Viva Italia

The past couple of days I focused on my brochure. I have a good draft done, but I think I still want to change things a bit. I didn't do a lot of other writing, because I was busy thinking about this marketing idea.

Of course, in the middle of my job search, I get a call from the travel agency. The gift certificate I had purchased for my parents a few years back needs to be put toward a trip by the end of November or I lose the money. For various reasons, my parents cannot use it at this time, so the certificate reverts back to me. Normally, I don't mind a free trip, but being "between jobs,"I'm thinking I don't want to be planning an international trip right now.

But, I threw caution to the wind and put it all in God's hands. I've been wanting to go to Italy for 30 years and I guess now's the time. So, I called up my paisan and asked her if she was still interested in a viaggio d'Italia when school's out and she said, "Absolutely."  The verdict: we will be traveling at some point next summer for 15 days to five main Italian towns including Rome, Tuscany, Sorreno, Venezia, and Pisa. We'll also see Pompeii, Padua, and some other cool sites. Although I'll be paying a little bit more than the gift certificate, I figured it could be a once in a lifetime event and since I don't know when I'll ever get back to Italy, I want to see everything I want to see it now.

The moral is that sometimes you have to pay a little bit to get something good to happen and sometimes you have to take a chance and let God take care of everything. When you're writing you need to pay for a course now and then to keep you sharp or perhaps a private editor (a good one). Take risks in your writing and try new things. Don't typecast yourself as just a "horror" writer or just a "romance" writer. Be willing and ready to branch out into other areas. That's the way you'll gather new readers.

Of course, the final lesson is to live the Italian way and that's to live life to its fullest. Remember that as a writer you need to create an entire world for a reader. The best way to do that is to get off your butt, out of the house, and go live life. Travel, see things, try new things, then tell your readers about it. Don't just depend on what you read. Live!

********

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. You should have either gotten into costume, gone trick-or-treating with some little ones, or have been greeting the neighborhood kiddies at your doorway with a smile on your face. Remember: above all, Halloween is all about the kids. Celebrate the little ones!
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

The Art Of Overcoming Procrastination

I have to say that I have spent the bulk of my life fighting procrastination. I'm pretty good at getting things done when I need to, but it takes me a lot of work to get there. You see, I am the only daughter of the Queen of Procrastination. As wonderful as my mother is, setting a good example for getting things done on time is something she never did. If there was an event we needed to get to; we'd be late. If cleaning or shopping needs to be done for the holidays, it all got done on Christmas Eve amidst screaming and cursing. If bills need to get paid, the late fee got paid as well.

Luckily, Dad is the typical Type A personality who needs everything done yesterday. How did my parents survive each other with such different personality types for 43 years of marriage? Simple: Dad gets up at 6 am every morning and gets his stuff done and Mom ignores him as she does her crossword puzzles. I'm not saying they don't drive each other crazy sometimes, but the basic plan works for them most of the time.

Needless to say, I picked up some of Dad's habits. Not enough to be anything close to a Type A personality, but enough to be a D-.

Today, my procrastinating, bit me in the butt. I figured I would save my writing for the end of the day since I had some scheduled items to do during the day. Then I had to do a favor for a friend. Then I had to take Mom food shopping because Dad was tied up with house repairs. All of this was not a problem, I was happy to do it. But, at the end of the day, when supper was over, I realized I have no time to write tonight. I'm just exhausted.

So, I forced myself to sit down to at least write this blog. Keep the writing muscle flexed.

And that's the key to overcoming procrastination: do. Just sit and do it. Don't put off for a minute, a day, or a year. Some people say, "I'll wait until I'm retired to write a novel." Why? Between now and retirement you can learn so much more about writing that will make that novel a bestseller if you start writing NOW. All it takes is a page a day. That's all.

Even though I did not get to work on my scheduled work, I did write. Here it is. And this is more than many writers did today. And that puts me one step ahead. What have you written today?
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

The Turning of the Scene

This week was an interesting week. On Monday I woke up with a pile of bills and no way to pay them, problems with unemployment, problems with my lousy high-deductible health insurance, and I could not find a job listing I was suited for anywhere. On top of it all, my church had called over the weekend and told me I couldn't volunteer anymore until I resubmitted all my paperwork and got fingerprinted again because they didn't have a file on me (ie: they lost everything).

Monday was not a good day.

I was ready to scream by the end of the day.

But then, today my scene turned. I received my first reimbursement check from the insurance company; they finally fixed everything that was screwed up since February. I went to a Reemployment Meeting at the county and learned I'm eligible to go back to school for free, even though I have a Graduate Degree. I also stopped in at the Unemployment office and found out that my file was wrong in the computer and six checks were released to me by the time I left the office. It seems I will make all my bills on time after all. And I found four new listings for English teachers. Of course I had already resubmitted all my paperwork for volunteering on Monday.

