tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77724657809957965492024-03-12T21:43:32.677-07:00Bitch. Procrastinate. Write. Tips for fellow writers and wannabe writers to conquer this vicious cycle and be more productive.
Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-14024455227948311142014-03-24T02:56:00.010-07:002014-03-24T03:21:58.588-07:00Want to be a more productive writer? Put down your crystal ball <i>He didn't have it all figured out...</i><br />
The words are still echoing in my brain.<br />
That's basically what my favorite author, <a href="http://www.armisteadmaupin.com/" target="_blank">Armistead Maupin </a>of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/52595-tales-of-the-city" target="_blank">"Tales of the City"</a> fame, told a packed auditorium about many of the clever plot twists, characters and callbacks scattered throughout his nine book series. He didn't <i>"plan" </i>them ahead of time.<i> </i> He just wrote.<br />
Huh?<br />
<a href="http://www.verisure.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Psychic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.verisure.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Psychic.jpg" height="165" width="200" /></a> I mean, I knew the early books started as newspaper columns, but come on...<br />
You really didn't "see' the whole story before you started? Or at least half? There are anagrams and intricacies that could only have been achieved by months and months of outlining, right?<br />
Nope. <br />
<i> He didn't have it all figured out.</i><br />
He just wrote.<br />
He told the audience that in the<br />
beginning, his goal was to just stay one step ahead of the readers. And he found that when he needed to "connect the dots." They just seemed to be there.<br />
Really? What is this? Magic?<br />
I like to plan. Well, I take that back. I'm not a planner in my day-to-day life -- much to my boyfriend's chagrin. But when it comes to a writing project, I can outline like a mutha. My brain wants every detail spelled out before I start. Every twist. Every turn. I want to be clever. I want to know that when the heroine wears the blue dress in Episode 3, it will become a significant plot point in Episode 75 and later how it will appear -- to the audience's surprise -- in the closing shot of the series finale.<br />
<a href="http://www.photographyblogger.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographyblogger.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/011.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a> I can easily get caught up, postponing the actual "writing" while I think and over think.<br />
<i> He didn't have it all figured out. </i><br />
<i> He ... didn't.... have... it ... all ... figured ... out?</i><br />
<i> He didn't have it all figured out! </i><br />
<i> ... </i>Whew!<i> </i>What a relief! <br />
The Universe knew I needed to hear that. I needed to be reminded to trust myself enough to just WRITE. Sometimes you gotta put away the charts and graphs, the outlines and the formulas and just dive in.<br />
You can't connect dots that you never actually created.<br />
I get it. Loud and clear.<br />
Will I change my ways completely? <br />
Well .... let's just say I'm <i>planning</i> on it.<br />
<br />
<br />Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-251436014023881252014-03-10T11:41:00.001-07:002014-03-10T11:41:30.974-07:00Deadlines: How to turn this enemy into your best friend <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bigpicturecasting.com/images/hs-jen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://bigpicturecasting.com/images/hs-jen.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bigpicturecasting.com/index.html" target="_blank">Jen Kelley</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Guest Post </b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i> Today's writing advice comes from<a href="http://bigpicturecasting.com/aboutus.html#" target="_blank"> Jen Kelley</a>, the co-founder, head writer and co-artistic director for </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.sketchworkscomedy.com/" target="_blank">Sketchworks</a>, Atlanta's premier sketch comedy theater. Jen is also a casting director and co-founder of </i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bigpicturecasting.com/index.html" target="_blank">Big Picture Casting</a>, after spending many years as a talent agent and co-authoring the book</i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Actors-Guide-Kids-Comprehensive/dp/1885436807" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 14.44444465637207px;">"</span><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;">The Actor’s Guide for Kids</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 14.44444465637207px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Actors-Guide-Kids-Comprehensive/dp/1885436807" target="_blank">"</a>.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px;"> </span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Despite all of her accomplishments, I always think of Jen as "teacher." </i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was Jen who taught the first sketch-writing class I ever took (... and the second ... and the third... and the...) It was her example, guidance and encouragement that put me on a path that eventually changed my career and my life. I still use many of the techniques she taught me then today. As a writer, she's practical and fearless. And is one of the few people I know who actually <b>embraces </b>the rewrite process, whether it be plays, sketches or films. </i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Today, she talks about her love/hate relationship with deadlines. </i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Advice from writer/casting director Jen Kelley </span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who needs a stinkin' deadline? I do </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It’s 11 p.m, Sunday night and I’m
just now sitting down to write a piece for Robin’s blog, which is
appropriately titled, “Bitch, Procrastinate, Write” – due
tomorrow of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I love a deadline. I hate a deadline.
I love to hate a deadline. But without deadlines, I might have little
to show for myself. One thing I tend to do, without really intending
to do it, is to declare a deadline out loud to a group of people, who
will now hold me</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> accountable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The first full-length play I wrote, I
created such a deadline. A couple producers told me they were
looking to produce a comedy. I quickly mentioned that I had written
a play that might be up their alley. I told them a little about it,
and we decided we would have a play reading in two weeks. I would
line up the actors, and they would hear the play out loud and then
decide if they wanted to produce it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.routetofreedom.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bigstock_The_big_Due_Date_day_the__th_23685359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.routetofreedom.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bigstock_The_big_Due_Date_day_the__th_23685359.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Now, it wasn’t a lie. I really had
written a play and in my mind, that play was comedy gold. BUT, and
there is always a “but,” that play had been written many years
ago when I was still writing on a word processor and I was just out
of college. I mean, the damn thing was on a floppy disc. My current
computer couldn’t even read it. But that was OK, I had a hard
copy. I found that hard copy and re-read it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> While the idea still had merit, I soon
realized that I could only salvage about 15 percent of it. Most was
sophomoric at best. The rest of it, well, it made the sophomoric crap
look like golden sophomoric crap. Needless to say, I had to start
re-writing and FAST.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The table read was already scheduled. I
was in deep. As you can imagine, the next two weeks were insane. I
wrote every night into the wee hours. When I resurfaced, I had a
multimedia, three-act play. I was still rewriting up until the
read-through, but the point is this: the deadline got that play
written. Without it, the play would never have been produced, let
alone sold out every night like it did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Another thing I always wanted to try
was standup comedy. I kept talking about it, but I never did
anything more than talk. Then one day, on a whim I signed up for a
standup comedy class. I had eight weeks to write my routine and then
perform it at the<a href="http://www.punchline.com/index.asp" target="_blank"> Punchline</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> While I still have stress dreams about
it, I did it. I met the deadline, and it actually went fine. I
crossed another item off my bucket list. Never underestimate the
power of a class deadline. All you have to do is commit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> While deadlines can be tremendously
stressful, they give you a finish line to race toward. When you
declare realistic deadlines out loud to the world, you make yourself
accountability. If saving face is your reason to write, so be it. So,
here in front of everyone who bitches, procrastinates and eventually
writes, I declare that I will complete my screenplay by 3/9/15.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I’ll be writing right up to midnight
the night before. Needless to say, 3/8/15 is going to be one
stressful day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"> <b> </b></span><a href="http://bigpicturecasting.com/aboutus.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><b>Jen Kelley</b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> is a casting director and co-founder of </span><a href="http://bigpicturecasting.com/index.html" target="_blank">Big Picture Casting, Inc. </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> In addition to her casting director career, </span><u style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jen </span><u style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">co-authored </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"> "</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Actors-Guide-Kids-Comprehensive/dp/1885436807" target="_blank">The Actor’s Guide for Kids,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> a step-by-step guide for parents of child actors. In 2001, Jen co-founded </span><a href="http://www.sketchworkscomedy.com/" target="_blank">Sketchworks Theatre</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, Atlanta’s premier sketch comedy troupe where she has written and produced hundreds of sketches. She currently serves as Co-Artistic Director, head writer, director and producer. Jen has also written industrials, short films, and plays.</span></span></div>
Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-88423675620442799222014-03-03T00:30:00.000-08:002014-03-03T01:26:23.419-08:00How to shut up your inner snob -- and start writing <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guest Post</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDNiGGjO9LXLKKVU8gh9DVj9mMlEzVKbpoZnr5QG1WUz4QAuZ85AH5JW2-u3GElXNQg46zZ0KMSx09uvhRiiA1dhDQkflAU3Ncyir0TpjxJmp7sgz3hkcGgMBL5FOksxnYoO8ONwWkb4/s1600/MHcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDNiGGjO9LXLKKVU8gh9DVj9mMlEzVKbpoZnr5QG1WUz4QAuZ85AH5JW2-u3GElXNQg46zZ0KMSx09uvhRiiA1dhDQkflAU3Ncyir0TpjxJmp7sgz3hkcGgMBL5FOksxnYoO8ONwWkb4/s1600/MHcropped.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.madelinehatter.com/">Madeline Hatter </a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Today's writing advice comes from author/comedienne</span><a href="http://www.madelinehatter.com/"> </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.madelinehatter.com/">Madeline Hatter</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">, who I had heard about long before I actually met her. One, because people genuinely love her and her comedy. And two, because, at first glance, folks were constantly getting us mixed up. </span>(We still are puzzled by that. But at least from my end , considering her popularity, I guess it wasn't so bad! ) Madeline describes her novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lookin-Mirror-Madeline-Hatter/dp/143574649X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393815159&sr=1-5&keywords=madeline+hatter">"Lookin’ in the Mirror</a>," as "an unromantic comedy." And I'm not surprised. Madeline has a delightfully unique and quirky way of looking at the world. Here, she talks about killing your inner snob as a key to sparking creativity.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div>
