#the professor told us you can't have a character just suddenly have a skill that saves the day

[scarlettohairdye]

My coworker of 5 years, upon seeing me with my violin case: [Scarlett], you gotta stop revealing new skills and talents that I didn't know you had! Me, reflecting that this particular coworker doesn't know about my history of equestrianism, the beading classes I took in middle school, my track record with a pottery wheel, or my skill with a piping bag: I don't think I can do that, actually. My coworker: Yeah, that's probably fair.

#i'm an artist #i collect hobbies like a magpie #in one of my screenwriting classes in college #the professor told us you can't have a character just suddenly have a skill that saves the day #you have to telegraph it earlier in the story #or the audience won't believe it #and i was like #okay #i understand that from a storytelling perspective #but i literally do that in my daily life