So, things are looking better today.

When writing for film or television, you have to make sure that each of your scenes TURN. They have to go from either negative to positive or positive to negative. That's it. If the scene does not turn, your story is stagnant and your storyline does not move forward.

For example, in Die Hard, Hans Gruber brings Mr. Takagi into his office to demand a code to get into Nakatomi's computer system. The scene starts out with Mr. Takagi in quasi-control as he insists he does not have the code, thereby thwarting Hans from getting into the computer (POSITIVE). However, the scene flips when Hans decides he doesn't want to play nice with Mr. Takagi anymore and shoots him in the head (VERY NEGATIVE). This also lets John McClaine, who is in hiding, realize that he is not dealing with simple terrorists--he's not sure what he's dealing with anymore (NEGATIVE).

Another example: in Casablanca, it appears that Rick is set to flee Casablanca with Ilsa, allowing her husband to be taken by the Nazis (NEGATIVE: not nice giving anyone to Nazis). Instead, Rick makes the ultimate sacrifice by sending Ilsa off with her husband, as it should be, and turns himself over to the Nazis. The surprise is that Captain Renault, not wanting to turn in his gambling buddy, shoots the Nazi and he and Rick wander off into the fog planning their escape, "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship" (POSITIVE: dead Nazi = plus).

Make sure your scenes have that range. People don't want to sit through a scene that goes nowhere. If that were true, we'd all hang out at Aunt Bee's knitting parties and talk about ringworm. Life is interesting because of its ups and downs. Use them.

Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Miscellaneous Musings

I had this great idea this morning about what to write about in my blog, but then I broke the number one cardinal rule: I didn't make a note of it. I was too busy. The day wore on and hours later after answering e-mail, looking for work, eating dinner, taking a long nap (I'm finishing up antibiotics, okay!), watching Men In Black for the zillionth time, and working on my screenplay, I realize the idea escaped me. Hopefully, it will come back to me over the next couple of days. In the meantime, I decided to share writing related items that I discovered in the past couple of weeks that may be helpful to you all.

The first was a gift from my mother. It's this great little external hard drive, called CLICKFREE, that she ordered for me from either QVC or HSN (her two favorite networks) because she said, I need it. This sucker holds 320 GB and will back up TWENTY computers. The wrappings say its easier than making toast. I thought, Yeah, right, we'll see.

I plugged my Clickfree into my computer, the icon popped up, and nothing happened. I thought, here we go. . . it's broken. I immediately starting reading about troubleshooting. Then my eye was caught by the Clickfree drive box. I clicked on that icon and was shocked to find that every single thing on my computer had saved to the Clickfree drive in less than 30 seconds. Everything: photos, music, film, screenplays, novels, documents, you name it. I am still stunned. This is a must for all writers. It is better than any external saving mechanism I have ever used. AND, when you add new things to your computer, just pop in Clickfree and it saves only the new stuff. It's smart too! Go to clickfree.com. Or, I guess you can search for it on QVC or HSN's websites as well.

The second item I wanted to mention was the book where I'm getting all these essays on writing that I've been talking about lately. When I start writing, the book is usually in another part of the house, so today I made sure to have the title and editor on me. It's called How I Got Published and it's edited by Ray White. I purchased it at Barnes and Nobles for six or seven dollars by the sale items. It's a wonderful text for writers. It's full of stories of how writers got their work read, accepted, and how they crossed from writing as a hobby to writing professionally and full time. While I know some of the writers, many of them are new to me and its exciting to learn about new writers as well. It's a great resource. There are also essays by editor Ray White throughout it like "How to Write a Query." Check it out.

Third, and this isn't new, its an ongoing process: where to find inspiration. A lot of people tell me they can't get started writing or they don't know what to write about. I think they're just afraid to put words on paper, but that's just another story for a psych journal. Here are some ways to inspire yourself to write:

1. Music: I revised my entire screenplay Malice in Medellin listening to Sting's Desert Rose over and over. It had the feel I wanted for the film. I picture the film opening with this song. In a perfect world, the director would choose it. Use a song to get the tone you want for a story. Use a line from a story to begin a scene. Stephen King quotes music all the time in his horror novels. J.K. Rowling and the Twilight author also listen to their favorite music when they write.

2. Art: A brilliant film is What Dreams May Come. A man (Robin Williams) who has passed away is looking for his wife who committed suicide on the "other side," which is a world of art. He actually walks through his wife's painting when he first dies. The title itself is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet. It's wonderful to see and Williams, as always, is brilliant.