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<b>Advice from Author/Comedienne Madeline Hatter</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep Your Snob in Check</span></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can be a snob. Some days, I wrong-headedly affirm that snobbery: <i>I'm a hipster, hee-hee</i>. I say wrong-headed, because snobbery is dangerous to your process. When you're brainstorming stories, but throwing them all out because they're not “original” enough -- or whatever contrived reason -- it's destructive. And for me, all this was happening before I even touched a key.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Several years ago, I wrote a novel, with a sequel built in. Literally. The first one ends on a cliffhanger. And having not written the sequel dogged me for a long time. So why wasn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> I </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">writing? Snobbery.</span></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuw3qIzJYYouq-l0B9wc3T6r43bAGmRPOYGfnY1SZyLRfK5vWUXg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuw3qIzJYYouq-l0B9wc3T6r43bAGmRPOYGfnY1SZyLRfK5vWUXg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My first novel (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lookin-Mirror-Madeline-Hatter/dp/143574649X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393815159&sr=1-5&keywords=madeline+hatter" style="background-color: transparent;">"Lookin’ in the Mirror"</a>) was a spoof of sorts. I called it an “unromantic comedy” because it followed the same tropes of a typical rom-com, but nobody falls in love. But the second would definitely be a rom-com, and that started to bother me. “I'm so hack,” I would mull to myself. I'd berate myself to come up with stories in other genres. To no avail. Along the way, the messaging became more destructive, with articles touting some established author's process of completing 25 books a year. Finally, I decided that if I wasn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> going to write, I needed to do something else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Years passed,</b> and I had freelanced a little. I covered basketball, politics, and then left writing entirely. (Mostly because politics will drive you nuts.) I got into cooking. Organic living. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locavore"> Locavorism. </a> Interesting stuff, but I wasn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> producing anything. And at my core, I am a creator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> At the encouragement of a coworker, I did my first standup set. I wasn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> horrible, just really, <i>really </i>rough. Looking back, I got some really good laughs for a first-timer. And it wasn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> an audience stacked with family and friends. Then, I took a class at <a href="http://laughingskulllounge.com/" target="_blank">The Laughing Skull.</a> Our graduation show was another feather in my cap. “I can do this,” I thought. But it wasn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> long until that old snob came around again. And I started looking for “deeper, more thoughtful” material, “getting bored” with the stuff I already had – stuff that was getting laughs! Then, the articles: Louis C.K. writes a whole new show every six days!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.novamenteaz.com/_/rsrc/1346399601830/home/no-nosobservedbyhouseofsnobpo-po/noudi-int.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.novamenteaz.com/_/rsrc/1346399601830/home/no-nosobservedbyhouseofsnobpo-po/noudi-int.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Admittedly, this process did bring me to sketch comedy, improv, and now acting – which have also been very good to me. (I'm featuring in <a href="https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=8693f300fce10c6676abadf35a7d77c4"> </a><i><a href="https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=8693f300fce10c6676abadf35a7d77c4">I Hate Hamlet</a></i> at <a href="http://www.lionhearttheatre.org/">Lionheart Theatre </a> starting <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_851114017" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">March 13</span></span>!) But the time came to put the kibosh on "Le Snob."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b> “This is bullshit,” </b>I said to myself. “I'm not a middle-aged white man who's been in comedy for 20 years! I can <i>aspire</i> to create material on that cycle, but if it doesn'<span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">t</span> happen, so be it. I'm me. I need to write what <i>I</i> know, in the cycle that <i>I</i> have.” The message: Learn to appreciate yourself... Your talents, skills... What <i>you</i> bring to the table. If you need to, list them. In fact, it's better if you see them written down. In your own handwriting. And if you're like me, doing so will bring you to finally admit some things you've been hiding, like...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> Datgummit, I like rom-coms!</i> So what if the last one or two, or fifty, have really driven it into the ground. There have been some cherished greats in the genre -- or at least just cherished by me. “So screw you, Snob! I like happy endings! And shut up, comedy self. You know I'm not talking about massage parlors fronting for prostitution.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now all I need to do is sit down long enough to write that sequel...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.madelinehatter.com/" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.madelinehatter.com/">Madeline Hatter</a> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">is a former journalist and graphic designer. Author of the unromantic comedy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lookin-Mirror-Madeline-Hatter/dp/143574649X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393815159&sr=1-5&keywords=madeline+hatter">"Lookin’ in the Mirror"</a>. Atlanta comic. Now, actor. Madeline<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> is the sardonic girl next door, delivering killer quips with her disarming smile. You may know her from her YouTube video </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2OMD9fdKT4">Thank You Black History</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2OMD9fdKT4">.</a> Soon she will feature in the <a href="http://www.lionhearttheatre.org/">Lionheart Theatre </a>production<a href="https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=8693f300fce10c6676abadf35a7d77c4"> </a></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=8693f300fce10c6676abadf35a7d77c4">I Hate Hamlet</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=8693f300fce10c6676abadf35a7d77c4">,</a> running March 13-30, 2014 in Norcross, Ga. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Madeline enjoys outdoors activities with her dog, watching sci-fi/fantasy, practicing Spanish, and writing. While working as a journalist, she published the unromantic comedy "Lookin' in the Mirror". Now she's looking forward to starring in romantic comedies!</span></span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-23813351418343359302014-02-17T00:30:00.000-08:002014-02-17T02:49:59.939-08:00How a simple phrase can boost your writing -- and running <br />
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<b>Guest Post</b></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.susanpuckett.com/" target="_blank">Susan Puckett</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was thrilled when writer/author </i><i><a href="http://www.susanpuckett.com/" target="_blank">Susan Puckett</a></i><a href="http://www.susanpuckett.com/" target="_blank"> </a><i> agreed to do a guest post. </i><i>I knew her advice would be incredibly inspiring and insightful. She did not disappoint. </i><i>Susan, a food expert, has authored several cookbooks</i> <i>including her culinary travelogue,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Drink-Delta-Travelers-Journey/dp/0820344257" target="_blank"> "Eat Drink Delta: A Hungry Traveler’s Journey Through the Soul of the South"</a>. I worked with her at the <a href="http://www.ajc.com/" target="_blank">Atlanta Journal-Constitution,</a> where she served as food editor. She was one of the most passionate and creative editors I had ever worked with. Here, Susan shares her tips on tackling the "uphill battle" of writing. </i></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Advice from author<a href="http://www.susanpuckett.com/" target="_blank"> Susan Puckett </a></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">My Mantra for Running and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Writing...</span></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> For every uphill there’s a downhill. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> For. Every. Uphill. There’s. A. Down. Hill.</span></i><br />
<a href="http://livingspreethegoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/running-uphill1.gif?w=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://livingspreethegoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/running-uphill1.gif?w=640" height="180" width="200" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> For…Every…Up…Hill…</span></i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> My thighs are on fire and lungs feel on the verge of collapse. I am tempted to walk the rest of the way to the top. But I chose this dauntingly hilly course for a reason. I’m on a writing deadline, but the words aren’t coming. Panic is setting in. I need more than a leisurely stroll today. I need to feel the burn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I take a deep breath: <i>For every uphill…</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> And then slowly exhale: <i>there’s a downhill.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Repeat. Again and again, until at last I reach the top.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> That wasn’t so bad! With head up and shoulders back, I lengthen my stride as the road flattens, and then dips, allowing me to coast effortlessly, reveling in the breeze and the satisfaction of this minor achievement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The next hill presents itself. This time, though, I face it with less trepidation. I begin my ascent to the beat of my mantra once again. And when I get to the top, I feel a little more empowered and in control than I did five minutes ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> When I return home, I am fully energized, with a rough sketch in my head of where my story needs to go.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A powerful writing weapon.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For most of my writing life, I have been a runner. I took it up more than three decades ago, while working as a rookie reporter at my first newspaper job. I hoped it would help me lose weight and quit smoking. I accomplished both, and discovered another benefit: the more I ran, the better I wrote. While running did not cure my procrastinating tendencies – which still dog me to this day – it became a powerful weapon to fight back the fears, doubts and insecurities that egg them on. It helped me build confidence and discipline, inspiring me to take risks and see possibilities I couldn’t within the confines of a newsroom. Running, in fact, sparked my interest in food and nutrition, and ultimately put me on the food-writing path that continues 35 years later.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iTnVxIwdw2saNTKoCz767ldLdRKoRYwGQPL6viXU2ZBFXFhBH2-kzC0BfMFnwuo9M1-rRIUHZrGh0d_RuzmDJ1tHcFKerxBuMqoA8yPwvicXTiWC-6n96ugOikrxPLzDZtwAYRa1QaaZ/s1600/How+to+make+your+computer+faster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iTnVxIwdw2saNTKoCz767ldLdRKoRYwGQPL6viXU2ZBFXFhBH2-kzC0BfMFnwuo9M1-rRIUHZrGh0d_RuzmDJ1tHcFKerxBuMqoA8yPwvicXTiWC-6n96ugOikrxPLzDZtwAYRa1QaaZ/s1600/How+to+make+your+computer+faster.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> My running habit has not been totally consistent. For a couple of years, while struggling with personal issues that led to a period of depression, I hardly exercised at all. I fell out of shape and my work suffered, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> About a decade ago, I decided to give it another try. I started very slowly, counting laps on a rubberized track in a gym. I found a supportive group of slow runners who helped me rebuild my mileage on the streets. One of them inspired me to enroll in running guru Jeff Galloway’s marathon training program, which advocates interspersing walk breaks into long runs so even a slowpoke like me has a shot at finishing 26.2 miles.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The magic of mantras. Get one. </span></b><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Galloway, like many athletes and sports psychologists, also speaks often of the motivational powers of a</span><a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/magic-mantras" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"> personal mantra:</a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> a strong word or phrase that can be repeated over and over to replace negative, debilitating thoughts with empowering ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Mantras don’t have to be poetic or profound – only energizing and affirming. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is a litany of others: </span><a href="http://www.runinamerica.com/p/running-motivation.html" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.runinamerica.com/p/running-motivation.html</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Writers have mantras, too, often posted on sticky notes on their computers for a pick-me-up. Blogger/author Rachel Held Evans posted about them,<a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/writing-%20mantras#disqus_thread" target="_blank"> listing a bunch of good ones</a> – short (“<i>Simplify, simplify</i>” – Henry David Thoreau) and not-so-short (“…<i>Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to </i></span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">creativity is self-doubt</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.” – </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sylvia Plath</span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuAJCi9BsWz5Q8hzwTlx5TekrnEqZ04bVljqVYNtfMHMxiBWKy" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuAJCi9BsWz5Q8hzwTlx5TekrnEqZ04bVljqVYNtfMHMxiBWKy" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Where I first heard the mantra that would serve both purposes in my life, I cannot say. I know I didn’t make it up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Somewhere in the midst of an especially grueling training run, those words entered my head and stuck:</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With every uphill, there is a downhill.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Running is hard. Writing is hard. But the harder I push through the challenge of either, the greater the exhilaration once I reach the finish line – be it a marathon or a book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Sometimes, if I am on deadline and can’t break away for a jog, I will compromise with a meditation break. I will step away from my computer, shut my eyes, and visualize myself at the base of a steep hill. Taking deep, controlled breaths, I repeat my little chant to myself until I get to the top, and then try to imagine the<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/health/nutrition/27best.html" target="_blank"> runner’s high</a> as I coast down the other side, perhaps with an audience at the end, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cheering me as I cross the marathon finish line. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Then I open my computer and get to work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.susanpuckett.com/" target="_blank">Susan Puckett </a>is a writer specializing in food-related topics living in Atlanta, Georgia. She has written a number of cookbooks, including her culinary travelogue,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Drink-Delta-Travelers-Journey/dp/0820344257" target="_blank"> "Eat Drink Delta: A Hungry Traveler’s Journey Through the Soul of the South"</a> (University of Georgia Press, 2013.) She most recently </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">collaborated with Daron “Farmer D” Joffe on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Farmers-Biodynamic-Thriving-Communities/dp/1617691011" target="_blank">"Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities, and Give Back To the Earth</a>" to be released in March 2014 by Stewart, Tabori and Chang. She was previously the food editor of the <a href="http://www.ajc.com/" target="_blank">Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a position she held for almost 19 years before taking the freelance plunge in 2008. For more about Susan, go to </span><a href="http://www.susanpuckett.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.susanpuckett.com</a></span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-23561379432666275052014-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:002014-02-10T01:41:59.588-08:00Got no writing ideas? Here's 11 reasons why<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/mikestiles" target="_blank">Mike Stiles </a></td></tr>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/mikestiles" target="_blank">Mike Stiles</a> is Senior Content Manager for the <a href="http://www.oracle.com/us/solutions/social/overview/index.html" target="_blank">Oracle Social Cloud </a>and a writer/producer/performer/ filmmaker for the Atlanta sketch comedy troupe <a href="http://www.sketchworkscomedy.com/" target="_blank">Sketchworks</a>. He's also worked as the executive producer of a national radio comedy network, been a top-rated radio host as well as on-camera and voiceover talent. </i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">What I most admire about Mike is that he is one of the most prolific writers I have ever know. He always has a wealth of ideas that he can quickly and efficiently turn into sketches, scripts, jokes, columns or even monologues at a moment's notice. Today, he dishes up some tough love on how YOU can do it, too. </i></div>
