Growing up in the 80’s I had a ‘thing’ for any film produced by John Hughes. Sixteen Candles with Molly Ringwald all pouty and mysterious, Risky Business with Tom Cruise cavorting around in his underpants, Ferris Bueller ruling the roost and spending the day in his hometown instead of being at school and not forgetting the iconic, life changing film of all time – ‘The Breakfast Club’.
I loved this film so much that I typed the script out using my big sisters fancy typewriter (no lap tops back then), one pause button press to another..and I still have it to this day!
I always wondered who I admired the most, was it the basket case, the princess, the brain, the athlete or the criminal? I think everyone has a little bit of each of them buried inside. Life would be a bit dull if we were all the same wouldn’t it?
As a writer, a procrastinating one at that, I find it difficult to get enough time to get everything done each day. So, I took the matter into my own hands and that of my lovely friends and fellow writers/authors at SCBWI British Isles – South East Scotland. I don’t call us a branch of British Isles as we are not a bank but you know what I mean.
Anyway, I approached them all and suggested we rally round and help each other out..but it would mean an early start and some ‘get out of your bed’ texts/e-mails to start the days proceedings. And do you know what, they thought it was a great idea.
Our Breakfast Club starts at 5am, we all virtually say good morning and away we go. We write. We drink coffee and we really on each other for support. Because that’s what friends do.
I am writing.
In the words of the famous five who rocked my world back in 1985…
Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you’re crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us – in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain…
Andrew Clark: …and an athlete…
Allison Reynolds: …and a basket case…
Claire Standish: …a princess…
John Bender: …and a criminal…
Brian Johnson: Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.
I’m scared to death to ask what it is you’re helping each other with that necessitates starting at 5.00 am when it’s just criminals and me up. I shall be watching the papers for a Train Robbery or something.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Nothing untoward I can assure you David. Just some mad writers getting together before the sun gets up, enjoying the peace and quiet and writing in the knowledge that there is someone out there doing the same. And coffee, there is always coffee.