Another good example is Fish Tale (I believe that's the title) where a young man, who was sick of his father's "tall tales" has to go back to bury him. The film perfectly reveals surrealism at its best as this man journeys back to his father and meets his father's unique friends. At the end of the film, the true nature of his father's friends are revealed to him as the young man releases his father into the water at his funeral. His father's body turns into a giant fish and swims away. The symbolism is beautiful.

3. A Moment: I have already written about the importance of the moment in modern writing. Pick a moment in your life that was important and write about it: the birth of your child, the death of a loved one, the first time you tried something new, the last time you were somewhere special, the time you met someone you will never forget. . .

When I was in graduate school I went through a rough spot with my writing. I had a professor who hated everything I wrote and she tore my writing to shreds. She was a nutter. It got to the point that I didn't take any joy in writing anymore and I stopped writing anything that wasn't for school. That was for over a year.

Then I lost my Grandmother.

I was pretty close with my Grandmother. She moved in with us at the end of her life and every day I came home from school or work, she was there and we'd talk and laugh. I knew we were on borrowed time, but I pushed that to the back of my head because she appeared to be healthy, even though 90% of her arteries were blocked.

After she passed, I needed to deal with my loss. I never look at death as final; I knew I'd see her one day again, but for now and for the rest of this life, I would miss her. So, I sat down and did something I rarely did.

I wrote poetry.

I don't remember what I wrote or if it was even any good. But, what I do remember is that it opened a door for me and I kept writing. I didn't have to write to please Crazy Shakespeare Lady or anybody else. I had to write for me.

The moment of losing my Grandmother became a catharsis for me. It didn't matter what came out right then. What mattered was that I kept on writing.

And that's what we need to do. Keep on writing. No matter what anyone says. Someday, someone will read it.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Become a Yogi

On Wednesday I took my first Yoga class in four years. I admit I was a little nervous. I know I'm out of shape, I can no longer do a back bend or handstand, and too much stress on my back, neck or arms can trigger serious migraines and a trip to the ER. Yet, I was determined to try.

So, I went back to my Yoga studio to find that it is under new ownership with all new teachers. The result? I had a wonderful experience. My new teacher, the new owner, is quite excellent. She is able to hone in on what each individual in the class needs. When she walked over to help me with my back bend exercise and I informed her that I haven't done a back bend in four years, she immediately modified my exercise. To my surprise, I was doing a back bend against the wall by the end of class without any stress to my body and without any migraines.

What the instructor stressed was that it was important in Yoga to savor where you are in each pose, not to worry about what you aren't doing or what you can't do. Of course, that got me thinking about writing. I had been reading an essay on writing where a writer was told by his agent to write a 500 page book, which he thought to be an impossible task since he had only written short stories up until that point. Then he got to thinking and he thought he could write three pages. And the next day he could write another three. By his calculations, he could have that novel written in six months.

Of course there is also the Buddhist saying that "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

The problem with finishing any writing task is actually sitting down and beginning it for most people. They fret too much about the entire mind-boggling task itself instead of focusing on just a portion at a time.

Three pages a day. Or one. If you write one page, I'll bet you'll write more. Once you get going, you'll be a master.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

What's Better Left Unsaid

A higher level writing technique (and acting) involves subtext. What is not being said. When is an everyday conversation just an everyday conversation or when is it about something else? What is involved in people's conversations? How much do you need to say and how much is too much information and deliberately "pointing?"

A simple phrase such as, "That's a nice pen" can be the center of an entire scene or conflict. What if the pen is the final case breaking clue in a murder? What if the pen is being used as a line-opener in a Romantic Comedy? Or, in Seinfeld's case, what if your father's crazy Florida neighbor uses it against you later when he forces you to take the pen and then later tells everyone about the nerve you had?

A great television show that is all subtext is Mad Men. The writing on this show is exquisite. What seem to be on the surface simple every day conversations with family and friends reveals deeper conflicts in relationships and in the character's individual lives. Watch any conversation between Betty and Don Draper and you can see the constant tension in their marriage. Betty is an ice queen and Don is a liar. Both are adulterers. On the surface, they appear to be the perfect couple with the typical home life, but the subtext shows us so much more. It is what is unsaid between them that keeps the viewer riveted.

When writing dialogue, its best to go through your drafts to make sure you're not saying more than you need to. Can you cut your dialogue by half? Remember, some of the most memorable lines in books and film are just that. . .lines. What if James Bond said, "Shaken, over the rocks, not stirred, add a swizzle stick, and an olive, Love." Not as catchy as, "Shaken, not stirred," is it? And what if Bogey said, "Play it, Sam until I cry my eyes out in my gin or fall on the floor unconscious." A little too much. . .

Remember, less is more. Let your readers use their imaginations.

Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Oz

I have a friend in Australia that I've been writing to since we were thirteen. (I won't tell you how many years we've been writing, but it's been a while). The nice thing about having a pen-pal from such a young age, other than building a life-long friendship with an extraordinary person, is that it gets you interested in a new and different place. Because of my friendship with Tina, I became a huge fan of everything Australia. My belief is if it's from Australia, it's gotta be good.

When I was younger, I listened to Men at Work and Olivia Newton John. Tina introduced me to an entirely new repertoire of Australian music as well. I became very interested in learning about Australia's states and culture, particularly the Aboriginal culture itself. I knew about the release of Crocodile Dundee before it hit the United States because Tina had written me about it. And I was a fan of Paul Hogan way before the movie was ever made because I always remembered him as the guy in the Quantas commercials.

After graduating college, I journeyed to Australia to meet her. It was a wonderful trip (even though I screwed up the arrival date and she came the day before to the airport for us. My fault entirely. Doy.) Australia was bidding for the Olympics that year. They won. I visited Cairns, Queensland and Sydney, Australia with a side trip to Wollongong. I saw all the major tourist spots and then went to search for my favorite critters: crocodiles.

A year later an amazing man named Steve Irwin would hit the airwaves in the United States. I felt I had found a soul mate. There was someone else who called reptiles "Beautiful" other than me. I never would have believed that less than a decade later, I'd be mourning the loss of this beautiful soul with the rest of the world.

And then there's the Wiggles. My friend told me about them first because her daughter watched them. Then I saw them at Australia Zoo on television. They were Australian, so I was hooked. Now, the Wiggles are something I share with my two year old Goddaughter. Ironically, her favorite Wiggles video is Wiggles Safari with Steve Irwin and his family.

I also sing her the Kookaburra song. I think I've passed on some good things to her. None of which would have come into my life if it wasn't for a 13 year old girl, now a lovely woman, named Christina.

Thankfully, I kept notes of my trip to Australia. A lot of those memories became the basis of my third screenplay, A Kangaroo in the Hand. Maybe one day it will make it to the screen and reach over to Tina as well.

For now, I will concentrate on my rewrite of it. It was Tina, after all, who after seeing Point Break said (about the actor in the final scene), "That was the worst Australian accent I ever heard." I want to do this one right. I don't want to let her. . .or my other Ozzie mates. . . down.

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree

Merry, merry king of the bush is he

Laugh! Kookaburra! Laugh! Kookaburra!

Gay your life must be. . .
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Learning an Art

I recently took up the art of jewelry making. I did it for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I needed something to pass the time between jobs. When I began a couple of months ago, I fought a little with the jewelry I was working on. The chain mail I attempted was just not looking right and had to be pulled apart several times. The necklace I had strung broke the moment I had put it on.

I began to read up on it more and more and gather ideas. I learned how to make the proper jewelry knots. I found a way to make chain mail that was easiest for me. The result is that I have a pile of completed pieces and family and friends are putting in requests.

I was blessed with the ability to always be able to write. I've never had writer's block. Some days I fought against sitting down and starting to write, but I was never at a loss for ideas or how to start. There's just too much bouncing around in my brain.

But, what I did have to learn is the art of writing. I had to learn what made a story a story and how to craft that story. Luckily, I learned that pretty young. I was an avid reader all my life and knew all about a five-act structure before it was even taught to me in High School.

What I didn't know then was that there are three-act structures. And four-acts. A screenplay is different from a play. An hour long episodic is crafted differently than a half-hour comedy. These all have their own individual forms, styles, and feels. I needed to read up on them, read examples, and then study them from copy to screen.

After graduating with a M.A., I thought I knew everything there was to know about story structure. Then I took Robert McKee's Story Structure class. The first day recapped everything I already knew about writing from college and graduate school. It was a good refresher. The second and third day, which included a frame by frame film study of Casablanca, blew me away. I was amazed at how much I didn't know and I was very glad I had taken the course. Since then, I've taken McKee's Comedy workshop and Thriller workshop as well. They were equally outstanding. There's a reason why he's called the "screenwriter's guru." I highly recommend them all.

Don't rest on your laurels. Keep learning. My favorite college professor and friend, Dr. Douglas Schwegel, used to love to quote the philosopher (I believe it was Aristotle) who said education is like climbing a mountain. You climb and climb and eventually you will reach a plateau, only to find there is much, much more mountain to tackle.

Not a day goes by where I don't try to learn. I'm addicted to it. I think its part of the reason why we're here on Earth. And, in this day and age, with the entire world easily accessible to us, there is so much to learn!