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<b>Advice from writer/author/content manager <a href="https://twitter.com/mikestiles" target="_blank">Mike Stiles </a></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don’t Be One of Those “I Don’t Know What to Write” Writers...</span></b></div>
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Newbies <i>and</i> pros do it. They want to be writers, they like to think of themselves as writers, they feel like they should be writing, and yet they’re uninspired to do so…by anything.</div>
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It’s not a valid excuse. You’re just being lazy and ignorant. </div>
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The world and everyone in it are bombarding you around the clock with things to write. The problem is your senses aren’t on. Instead of asking what you can write about, you should be asking, “Why aren’t I aware and making something of everything that’s being given to me?”</div>
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Here are 11 things for you to mull over while you’re busy being stuck:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> 1.</span><b> </b> If there’s nothing you want to say, why are you a writer? Writers have a need to point something out, make fun of something, explore an unexplored notion, inspire people, vent, educate people, etc. The world doesn’t need more words just for the sake of having more words. If there’s nothing you want to say, it’s okay to be silent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd56PgiCSnvbzNQyCnbfpedj4GDHd0P-iUFcv-k-CmFssCSa0pVLb7bR09i95HyPpxRgnkHBat4T7jf5vqIMRMG-B_A9gJ6YWcVZIVKYE85F6DGfGFcOLb-grG2QOF18oU8k-jW5DrCkI/s1600/sxc.pencilknot+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd56PgiCSnvbzNQyCnbfpedj4GDHd0P-iUFcv-k-CmFssCSa0pVLb7bR09i95HyPpxRgnkHBat4T7jf5vqIMRMG-B_A9gJ6YWcVZIVKYE85F6DGfGFcOLb-grG2QOF18oU8k-jW5DrCkI/s1600/sxc.pencilknot+(1).jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">2.</span></b> You may know full well what you want to write; you’re just too chicken to do it. A lot of great writing personally confronts and challenges the author as it’s being written. You might be reluctant to go through that. Plus there’s the fear of what readers will think.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3.</span></b> Much hinges on your ability to story-tell. No matter what you’re writing, you’re trying to take the reader on a trip from title to final word. How far they go depends on how good you are at making them always want what’s next. Is your not knowing what to write just lack of confidence you can get them to “the end”?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4.</span> </b> I should exercise. There’s no reason in the world not to. But to me, it’s hard. So I make up and believe whatever excuse I can come up with to avoid it. “I don’t know what to write” is an excuse for those who find writing hard. Writing is a muscle. Don’t exercise it for long periods and it’s that much tougher when you do finally hit the keys.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5.</span></b> The world is feeding you material daily. There’s more information and more sources of information than at any time in human history. Some writers, nose in the air, actually boast of being largely unaware of current events. Don’t disconnect then cry about lack of inspiration.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6.</span></b> Your own emotions and experiences are feeding you material daily. A heightened awareness of what you feel and what made you feel that way is invaluable in informing your work. If you aren’t real, your characters can’t be.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">7. </span><b> </b>The people you interact with can feed you material daily. If you’re a recluse, please don’t complain about not knowing what to write. Every human being is a library of hugely relatable stories. BUT…to surface them you have to have real relationships and real conversations. Small talk with casual acquaintances will leave you dry.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">8</span>.</b> Seek out experiences. Unfortunately, many of us carefully craft our lives to only experience the familiar and comfortable, to only associate with people who think and believe exactly as we do. This makes your world a really small place, with really small writing to match.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">9. </span></b> Comedy’s about angles. Make a habit of processing what you see by viewing it from angles “normal” people just don't. Drama is about fostering relationships between the readers and characters so readers care. Informative writing is about making sure the reader walks away with actionable intelligence.</div>
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<a href="http://radiosocialmedia.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/lots-of-ideas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://radiosocialmedia.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/lots-of-ideas1.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. </b> </span>Keeping an idea notebook is still enormously valid. But it doesn’t work if you don’t note the ideas NOW. You’ll forget. Things like<a href="https://evernote.com/" target="_blank"> Evernote</a> supercharge the idea notebook by letting you compartmentalize, add to and flesh out ideas. Some won’t flesh out, but others will build up into worthwhile concepts.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">11. </span></b> If you truly can’t think of anything to write, instead of spending time worrying about how you aren’t writing, shift to another medium. Draw, paint, write a song, any other method of expression. It at least keeps you creating.</div>
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When the entire world is utopian perfection, and neither you nor anyone in it have a single personal challenge, and when everyone has all the knowledge there is to be learned, <i>then</i> perhaps you can complain you have nothing to write about.</div>
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Until then, plug in, connect, turn on all your senses, experience, and say something about what you take in.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7772465780995796549" name="_GoBack"></a><br /></div>
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<i> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mikestiles">Mike Stiles</a> is Senior Content Manager for the Oracle Social Cloud, author of “<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/showtime-brands-as-content/id598567453?mt=11">Showtime: Brands as Content Producers</a>,” and proprietor of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TheStilesFiles">The Stiles Files</a> and the <a href="http://www.brandcontentbugle.com/">Brand Content Bugle</a>.</i></div>
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Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-5390219438673099942014-01-27T01:04:00.000-08:002014-01-27T01:23:21.272-08:00Are you mentally fit to write? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwDY5_O4a1NZx-v-QoA7k0gtWG6Vympkb3vFbLvdUNZ_NWAFUUGQ8uUPHJKvRhNPzwFLGJxbdxJDZt-HdsbXp3Icl_LkRaY28ipY7o4muG8vd7NAdYeR3auttdTxw4rgb9JMkzKPsecI/s1600/MV5BMTM0MDExNDU2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjgzODY2Mw@@._V1_SY317_CR120,0,214,317_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwDY5_O4a1NZx-v-QoA7k0gtWG6Vympkb3vFbLvdUNZ_NWAFUUGQ8uUPHJKvRhNPzwFLGJxbdxJDZt-HdsbXp3Icl_LkRaY28ipY7o4muG8vd7NAdYeR3auttdTxw4rgb9JMkzKPsecI/s1600/MV5BMTM0MDExNDU2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjgzODY2Mw@@._V1_SY317_CR120,0,214,317_.jpg" height="200" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.easyfeat.com/easyfeat.com/EFEI.COM.html" target="_blank">Joseph Hampton</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3>
<b>Guest Blog</b></h3>
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<i>Today's advice comes from screenwriter/director <a href="http://www.easyfeat.com/easyfeat.com/EFEI.COM.html" target="_blank">Joseph Hampton,</a> who has written for Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns." His screenplays include "The Legend of John Henry, "Felon Fund" and "Illegal Aliens." Here, he gets real about the importance of getting mentally fit to write. </i></div>
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<b style="font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-center;">Advice from writer/director <a href="http://www.easyfeat.com/easyfeat.com/EFEI.COM.html" target="_blank">Joseph Hampton</a> </b></div>
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Get your Sh-t together!</span></b></div>
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Whether you’re a professional writer
or someone trying to get into the business, my advice to you is ‘seek
help now!’ Seriously. I’ve been a professional writer since 2006
and it can be lots of fun or scary as hell. Often it’s both at the
same time. The only way to weather the storm is to take your
emotional and mental health as seriously as learning your craft. If
going fishing or kicking the cat keeps all your gray matter in the
right place, please keep doin’ what you’re doin’. But if you
have even a small sense that you could use a mental tune up, I
recommend you do it sooner rather than later.</div>
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The main tool for a writer is his
brain. If you aren’t getting healthy in your mind, you might as
well smoke three packs a day, eat bacon sandwiches with a side of
bacon sandwiches and play hopscotch in heavy traffic. ‘Ju gonna
die, mane’ figuratively— maybe literally. Neither one is a
pleasant thought, so, why risk it if you can fix it?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6FsNtY2wtUk6o4rEz8RkXcM-mKvvIqHPDtL9OXHL56NiYU2bOkF0145vyZ7Riu5u_UhK9MZq8d6_okNopMqJ38Q6kWGLTtoLMDlI9JpzUiMzk7uNpvxCrmFMpfZIbqxvEXDh8_6uG4k/s1600/mental-health-help-700x325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6FsNtY2wtUk6o4rEz8RkXcM-mKvvIqHPDtL9OXHL56NiYU2bOkF0145vyZ7Riu5u_UhK9MZq8d6_okNopMqJ38Q6kWGLTtoLMDlI9JpzUiMzk7uNpvxCrmFMpfZIbqxvEXDh8_6uG4k/s1600/mental-health-help-700x325.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Drugs and lemon-meringue colonics.</b> Are you thinking what I used to think,
‘If I straighten out all the screwed up wiring in my head I won’t
be unique anymore. I might sweep away a franchise along with the crap
that’s making me hate myself!’ Chances are if you weren’t fighting off emotional demons and self-medicating with booze, drugs or lemon-meringue colonics, you’d become a <i>better</i> writer.
You’d at least get more done and be a more tolerable lunch date.
Why? Because you’d have a better sense of what interests other
people and you’d be more open to the world around you. (Just
please, for the love of Carl Jung, fight the urge to tell <i>everyone</i>
about your therapy sessions.)</div>
What do I know? None of us are having
the same life experience, right? In a nutshell I woke up one night
last year staring into the darkness and blathering like an idiot to
my wife. Everything that had been buried under comedy scripts and
smart-assed comments was bubbling up to the surface. No, actually it
was splashed all over the inside of my head like Quentin Tarantino
had just filmed there. Luckily, we found a counselor within a day and
he helped pull me off the ledge I was on. The first thing he told me
was, ‘your childhood was defined by rejection and you’re in a
business defined by rejection. Every time a script doesn’t sell you
have exactly the same emotions you had as a kid.’ I never thought a
rejected sitcom script could be <i>that</i> big a deal. I thought (as
I’m guessing many of you think) finding success in my writing would
solve all my problems. Maybe it can act as a buffer, but on a bigger
stage with bigger budgets we just make bigger messes. <br />
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<a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8uzioFNJ11qajcpzo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8uzioFNJ11qajcpzo1_400.jpg" height="200" width="181" /></a> <b>Bullshit mountain.</b> It’s not easy airing this dirty
laundry in public. I want to seem totally together, at least long
enough to wow them in the next pitching session. The problem with
seeking help for mental or emotional issues is that no one wants to
be <i>that guy</i>. But I’m not necessarily talking about checking
into a padded room—though I’ve worked for a few people who could
use it. I’m suggesting a couple of hours with an experienced
counselor who can help you find your triggers and who can sift
through the mountains of bullshit creative people hide under.</div>
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What have you got to lose? Just like
you needed an experienced writer to teach you structure, you need
someone qualified to help you deal with the content of your mind.
