*I initially thought that posting the entry below would seem inconsequential after the recent atrocities in our world. Then, I realized that writing about moments that make me smile, in the midst of tragedy, matters.*
DAY 53: Soaps + Writing = Creative Inspiration
SOAP OPERA DIGEST celebrated its 40th Anniversary recently, and it stirred up visions of a dream career I thought long-since past. Soap operas were one my earliest passions – right alongside music. I’d watch them with intense interest and my face would light up when discussing “my shows” with other viewers. I’d speak with enthusiasm about characters I rooted for and not only knew the character’s names but more importantly, those of the male and female actors.
When I was thirteen, I declared that I would one day be a soap opera writer – one of the only times I clearly and definitively stated my career goals. It was around that time when I bought my first issues of SOAP OPERA DIGEST. That particular cover featured actresses who portrayed some of my favorite characters at the time: Kristina Wagner, Katharine Kelly Lang, and Cathy Podewell. From then on, I walked to the local convenience store every other Tuesday to buy the newest issue. I couldn’t wait to get home and read all about the shows and the artists who created the work.
I had my staple shows, the ones that I would stop watching when I wasn’t invested in the storyline but could tune back in at any time. When friends introduced me to their favorite soaps, which aired on competing time slots/networks, I would pull out my stack of saved Digests and catch up via the storyline recaps.
The three decades of daytime drama viewing left an indelible imprint on this writer’s artistic spirit. I don’t have an evil twin, but my protagonists’ struggles tend to be internal. I haven’t been married five times, but I do tend to infuse romance into the stories I write. The serialized format of soap operas appeals to me because life is a continuous journey. As we walk that journey, we never knew who’s path will intersect with ours.
Thank you, Soap Opera Digest, for supporting an industry that so many of us adore. Thank you for continuing to highlight the talented artists in front of and behind the scenes. Thank you for creating crossword puzzles that I can actually complete!!! Oh, and thank you for inspiring this wanna-be soap writer to keep writing.
*No endorsement by anyone associated with SOAP OPERA DIGEST, its affiliates, sponsors, or parent company is implied.*
Kelly Deeny 