The more you learn about writing, the better a writer you'll be. The more you learn about anything else, the more interesting your writing will be.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Be An Original

If you're ever looking for a different book to read and want something that has a strong literary base as well, read The Famished Road by Ben Okri. It's a wonderful South African fiction novel about a young boy who is an abiku. An abiku is the spirit of a child that is born over and over again to the same woman only to die again before the age of five. The abiku child is almost like a curse because he or she can drive his mother insane with grief from miscarriages and the death of young children. In The Famished Road, the main character is an abiku child who lives past the age of five, but can see the spirit world all around him. I can tell you I have never in my life read a novel like it.

And, having a Masters in Literature, I've read a lot of novels.

I thought about The Famished Road today because Ben Okri was quoted on an older episode of Criminal Minds tonight. (One of the things I love about Criminal Minds is that they quote the best novelists that ever lived in the beginning and end of each brilliant episode).

It made me think of originality. What is it that makes some works so outstanding in originality, while others are just cookie cutter copies? I believe that originality lies in the origin of the creation: you. If you write what you know, just like they've been pounding in your head all these years, you will absolutely have an original work.

My screenplays are very original, even when I'm doing a lot of research to back it up. There is a part of me in each of my characters, along with my personal experiences. My entire script, The P.A. is based on my experiences working on film sets either as an actress or as a member of the production crew. The main character in the screenplay I'm working on now, A Kangaroo in the Hand is modeled (loosely) on a Vietnam Vet I met riding the Sydney railroad back in the early 90s.

J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books for her own amusement. She was just happy to get The Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone published. It's the most original fantasy work I've ever read.

If I were to say: think about a horror story set in Maine. . . I'd be shocked if Stephen King doesn't pop into your mind. He's cornered the market on that original genre.

So, what story is in you? What do you have to tell or teach?

Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Cheerio!

Advertise

'Tis that season again. My little cousin had popped over to show off his awesome Halloween costume and I knew that the season was upon us.

Well, actually, he was just the final omen. The omens begin in my neighborhood when the ghosties, jack-o-lanterns, spiders, and witches begin to adorn all my neighbors homes. Then, the Halloween house goes up at the top of my street.

Every year, one of my neighbors goes all out. They build a haunted house on their front lawn complete with spooky sounds and dry ice. Their entire family dresses up as different "scary" characters to greet the public and hand out candy to delighted kiddies. Last year, the Riddler guarded the haunted house with his Tommy-gun while Frankenstein snuck up on unsuspecting visitors. My one-year old Goddaughter (dressed as a froggie), was delighted to shake Frank's giant green hand!

My neighbors have no problem advertising the coming of seasons and holidays. Every holiday turns our street into the Las Vegas strip with blinking lights of appropriate holiday color, giant blow-up figures, and decorations of all types from hand made to custom made. My best friend always asks me, "What's wrong with your neighbors? The holiday's a month and a half away." She thinks they're competing. And, maybe they are. But, knowing my neighbors, I know they are celebrating and advertising the coming season.

You should advertise your work as well. Create a website to showcase your work or resume. When sending out queries, include your website, blog address, and any other internet address that is relevant. On my letters I include my blog address and the address for inktip, noting that my work is posted there.

If you have a work published, you should be out there hawking it as well. What markets would read your book? Contact your publisher or agent and see what they think about you contacting other markets.

If you are on a website related to what you have written, post the name of your book under comments. Someone will see it.

If you have written something new and its available to the public, you should send out a mass email to everyone on your email list, facebook, and twitter. (And whatever else you subscribe to). If you won't advertise for yourself, who will?

Peace! Watch out for Wolverine!
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Research, research, research . . .

Tonight I am logging on again after CSI: Miami. What can I say? I have an addiction. It's better than many other addictions, you have to admit. I enjoy the show for a multitude of reasons including: excellent stories, a phenomenal cast, and beautiful shots of Miami. (I never had a desire to go to Miami until I started watching!) As I was watching, it occurred to me that I should take some time to blog about the importance of research in writing.

How did I make this connection from watching late night television, one may ask? Well, two reasons. The first is obvious: the writers of CSI: Miami have to know what they are writing about. You cannot fake forensic medicine. There are enough people out there who have taken some college biology and/or chemistry to understand what's going on. The second is what goes on behind the scenes: the nefarious tabloids and paparazzi. Being a fan of the show, if I see an article about any of the starring characters, I will read it. Sadly, and I am embarrassed to admit this, this sometimes includes tabloid articles I "stumble" upon.

In one such tabloid article (which I never take as Bible due to the source), it said that Emily Proctor hated working with David Caruso and that they would no longer be filming scenes together because he made her sick. (Poor Red!) I thought that if that were true, that would be sad because they seemed to work off each other so well.

Today, I read another article which included an interview with Emily Proctor where she states how funny David Caruso is in real life. That certainly doesn't sound like hatred to me. And, in another television interview, she talked about his "brilliant" portrayal of Horatio Caine and how he made the show what it now is.