Give it a shot before Vincent & Jules show up inside your head & start reciting Isaiah.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph Hampton, owner and operator of EasyFeat Entertainment Inc., has written for Tyler Perry's "House of Payne," "Meet the Browns." His screenplays include: "Illegal Aliens," "Felon Fund," "Standing Pat," "Man of Steel," "The Legend of John Henry" and "The Wolf of Aachen." You can follow Joe on Twitter at<a href="https://twitter.com/easyfeat" target="_blank"> https://twitter.com/easyfeat</a></span></div>
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Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-4374492802148878192014-01-20T12:41:00.003-08:002014-01-20T21:45:57.294-08:00How to give your story a skeleton<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://brianwrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Egeston-Head-Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://brianwrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Egeston-Head-Shot.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brian Egeston</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Today's advice comes from <a href="http://www.brianwrites.com/" target="_blank">Brian Egeston</a>, a TV writer, novelist and Vice President of Development for <a href="http://www.bobbcatfilms.com/" target="_blank">Bobbcat Films</a> in Atlanta, Ga. His most recent project is the </i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> dramatic mini-</i><i style="font-family: inherit;">pilot titled "Birth Right," which is available at <a href="http://www.birthright-series.com/">www.birthright-series.com</a>. He tells us the importance of giving a story structure. </i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Advice from novelist/TV writer Brian Egeston</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Stories Need Skeletons and Heart ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In my early days as a novelist, my writing process went like this: 1. Turn Computer </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">on. 2. Write book. 3. Finish book. 4. Pray it’s good. I was naïve enough to think I had </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the entire story in my head. I did, but it had no structure. In its finest state, a story-- </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">whether it’s a feature script, stage play, novel, short film or haiku—will present itself to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">an audience as a beautiful body of work. Bodies cannot move without a skeleton. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Every story must have some type of structure. Whether you’re following an eight-</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">sequence formula for your feature, Blake Snyder’s save the cat, a classic three-act </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">structure or simple plotting along with a basic begin, middle and end, don’t write a single </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">word of your story until you have its bones built. Spending time on the skeleton of your </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">story allows you to create twists, turns, foreshadow big events toward the climax and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">catch unforeseen problems. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Here’s an example: I sit down to write a story about a man who buys a dog for his </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">kid. Simple, right? Rather than outline my story, I peck away at the keyboard with some </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">narrative about searching craigslist for free puppies and wind up at a strange man’s house </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">filled with cigarettes and Chihuahuas. The dogs chase him out and he doesn’t buy the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">dog. The end. Hilarious—and unfulfilling. </span><br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Human-Skeleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Human-Skeleton.jpg" height="320" width="188" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b> Questions loom. </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The questions loom for the audience, when did the character decide to find a dog </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">online. Why is he searching for a free dog? Was there a moment when he decided </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">against buying the dog? What started his search? What happens when he rings the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">doorbell at the strange man’s house? What if he bought a cat instead of a dog? What </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">happens when he gets home and his son doesn’t see the dog? How is the story resolved </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that relates to the man’s initial quest for a canine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> These questions are all over the place, but when we spend more time answering </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">questions that comprise a story skeleton or outline or beat sheet, questions and holes </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">become plot points and solutions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Another significant part of a good story is the heart of matter. This is not to say you </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">need a melodramatic, sappy, ‘King of the World’ Titanic scene. Rather good stories are </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">based on a real emotional moment. Action blockbusters, broad comedic movies, silly </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">sketches and even tight one-line jokes are based on a true emotional gem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What's it really about? </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "Men In Black III" wasn’t about fighting aliens. It was about a man traveling through </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">time to learn why his father wasn’t a part of his life. When that moment is revealed, it </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">makes the journey of special effects, jokes and action all the more rewarding for the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">audience. In an episode of The Office, Michael Scott releases his short film, 'Threat </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Level Midnight'. The episode isn’t about a silly homemade movie, it’s about revealing </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a character’s passion and desire to accomplish a goal. Ultimately it gives the audience </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">added insight into who he is and makes us love him even more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Comedian Henry Youngman’s joke, Take my wife—please is perhaps one of the most </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">concise and insightful jokes ever written and it speaks volumes about a man who is </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">frustrated in his marriage. This joke is tight, it’s hilarious and it’s sad. In four words the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">writer tells a story that explores each side of the drama masks. Both Greek muses, Thalia </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and Melpomene have been satisfied. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Youngman, was actually very fond of his wife, Sadie. She traveled with him on the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">road and when she fell ill, he built an ICU room in their home because she was terrified </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of hospitals. Makes the story even better. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> As humans, our bodies go through a lot—as do stories. But without a good skeleton </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and heart, neither of the two can survive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Eight Major Plot Points:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://scribemeetsworld.com/2011/screenplay-writing/how-to-write-a-script-outline-the-%208-major-plot-points/" target="_blank">http://scribemeetsworld.com/2011/screenplay-writing/how-to-write-a-script-outline-the-</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://scribemeetsworld.com/2011/screenplay-writing/how-to-write-a-script-outline-the-%208-major-plot-points/" target="_blank">8-major-plot-points/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Save the Cat Beat Sheet: Bridesmaids</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://www.savethecat.com/2012/02/24/the-bridesmaids-beat-sheet/" target="_blank"> http://www.savethecat.com/2012/02/24/the-bridesmaids-beat-sheet/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brian Egeston is Vice President of Development for Bobbcat Films in Atlanta, Ga. After publishing six novels and three anthologies, he began a career in TV writing as a staff writer for Tyler Perry’s "House of Payne". The following season he was promoted to Head Writer for the show and served as a creative consultant for Tyler Perry’s "For Better Or Worse". He was also Head Writer for The Rickey Smiley TV show and Head Writer for "Uptown Comedy Live". Egeston’s most recent project is the release of his dramatic mini-pilot titled "Birth Right," which is available at <a href="http://www.birthright-series.com/">www.birthright-series.com</a>.</span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-52421400155177073722014-01-13T00:30:00.000-08:002014-01-13T07:41:52.329-08:00Finding a writing partner: Is it really worth it?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNGFduPt1_BTK_yGErhW55Sn9eFqAM5xyAN_v28BvXxvOq-hq_-7a3-KMCR9Mh-h5EQhxS5rIntWd2erh-prLkpLL_ziRKxX8qDZaQcr2gQVBcMuCqCtwKHocjn3BYrY43PUdNIKorRI/s1600/don+woodard+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNGFduPt1_BTK_yGErhW55Sn9eFqAM5xyAN_v28BvXxvOq-hq_-7a3-KMCR9Mh-h5EQhxS5rIntWd2erh-prLkpLL_ziRKxX8qDZaQcr2gQVBcMuCqCtwKHocjn3BYrY43PUdNIKorRI/s200/don+woodard+.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Don Woodard </b></td></tr>
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<b><b>Guest Post</b></b></div>
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<i>Today's advice comes from Don Woodard, a veteran TV writer and producer best known for his work on "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118364/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_5" target="_blank">Just Shoot Me</a>," "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098780/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_6" target="_blank">Dream On</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411022/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1" target="_blank">Rodney</a>". Oh, and then there is that little credit I am most jealous of: "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0772467/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_4" target="_blank">Family Guy</a>". As an actor, he's appeared on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0660048/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_13" target="_blank">Newhart,</a> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090501/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11" target="_blank">Perfect Strangers</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088526/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_9" target="_blank">The Golden Girls</a>. So aside from being versatile, he's got great stories for a cocktail party. Here, he discusses the joys -- and pains -- of having a writing partner. </i></div>
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<b><b>Tips from TV writer Don Woodard</b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">No man is an island ... and I’m guessing no woman is an island, either...</span></b></b></div>
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Writing alone is a blessing. The idea
of tuning out the world and creating something unfettered and so
wonderfully right-brained that the words flow free and that voice
comes alive and… Crap. I should start over. No. Push on. No, I
hate how this is starting. Unfettered? Really? Unfettered? Shut.
Up. YOU shut up. Wonder who’s winning the hockey game. Great
question. Back in a sec.
</div>
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So writing alone is also a curse.</div>
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Working with a partner has its rewards
and difficulties. For most of my twenty-plus years writing TV, I had
a partner. I wouldn’t be the first to describe it as a second
marriage, with a lot of ups and a few downs. Familiarity breeds
contempt and all that. Jesus, if he sucks one more pad thai noodle
through those thin, pursed bastard lips of his, I swear… You get
the idea.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thomasvan.com/wp-content/files/arguing-couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://www.thomasvan.com/wp-content/files/arguing-couple.jpg" width="320" /></a> On the other hand, what a joy, when
that critic in your head starts to weigh in, and there’s someone
else in the room to help calibrate the dreaded scales of judgment.
“Is this funny?” “It’s very funny.” “It doesn’t feel
funny.” “That’s because we’ve read it thirty times. I
laughed out loud when you pitched it. Nothing’s changed. It’s
still funny.” “Okay. But please stop slurping your pad thai.”</div>
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So what’s right for you? I’ve
loved collaborating daily with someone. Television shows certainly
like hiring partners. They get twice the talent (let’s hope) and
twice the sweat equity for the price of one. In these discount days,
studios have been known to hire writers on the condition that they
pair up with someone else they’ve hired, which, returning to our
marriage analogy, well… These arrangements are still legal in
certain parts of world, no?</div>
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I think partnering is especially good
for comedy writers for the “is this funny” factor alone. It’s
also a lot easier to come up with story ideas that have beginnings,
middles and ends when you have someone to bounce your genius off of.
And if, at worst, both of you are terrible at deadlines and
discipline, there’s a guilt factor involved that pushes even two of
the worst procrastinators across the finish line. (“I am <i>not
</i>going to be the one to screw this up.”)</div>
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So there’s one piece of advice: Get a
partner.</div>
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Here’s another: Don’t.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If writing with someone else is not for
you, then set those hours, close that door, ignore that phone, and
write. But step out into the daylight more often than you think you
need to.</div>
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Here are a few quick thoughts if you’re
going to slog it alone:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> 1) Find a few critics.</b> Ask
friends to read your work. If at all possible, try not to pre-load
your request with humility (“I know this sucks, but…”) or the
TV Guide logline (“It’s ‘Game of Thrones’ meets ‘The
Sopranos’ meets ‘Hoop Dreams’…”) or what you’re aiming
for (“With these 500 words, I topple the United Nations…”). In
most cases, it’s better if people come to it cold. Let the
material speak for itself. If you tell someone, going into it, that
you don’t think the dialogue in the confessional scene sounds
realistic? Guess what?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> 2) Use The Rule of Three, or at
least the Rule of Two.</b> If one person says your main character is
playing beneath his intelligence in your brilliantly funny and
revealing “new, mean boss” scene, that should elicit a “hmm”
from you. If no one else has a problem with it, it’s probably
working. But if Person Two and Three ask why your hero is acting
like a douche in front of his superior when he’s never acted that
way before and it doesn’t seem motivated and, yeah, it’s kinda
funny but it doesn’t seem real? This is not the time to get
defensive. Breathe. Your scene needs work.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> 3) Don’t be insular in the first
place.</b> Find a writers’ group. Or take a class. Networking is
important in this business, and you will most likely meet some folks
who will travel the same roads at not-the-very-same pace. Feedback
from these same people is even more important. Hearing how you’re
doing is a good thing; you’ll know, instinctively, whose notes to
respect, and whose to ignore. (Just remember the Rule of Two or
Three.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So that’s it for now. Trust your
voice. But trust others, too. Television is about as collaborative
as it gets.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And if you can’t handle the feedback?
No worries, as the kids say.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
That’s what playwriting is for.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Don Woodard is a veteran TV writer and producer best known for his work on "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118364/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_5" target="_blank">Just Shoot Me</a>," "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098780/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_6" target="_blank">Dream On</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411022/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1" target="_blank">Rodney</a>". He was part of the legendary LA improv company</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="http://www.groundlings.com/" target="_blank">The Groundlings </a>("pre-Ferrell, post-Shakespeare," as he describes it) </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and had guest roles on several classic TV shows including: </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0660048/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_13" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Newhart,</a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090501/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Perfect Strangers</a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088526/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_9" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">The Golden Girls</a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Today, Don lives in North Carolina and raises money for a non-profit law firm that provides free civil and legal aid to low income people. Follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/WoodardWrites" target="_blank"> @WoodardWrites</a></span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-84649072644455439372014-01-06T00:30:00.000-08:002014-01-06T07:11:40.549-08:00Successful screenwriter reveals surprising secret weapon <h3>
Guest Post </h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.squarespace.com/static/517ebeaae4b01eeb7ae91027/t/51f031fbe4b08d0b403d2e30/1374695932470/lucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://static.squarespace.com/static/517ebeaae4b01eeb7ae91027/t/51f031fbe4b08d0b403d2e30/1374695932470/lucker.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Michael Lucker </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(Today's advice comes from writer, director, producer <a href="http://www.luckydogfilmworks.com/michael-lucker.html" target="_blank">Michael Lucker</a> who </i></span><i><span style="font-size: small;">served as screenwriter on the animated sequels to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279967/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Mulan</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457993/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank">Lilo & </a></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457993/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank">Stitch</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401398/?ref_=nv_sr_4" target="_blank">Emperor’s New Groove </a>and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324941/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">101 Dalmatians</a> and has </i><i style="font-family: inherit;">helped pen more than 20 other feature-length screenplays including "<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114825/" target="_blank">Vampire In Brooklyn</a>," "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299172/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Home On The Range</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166813/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Spirit</a>," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002 for</span><span style="font-size: small;"> best animated feature. </span> Oh, and did I mention he once worked as an assistant for <a href="http://www.dreamworksstudios.com/about/executives/steven-spielberg" target="_blank">Steven Spielberg</a>? You can sign up for screenwriting classes taught by Lucker at <a href="http://www.screenwriterschool.com/" target="_blank">Screenwriter School</a>.) </i></div>
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<div>
</div>
<h3>
Advice from Screenwriter Michael Lucker </h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">How I get in the mood... </span></h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -0.01in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Not many people know this about me, but I can dust like a
sonuvabitch. Vacuum. Scrub. Window clean even.
When there’s writing to be done, there’s really no telling how
much house cleaning I can squeeze in.</span></blockquote>
<a href="http://uwcmc.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/rubber-duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://uwcmc.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/rubber-duck.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I used to say once I had
my ducks in a row, I’d write. Since there is obviously an
infinite amount of ducks one can conjure, I went out and bought three
just so I’d have a limit. Those squeaky little yellow toys
you play with in the tub. Then I lined them up on my desk… in
a row. And poof! No more excuses. Then I wrote.
And you know what? That was the easy part. Sitting
in the chair was the hard part.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Once I got there, the angels
and guides descended from the heavens and filled my fingertips with
enough quirk and mirth to fill countless pages. So what’s the
lesson? Stop with the excuses already. We’re creative
for God sakes. No one is going to be better at coming up with
excuses than us. So throw caution to the wind… and sponges
and brushes and rags. And just write. You can always dust
after.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.luckydogfilmworks.com/michael-lucker.html" target="_blank">Michael Lucker</a> is a writer, director and producer with twenty years experience
creating film, television, animation and digital media. He also teaches screenwriting through the </span><a href="http://www.screenwriterschool.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Screenwriter School</span></a><i>.</i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> He began his
career writing and directing TV commercials in college at <span style="font-size: small;">Boston
University. Later he landed in LA working in
production before
taking a job as assistant to <a href="http://www.dreamworksstudios.com/about/executives/steven-spielberg" target="_blank">Steven Spielberg</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblin_Entertainment" target="_blank">Amblin Entertainment</a>
on feature films <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097576/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">IndianaJones & the Last Crusade</a></i>, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099052/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Arachnophobia</a></i>, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099892/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Joe Vs. The </a></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099892/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Volcano</a></i>,
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096794/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Always</a></i>, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096874/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Back To The Future II & III </a></i>and <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107290/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Jurassic Park.</a></i> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> As
a screenwriter, Michael helped pen more than twenty feature
screenplays for Paramount, Disney, DreamWorks, Fox, and Universal. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">He also served as screenwriter on the animated
sequels to </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279967/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Mulan</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457993/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank">Lilo & </a></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457993/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank">Stitch</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401398/?ref_=nv_sr_4" target="_blank">Emperor’s New Groove </a>and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324941/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">101 Dalmatians</a></i>.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He consulted on content for Turner
Entertainment and worked for several </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">non‐fiction production houses </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">before launching his own production company,
<a href="http://www.luckydogfilmworks.com/michael-lucker.html" target="_blank">Lucky Dog Filmworks</a>, which has served as his home for developing and
producing television, commercial </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and branded content. </span></div>
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Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-3228346518370011592013-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:002013-12-30T06:08:23.808-08:00TV writer answers the question: "Why write?" <div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h3>
Guest Post </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNEypjk_Sp-5E2rJhfymbh3l7sP8yOcr9SitVSQ6HQhdHTvzS1SlDx9rEYm5abfgXvfzIkZ5NJMEgShYkAtTUw3Lx9VH0iHGZM7e_1CE6vuK8qtXAxmlQlB1NjApyAeydjH5kl76tdvg/s1600/20080415_SEM_naoepix_2635w+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNEypjk_Sp-5E2rJhfymbh3l7sP8yOcr9SitVSQ6HQhdHTvzS1SlDx9rEYm5abfgXvfzIkZ5NJMEgShYkAtTUw3Lx9VH0iHGZM7e_1CE6vuK8qtXAxmlQlB1NjApyAeydjH5kl76tdvg/s200/20080415_SEM_naoepix_2635w+(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stacey Evans Morgan </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> (Today's writing advice comes from<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263231/" target="_blank"> Stacey Evans Morgan</a> co-executive producer/writer for the sitcom "<a href="http://tvone.tv/shows/love_that_girl.html" target="_blank">Love That Girl</a>". She has also written and produced for several other sitcoms including "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200353/" target="_blank">The Parkers</a>," the "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115221/" target="_blank">Jamie Foxx Show,</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284770/" target="_blank">One on One</a>.' And she is the author of the children's book </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheCocoaPrincessBook" target="_blank">Cocoa Princess</a>." </span> Here, she shares what motivates her to write.) </i></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
Inspiration from TV writer/author <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263231/" target="_blank">Stacey Evans Morgan</a></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why write? </span></h2>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Words are powerful. They
can start wars, heal broken hearts, comfort, confuse, exhort, ignite,
liberate… I could go on, but you get the message. There is an old
testament scripture in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+2%3A2&version=NASB" target="_blank">Habakkuk 2:2</a> that says “Write the vision and
make it plain on the tablets” and that has always been a good
reminder to me that a vision is set in motion after it is written
down. As writers, we possess the power of the pen/keyboard, yet
sometimes the first words of that unwritten script, book, proposal,
poem, letter, etc., that resides in our head, is often the most
difficult.<br />
Once those first words are written, the journey begins
and there’s no turning back. So, perhaps that is why we sometimes
procrastinate when it comes to writing those first words: <i>Fade in…
It all began… Dear John. </i> We are nervous of the outcome, yet,
as long as those words and characters are held captive inside your
soul, they become relentless in their pursuit to find their way onto
paper. They will nag you during your sleep, meet you in the shower,
distract you on the road at every red light, poke and prod at you
until you get your butt in motion and simply <i><b>write the vision.</b></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Perhaps, we fear the
words we write will be looked upon as inferior yet while we
procrastinate, some hack writer is out there hacking away at the next
installment of their vision, perhaps riddled with type-o’s, lack of
story structure and inspiration, yet that person writes because
he/she feels as if they’ve got something to say and they’re
disciplined and/or motivated (creatively, financially or both) enough
to at least free their minds, regardless of whether or not their
written word is profound or not. And who said a writer’s goal must
be to create a profound masterpiece? If the words you write convey
your intended message, you have succeeded in your task. If those
words touch lives, even if only a few, mission accomplished!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are people who call
themselves <i>“aspiring” </i>writers and they use that term
because they have not written professionally (e.g., had the thrill of
seeing their name on screen, or recognized as a published author).
But, once a person realizes a “byline” or screen credit does not
define their calling and they can proudly proclaim <i><b>“I WRITE,
THEREFORE I AM A WRITER!”</b></i> they have liberated themselves
and now have to shift gears from neutral to drive top speed in their
calling.<br />
I have been blessed to enjoy a career as a professional
writer (television, film, plays, author, poet), and whether it has
been a lean or abundant season (financially and/or opportunity wise),
I realized a long time ago that writing is not just what I do, it is
the essence of who I am and it is that one thing I can truly say I
would do for free. As a matter of fact, I have done it for free or
in some instances, close to it! Your words will outlive you, and
there is a generation that has not even been born, who will connect
with your written expression. Perhaps it will be a film, a book, a
speech or simply a letter that your great, great grandchildren will
gain greater insight on what life was like at the time you wrote it.
But, whatever IT is, you have got to write IT!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As we approach the new
year that awaits us with endless possibilities, I encourage all
writers to take a moment, close your eyes, give yourself permission
to be still and listen to your soul and once you open your eyes, it’s
time to write from your heart and enjoy the journey even if the first
draft is crappy. That’s what rewrites are for but you’ve got to
have something to rewrite so… <b>WRITE THE VISION!</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263231/" target="_blank">Stacey Evans Morgan</a> is the Co-Executive Producer/Writer for TV One's first scripted series <a href="http://tvone.tv/shows/love_that_girl.html" target="_blank">"Love that Girl"</a> now in it's 4th season. She has written for stage and television including <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200353/" target="_blank">The Parkers</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115221/" target="_blank">Jamie Foxx Show,</a> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284770/" target="_blank">One on One</a>, <a href="http://www.naacp.org/pages/naacp-image-awards" target="_blank">NAACP Image Awards</a>, <a href="http://www.tbs.com/shows/meetthebrowns/" target="_blank">Meet the Browns</a> and currently has a new television and film project in development slated for production in 2014. Stacey has also made her debut as a children's book author with her new book/audiobook project "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheCocoaPrincessBook" target="_blank">Cocoa Princess</a>" and strives to continue creating projects that will encourage, educate, inspire as well as entertain people of all walks of life.</span></i></div>
Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-40099680041733382682013-12-23T00:00:00.000-08:002013-12-23T03:06:05.162-08:00TV personality shares her secrets to getting motivated to write<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/r90/999634_10201508260243142_203263681_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/r90/999634_10201508260243142_203263681_n.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.euniceworld.com/" target="_blank">Eunice Elliott</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>
GUEST POST</b><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;"> </i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;"> (T</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">oday's writing advice comes from <a href="http://www.euniceworld.com/" target="_blank">Eunice Elliott</a>, who can be seen on <a href="http://www.alabamas13.com/" target="_blank">Alabama's 13</a>, as a member of the Morning Show. She is also a radio</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;"></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">personality and performs regularly as a stand-up comedian. She has run her </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">own PR firm, representing pro athletes, and has written and produced TV shows. She's the type of person who sets her mind to something and actually gets it done -- and writing is no different. </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;"> I am glad she was willing to share </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">some of her secrets </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;"> with us.) </i><b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Writing Advice from comedian and TV/radio personality <a href="http://www.euniceworld.com/" target="_blank">Eunice Elliott</a>:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-size: x-large;">How I get myself motivated and get it done... </b><br />
<br />
To me the art of writing is just a matter of logistics and semantics. You have something to say, to share. You have something that will enlighten, entertain, inform or inspire the masses. At least that’s what you think. The thoughts that come before ever putting pen to pad are what the miracles of life are truly. And if you are then able to take that swirl of masterful mind play and actually transcribe it, well Wow! Just Wow!<br />
The hardest part of being a writer is actually writing. Actually taking the time to stop thinking (if that’s possible) in order to get the previous thoughts out of your head. As a writer you see your thoughts as pictures and words, but actually seeing the words on paper can oftentimes cause you to stall out, lose interest or just get frustrated and discouraged. How many times have you read that previous sentence and thought, “That’s wonderful. That’s great. What’s next?”<br />
<h3>
<b>Date night </b></h3>
So what IS next? When I just need to “stop the voices” in my head and document their brilliance I actually schedule time that I’m allowed to write. I use the idea of “allowing” myself because then writing feels more like a treat and less as a chore. I light scented candles, grab a glass of wine, put on some non-lyrical music (because I will have a private, personal mini-concert for HOURS, and I am a girl) and I sit in front of my computer and write. My writing sessions almost feel like “date night." This is my thoughts and my words special time to get together.<br />
Most times, there is no structure, no form. It’s just words; the words that have been swirling in my head. I just need to SEE them outside of my head. Then and only then am I able to connect the dots…make sense of the brilliance that I’m certain is divinely planted, because in general terms I’m not that brilliant (flashes of greatness certainly).<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><b>"Get to" vs. "Got to"<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></h3>
When I don’t know the words to communicate the thought, I write the closest thing I can think of and keep writing. Many times the perfect word comes after I have moved on and not spent an obscene amount of time on that perfect combination of letters that represents the pictures in my head.<br />
Look at writing as a joy, something you GET to do vs. GOT to do (although if you’re passionate about writing, it is something you’ve GOT to do). The more that you treat your writing time as a special time of your day, week and life you’ll remember why you write, find great inspiration and will hopefully enjoy a happily ever after with your words.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.euniceworld.com/" target="_blank">Eunice Elliott </a>is a stand-up comedian, television and radio personality who enjoys writing, producing and public relations. When she’s not posting on Facebook or taking naps with her dog Gladys, she can been seen on<a href="http://www.alabamas13.com/" target="_blank"> Alabama’s 13 </a>as a member of the morning show. For more on Eunice check out her website at <a href="http://www.euniceworld.com/">www.euniceworld.com</a> or click these links to follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EuniceAla13" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/euniceelliott" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://instagram.com/euniceelliott" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></i><br />
<br />Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-33797805505393674372013-12-20T02:19:00.002-08:002013-12-20T02:22:52.097-08:00An Xmas story in 140 characters or less? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rudolph says, "You can do it!" </td></tr>
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Christmas stories are classic. From "Rudolph" to "A Christmas Story" to "It's a Wonderful Life." But those writers had pages and pages to tell a tale. And let's face it, no has time for that on Dec. 20! We still have last-minute gifts to buy.<br />
So let's be just as brilliant -- but brief. <br />
Here's the challenge: <b>Create a full Christmas story in 140 characters or less on Twitter. Just one tweet with the hashtag #xmas140. </b><br />
Remember, a good story should have a beginning, middle and end. And it should have a touch of humor or tension -- or both -- to keep it interesting. If you need a few tips before you dive in, check out this article: <a href="http://www.ficklefiction.com/gayles-blog/how-to-write-a-good-twitter-story" target="_blank">"How to Write a Good Twitter Story." </a> Or, for a little inspiration, see how some authors did it when The Guardian gave them a similar challenge: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/oct/12/twitter-fiction-140-character-novels" target="_blank">140 character novels. </a><br />
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What have you got to lose? Try it! <br />
<b> 1. Write a Christmas story in 140 characters or less</b><br />
<b> 2. Tweet it with the hashtag #xmas140 </b> (If you're not on Twitter, post your 140 character story in the comments below.) <br />
<b> 3. Read what others have tweeted.</b><br />
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I can't wait to sip my eggnog and read the stories! <br />
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<br />Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-54932470225494197092013-12-18T00:00:00.000-08:002013-12-18T00:00:19.012-08:00How to find out if you REALLY want to be a writer Still feeling blocked? <br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2y_sVMp1kfuk30EhHgOEank4mb1ndLbzAT8Qn6MJN3d3pfabAyA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2y_sVMp1kfuk30EhHgOEank4mb1ndLbzAT8Qn6MJN3d3pfabAyA" width="200" /></a> Can't start that screenplay, that book, that movie, that play? <br />
Maybe you don't want to be a writer.<br />
Don't get mad. It's not a criticism. It's about finding your "True North."<br />
Could it be you really want to be an actor? Or a producer? Or a director? And you are forcing yourself to write because you think you should? Or maybe you can't write that screenplay because deep down you don't <i>want</i> to write screenplays. You want to write poems. Or sketches. Or greeting cards. But you don't think those things sound as cool or "acceptable" as saying, "I write movies." <br />
Believe me, I understand.<br />
I worked in journalism for years because I thought that's what people who wanted to be "writers" were supposed to do. It was a job folks understood. You could make a living. The problem was, I quickly found out I didn't like writing "journalism." So I shuttled over to the editing side of the biz and for years quietly beat myself up for being a writer who didn't want to write.<br />
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Getting liberated.</h3>
And then one day I was introduced to sketch writing. It was liberating. I loved it. It re-ignited my passion. I wanted to write! I really wanted to write!<br />
I found out I love writing scripts. I'm not saying I would never write a book or anything else, but I know my thrill comes from seeing something I've written come to life on stage or screen -- especially if there is comedy involved. I found my True North.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IPPhjKkFnOO0Y0flTESdnygLkrRKG16HCLvy7t6U-ViITQi5dGi_EaBQ2kpKPEFogku16_3GAPa07meY6aylz-a3nlxr943AD6gJSBwCLBDTqlUxICSsB7hGAjNWmJZNmER_gv9PYqte/s200/20080118-confusing-street-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IPPhjKkFnOO0Y0flTESdnygLkrRKG16HCLvy7t6U-ViITQi5dGi_EaBQ2kpKPEFogku16_3GAPa07meY6aylz-a3nlxr943AD6gJSBwCLBDTqlUxICSsB7hGAjNWmJZNmER_gv9PYqte/s200/20080118-confusing-street-sign.jpg" /></a> So if you're stuck, don't just question <i>what</i> you are writing. Look at <i>why </i>you are writing it. Be honest. Is it really the -- genre, style, format -- you want to be working in? <br />
It is so easy to get caught up in other people's writing goals. Just because someone else wants to write a book a year doesn't mean you have to. You can write that teen romance web series or that line of greeting cards you've been secretly dreaming about.<br />
I truly believe you will only make time to write what you want to write. (Unless you're being paid, but that's a topic for another post). You'll write what is fun, even if it's hard. And once you acknowledge your True North it takes away the jealousies or need to compete with other people. Because now you have your own path.<br />
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A practical way to find your passion. </h3>
So how do you find this True North? It's not hard, but it does require some soul-searching.<br />
<a href="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens3892322module25760442photo_1239070281north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens3892322module25760442photo_1239070281north.jpg" width="200" /></a> I used the book the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464" target="_blank">Artist's Way</a> and I swear by it 100 percent. Sure it's "self-helpy." But it is also very practical and gets you to your True North pretty quickly. Without it, I would have never found script writing or stand-up and would probably still be laboring away at a newspaper somewhere -- if I hadn't been laid off by now.<br />
If you don't have time to delve into a book, here is a quick little <a href="http://static.oprah.com/pdf/passion-hexagon.pdf" target="_blank">"Find Your Passion" questionnaire.</a><br />
But I do want to note that a True North can evolve as you evolve. So it may be a good idea to keep the questionnaire around and fill it out again every couple years. <br />
What have you got to lose? If you're going to make New Year's Resolutions (goals) anyway...shouldn't they actually be your own?<br />
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Have you already found your True North? How did you do it?<br />
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Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-10337303430397788212013-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:002013-12-16T08:30:34.158-08:005 unique creativity tips from acclaimed playwright <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Szymkowicz</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">GUEST POST</span></b></h2>
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<i>(T</i><i>oday's tips on how to be a more productive writer come from </i><i>award-winning playwright <b><a href="http://www.adamszymkowicz.com/bio.htm" target="_blank">Adam Szymkowicz</a></b>, who has written </i><i>dozens </i><i>of<a href="http://www.adamszymkowicz.com/plays.htm" target="_blank"> plays</a>, the successful web series <a href="http://www.compulsivelove.com/" target="_blank">"Compulsive Love,"</a> a few screenplays AND </i><i>a </i><i>couple of TV pilots. We worked together as writers on a TBS sitcom. In February, he will be offering a <a href="http://www.primarystages.org/webseries" target="_blank">class in NYC on </a></i><i><a href="http://www.primarystages.org/webseries" target="_blank">writing a web series</a>. And</i><i> </i><i>I am thrilled he was willing to share a few of his creativity secrets.) </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">5 TIPS </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;">FROM PLAYWRIGHT <a href="http://www.adamszymkowicz.com/bio.htm" target="_blank">ADAM SZYMKOWICZ</a></span></b></h2>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some things I do when I'm stuck or need a burst of creativity... </span></b></h2>
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<b>1.</b> People talk about showers as places to come up with ideas. Something about the tactile nature of it. Showers are great b s\ut you can only take so many showers. Something that works as well for me as a tactile idea generator is sitting in front of a fan, especially in the summer. I like to lie in bed with my bare feet near the fan. But you figure out your way.</div>
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<b>2.</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba" target="_blank">Gingko Biloba.</a> I like to take one of these pills on days when I want to think more than normal. It increases blood flow to the brain—I don’t take it if I already have a headache or are hungover because the headache will get much worse and if I take too much it decreases my response time and makes me spacey, but on a day when I want to get something done and don’t have to be anywhere, it’s great. <b> NOTE</b>: There are some <a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-333-GINKGO.aspx?activeIngredientId=333&activeIngredientName=GINKGO" target="_blank">side effects</a> so you should check with your doctor first if you have health issues or are taking other medications.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Writing when half awake either first thing in the morning or when I wake up in the middle of the night often allows me to bypass the inner critic. For some reason, he’s not awake yet. And I’m still in touch with some of the strands of the subconscious from the dreamworld. The walls are down and I can write and not worry so much whether it’s good yet.</div>
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<b>4.</b> Sometimes I think about what I’m working on before going to sleep. You could work it out in your sleep and have a solution in the morning or stay awake figuring it out. If I figure something out in bed, I better get up and write it down immediately. Just because it’s there now doesn’t mean it still will be in the morning. Also in this half awake state sometimes it’s a good idea to write some more. See #3.</div>
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<b>5. </b> I haven’t done this in a while but sometimes if I want to break out of my normal modes and language habits, I will use <a href="http://translate.google.com/" target="_blank">google translator</a> to translate something I’ve written into Korean and then back into English. Or you can even do English to Korean to Greek to Mongolian back to English or something more complicated of your own device. I use it as a way to open up language sometimes. It’s not for writing reports but it’s better than a thesaurus for cracking your brain open. “Cracking your brain open” can become “Open your mind CRACKS.” Sometimes I need to open my mind cracks.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><a href="http://www.adamszymkowicz.com/bio.htm" target="_blank"><span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">Adam</span> Szymkowicz</a> </b>studied playwriting at Juilliard and Columbia. The New York Times has called his plays, “sweet, sexy, neurotic friendly,” “fabulously weird and weirdly fabulous,” “weird but likable,” “hysterical,” “unabashedly silly but also shrewd,” and “disturbing but touching,” and the LA Times said, “exhilarating, nerdy-sexy, and silly-smart.” His plays are published by Samuel French, Dramatists Play Service, Original Works Publishing and Playscripts. He runs a blog where he has interviewed over 625 playwrights. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.aszym.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.aszym.blogspot.com</a>. </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The first season of his web series, "Compulsive Love" is now online at </span><a href="http://www.compulsivelove.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.compulsivelove.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">He's teaching a class in web series writing in NYC starting in February. </span><a href="http://www.primarystages.org/webseries" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.primarystages.org/<wbr></wbr>webseries</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> For more, </span><a href="http://www.adamszymkowicz.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.adamszymkowicz.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">.</span></i></span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-78077134077915987822013-12-12T23:11:00.001-08:002013-12-13T06:54:38.288-08:00Fun Friday Writing Challenge!<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTR8WFpydjJnceejU-rqAVzC-GHAw2tIWUa1aFc3OXx1v45yw1m" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTR8WFpydjJnceejU-rqAVzC-GHAw2tIWUa1aFc3OXx1v45yw1m" /> </a> I've been talking about being productive. Today, let's take action.<br />
It's Free Writing Friday. Let's get the creative juices flowing. Just 250 words based on the <b>prompt below</b>. <br />
Start a short story. Start an essay. Start a script. Write jokes. Haikus. Limericks. Anything. Just write. WRITE. <br />
Who is up for the challenge? You can use the exact words from the prompt in your work. Or you can just let the words spark your imagination.<br />
Let's have fun. You have until midnight.... Tick-Tock.<br />
Please post your work below to encourage others to take the plunge.<br />
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PROMPT: <b> "Prenatal Voodoo"</b>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-11743936333632890822013-12-11T07:35:00.000-08:002013-12-11T07:35:20.796-08:00The #1 Procrastination Pitfall Revealed <i><br /></i>
<i> </i>I finally organized all my stand-up bits on <a href="https://evernote.com/">Evernote .</a>.. and added tags for easy searching!<br />
<a href="http://attractionmarketingconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hamster-wheel-for-sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://attractionmarketingconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hamster-wheel-for-sale.jpg" width="200" /></a> I researched several articles on play structures.<br />
I set up notecards and markers for several writing projects I have percolating.<br />
I'm finally getting this procrastination thing under control. Getting stuff done! .... Or so I thought, until an article by blogger <a href="http://jamesclear.com/">James Clear </a> stopped me in my tracks.<br />
He suggests that many times people mistake "being in motion" for actually "taking action" (<a href="http://jamesclear.com/taking-action">"The Mistake Smart People Make: Being In Motion vs. Taking Action" </a>)<br />
Hold up! There's a difference?<br />
He explains in the article:<br />
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<b> <i>"Motion makes you feel like you're getting things done.</i></b></div>
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<b><i> But really, you're </i><i>just preparing to get something done. </i><i> And </i></b></div>
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<i><b>when preparation becomes a form of procrastination,</b></i></div>
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<i><b> you need to change something. </b></i></div>
<i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; text-align: center;"> </i>Gulp.<br />
This was hitting a little too close to home.<br />
But wait! There's nothing wrong with planning! Planning is a good thing. I don't want to jump into every project blindly. I closed the blog and started color-coordinating my notecards. What does he know?! I do get projects done. Lots of them. But my personal projects...<br />
The article kept nagging at me. I found myself compelled to look it up again....<br />
This time I really thought about how he defines action and motion. He says,<br />
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<i><b>"Motion is when you're busy doing something, but that task </b></i></div>
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<i><b>will never produce an outcome by itself. Action on the other</b></i></div>
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<i><b> hand, is the type of behavior that will get a result". </b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px;"> </span>Gulp again.<br />
So organizing my new jokes is good (motion) .... but it's nothing if I don't actually get on stage and test them. (action)<br />
Researching play structure is good (motion) ... as long as it results in starting to write a play. (action)<br />
It was sinking in. Don't fool myself into thinking the prep/busy work is actual "progress" toward a goal and stay stuck in it. (He uses a great work-out analogy in the <a href="http://jamesclear.com/taking-action">article</a>).<br />
One question still remained: Why do we do it?<br />
His answer hit me like a ton of bricks. <br />
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.<i><b>.."we do it because motion allows us to feel like </b></i></div>
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<i><b> we're making progress without running the risk of failure." </b></i></div>
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Uh ... triple gulp.<br />
It's hard to argue with that. <br />
But he offers hope. Jump over to his<a href="http://jamesclear.com/taking-action"> article</a><a href="http://jamesclear.com/taking-action"> </a>to see some very practical tips on how to TAKE ACTION!<br />
Now, if you'll excuse me. I've got some stand-up to do. <br />
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<br />Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-30390032063189803742013-12-09T02:48:00.000-08:002013-12-09T02:49:28.352-08:004 Writing Prompt Sites To Get You Motivated<a href="http://writingcenter.mcdaniel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/happy-writer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://writingcenter.mcdaniel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/happy-writer.jpg" width="210" /></a>Need a little creative boost? Here are some of my favorite writing prompt sites.<br />
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<a href="http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/">The One-Minute Writer</a><br />
Their motto is "You have 1,440 minutes a day. Use one of them to write." I particularly like this site because many of the prompts can be used for <span style="font-family: inherit;">joke writing and the page comes equipped with its own timer.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/thirteen-writing-prompts">Thirteen Writing Prompts</a> by Dan Wiencek. What this site lacks in volume it makes up for in wackiness. These are exactly the types of prompts I get excited about: "Write a scene showing a man and a woman arguing over the man's friendship with a former girlfriend. Do not mention the girlfriend, the man, the woman, or the argument." Anyone up for this challenge? <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro-1, adobe-garamond-pro-2, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://thestorystarter.com/">The Story Starter</a>. </span> I love this site for its utter randomness. Just click on the button and see what pops up: "The kind hiker did bypass surgery in a dark alley after the picnic to end the feud..." Somebody please finish that story so I know what happens! <br />
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<a href="http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/#" style="background-color: white;">Creative Writing Prompts</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Okay, it isn't the prettiest site, but it does have 346 prompts up at all times -- one for almost every day of the year. No excuses. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-44158904271116561262013-12-06T02:06:00.000-08:002013-12-09T20:22:32.427-08:0010 Holiday Gifts to Inspire You to Write!<br />
If your New Year's resolution is to write, here's a list of fun, practical gifts to put on your holiday wish list!<br />
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<b>1.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003W09LTQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003W09LTQ&linkCode=as2&tag=elisfiel-20"><b>Aqua notes</b></a> Get your best ideas in the shower? Tired of carving paragraphs in the soap? Try Aqua notes. A waterproof notepad. Now there's no excuse to let that novel idea go down the drain.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61unnKWJ7AL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61unnKWJ7AL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="161" /></a><b><b>2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unjournaling-Cheryl-Miller-Thurston/dp/1877673706">"Unjournaling: Daily Exercises That Are Not Personal, Not Introspective, Not Boring!"</a> </b> </b>This cool book has 200 writing prompts that will keep you busy for days. A couple of examples: "Why on earth would Yankee Doodle stick a feather in his cap and call it macaroni? Come up with a plausible explanation." Or "write a paragraph about a girl named Dot but use no letters with a dot (no i ro j)." Who wouldn't want that kind of quirky, creative nudge?<br />
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<b>3.</b> <b><a href="http://www.writersstore.com/dont-break-the-chain-calendar/"> </a><a href="http://www.writersstore.com/dont-break-the-chain-calendar">Don't Break the Chain Calendar</a></b> First of all it's FREE. Yes, I said FREE. It's a downloadable calendar created by the <a href="http://www.writersstore.com/">Writers Store</a>, based on Jerry Seinfeld's "Don't Break the Chain" writing tip. Seinfeld says he hangs a year-at-a-glance calendar on a wall and puts an X on every day he writes new material. The idea is to not "break the chain" and write every single day of the year. So, print out this calendar on some pretty paper and follow Jerry to more productivity!<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71SWm5ILaqL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71SWm5ILaqL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>4. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aluminium-framed-BLACK-Dry-Erase-Board-36ins/dp/B007KQ6VWS/ref=pd_sim_op_4" style="font-weight: bold;"> Black Dry-Erase Board with Neon Color Pens</a><b> </b>Yes! <b> </b>A <b>BLACK </b>dry erase board. <b> </b><span style="color: lime;"><b>NEON</b> </span>pens. For <span style="color: magenta;"><b>BRAINSTORMING.</b> </span> Really, need I say more?<br />
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<b>5. <a href="http://www.writersstore.com/courses/">Writing Classes</a></b> The Writers Store offers an array of screenwriting and TV writing courses online. (Some are free!) <a href="http://www.writingclasses.com/HomePages/indexOnline.php">Gotham Writers' Workshop</a> also has a wide range of classes that includes: mystery writing, food writing, novels and sci-fi writing to name a few. If you'd rather do a class in person, classes I can personally vouch for are: <a href="http://www.sketchworkscomedy.com/writing_intro.html">Sketchworks Intro to Sketch Writing</a> (Atlanta), Screenwriter Michael Lucker's <a href="http://www.screenwriterschool.com/screenwriting_101.html">Screenwriters School</a> and Writer Lamont Ferrell's <a href="http://www.justjokesentertainment.com/#!/page_classes">Sitcom Writing 101</a> (Atlanta). Rather study alone? Award-winning writer Steven Barnes offers several <a href="http://www.diamondhour.com/ULTIMATEWRITERSBUNDLE.en.html">self-study courses</a> for purchase on his website.<br />
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<a href="http://i1.cpcache.com/product/620760784/writers_wall_clock.jpg?height=460&width=460&qv=90" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i1.cpcache.com/product/620760784/writers_wall_clock.jpg?height=460&width=460&qv=90" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b><br />
<b>6.</b> <b> <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+writers_wall_clock,620760784">Writers Wall Clock</a> </b> This clock really lets a writer know what time it is: Time to publish? To edit? To mix a margarita? Maybe watching the clock isn't so bad....<br />
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<b>7.</b> <a href="http://www.writersstore.com/a-working-writers-daily-planner-your-year-in-writing/"><b>Working Writer's Daily Planner </b></a> You need deadlines to be motivated? Application deadlines and other resources are built right into the calendar. It also includes info on finding writers groups (<a href="http://bitchprocrastinatewrite.blogspot.com/2013/12/am-i-writers-group-whore.html">Are you a writers group whore?</a>), conferences, grants, workshops and contests. If you're not careful, this gift could make procrastination impossible! <br />
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.writersstore.com/system/0003/9770/the-storymatic_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.writersstore.com/system/0003/9770/the-storymatic_medium.jpg" width="200" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>8</b>. <b> <a href="http://www.writersstore.com/the-storymatic/">The Storymatic.</a></b> There's no excuse for writers block with this deck of 500+ cards around. The rules are pretty simple: Draw four cards and follow what they say to create a main character and the start of a story. Then the rest is up to you. Let your imagination run wild. <br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/817AMvlFrML._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/817AMvlFrML._SL1500_.jpg" width="170" /></a><b><b><br /></b></b><br />
<b>9.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knock-Life-Graphs-Guided-Journal/dp/B004S0F4J0"> My Life in Graphs a Guided Journal</a> </b> It's 128 pages of fill-in-the blank graphics to chart your life: Venn diagrams, bar charts, pie charts. It's a visual way to do some soul-searching and probably come up with some ideas for jokes and stories.<br />
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.writersstore.com/system/0000/0080/black_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.writersstore.com/system/0000/0080/black_small.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b><br />
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<b>10</b>. <a href="http://www.writersstore.com/classic-writer-hat"><b>Writer Hat</b></a> Put on your thinking cap. How can you not want to write with this on your head?<br />
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<br />Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-80059687112408742112013-12-04T00:28:00.001-08:002013-12-04T00:28:45.178-08:005 Ways to Conquer Your Inner Critic <a href="http://www.pathseekerslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Inner-Critic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.pathseekerslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Inner-Critic.jpg" width="157" /></a>My inner critic is like Kanye West.<br />
He just won't SHUT UP.<br />
(And yes, it's definitely a "he." And he's green. I have no idea why.)<br />
"You call that writing?"<br />
"No one is going to like that!"<br />
"Oh, Lord! That's not funny at all!"<br />
All before I even finish the first sentence.<br />
My inner critic sucks as a writing partner. He really does. But, hey, most times he's the only one awake at 2 a.m. when that wave of creativity strikes. And he's the only one guaranteed to sit right by my side wherever and whenever I want to write.<br />
So I had to learn to use him (or shut him up) effectively. <br />
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Here are 5 tips: <br />
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<b>1. Ask him what he would do. </b>The minute I start to hear my inner critic make comments like, "That's not funny!" I stop and ask him what would he do to make it more funny. The inner voice has to put up or shut up. Either way I win. I know it's sounds crazy, but I swear it works.<br />
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<b>2.</b> <b> Reward the critic with the rewrite. </b>As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes my inner critic has good ideas. He just has horrible timing. So, when he is stopping me too often, I make a deal with him. He leaves me alone now, and I let him help me with the 2nd draft -- when his critical eye will be more helpful.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi7wZeteIjUYw_f2sA-xGO98HKq_ApdHGPGePR5pK2E-rpqSZFZER2GV9FxrPXeSWyOrhtz87aD6YFp3F9niGGmN1iLlg9fk85TDT1xLKWNZqAzy6OxbDnggrKrjL6wTK_pohjxtFaWI/s320/yuckmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi7wZeteIjUYw_f2sA-xGO98HKq_ApdHGPGePR5pK2E-rpqSZFZER2GV9FxrPXeSWyOrhtz87aD6YFp3F9niGGmN1iLlg9fk85TDT1xLKWNZqAzy6OxbDnggrKrjL6wTK_pohjxtFaWI/s200/yuckmouth.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My inner critic is also a '70s cartoon. <br /></td></tr>
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<b>3. Give him a face. </b>I learned from the<a href="http://juliacameronlive.com/books-by-julia/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity/"> Artist's Way </a>that when you can "see" the inner critic he/she is easier to dismiss. Or cut up. Or throw darts at. Or laugh at. Or stick in a drawer. I put tape over his mouth. It makes me giggle. You can draw the critic. Cut a picture out of a magazine. Or use a real photograph if the voice is a person from your past or present.<br />
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4. <b>Try using a "#". </b>Blogger Andy Shack has a <a href="http://www.andyshack.com/2010/10/03/how-to-keep-writing-when-your-inner-critic-screams/">Hashtag method </a> to quiet the inner critic. He uses the little mark as a promise to the inner critic to make the correction later. It's actually quite brilliant and something I'm going to try. And I could see how it would the rewrite faster.<br />
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5. <b>Change your goal. </b>This is another method that works for me.<b> </b>Make the first goal quantity and not quality. <b> </b>Instead of striving for the "perfect" script, joke or novel, I tell myself to just produce 5 pages or 5 jokes no matter what they are. This allows the critic to relax. And I often end up writing double or triple the amount I set because I've taken the pressure off.<br />
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What methods have you tried to silence the inner critic?<br />
<br />Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-6315523663052142702013-12-02T00:50:00.000-08:002013-12-02T00:50:38.700-08:00Am I a writers group whore?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Am I a writers group whore?"<br />
The question popped into my head as I made a spinach and kale smoothie and plotted out my work week.<br />
"No... whores get paid," I realized.<br />
"Jeez. I'm a writers group slut!"<br />
<a href="http://www.legaljuice.com/files/2013/09/no-prostitution-prostitutes-sign-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://www.legaljuice.com/files/2013/09/no-prostitution-prostitutes-sign-thumb.jpg" width="200" /></a>I've done it all. Support-type groups. Hard-core critique groups. Laid-back "reading circle" groups. Small groups. Large groups. Groups with friends. Groups with strangers. Online groups. And sometimes two or three groups at once.<br />
I didn't discriminate.<br />
If I was asked to be a member, I just said yes.<br />
Then I got burned out.<br />
Now, I'm celibate -- from writers groups.<br />
And it feels a little weird.<br />
I guess it's because I have a love-hate relationship with them. <br />
Some of groups really helped me. Being accountable weekly/monthly kept me productive and gave me the push I needed to choose writing over watching a "Gilmore Girls" marathon -- most of the time.<br />
Other groups never got into a groove because of scheduling conflicts.<br />
And some others just weren't a good fit ... bad relationships that I was determined to make work anyway.<br />
Lauren Sapala writes in <a href="http://laurensapala.com/?p=369" target="_blank">Should You Join a Writer's Group?</a> that it's crucial to make a list of your five "must-haves" before picking a group. I would add that defining your personal writing goal(s) is a good first step, too. I did neither. Because luck always works, right?<br />
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<a href="http://www.jungleredwriters.com/2011/08/dark-side-of-writing-groups-editor.html" target="_blank">The Dark Side of Writing Groups</a> is a pointed look at the ugly underbelly of writers gatherings and gives some good tips on the importance of finding/forming a group that has people who really know how to -- and are comfortable with -- constructively analyzing other people's work. The best groups I've been in are ones where people gave really good critiques and got you excited about your work.<br />
Lastly, here's a funny list of <a href="http://writersrelief.com/blog/2008/06/writers-groups/" target="_blank">13 Writers Group Members to Avoid </a> ...<br />
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My slutty days are over! I'm making a must-have list and I'm gonna find my ONE perfect writers group... or, maybe, two.... three tops...<br />
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Do you have any thoughts/advice on writers groups? What would your 5 must-haves be?<br />
Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-29688870286065602013-11-29T11:56:00.000-08:002013-11-29T12:03:15.784-08:00Need a writing nudge today? Here it is. <a href="http://seriouslywritingwoman.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/writing-clipart-1.gif?w=492" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://seriouslywritingwoman.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/writing-clipart-1.gif?w=492" width="200" /></a>Need a reason to write today? Got no ideas?<br />
Here's a cool exercise you might want to participate in after (or before) your Black Friday shopping frenzy.<br />
<a href="http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/11/29/flash-fiction-challenge-200-words-at-a-time-part-two/" target="_blank">Flash Fiction Writing 200 words at a time</a><br />
It's easy... well, it may not be that easy. But it could be fun! Are you up for the challenge? One time ... Just 200 words.... who is with me?<br />
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P.S.<br />
<a href="http://terribleminds.com/ramble/blog/" target="_blank">Terrible Minds</a> is just a good writing blog in general. Definitely worth a follow.Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-68173678339989320962013-11-25T23:15:00.001-08:002013-11-26T00:30:40.217-08:00 A $2 writing tool that really works <br />
The sight of an index card used to make me wince.<br />
Those white rectangles conjured up horrible high school memories of doing term papers on topics I didn't give a damn about at age 17 -- and still don't.<br />
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But you couldn't just bypass the index cards .... Nooooooo. You had to turn them in with your paper to PROVE you'd done the research and not just copied some stuff from an encyclopedia. So, essentially what should have taken just <a href="http://www.boydlatexmattresses.com/resources/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/all-night-300x200.jpg" target="_blank">one night of cramming</a>, took two. One night to fake the damn index cards and then a second night to write the paper -- which severely cut into my MTV time.<br />
<a href="http://www.savagechickens.com/images/chickenblank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://www.savagechickens.com/images/chickenblank.jpg" width="320" /></a> Now, I have a different relationship with index cards.<br />
I freakin love them.<br />
A multicolor set is a great brainstorming tool when starting a new writing project -- especially a large one.<br />
One idea, quote, joke, random thought, snatch of dialogue on each note card.<br />
No judgments. Just let your mind be free.<br />
You can carry blank index cards with you. You never know when genius will strike.<br />
Sure, this can also be done using <a href="http://evernote.com/evernote/" target="_blank">Evernote</a> on your phone. (I love <a href="http://evernote.com/evernote/" target="_blank">Evernote </a>for joke writing). But there is something thrilling about physically arranging and rearranging the cards and watching your ideas fall into place. It's a confidence boost. <br />
Plus, the cards take away the anxiety of actually "Sitting Down to Write the Perfect_____________ (fill in the blank)". You are writing it, but your brain doesn't know it yet because you aren't stuck staring at a computer screen waiting for brilliance to strike.<br />
<a href="http://www.clipartsfree.net/svg/stack-of-colored-index-cards_Clipart_svg_File.svg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://www.clipartsfree.net/svg/stack-of-colored-index-cards_Clipart_svg_File.svg" width="200" /></a> And the best part is, when you DO sit down to write, the index cards lead the way -- offering little treasures and prompts you may have forgotten otherwise.<br />
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Not bad for a couple of bucks.<br />
Maybe my old English teachers did know what they were doing? Nahhhhhhhh<br />
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P.S. For those of you who still have a index card phobia, here is another nifty trick I have used to get the ideas flowing. <a href="http://pandawhale.com/post/30557/to-make-your-lists-more-productive-make-them-way-weirder-fast-company" target="_blank">Making thought clouds. </a>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-74231156498737633992013-11-25T08:04:00.000-08:002013-11-26T00:08:09.919-08:00Screw you, Writer's Block <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.techdigest.tv/writers-block-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://www.techdigest.tv/writers-block-top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 12.727272033691406px;">Three things that work for me almost 99 percent of the time:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 12.727272033691406px;"> 1. Doing another activity (walking, drawing, painting...)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 12.727272033691406px;"> 2. Speaking the words I can't get on paper out loud, starting with "You know what would be cool..." Somehow hearing what I want to stay makes it more clear to me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 12.727272033691406px;"> 3. Just write the parts I do KNOW. Don't always start at the beginning!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 12.727272033691406px;"> What works for you? </span>Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772465780995796549.post-64015822636231975932013-11-25T02:50:00.003-08:002013-11-25T08:05:03.263-08:00"Writers write" ... sometimes "Writers write."<br />
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I know. I know. </div>
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But no one every mentions that we also bitch and moan about it, sweat over it and try to come up with some guilt-reducing excuses not to do it: "I can't start until I get a fresh new notebook!" (I have a drawer full of them.) <br />
But then eventually I write. It feels good. Great actually. And I ask myself, "Why did I put this off? It's fun!" </div>
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Until I get stuck ... and take a one-day break. That can't hurt, right? It turns into two days, three days, 10 days, a month. What happened? The cycle has started again.<br />
I hear myself saying: "I can't start again until I get a fresh notebook!" Even though all my work is done on a laptop. Pathetic. (<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/pipsicle/21-signs-youre-procrastinating-aoev" target="_blank">21 Signs You Are Procrastinating... </a>) </div>
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What gives? When I am being paid to write, I barrel through just fine. I'm focused. On task. No problem. </div>
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But with my own writing projects... uh... </div>
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Now to be fair, I do eventually get there ...</div>
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And I'm only going to pass along tips that have really worked for me. I encourage readers of the blog to do the same. </div>
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Now, if you are one of those people who has always carved out 8 hours a day to write and are finishing your projects with ease and fulfilling your wildest creative dreams ... then this blog probably ain't for you. </div>
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If you're struggling or ever struggled, to start or finish a writing project stick around. And let's figure out this thing together. </div>
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I've got two specs, a screenplay and a play to finish.<br />
So, I guess I'm off to buy fresh new notebooks....?<br />
Let's hear what you're working on... </div>
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Robin Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10736643656884425682noreply@blogger.com0