s because of this film/these characters.

The movie expands the sketches into a full-length backstory and life for the club goers, Doug Butabi and Steve Butabi. Yes, they are brothers. Most of the film is spent trying to get into the eponymous nightclub, The Roxbury, to little success. At one point, as they drive their father’s fake flower delivery van looking for an ATM to withdraw cash to bribe the bouncer with, Ferrel’s character has a breakdown. It goes a little something like this:

“…This van is our spear, and that Roxbury is our lion.”

Strangely, I think of my writing this way when I want to psyche myself up.

I’ve been away from writing for a little while. (COVID issues.) I’m just now getting a chance to sit at the computer, communicate with my work, and remind myself that the books I’ve written and am querying (GREY and NESS) and the ones I’m about to finish (BIANCA) and the ones I’m about to start writing (CLOUD) are the spears. They’re weapons, tools, spear,s to help me reach my goal of becoming a published author. Spear and lion.

I have a chapter to finish I’ve been afraid of tackling at the end of BIANCA. But why? Soon as I finish that chapter, I can reread the book, send it to beta readers, make one last round of changes, then start sending it to agents. It’s that simple. GREY and NESS are already done. Send them out, I’ll tell myself.

Typically, I’ll replay this scene in my head to remind myself of what I’m doing. It’s not that hard. Just hit ‘Send.’ Just submit your story to literary agents. Make your dreams come true.

Just throw the spear.

Thanks for reading,

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