Research. You need to get your facts straight, whether its a column, story, screenplay, or book. It doesn't matter. If you have wrong information in there, someone will know and they will call you on it.

I learned this the hard way. Years ago I wrote a Letter to the Editor that ended up appearing in different papers nationwide commemorating my Great Uncle Steve Hamas, a former boxer. The letter received all kinds of attention from all over the United States and I was pleased to receive copies of articles, pictures, and even a film reel of Uncle Steve boxing from other boxing fans.

So, what was the problem? Well, Uncle Steve had passed away when I was little and I have bits and pieces of memories of him. When I wrote my article, I wrote that Uncle Steve spent the last years of his life in a wheelchair.

He did not.

I had confused him with another member of the family. I did not check my memories with my parents because I wanted to surprise them with the letter.

The boxing fans I spoke to afterward said, "I never knew Steve was in a wheelchair" and, luckily, when I explained the mistake, they didn't seem to care. They were just fascinated to be speaking to a surviving relative. My parents didn't bat an eye. They thought the letter was touching.

But then the responding Letter to the Editor from South Carolina came in the following week.

Apparently, I had a distant cousin out there who remembered Uncle Steve better than I did.

Boy, was he mad.

Let's just say he pointed out my error, called me anti-American, and I think he cut me out of his family tree.

I never forgot that mistake and since then, I've been overly anal about research.

I may not have first hand experience in everything I write, but I research, I interview, and I get people who do know the area I'm writing about to read for me.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

The Almighty Second Opinion

Today I focused on query letters. I'm being very specific who I send my work to. I want a smaller literary agency with less clients so that I can really get to know my agent. I don't want to get lost in the shuffle. I spent the day perfecting individual query letters tailored to individual hand-chosen agents based on clients that they have already represented. If I like their client's work, I feel these agents will appreciate my work as well. I do not waste time or postage on blindly sending out queries to agents that may or may not even work with screenplays. Always research who you are sending your work to.

I wrote up two specific query letters to start with. The next step is the second opinion or the proofreader. You should always have someone honest to read your work and give honest feedback to you. If you don't have anyone you can think of, take a writing class in your area of expertise and ask the teacher for feedback. With queries and a lot of my other work, I always go to the same two people (don't laugh, I have a method): Mom and Dad.

The reason why I go to Mom and Dad is two-fold. As individuals, they provide different versions of feedback for me.

Dad worked as a supervisor at ITT/Defense Communications Divison for 40 years and did hiring and firing. He read tons of resumes and cover letters. He also loves action/adventure and war films, is a former member of the Air National Guard, and is a history buff who would be the ulimate lifeline for any Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? contestant. He is my technical advisor many times when I'm writing anything that has to do with the military, history, or warfare. When he reads a cover letter, he gives me a lot of information. He looks to see if he can tell me what the story is based on my brief description (the one paragraph pitch). He looks to see if he'd hire me as a writer based on my writing skills and credetials. Finally, he makes sure I have my facts straight.

Mom, on the other hand, is my literary right hand. She is the second pair of eyes I need when I can no longer stand to read through a page looking for spelling and grammar. My mother never went to college. She was the oldest of three and her two younger brothers were expected to go to college because they were expected to take care of a family. In those days, she was expected to marry and be taken care of and, in turn, take care of her husband and family. (That was the 50's, baby. . .) It didn't stop my mother from becoming a prolific reader and lover of words. She reads, on average, a novel a night. (Is there any doubt as to how her daughter became an English teacher and writer?) I always thought that if Mom had the chance, she would have made an outstanding English Lit. teacher. She had me reading before Kindergarden. But, I digress. Mom is one of my readers because she can find all the missing commas, misspellings, homonyms, grammatical errors, and general stupidity that my fried little brain may have missed during final revisions. She also re-tells me my story to make sure its clear. And, when I'm working on comedy, Mom is the best critic because she has an outstanding sense of humor. She knows what works and what doesn't.

I do have other people who read for me as well. Most of them are close friends and family members. I do this because I know they'll be honest with me. If something isn't working, they'll tell me. They'll also be specific about what they like. I'm blessed to have them.

What's the best part of asking for the second opinion? When they ask you what else you're working on when they're finished. . . and if they can read that too. That's when you know you're on to something.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

To Revise or Not to Revise: That is the Question. . .

I think there are three points in a writer's creative life: there's the point where they begin an entirely new project, the point when they finish a project, and the point when they revisit old projects, revise them and give them new life. I usually have work in all three stages. As you've probably guessed from my last few blogs, I'm focusing on the third stage lately.

