For some reason, my My Name Is Earl spec has been giving me all kinds of problems.  It’s been the top priority for me, writing-wise, for weeks now, and I’m nowhere.  Haven’t been able to break the story.  This normally doesn’t happen to me.  Normally I get an idea, then I watch the show over and over (and over) and some day in the shower inspiration will hit.  This time around I had an idea, I’ve watched every episode at least three times, but no breakthroughs, though I am showering regularly.

It’s getting to be a problem, since I’m not reading Harry Potter 7 until I’m done, and all around me people seem to want to talk about the new book.  Today in a Jamba Juice, a couple came in, each with a copy in hand.  He had the dust-jacket marking his place several hundred pages in, and she was starting the first chapter as she waited for her smoothie.  People looking at me must have thought me a bit off, but when she turned to him and said, “You know, Harry seems to–” I had my fingers in my ears chanting “la la la” so fast…  Thank goodness for all the blender noise.

I’m not having problems with writing in general.  After Friday’s meeting of the comedy group’s writer core, from which we left with the homework to write a two-page sketch in the next week, I had my script written less than an hour after everyone left.  And a couple of weeks ago, a new collaborator friend up in the Bay Area (who I know subscribes to this blog via e-mail… Hi, Peggy!) asked for some spec commercial scripts I was able to knock out three decent ideas in one sitting.

It’s just Earl.

A smart man would go work on another project.  I have a smart romantic comedy feature with a high-concept pitch that a writing partner and I seem to keep as our perennial second priority.  Plus there’s a half-written feature that representation-types have said they want to see when it’s done.  But I want to write television, and I feel guilty when I spend time on features.  (Although I was thinking of going to Comic-Con this weekend to do research for the second one, but couldn’t work out the logistics until Saturday was already sold out.  If anyone has leads on tickets…)

A smart man might also pick a different show to spec.  Plus, I’m trying something with a high degree of difficulty.  A smart man might rethink his premise.

I, it would seem, am not a smart man.  Off to go “work” on my script some more.