January is Here, and We're Off!

January 2010 is halfway over, and already I feel like I'm behind... But I can check off at least one thing on my 'To Do' list - "update blog." Check.

Let's see, my library class from last year ended with an A. This year I will be learning how to use Microsoft Office without pulling my hair out! Wish me luck!

I'm sad to say that Spike didn't advance to the top spots of the Writers Place competition, but it was an honor to be a finalist. I've gotten some pretty good feedback on my redraft of The Schoharie, so my next step is to pitch and submit it.

I'm continuing to work on that animated feature idea, and as long as the page count grows I'm temporarily satisfied with its progress.

That's where I'm at. Keep writing, everyone!

The Holiday Season is Upon Us!

Thanksgiving is gone, Christmas is on the horizon and there are three weeks left to the Fall Semester. Library Acquisitions has been an interesting class, and I foresee a passing grade. The Schoharie has been updated, and I plan on pitching it and submitting it to competitions - after the Holidays.

Onward to a new project, and I think I've got one thanks to my friend Judith, who happens to be the moderator of our local Writer's Group. I don't want to divulge the details of the new script yet (I feel that strongly about the premise), but it was inspired by a writing exercise that Judith put us all through. I'd like to share the exercise with you in hopes of inspiring you to find a fresh story idea.

Basically, you do this:

1) Gather a list of all of the film genres you can think of, such as animation, romantic comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, western, creature feature, mockumentary, gangster flick, chick flick, fantasy, thriller, supernatural thriller, sports pic, spy pic, military pic, buddy pic, period piece, musical, road picture, etc. etc. Gather as many as you can.

2) Randomly choose three genres off of the list. Pick them out of a hat if you have to, but make it as random as you can.

3) Brainstorm a movie idea based on the three genres you came up with.

The three genres that my team ended up with was a scifi/fantasy-gangster-chick flick. And we brainstormed a story idea from that. Now, I'm attempting to write it! And my son is so excited that he wants to attempt to animate it and post it on the web... Wish us luck, it's all in the preliminary stages, but it sounds like a fun project!

Happy Holidays to all, and keep writing!

A Professional's Rant

I found this link to be an interesting and entertaining read from screenwriter Josh Olsen. 

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/09/i_will_not_read.php

I'm nowhere near a professional in my caliber of writing, and yet I understand where he's coming from. Sometimes. The article is a double edge sword (cliched phrase!) for me, because as a reader there are days when I dread having to come up with a tactful way to say someone's writing isn't that good. And as a writer, I hate to bother professional level people into reading my work.

But as writers, we have to do that. As writers, we need feedback. As screenwriters, we need to convince the right people to read our material so that it can be bought and, hopefully, made into an honest to goodness movie - or tv show - or web series. How do you do that with tact? 

So, thanks, Josh Olsen, for making me laugh and then depressing the crap out of me in one fell swoop.

Back to School

Hello, everyone.

It's that time of year. Back to school for the kids. Back to school for me. I am taking another library science class - acquisitions. As of now, the class deals more with the office management side of working in a library - much easier to follow than my previous cataloging class. Cataloging is a hard job. Maybe I'm relating better to acquisitions because I'm already familiar with general office procedures. Time will tell.

On the writing front, my script Spike has been chosen with ten other scripts to receive the John Muir Gold Award in this year's Yosemite Film Fest Screenplay Competition. I thought it smart to enter a script pitting loggers against environmentalists to a festival held in pristine wilderness. And I'm glad for the recognition! The festival itself will be held in October.

I continue to work on scripts, both new and old. Am almost finished with a retooling of The Schoharie, and haven't given up on writing about Oliver Curtis Perry, the train robber who resides within the branches of my family tree. I have also been working on a script that deals with Conquistadors, Pirates, Born Again Christians and... a librarian.

That's enough about me... How about you?

Until next time...

Summer Hiatus

Well, summer is in full swing, and while I was successful in achieving an A in Library Cataloging, I have been hopelessly blocked as far as my writing is concerned. My kids will be at camp next week, so maybe the solitude will inspire me to sit down and write. Wish me luck! hope everyone's summer is full of fun!