Today I spent the day transfering a screenplay from my old PC to my newer Mac only to find that I had already done it about a year ago. This gives you an idea of the amount of writing files I have saved on my computer (and I have a pretty clear filing system too!) So, I spent some time today going through the first 25 pages making sure that the formatting was correct (a lot of it was not from the conversion) and making notes on things I want to change.

What I decided upon finishing those 25 pages is that I have another revision coming up once I get though checking the format. Now, there are a lot of writers who never stop revising and never send out their work. I'm not one of those. I pick a point where I want my "final" draft done and I begin sending it out from there.

The truth is, you'll never be done writing. You can revise until the end of time and it can drive you insane. What will happen with your work once it's purchased? An editor or director will change everything anyway and make it even better. They'll see things you couldn't because you were too close to it.

Of course, that doesn't mean that you send out garbage. My work goes through at least four to six drafts before being sent out. I make sure my plot is strong, my characters move the story forward, each scene turns, and all my spelling and grammar have been triple checked.

So why am I revising this screenplay now? Well, I wrote it a while ago. It was one of the first screenplays I wrote and I was just learning the format. I now know a lot more about formatting screenplays and about punching lines in a comedy. I know this screenplay can be even better than it is. I'm not getting hung up on minor issues, I'm looking at a major overhaul of format and dialogue. That's what a good revision is about.

Here's a fun exercise for you to try: go back to one of the earliest pieces of writing you have and read it through with a notebook next to you. How would you change it now? Would you rewrite it entirely? If you wouldn't change a thing, I suggest you go out and start learning something new about the craft. Don't fall in love with your words. A great writer once said, "Murder your Darlings." You have to cut out the bad writing (and characters!) to let the good stuff shine through.

So learn the fine line between when to revise and when to move on to the next project. But always keep writing.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

My Philadelphia Story: My Moments

I barely remember the last time I visited Philadelphia. I know I was back in grade school, back when bear chased you uphill in a snow storm, and when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It was a time when history had no real meaning to me, George Washington was just a character in a big boring book called Social Studies, and history lessons bored me to tears. None of it was real to me. As I look back, I remember smatherings of moments: the Liberty Bell, which was still in Independence Hall and couldn't be touched, the outside of Betsy Ross's house, which appeared to be so little, and purchasing a copy of the Declaration of Independence as my souvenier for the day and not understanding a single word of it.

A lot has changed since then. I now drive to work (when I work) and if there's a bear, I wait for him to lumber across the road in the snow storm as I enjoy the heater and my Billy Idol CD. Dinosaurs? I eat them for breakfast. They taste like chicken.

But the most important thing that has changed is that history has deep meaning for me now. George Washington and my Founding Fathers are flesh and blood to me and as important to my life as my own ancestors. For I now understand that without George, Ben, and the others, I would not be living in the Land of Freedom that I am today. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents ever written and I now understand every word. Retracting my own footsteps as an adult made Philadelphia's history come to life for me. I did go back to the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross's house (still small!) and understood their significance on a deeper level than I did as a child. Most poignant was realizing that Betsy Ross made musket shot during the Revolutionary war! She was making aritilary to help the revolution! To me, that made her even more extraordinary.

But, my favorite stop, which I recommend to anyone who visits Philly, was Christ's Church. When you walk in, you are immediately swept into an unofficial tour. I went to the Church, just to see it, but got the extra bonus of learning where Ms. Ross, President Washington, and Benjamin Franklin all sat during church services. I learned that the baptismal font in the rear of the church, a gift from England, is the same baptismal font that William Penn was baptised in. I learned that revolutions began at the pulpit of this church and where seven of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were burried.

Of course, as I walked the streets of Philadelphia, I was bombarded by pictures and images of one of my favorite historical figures: Benjamin Franklin. I don't know what it was about Mr. Franklin, but I always felt a connection to him since I was a little girl. I think it had something to do with the fact that although he was a great man, a philosopher, and an inventor, he also had a passion for life and a wonderful sense of humor. It's nice to see that Ben is still alive in the streets of Philadelphia. As mementos of my visit, I purchased a children's book called, How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightening by Rosalyn Schanzer to read to my Goddaughter and little cousins and for myself, I got a pocket book of Ben's Wit and Wisdom. I'm hoping to pass on my love of Ben and begin an interest in American history with the little ones in my family. It's their turn to make a connection to the past.

Now to tie this all back into writing. First of all, you should always be either journaling or taking notes when you are traveling. Don't expect yourself to remember every detail. You won't. Even super-human brains recall 10-20% of what they are told (tops!) without making any sort of effort to record their lessons.

But what it really reminds me of is the theme of the "moment" in Modern writing. In grad school I studied (among other things) Modern American Drama and I remember that one of the most important themes of Modern Drama was to have important, life-affirming moments. In a modern story, the idea of "happily ever after" is just not believed anymore. We live in a world of war, sickness, and death. What the modern writer searches for are those moments in time that make life worth living or where a character has a life-altering epiphany.

An example of this that really stands out to me is the ending of Torch Song Trilogy where Harvey Firestein's character has suffered the death of his lover to a bunch of gay bashers.  He is forced to raise their adopted and troubled teenager by himself and is facing unacceptance of who he is by his mother. In the final scene, when Harvey is feeling completely alone, his mother makes a move toward understanding and compassion and dedicates a song on the radio to Harvey to let him know that she's there for him and she loves him. Although their relationship has a long way to go, its a start and in that moment, they have a new beginning. (This movie is so powerful, that a family member of mine who was completely homophobic gained a new understanding of the gay community from watching this film. He is now more tolerant of gay men and women and, like the mother in the film, is taking baby steps.)

As writers, we need to write memorable moments. Whether we are writing modern drama or not does not matter. When you think of your favorite novels or screenplays, moments come to mind. Die Hard: "Yippie-ki Yeh, Mother-". Psycho: "Blood? Mother? What have you done?" The Wizard of Oz: "I'll get you and your little dog too!" Casablanca: "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship." The Caine Mutiny: "And the stawberries. . ." Think of the moments surrounding each of these phrases and you're sure to smile and nod in agreement.

With all this in mind, be sure to record the important moments in your life. Do it now before all the details escape you. As Ben Franklin once said, "You may delay, but Time will not." You'll be glad you wrote them down.
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

It's Who You Know: But Be Ready!

Do you have any idea how Jaws made it to the screen? Steven Speilberg was on the beach one day, ran into a producer, pitched his idea about a man-eating shark, and the rest was history. A lot of times people say that it's who you know and that's partly true, but the other half is being ready when being presented with an opportunity, so it doesn't go flying past you.

Another example is Nia Vardolos and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She was waiting tables when Tom Hanks and his wife walked in and sat in her section. She developed a rapport with them, pitched her idea for a screenplay about her Greek wedding, and when the Hankses said they'd love to read it, low and behold, she just happened to have a copy on her! (Now that's being ready!)

As mentioned yesterday, I'm between teaching jobs. My father told me he had a lead for me. A coaching friend of his knows someone who is in with the superintendent in a particular district. I called the coach and left a message. Tonight, as I was in the middle of my writing work, he popped over my house, cell phone in hand, and announced, "My buddy's on the phone." He handed the phone and the interview began. I suddenly had to answer questions about my teaching background, my education, my skills, and where I worked in the past. If I did not answer correctly, I would not be able to meet with the superintendent later. Needless to say, I was ready since I've been ready for any last minute job interview that might pop up.

But, I had to learn all this the hard way. A while ago, when I was young and green, I had cold called literary agents trying to find representation. Most of them hung up on me. Surprisingly, one said, "Ok, pitch your story." I was flabbergasted and unprepared. I did not have a pitch ready. Instead I attempted to retell my story (badly) in about five minutes in the most convoluted way possible. At the end of my "pitch" the agent (God bless him) very politely responded, "I don't think you have what we're looking for.  Good luck to you" and hung up.

I missed an opportunity there and probably scared that agent off of ever answering his phone again.

So, be ready. Have your screenplays or novels finished and ready to go. Have your pitches learned (not memorized--make them a part of you!) Be ready when an agent or producer says, "Pitch me your story" and be ready to pitch them another if they respond, "That's not quite what we're looking for right now."

Speaking of agents, I began my search for agents to query. Between job searching, talking to unemployment, and my impromptu telephone interview today, I managed to pull out a long list. It wasn't easy at first. My copy of The Writer's Market has gone AWOL. That means it has either gone on hiatus in the attic accidentally or I got the brilliant idea to donate it somewhere because it wasn't a 2009 edition. No worries, as they say in Oz. If you log on to wga.org/agency, the Writer's Guild of America has a long list of Writer's Guild signatories to choose from listed by state. I went through the New York listings and chose twelve to start with that I haven't already submitted to. Then I cross-referenced them with imdbpro.com (Internet Movie Database Pro), where I looked up particular agents in the agencies to target, who they currently represent, and what screenplays their clients have written so I can tailor my query letters to each individual.

This took a very long time and proved to be unfruitful for most of the listings. So, I have a bunch of agencies that I'll have to branch out beyond imdbpro into the internet to find information about them.

Overall, it has been more of a "business" day. Not much creative writing has gotten done. Tomorrow I may not get any writing done as I will be traveling to Philadelphia for the day. I will try to find time tomorrow evening to blog and let you know all about my day trip! In the meantime, write your story! You have one inside of you!
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE