Welcome to The Writer's Canvas

Writer's Conference - The Things We Learn Every Day

2011-06-30T21:06:00.002-04:00

Hey all,

The writer's conference is going well here, after a busy few days sightseeing around NYC. I'm glad I saw those "real" parts of the city before the conference, because Times Square is not NYC; it's a big crowded area for tourists. Many people have come to the Times Square hotel and will go home, that's it. I'm glad I had the chance to see more.

Anyone ever watch the Rizzoli and Isles TV series last year? Tess Gerritson was one of our opening panel speakers; she is the one who wrote the books which inspired the TV series. She's a physician in her day job, therefore her medical training was a perfect way to write medical thrillers and ways for cops/med examiners to solve crimes.

There have also been numerous panels on every type of writing topic imaginable: plotting, writing, characters, point of view, social media and marketing, you name it. That's what I love about these big conferences: so much to choose from.

Tonight I went to the Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal (FF&P) branch of our group's party on the 16th floor lobby. It's a long room with window views of Times Square - gorgeous setup, but there weren't many chairs so those of us who were already tired from being on our feet didn't last too long! But seeing the numerous costumes (the party theme was "superheroes") was quite interesting. I went as myself. Or should I say, I went as a great taxi-cab hailing-person. That type of superhero quality doesn't require any special outfits! LOL.

More to follow...

Elaine

NYC - Last Day Sightseeing before Conference

2011-06-28T00:43:00.007-04:00

Hey,

And we're up to Monday!

I have really enjoyed seeing so much of NYC over the last 3 days, but I must say I've done so much that my brain has fried in the process. Tomorrow is a bit of rest before things begin.

Today I did what I'd recommend to every tourist - take the 3-hour Circle Line boat tour around the island. It's a great way to get some photos, learn about the city, see the different areas, and have a great time. Some photos from today are below - note I have tons more pics but these were with my cell phone:

Ellis Island:

Statue of Liberty:

Following that great 3-hour adventure, we went to Katz deli in the Village. Wow. Best pastrami EVER. And they do mail order. I may have to look into this! And for those of you movie buffs, this was the diner where they filmed the famous scene in "When Harry Met Sally" - the one where Meg Ryan screams in ecstasy to make a point...and afterward a waiter asks another customer what she wants and the woman replies, "I'll have what she's having."

St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue - gorgeous church, designed by the same man who designed much of the Smithsonian in Wash DC.

Here is an earlier shot of Times Square:

Some more posts to come - there's a lot of things I've been thinking about this week in terms of how differently our misconceptions are about others compared to what we really experience for ourselves. But meanwhile, have a great week and I'll be learning lots at a conference!

Elaine

NYC - Sunday's Leisure Time - Not!

2011-06-27T23:50:00.006-04:00

Did something different Sunday and went to the Upper West Side for brunch at a little place called French Roast. This was my first venture into this area, and I must say I liked it. Maybe because it feels roomier and the streets aren’t as crowded as other areas of the city. Maybe it was the people. But either way, I liked this part of town. After breakfast, we went down Riverside Drive and saw Riverside Park; another large area of greenery around the New York that I’d heard was a concrete jungle.

Sunday afternoon was spent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The MET) to see the Egypt exhibit, along with a few other areas. It’s almost impossible to see everything in there, so we focused on specific areas. See photo below:

The main thing that struck me was how much the Egyptians communicated. Symbols and stories of their lives were engraved into everything—walls, tombs, doorways, etc. As a writer, I’m intrigued by their impassioned desire to communicate stories in so many ways, for so many reasons. Another note was how much the Ankh (symbol of life or life force) was prevalent in their statues and symbols. One intriguing statue in particular had a lion sitting on a throne, clasping the Ankh tight in its hand, almost as if to cling to whatever life it could.

Dinner was at Chez Josephine, where (I’m embarrassed to admit) I went against my better judgment and tried one tiny bite of escargot. But hey, this is NYC and it’s a city for new sights, new sounds, and the creativity and thrill of being here must have affected my brain because I ate one bite.

Ahem. YUCK. Never again, but at least I tried it.

After dinner, friends and I decided to do something incredibly foolish: go to the top of the Empire State Building. We weren’t foolish for wanting to do such a thing, after all, it’s a standard tourist activity. We just should have picked a better time to go – we picked close to sunset.

The line was deceptively brief, enough for us to comment how easy this venture was going to be. Ahem. Not. For those of you who haven’t been here or may want to visit the top of it, go first thing in the morning when it opens. Or go at 1 a.m. because it closes at 2 a.m.

We got in a line for security. Then we got into a line to get tickets. Then we go around a long hallway where we are in another line.

Then we finally get into an elevator and wow, we’re going up to the 80^th floor! Exciting, right? We are on our way! The ride going up kind of freaked me out because it does go 80 stories high…and of course thoughts of plummeting to the basement kept creeping into my mind. Fortunately, the worst thing that happened on the ride was that my ears kept popping.

When the light said 80^th floor, I stepped out. This was it. I was going to see the whole city from way up high. Yay, this is terrific, right?

No. There’s another line. This one is to go to a different set of elevators to the 86^th floor, where the *real* observatory is. Great. So kill another 20 minutes. FINALLY we got to the top. It is an incredible view, we caught the last few minutes of sunset before the view turned to tiny twinkling lights in every direction. It’s the city that never sleeps. Boy is that ever right. Even at 1 a.m., streets are crowded like it’s rush hour in Atlanta. Who knew?

Photo:

I guess it took us about an hour to get up to the top, and we spent about 20 minutes up there. Not terrible, but I’d do it at 8 a.m. next time, not sunset. So we go back in, figuring it’s going to be a lot easier to get down than it was waiting to come up. Right?

Nope. You guessed it. There’s another series of lines. Same as coming up. Oy! Oy Vey!

Needless to say, I came back to the hotel and crashed.

NYC - Broadway & Saturdays

2011-06-27T23:43:00.004-04:00

Hey all,

Well, I meant to blog every 24 hours but exhaustion and lack of working Internet got in the way. Oh, and did I mention exhaustion? Seeing so much in so little time has been terrific (as I’ve really come to sense the flavor of the city and its many areas) but it’s also exhausting.

So, below follows a big gob of travel updates and general notes of seeing NYC in 3 days:

Saturday

Took a brief walk through Central Park, for the day was humid and I only wanted to catch a couple of sights. We saw “Strawberry Fields” the area appropriately named for the John Lennon mosaic memorial. Unfortunately there were such crowds taking photos of themselves with this mosaic that I couldn’t get a shot of just the iconic piece. Here’s a link showing what it looks like.

One area I wanted to see was Bethesda Fountain, which was featured in the movie “Godspell” made many years ago with a young Victor Garber. For those who saw the film, this was the baptism fountain. See photo below:

Saturday evening was a first: not dinner and a movie, but dinner and a Broadway show. Something to note for those who may not want to see a show – people go to 6pm dinner, 8pm shows. So if you want to enjoy a nice dinner but don’t want to do the whole Broadway show thing, make reservations for 8:05 pm. You’ll have no trouble getting in. We ate Italian at a place called 44 Southwest; it’s a quaint al-fresco place run by very kind, Nordic-looking women. Based on their blonde hair and blue eyes, I expected them to be from Sweden or Finland. They were from Northern Italy. Little did I know the women are all blonde and blue-eyed from Italy – guess we learn new things every day!

Saw “The Addams Family” at the Fontaine Theater – a hilarious play about Wednesday turning 18 and falling in love with a boy from (gasp!) the Midwest, of all places. Not only that, she’s singing happy songs and smelling the flowers. Seeing as how she’s an Addams, this distresses the family—and chaos ensues. It was hilarious! The set, the beautiful red curtain, the way the Broadway show was handled—all first rate and impressive.

With the mounds of people pouring out of theater houses at 10 pm, you can imagine the difficulty in getting a taxi without waiting forever. I’m thrilled to say that this is my hidden talent. In just a few short days I’ve gone from an awkward, “What do I do? Stand and wave and yell Taxi?” to taking an assertive step out into the street, giving the signal, and hailing down cabs that even my friends can’t get to stop. Guess if the economy gets worse, I know where my hidden talent lies J

Went for dessert and coffee in the East Village after the play. A great Saturday!

brief update

2011-06-27T08:16:00.002-04:00

hey all

not much time and im doing this from my cell phone :)

saw a broadway show, the met, and more . more updates to follow! fyi it is not letting me capitalize anything on here so forgive the grammar!

NYC - First 24 Hours

2011-06-25T15:11:00.004-04:00

Hey all,

Well, as I did for the trip to San Francisco years ago, I'm blogging day by day. There are 2 reasons for this. One, I love to share information, and two, this helps ME remember all the tidbits about the trip.

So, let's start with the flight in. I'm sitting next to a guy who was flying to NYC to see family, he looks out the window and points out Rikers Island to me. This is the first NY thing I see...the prison. Oh well. Now at least I know what area they're talking about when they mention it on Law & Order.

Cut to me meeting friends at the airport, and we go stand in line for a taxi to get to Midtown where my hotel is. The taxi driver of the car we were getting into was distracted because another taxi driver was yelling at him. The two of them mouthed off to each other for several moments, as I'm standing there with jaw dropped wondering if there will be a fist fight before our cab ride. My friend points out to me, "Welcome to New York." Apparently that's the way cabbies do it here, so no biggie.

Moments later we're riding though various areas and crossing gorgeous bridges. I know NY is an island, I've certainly heard of the Brooklyn Bridge, but I never knew how many bridges were in NYC. Beautiful architecture on every one. That's one surprise I'm experiencing here...I had no idea how beautiful the ornate architecture was.

I get to the hotel and apparently "the lipstick building" which basically looks like a large reddish purple cake in its shape, is right out my window view. I don't really think much of this until my buddy points out that it was where Bernie Madoff worked. Oh! Lovely. But seriously, the view and the area of Midtown East is wonderful.

Everything is within walking distance - and when people say it's 6 blocks, what the rest of us not living in NYC don't realize is - it's a really short 6 blocks. It would be like walking through my subdivision which is small. So we walk to dinner, which winds up being an incredible steak place called Smith & Willensky (the grill side, so we didn't have to dress up). Great service, great people, and I begin to wonder why New Yorkers have such an abrasive reputation down South because all I'm seeing is some really nice people.

After dinner we walk up Broadway, see the lights. WOW. It's like these New Yorkers have found a way to capture daylight in a bottle. It was 9pm, but the lights are bright on Broadway. There's a large and crowded area (along w/bleachers) for tourists to sit and watch all the bright and neon signs. Then we walk up to Times Square.

Hmmm...Times Square. While this will be where I eventually stay for the conference, I must say this is not my main cup of tea. It's packed with people, everyone walking in one big glob from one corner to the next, and it was hot and humid. The lights were great, I'm glad I saw it, and I'm sure once I'm in the conference hotel, in air conditioning, and LOOKING at the lights out the window, things may seem nicer. But for now, Times Square is my least favorite part.

Moving on to a great area this morning - Greenwich Village. Or more specifically, the West Village. To a fabulous little restaurant that serves amazing omelets and has an eclectic group of people as their clientele and for their staff. This is where I look around and realize the local life and its flavor. So many characters, so many different kinds of people. We walk around for a bit after and then go to Central Park. We get off the city bus at 73rd and Broadway, and there is the most beautiful and ornate building there. I stare up for about 5 minutes.

Want to know something odd? Even the post office is beautiful here. How many cities can you say that about? It has majestic pillars, ornate sculptured designs, and the mission of mail carriers inscribed in big letters across the top.

Central Park is beautiful, though my feet were so tired by that point that we went in, saw the Strawberry Fields area and the John Lennon memorial mosaic, then we went to Bethesda Fountain which I'd seen in Godspell. I have pics, I hope to share them soon. It was beautiful. Oh, and another interesting tidbit - Central Park has tons of Bedrock throughout. Bedrock. I expected Fred Flintstone to pop out at any moment, but no, no old style cars, just lots of pretty gray rocks everywhere.

Then it was lunch in a cool pizza joint in the Village and back to Midtown to rest. And I'm so pumped up that I can't rest. I have to blog. I want to write down and remember all this so I come back with all these rich and vibrant images in my mind :)

Tonight is dinner and a show. Not sure which one, my friends are surprising me. Stay tuned for the next 24 hours...

thx!
Elaine

You've Got to Enjoy Your Life, Cher

2011-06-07T13:31:00.001-04:00

I recently posted this on my guest blogging group, Petit Fours & Hot Tamales, and thought it would be applicable here as well. Hope you enjoy! And yes, I will try to do better with blogging on a more regular basis!

In reviewing my recent blog posts, I’ve noticed how many subjects relate to writing, tips on writing, etc. It occurred to me there’s a life tip I wanted to share, one that resonated with me and seems a good reminder for us all.

In short, “You’ve got to enjoy your life, cher.”

Wait. Don’t panic. I’m not yanking out reruns of The Sonny & Cher Show (heaven forbid). For those who don’t know, “cher” is a Cajun slang term for friend.

During a recent visit to New Orleans to see family, I met up with a friend at a local hangout. I love local hangouts, the kinds of places where fascinating people converge. I’ve met all sorts of folk: an FBI agent who rescued people from roofs during Hurricane Katrina, a blacksmith who travels across South Louisiana to shoe horses I used to admire and pet at the farms when I was younger, restaurant owners who claim they know the right way to cook crawfish.

But one man in particular struck me. During heavy rains in 1995 when most of the city flooded, he lost everything. His life turned upside down, but he chose to rebuild. Ten years later, Hurricane Katrina happened. He lost everything again. He rebuilt once more, taking the scattered pieces of his life and somehow molding them into a reason to keep going. Stunned by his persistence, even his choice to not relocate elsewhere, I asked how he managed to survive 2 such major losses and what kept him going.

He offered a wide grin, and there was a gleam in his eye as he said, “You’ve got to enjoy your life, cher.”

He proceeded to tell me how much he loved the region, how sitting at the edge of a pier and fishing under a crimson sunset made all the hassle of rebuilding worthwhile. He spoke of living each day, and more importantly, enjoying each day.

I’m the poster girl for stress, but when things get too overwhelming, I try to think back to interesting souls I’ve encountered, particularly the one who said, “You’ve got to enjoy your life, cher.”

America...wake up!

2011-04-30T15:43:00.005-04:00

Hey all,

Ah! Elaine is finally posting a blog! Yes, it's true. I'm finally coming out of the woodwork - I feel I must because there are issues which need to be brought to light.

So today's post is...Wake Up, America! Start using some common sense!

Someone I know put the line, "People are getting stupider and stupider" into his writing on several occasions. And it was funny in its context and on the right occasion, true. But now I think we've moved past humorous and we're into scary.

I had to jump on the bandwagon of writers because this is something that needed to be said. News around the writer world is that a high school English teacher in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, is now under public scrutiny and condemnation (Scarlet Letter, anyone?) because she is a published author in her spare time.

HELLO? Unless the teacher is doing something illegal, she is allowed to do whatever she wants in her spare time. This one teacher writes some steamy edgy romances. They may not be to everyone's liking (in reality, the more erotic genre is not my favorite either) BUT it's not illegal. She uses a pen name and has never mentioned her books or her writing career to her students.

What happened? The wrong parents found out. You know the kind. They're the parents who keep lawyers in business because they want to sue the school because little Johnny didn't get to use the swings first at recess. They claim he suffered mental trauma. These types of parents then blossom into ones like now, trying to get this English teacher fired because she writes in her spare time. And then enter in the mob mentality, throw in a little Puritan ethics, and there you go.

I did want to share a couple of things. One is a link to my fellow buddy and writer Anna DeStefano, who wrote a blog post on this topic. Another is the video below of one of her former students created in response to this craziness, because I think he's right-on accurate about how people are behaving.

Please, America. Wake up. If we turn everything into a one-size-fits-all world, shove-each-other-thru-the-Happy-Meal lane, we'll all wind up like walking zombies. Being different is not necessarily a bad thing. Fear gets people behaving in crazy ways. Please. Stop the madness.

And let those of us who love to write continue to do so, no matter what the subject and no matter where we work!

Welcoming the Unexpected

2011-03-11T08:46:00.005-05:00

Hello all,

Yes *hangs head in shame* I have not blogged in quite a while. In fact, I was distraught to notice just how LONG of a while it had been. Sorry and hoping 2011 will be a better year!

And I'm even going to cheat a bit and post some links here to recent guest blogs I've made. Yanno, when I wasn't blogging here. *hangs head in shame again*

So enjoy and do keep coming back to check on my blog! Thanks!

Welcoming the Unexpected

What do Symbols Say About You?

Fresh Perspectives/Fresh Beginnings

See Challenges as Opportunities

Manageable Bites

Great duality of the Crescent City...

2010-08-28T13:23:00.003-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I'm originally from New Orleans. Grew up there and then moved away for college, but it's still what I consider "my hometown" even though I don't live there anymore.

August 29 will mark the 5-year anniversary of Katrina. The storm changed everything, and I've done poetry and other posts to remember the 8/29 date in the past, but this year, I'm doing something different.

Someone posted this link on Facebook and I watched it. It's Vince Vance doing a talking-song while showing footage of the city. There's such a duality to New Orleans. People love it, hate it, it's one thing or it's the other. But the truth is, New Orleans is both. It's so many things, wrapped into one. That's what makes it so rich.

So watch this clip. Very worthwhile.

Do what you love, and you're a success...

2010-08-14T10:47:00.005-04:00

Happy Saturday all :)

I got a late start this morning...too many nights this past week not getting enough sleep. So, in my inhaling caffeine and stumbling across various web pages to get myself motivated to write, I came across a page I'd bookmarked that I knew I'd want to come back to.

And wow, am I glad I did.

Click here to watch a 10-minute interview with award winning screenplay writer Paul Haggis.

Seriously. It's worth 10 minutes of your time. Even if you're not writing a screenplay.

He talks about the writing process, about always taking on projects that scare him, always taking on projects where the possibility of failure is high--because those are things that question the human condition and that's what he wants to attempt. I found it to be incredibly inspiring. No matter what you do for a living, it's worth 10 minutes to listen to the gems in this clip.

Elaine

Blogging on PFHT today...

2010-08-03T12:44:00.001-04:00

Hey all,

I'm blogging over at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales today. The blog post is called "A Circle of Artists." Check it out if you get a sec!

http://petitfoursandhottamales.com/2010/08/a-circle-of-artists/

Elaine

RWA 2010 - Day 4 (last day)

2010-07-31T21:57:00.004-04:00

Even my fingers are tired as I type this last blog post from RWA. Today was day 4, the last day of the conference. By this point you begin to see how the late nights and fun events, not to mention the info-packed seminars, are affecting people's brain cells. Everyone is still having a blast, including all those dressed up folks for tonight's RITA gala. It's just that we're all a bit more tired than we were on Wed or Thurs.

Today was good, though. Began the day by stopping in to check out QueryFest, which was an agent panel of Miriam Kriss, Jessica Faust, Scott Eagan, Christine Witthohn, and Paige Wheeler. Basically it was a panel on the do's and don'ts of querying lit agents, along with doing some cold reads/feedback. I stayed for a bit before going into a great panel led by 2 authors (Mindy Klasky and Maria V. Snyder) who spoke about the mistakes they'd made over their career, and they basically offered the "do as I say, not as I did" advice to eager writers willing to listen. I found their information to be informative and timely.

There were 1 or 2 timeslots where I tried visiting several seminars and just couldn't connect with the information or the speaker. My critique partner, who I rode down here with, did the same thing. We tried to connect to the information and the speakers, but somehow the info didn't connect with us. So we went to lunch instead and made use of the time.

This afternoon, I attended an amazing panel with lit agents Barbara Poelle and Holly Root, along with Abby Zidle from Pocket Books and women's fiction writer Jenny Gardiner. They did a "mock editorial meeting" which is basically when the publishing editor of your book, the cheerleader in your corner, goes to the other people in the publishing office and hopes to convince them to buy your book. It was an absolute revelation to see how these individuals (publicity person, foreign rights person, media/TV person, head of publishing, etc.) instantly treated the manuscript as a product. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The manuscript was no longer the writer's "baby" or precious thing that the writer has put into the world. In that editorial meeting, it's all about dollars and cents, and can the book sell and make the publisher the return they want, or do they have a platform to launch a great book with an event or other promotion. There was no talk about the writing. There was no talk about the author or the author's talent or lack thereof. It was as if the manuscript, birthed from a writer's heart and soul, suddenly became an independent entity, and this is what everyone passed around, chopped up, and wanted to make dollars and cents on.

While startling to see, this was actually a very helpful workshop because even a great book, with a great hook and story, can be rejected because it won't fit into the market in a way the publisher or someone with clout in that ed meeting things it should. And it's not personal to the writer. It's all about that separate entity, the manuscript.

Later this afternoon I attended Deb Dixon's Point of View workshop, which was wonderful and filled with in-depth information as all of hers are. By 5pm I was completely brain fried, but I met up with my critique partner for drinks at 5:30, then attended the gala RITA dinner at 6:30. Met some incredible writers from Virginia, DC, Illinois, and more. That's the great thing with these events - the people you meet and connect with are amazing.

One of my friends in the Charlotte chapter was up for an award. She didn't win, but having her manuscript final was a big thrill, and my throat got sore cheering for her when they announced her name in the list of finalists.

And now, am crashing fast. Things are packed. Home tomorrow. Then to begin submitting to people who want to see material. And as always, keep in mind that eventually, that book will be in someone's hands where it is a separate entity, and we as writers can't control the outcomes. We can only write the best stories we can, staying true to what we write.

Until next blog, this is Elaine, signing off. Good night, and good luck.

Elaine

RWA 2010 - Day 3

2010-07-31T00:45:00.002-04:00

Hey all,

Tonight's blog post will be short. Not that there isn't a lot to tell - there is - but because it's almost 1:00 a.m. and I need to get to sleep for another full day tomorrow.

Today was a full day in terms of panels, workshops, and pitch appointments. I pitched to both a publisher and an agent, both went well despite the usual wracking of nerves preceding the actual event.

The lunch speaker was Jane Ann Krantz, a hilarious and insightful author of more than 100 novels. It was fascinating to hear her speak, and nice to meet other new folks at lunch again.

Because of pitch appointments, I weaved in and out of several panels. Lit Agent Jessica Faust of Bookends had a panel with 3 of her authors, and they discussed how the author/agent relationship worked. Great to see how they all interacted, not to mention get a feel for her style. I've seen her on panels before though, and I always get something out of it.

I tried to go see Cherry Adair's goal setting presentation, but it was standing room only and I was wiped at that point. I wound up attending the chat w/Nora Roberts instead. I've seen and heard this Q&A with Nora in the past, but as always, Nora is a funny and entertaining speaker and it was worth it to go again.

Last but definitely not least was Christie Craig's "Learning from Rejection" panel, which was wonderful. Rose Hilliard from St. Martin's Press, Kim Lionetti from Bookends also gave insight into rejections and how to learn from and grow despite the painful parts of the rejection we all must go through in order to become better writers. Christie brings copies of her rejection letters to this speech, and drops them on the floor. It takes her about 3 minutes to do so because she has thousands of rejections to prove her point - never ever give up.

Tonight, everyone kind of went their own way for dinner and evening plans. I met up with some friends from Charlotte, NC and we ate at the Polynesian restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. Even though the hotel is part of Disney and is on the acreage property, I haven't been near Disney since I was about 6 years old, and the hotel is not close enough to see the Magic Kingdom. We took a bus, then the monorail, which went past the castle all lit up in lights, and got to our polynesian restaurant.

Wow. More food than one could ever eat, but amazing. What was more amazing is we were able to see the fireworks display over the Magic Kingdom from our restaurant window. I realized I hadn't seen that sight since I was a kid, when my grandparents took me to Disney. Kind of a tugging on the heartstrings feeling to see it now, all these years later. We had a wonderful time, laughing and chatting. I met some new people, reconnected with old friends, as is the way with conferences.

And now, I must sleep. Hope you are having fun wherever you are :)

Elaine

RWA 2010 - Day 2

2010-07-29T20:47:00.004-04:00

Hey all,

For those of you who read this blog and you're not writers, please forgive these few blogs talking about the writer's conference. Part of the writer in me needs to write this down so I don't forget these things 3 years from now when all these conferences blend together. Part of the writer in me just wants to tell others about how it's going. Part of the writer in me knows some of you wanted to come but couldn't, so I'm trying to relay what info I can.

And that doesn't leave many parts except brain mush, which is how I feel at the moment, but in a good way.

Today was the opening day of the conference. Yesterday people arrived, I did some shopping at Downtown Disney, and prepped for today.

Today opened with the luncheon. This hotel, for its lack of vending machine, absolutely rocks when it comes to hotel luncheons. 2100+ people in a dining hall and they were wonderful with service, requests, and serving that many people decent food in a short amount of time.

Nora Roberts was the keynote speaker. I've heard Nora talk before and she's a hilarious and incredibly honest human being. I love that about her, especially the honesty. She spoke about writers, our tendency to think it was easier to get published years ago rather than the competitive market now, etc. In essence, she squashed that excuse because while certain things may have been easier, other things weren't. There may have been more book slots to fill, but everyone typed on typewriters with carbon paper. There was no Internet for book research. And the list goes on.

The main nugget she said that resonated with me was this: Writing is hard. It's supposed to be hard. The fact that it's hard is what makes it special, makes it worthwhile to keep going. Embrace the hard work, she said, for doing so makes writers special. I loved that.

The afternoon was panels and workshops. There are inevitably 2-3 things I want to go to during the same time slot and I have to choose. I think today had some good choices.

Workshop 1 - Suzanne Brockmann and Lee Child
Women's and Men's Fiction - stepping out of your genre to try and get both men and women to buy your book, not just market to one gender.

Suzanne Brockmann was funny and had some good points, but truth be told, it was Lee Child that had every woman in the room swooning and laughing. I think he's either English or Australian - in any case, nice accent. He writes thrillers and as he talked about plots and character, I found myself interested and laughing at several humor points he made. I plan to go out and buy several of his books. He also said what he writes is similar to Dennis Lehane, who is one of my favorite authors.

Workshop 2 - Marilyn Kelly
11 Senses, not just 5 - Who knew?

This was an intriguing workshop. In addition to the 5 senses writers try to include in their books (sight, smell, hear, touch, taste), there are also temperature hot/cold on skin, pain / aches and comfort, direction, balance and vertigo, etc.

The speaker was a scientist and entrepreneur, and some things she talked about in terms of how the human body reacts was quite interesting. A good workshop.

Workshop 3 - Ethan Ellenberg (Lit Agent)
Book Marketing and Q&A

Probably my favorite workshop of the day, particularly because I'd heard of him but hadn't met him or seen him in person. The great thing about conferences like these that have lit agents and publishers on the panels is, you get to see what they're like without the pressure of pitching your book idea to them. It's a good way to judge personality to see if this person is someone you like, who you could work with, who might be a good fit to work with. Particularly an agent, where the relationship lasts longer than one book (hopefully).

I thought Ethan was great. Funny, smart, honest, and entertaining. I liked all the points he made, but my favorite was when he spoke of (and I'm paraphrasing here) - "The greatest software on the planet is the human mind, and a book still delivers the richest and most complex of emotional experiences to the human heart." I really liked that note.

After his presentation was over, he offered his business cards to us in case we wanted to query him with our books. I immediately went up and made sure I got one. I will absolutely be querying him.

Dinner with friends was nice, we opted for a buffet style place in the hotel. Meeting random people has been fascinating too. I met a woman from Croatia at lunch, someone from Maryland at dinner, etc.

Overall, a good day. Book pitches to publisher and agent tomorrow. *crossing fingers and toes*

Elaine

RWA 2010 - Day 1

2010-07-28T15:33:00.002-04:00

Hey all,

I'm in Orlando at the RWA conference. About 2100 writers come together for seminars, fun, luncheons, guest speakers, book signings, and more. It was supposed to be in Nashville but the recent flooding there made things swap to Orlando.

And so I am here. At one with the Mickey. Had a great drive down with a writing critique partner, and now am settled into the lovely hotel. The conference starts tomorrow.

I'll try to blog about the various authors and events, but it all depends on schedule. For quicker updates, view my twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/writerscanvas.

Meanwhile, I am going to explore all things Mickey before the conference begins :)

Elaine

Guest Blogging Today...Breaking the Rules

2010-07-06T10:40:00.005-04:00

Hey all,

I'm guest blogging over at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales today. Check out my post today, entitled "Breaking the Rules" if you get a moment.

Thanks, and remember to learn the rules so you can break them yourself!

Elaine

There's a bit of France in Georgia...

2010-06-26T19:00:00.008-04:00

There’s a little bit of France in Georgia. And it’s in Athens at the Cine Theater.

Even though I saw Tom DiCillo’s Doors documentary “When You’re Strange” in Atlanta when it briefly played here, it wasn’t the same as my experience in Athens. For one, the theater in Athens made an effort to promote the film. Since the film only played for a week in Atlanta, I was disappointed that it didn’t play in Athens sooner. However, in retrospect, their timing was perfect. The Athens music/film fest is going on, which is essentially a downtown street party for about 3 blocks, of which the Cine theater is part of. Fliers and posters were everywhere around the music venues, along with coupons to come see something at the Cine.

This was the type of promotion that I wish all theaters in the US would have done. In fact, I even suggested it but my suggestions never saw the light of day. In France, they did. Posters throughout the city, lots of promotion thanks to MK2, the French distributor. But there was a little sprinkling of that magic in Athens, which was wonderful to see.

A big poster hung outside, and mini posters adorned the walls near the bar. There was a bar in the lobby, they even had plush blue couches that reminded me of hotel lobby furniture in the places where my family used to take vacations when I was a kid. After having a drink at the bar, I went to get my ticket. One guy next to me asked for 2 tickets to the other film playing, but the cashier misunderstood him and asked, “Two for ‘When You’re Strange’?” He said no, 2 tickets to the other film. Then he tilted his head and said, “I didn’t think there were other films showing during this time slot. What’s WYS about?”

I couldn’t help myself. I put on a big Southern smile, turned to him and said, “It’s a documentary about the Doors. It’s an incredible film, and I drove 2 hours just to see it.”

The woman behind me nodded before adding, “I drove 3 hours.”

The guy turned back to the cashier and said, “Make that 2 for ‘When You’re Strange’ then!” After the film was over, I asked him if he was happy that I’d changed his mind. He grinned wide and said, “Absolutely! What an amazing film!”

Even though this film is coming out on DVD in 3 days (release date 6/29), to my surprise the theater was 90% full. There was an equal percentage of age groups - - some students from Univ of GA, some people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, some older people who had grown up with the Doors. And the thing that amazed me most was—for 90 minutes, no one picked up a cell phone. Not to text, not to check the clock, not even to make sure they hadn’t missed a call. Not one person, even the college kids who these days are pretty much addicted to cell phones, are they not?

In addition, no one talked or offered their commentary in loud whispers—a common occurrence in some Hollywood films. Everyone sat entranced for 90 minutes, giggling in some humorous places, sighing with empathy in others. One woman’s head kept shifting side to side w/the music every time it would play.

At the film’s closing line, everyone laughed and clapped in applause. It was perfect. The perfect chance to see a great film on the big screen for the last time, before it goes to DVD on Tuesday.

A job well done to all involved :)

Persistence in a Bag

2010-06-15T10:59:00.005-04:00

Good morning all :)

I'm thrilled to see more followers on the blog - welcome and thanks for visiting!

Today's post will be brief. On one of the blogs I follow (Bookends, you can see it in the list on my main blog page) there's a blog post up today written by Bookends client Christie Craig.

View the post here.

I had the pleasure of hearing Christie Craig give a presentation at my writer's conference last fall. She came into the room carrying what appeared to be a doctor's bag or medium sized carry-on piece of luggage. All of us kind of wondered what it was for, and we sat back to enjoy her presentation on persistence and staying in the game, no matter what.

While her information was geared to writers, it could apply to anything. Stick to your goal and don't give up.

THEN she did something I won't ever forget. She asked the room how many rejections would it take for us to give up on our dream. Then she pulled about 200 rejection slips out of her bag, and tossed them on the floor.

We sat there, astounded. Then she reached into the bag again. "How many times will you read a rejection and keep going?" And she took ANOTHER 200-300 sheets of paper out of her bag and tossed them to her feet.

This routine continued for several more rounds--until the floor was covered with the rejection slips - she must have had 2000 or more stuffed into that bag of hers. And now she's a bestselling author.

Never give up on your dream, no matter what. Keep moving toward your goal. You'll get there.

Elaine

Hanging out w/Petit Fours & Hot Tamales...

2010-06-07T08:29:00.007-04:00

Happy Monday and welcome to summer wishes to everyone :) Yes, it is officially summer. I have proof. The lightning bugs have begun to appear, their luminescent glow lighting up dark summer evenings. When I spotted them the other night, I felt like a giddy little kid, back on my grandmother's front porch, when I first learned about these exciting creatures.

Summer brings in new beginnings and exciting things. Recently, I was approached by an incredible group of women writers to join their blog, Petit Fours and Hot Tamales. They've kept an amazing blog for quite a long time, and I was honored when they asked me to join.

So, on occasion I will be blogging over there and you should check them out! My post about never letting yourself quit is up today. There's a brief bio in a newspaper format (thanks, Tami) and the post is below it.

While the post is about writing, it can apply to any goal you have in life. Don't ever stop or let life's bumps along the way prevent you from moving ahead with the dream you want. For me, it's writing. I love hanging out with writers because they understand my need to talk about these imaginary friends who are so real in my mind. You should see a bunch of us when we get together for lunch. The conversations are quite lively :)

Never quit. And check out the cool group Petit Fours and Hot Tamales today!

Thanks and happy Monday,
Elaine

Book humor...

2010-05-22T14:13:00.003-04:00

Hello all,

I say this with great sincerity and gratitude. WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND!

Been a long few weeks!

A writer buddy of mine shared this on Facebook and I thought I'd post the link here. It's a hilarious video and song about a guy signing in the Waldenbooks and no one shows up. While I certainly hope this isn't a future prediction for any author, I did chuckle at his humor in the video.

Enjoy, and more later!

Watch the youtube video here.

Doors Doc airing on PBS 5/12 Wed nite

2010-05-11T11:12:00.002-04:00

Hey all!

I just returned from a mini-trip to enjoy a bit of relaxation, celebrate some things, see family and do book research. I love these multi-purpose trips; they make me feel productive :)

For those of you who either live in cities where the Doors doc did not play in theater, or those who want to see it on TV, it is airing tomorrow night - WEDNESDAY May 15, at 9pm EST, on PBS. Check your local listings. It's part of their music programming during sweeps week.

I believe it's 98 minutes long, so even those of you who aren't night owls can still get to sleep early. I did see this in theater but only once. The theater it opened at in Atlanta had its challenges to get to and park, so I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing it on my TV in surround sound.

So check it out! Narrated by Johnny Depp, written/directed by Tom DiCillo.

Website for film (including trailer) - www.whenyourestrangemovie.com

ENJOY!

Words, words, words

2010-04-30T15:04:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday all :)

Today's topic is words. Round ones, curt ones, leisurely ones, quick ones.

Let's face it, words are the tools in our craft toolbox. As writers and artists, it's imperative we choose our words (or paint brushes, or camera lenses, etc.) carefully. Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is like the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."

This is why a thesaurus is a must. And my new one just arrived yesterday! Yay! I have a pocket one that I keep in my purse, but an extensive volume is so much better.

Consider the following examples:

She walked across the room.
* She meandered across the room.
* She trudged her way across the room.
* She stormed across the room.

While a basic example, the 3 sentences with asterisks (*) give a better description of the character than "walked" which is generic. The word choice offers deeper insight into the character, thereby connecting with your reader more.

Now consider phrases we can shorten by choosing alternate words:

He talked softly.
* He whispered.
* He muttered.
* He murmured.

FYI - you should always try to find a more descriptive verb than a verb + adverb. Using a verb + adverb (in this case, "talked softly") weakens your sentence.

Use descriptive terms when you can. Instead of saying "he got wet in the rain" you can use words like immerse, drench, soak, plunge, douse, etc. Always keep a balance; you don't want your writing to sound like you're putting on airs or showing off your latest dictionary. But use strong terms where you can.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Rare things stand out

2010-04-26T09:31:00.006-04:00

Happy Monday, all!

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and you took some time to enjoy yourself.

Yesterday, I went to see a well-written film called "The Joneses." I loved it. Would see it again. I think it was a combination of an original idea, combined with great writing. Four people, who aren't related, "pretend" to be a family and move into a wealthy neighborhood to sell products to their demographic--by simply living. That old phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" gives this new meaning--what if retailers actually put fake families into strategic areas to help improve their sales? Kind of mind-bending. Watch the trailer here.

With so many predictable stories out there these days, it's rare that a film truly surprises me. This one did, perhaps because the concept was a bold and risky one.

At the closing credits, I heard a familiar song, one I'd heard before. The music video is almost 4 minutes of a rube goldberg. It's different, unique, unusual.

What's the point of today's post, you ask? Rare things stand out. Taking bold risks can lead to stronger connections from your readers, viewers, customers, what have you. That's not to say every risk is worth taking (for example, don't send query letters to agents using polka-dotted stationery--it's a no-no).

But take bold steps where you can, make your characters fresh in some way we haven't seen before. Your reader will connect to you more. If you're a painter, try some color blending you hadn't considered until now. Play. Let the muse dance. See what happens.

Until next time, keep on dancing.

Elaine

Thx for the recent follows, all :)

2010-04-22T10:11:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone,

Many thanks for the recent follows on my blog! I appreciate it and hope to update this with news and info on artistic pursuits. This includes anything from latest Indie films I've seen, to tips for writers, to pretty much anything else. There are days when one feels random, yanno?

Hope y'all can see the Doors documentary "When You're Strange" if you haven't yet. It's in select cities now and will air on PBS on May 12, I believe. I'll post another update closer to the time.

And by the way, if anyone wants to ask a question or spur a blog topic, email me or leave a comment and let me know :)

Thanks!

Elaine

When You're Strange (in Georgia)

2010-04-16T20:42:00.016-04:00

Hey all,

The brain cells are fading as I get older. A friend recently pointed out that, while I've been posting news, links, interviews, and all the goody stuff about the Doors documentary "When You're Strange" - I haven't yet written a blog about seeing it.

Hearing this was like a DUH slap across the back of my head. Like having my writing critique partner recently say to me, "Um, this scene is great, but why is this character in the kitchen when he's supposed to be out of state?" Again, DUH. I just grimaced and replied, "Because he was back in town in my head?" To which she narrowed her eyes and told me to put that on the page.

Anyway, on to the film. First off and great news, the film's opening weekend numbers did so well (click here to read the article) the film is being released in more cities. Check the site to see if it's playing near you.

So my husband and I trekked down to the Cinefest last weekend to see this Tom DiCillo film, narrated by Johnny Depp, that I've been waiting 2 years to see. I found it amazing and refreshing to talk to the other patrons. There were women there from Kentucky, who'd picked up their friends in Alabama, and driven to Atlanta that morning to make the afternoon show. There were also locals like me, who'd been following its progress and waiting for it to finally come to the big screen. One woman said that had it not opened in Atlanta, she was planning a trip to Europe to see it when it gets released there.

The camaraderie was wonderful and we took our seats. And when the lights dimmed, the magic began. What a ride. DiCillo, with that artistic soul of his, wove pieces of Jim Morrison's own film 'HWY' throughout Doors concerts, rehearsals, photos, and rare footage even some band members had never seen. Out of respect, only outtakes of Morrison's film were used, but the color, angles, and symbolism as Jim wanders through the desert was both haunting and mesmerizing, and served as a motif throughout the film. It was a bold but brilliant move on DiCillo's part, when some audience members were expecting a bunch of talking heads reminiscing about old times. The thing is, the footage and narration tells this story perfectly; talking heads would've spoiled the mood and weren't needed.

I learned things about The Doors that I never knew. For instance, I didn't know Jim had been a filmmaker. I was also struck by a mention that in the height of the band's career, when audiences, women, and money were in abundance, Jim continued to have some self-doubts about his voice. This factoid struck me as wonderfully human, something DiCillo worked hard to convey. He didn't want to follow others' interpretations of Jim by only portraying him like some sex symbol or drunk wild child. The result? Jim and all members of The Doors were portrayed as human beings. As people everyone, even the non-famous, could relate to.

I was awestruck by Ray, Robby and John, and their dedication to their friendship and music with Jim. Many times, they had no idea what he would do on stage, or how it would affect them. They stuck by him anyway. Quite cool.

Johnny Depp did the narration, offering a reverent and unobtrusive way to communicate the information. While I love his Captain Jack Sparrow performance as much as the next gal, I've always admired his quiet, soulful nature like in this film and in personal interviews. (FYI, one of the best interviews I've ever seen of him was on Inside the Actor's Studio. I highly recommend it.)

There was a classic ending line to "When You're Strange" but I won't put that spoiler here. Suffice it to say my husband has been quoting it and making references to it during the past week. Check it out for yourself at the theater if you can. If you aren't near where it's playing, it will air on PBS in May and the DVD should be out in the next few months.

Hopefully DiCillo will be back Stateside before then, as he is stuck in Paris (after doing film press) due to the Iceland volcanic ash.

So there you have it. 5 Stars for this gem of information, artistry, and beauty. Hope you check it out.

5 Days Journey into The Doors...

2010-04-04T11:35:00.016-04:00

It's almost that time - the Doors documentary "When You're Strange" releases in select cities next weekend, April 9. Other cities to follow.

For those in Atlanta, it will be playing at the Cinefest Film Theater, near Georgia State Univ. Email me or leave a comment if you need directions. I'm planning on going with a crowd on Saturday.

Seeing as how I've been patient oh, the last two years waiting to see this latest film by award-winning writer/director Tom DiCillo, I printed out some fliers and hit the town to spread the word. The 5-day journey proved to be interesting, almost like the stars were falling into perfect alignment.

Below is my 5 days journey. My thanks to Tom for sending me the flier, Willena for going on the photo excursion with me, and Diane for the enthusiasm, help, and the beer.

Day 1 – Doors fans are cool

Doors fans are amazing. There’s something in their spirit that transcends the daily irritants and fosters a connection between all human beings. This energy brightens up the most humdrum of days.

I begin my quest to put out fliers for When You’re Strange by going to the copy/print shop to get some pricing estimates for fliers. The guy behind the register, maybe in his middle 30s, looks at the sample I’ve brought with me, admires it and says, “I just love these guys.” He gives me the price breakdowns; I tell him I’ll figure out how many I need and get back with him. I start to walk toward the door and am only steps away from exiting when he asks, “What’s the name of that film again?”

Smiling, I walk back and show him the flier. He tells me about his trip to the Tribeca Film Fest a few years back. I mention that I’m trying to spread the word on WYS, and that the film starts on 4/9 at the Cinefest in Atlanta. He grins wide. “Theaters like the Cinefest are the best places to see films like these,” he says, still admiring the WYS poster photo of the young Jim, Robby, Ray and John. We chat briefly, I wish him a good day and walk to the exit once more. With my hand on the door, ready to leave, he pipes up and says, “You know, I really like what you’re doing. I could probably take another, oh, 10% off your order.” I smile, say thanks, and I’ll let him know. He recites “When You’re Strange” to himself, as if to memorize the title so he can tell others. I hand him my flier and tell him to keep it, to hang it up and spread the word. Beaming, he takes it.

I’m in a great mood the entire drive home. While a brief encounter, this simple exchange made the day seem brighter. Doors fans are everywhere; there’s an undeniable vibe.

Day 2 – It all comes full circle

After the usual Internet updates (I’ve become a Facebook, Twitter, MySpace expert these days) to spread the word about all things Doors related—the updated web site, a 30-second clip of the film, a great review from the Wall Street Journal—I take fliers in hand and venture out into Atlanta.

So many places are conducive to Doors music; it’s almost hard to know where to begin. But that doesn’t stop me; fear of too many choices only results in paralysis. The trick is to just start somewhere, and always keep moving. So I hit my share of artsy coffeehouses, eateries, eclectic art stores. Everyone is charming, everyone is more than willing to let me leave a few for their customers and to pin up a few on their main store-front window pane. As I drive away and head toward my last stop, “Roadhouse Blues” starts to play on the radio. I can’t help but think Jim Morrison is watching, mischievousness in his eyes, happy to see word is spreadin’.

I save the best place for last: a 1970s style pizza/beer place near my house. There aren’t many pubs/hangouts nearby, so this laid-back atmosphere with its tie-dyed spiral graphics on the walls and posters of Joplin, Dylan, and The Doors pinned up is more than a favorite hangout. It’s where the subject of The Doors naturally comes up.

I stop by early, before the crowds arrive, and see my buddy Diane who waits tables there. A Doors fan herself, she’s one of those rare types who has a pint of my favorite beer ready when I walk in. If the place is crowded and there’s a wait, she brings me pints in line. For years now, I’ve loved her youthful and down-to-Earth spirit.

She’s expecting me, approaches and says, “Whatcha got for me?” I hand her a stack of WYS fliers. She hands me a beer. I consider this a great exchange. She tells me to relax and look at a menu, she’ll hang them up.

The place gets busy; she’s flitting around and about the many tables, taking orders and serving drinks. I figure she’ll put up the fliers during a break or when her shift is finished. To my surprise, a few minutes later when I look up from reading, she’s hung them all over the place, including two on the main window by the entrance, where everyone who walks in can see it.

I haven’t been by in a few weeks, so when she comes to take my order, she says, “Where you been? You’ve been a stranger. And you know, people are strange, when you’re a stranger…” and she hums the Doors tune. I laugh, loving her odd sense of humor.

I drink my beer, happy and content, and “Break on Through to the Other Side” starts to play over the speakers. I chuckle to myself at the coincidence. Particularly because I don’t believe in coincidences.

As wonderful as it is to be there, and have fliers hung up on the main entrance, on every wall, and several left over for customers to take with them, I can’t help but also feel a bit melancholy. This spot is more than a place to hang fliers; it also has a history. Back when Tom went to Sundance with WYS, he wrote a poignant post about a young woman who’d approached him, her eyes welling with tears, and complimented the film. She then mentioned how much her father loved The Doors, and he’d passed away the week prior.

I remember reading Tom’s post and being touched, but I didn’t realize how much. About a week after that, my husband and I went to dinner there. I found myself describing that post, and the emotional floodgates opened—and wouldn’t stop. I’d seen my own father lying in a hospital bed one month prior, with every doctor telling me he wouldn’t make it out alive. Amazingly, he did—yet this extremely close call, combined with reading Tom’s post, sent my tear ducts into overdrive.

Diane noticed my effort to cry, talk, and breathe at the same time (not a good look for me) and she immediately plopped down two drinks on the house. Gulping them down, I tried to collect my emotions, and once I had, I told her about that post and the Doors film. She mentioned she loved The Doors, and when the film came out, I could hang up fliers there. That was January 2009. Now, over a year later, I sat in the same place, drinking beer and watching her go to town with pinning up fliers to help promote the film.

It strikes me that things have come full circle, and I can’t help but smile and think there is a pattern, however obscure, to all of life’s moments.

Day 3 – Photos, anyone?

I’m beginning to have fun with this documenting fliers journey, but I’ve forgotten my camera. So I take it and hit the town, stopping by some key places I’d been one day earlier, taking photos of WYS in the window. I recruit one of my friends to take pictures as I hang up fliers in more windows and put them on car windshields. We hit a few gyms and music stores. All have bulletin boards or windows to pin fliers. Atlanta is a driving city, so I have the radio on between stops. “Touch Me” starts playing, and I honestly laugh out loud at how many Doors songs I’ve heard during this excursion—more than ever before.

This unique coincidence (or, as I prefer to see it, sign) urges me on. I stop back by the pizza place. A guy tossing dough in the air looks at me, dubious, as I take photos of their front window. I step inside, wanting to reassure him that no, I am not trying to overtake the world’s pepperoni supply, I’m just trying to get some photos of the flier. To my surprise, even though it’s daytime, Diane is working again. She grins wide when she sees my camera. “Documenting your flier journey?” she asks. I hug her, amazed at how much she understands this grassroots movement of promoting WYS.

I stay for a bit; we chat; we laugh. In the midst of our talk, “Break on Through to the Other Side” comes on once again. I didn’t believe in coincidence before. I am utterly convinced now. There is no such thing as coincidence.

Day 4 – Radio bursts, and there are Doors fans at work, too

I go out to lunch a few minutes before noon, and upon starting the car, “Light My Fire” plays on the radio. I am no longer surprised; it’s as if the Doors music now keeps me company as I work to spread the word about the film. What DOES surprise me though, is seconds after the song ends, the DJ starts talking about WYS. She says she can’t wait to see this incredible Doors documentary, starting in Atlanta in April. I am stunned and yet elated. And her announcement happened during lunchtime driving traffic. I laugh out loud, thrilled for this shout-out for the film.

Later in the afternoon, I email her (along with other DJs) and tell them how much I love hearing Doors music, and I list the WYS web site, Tom’s site, the theater’s web site, and how much I’m looking forward to the film…and any shout-outs or info they can spread is appreciated.

I meet a friend for drinks later that night. As we part ways, I give her a few fliers. She knows many Doors fans and says she will also put up the flier at work, where everyone enjoys their music. I set aside the last few fliers to bring to work myself, knowing one of my sixty-something buddies loves not only The Doors, but independent films. And he has several film buddies he can share the remaining fliers with. We chat every Monday, discussing whatever films we happened to catch over the weekend. Like me, he’s been waiting over a year to see this film.

Day 5 – Web Grassroots is Building

It’s been a productive few days. 100 fliers passed out and good times have been had. I check back on the Internet, where I’m thrilled to see the news and updates still “a buzz” with info. The event with John and Tom in LA at the Apple Store has over 1000 viewing the link, spreading the word and getting “When You’re Strange” into people’s consciousness. Tom’s press event in NYC also has lots of buzz, and I’m happy word is spreading.

But most of all, even with all the updates and keeping abreast of all the news, I am utterly thrilled that on April 9, I will finally be able to see this film. And I plan to go back on April 10 with more friends.

What seemed to take forever will now be shown on the big screen, and in my city, to see. Atlanta is already beginning to see more people out in the evening hours. Cherry blossoms and white lacy blooms adorn all the streets, making the city look like she’s dressed for a party. And on April 9, what a party it will be. Join me, won’t you?

Writers and Race Horses

2010-03-23T10:52:00.006-04:00

Aha! Got your attention with the title, didn't I? Well, let's hope so. These thoughts seemed to spill from my mind this morning...

Writers are like the jockeys on race horses. The thoroughbred under us is our creativity, our passion to write, dance, sing, film, whatever your goal might be. The race is the journey.

Now before you sit back and think, "She's become a blogger of fortune cookies!" let me assure you that I do have a point. And while I'm using writing as an example in this blog, you could really substitute whatever you want--whatever your goal is--in its place.

We writers have a way of sabotaging ourselves. We might know that we write best in the morning, but rather than face that blank page and all the terror/joy it brings, we do "mindless" things first. We check our e-mail, put a status on Facebook, post a few things on Twitter, toss a load of laundry in, spending what we think will be a harmless few minutes.

It's never a few minutes.

And no, I'm not against these networking sites at all; I quite enjoy the networking with other writers and artists, not to mention the avenue to promote various works.

No, what I mean is, if we are morning writers, we should do that first thing. Don't stall. Doing it first thing is like taking that burst of energy and adrenaline, and charging from the gate to race that horse down the track. The horse is excited, it's ready to go, it's tired of being caged up and not released. When we dive into our writing without doing these "mindless" things first, our horse (creativity) is charged fully, ready to go.

Ideally, this is the best way to write and achieve a goal. Then if we need a break around the 3/4 mile mark, we can briefly hop on Twitter or elsewhere to check in, provided we return to the track.

But that's not what writers do. Writers might charge for a paragraph or two, but then slip into the bad habit of twittering, facebooking, emailing, emptying the dishwasher, laundry, polishing rocks, and well, you get the picture. We procrastinate out of fear; we don't want to face that blank page--so we stall.

Stalling on your goal is like running your horse around the track 300 times *before* the important race. The horse gets tired, gets worn down, even if it's just a light jog around the track over and over. Its energy gets DIVERTED from its original purpose: to win the race.

That's what we have to avoid. Diverting our energy out of procrastination.

Now I, like all writers, have succeeded and failed at the above. There are days I charge ahead into the writing, not allowing myself any time on the web until I've hit my wordcount goal. There are other days where I will scatter myself on these tasks first, and if I'm able to, I will sit down and eventually get that wordcount...but it's difficult. It's riding a tired horse across the finish line.

The social networking with other writers is wonderful, and all those sites have their time and place. Once I've hit my wordcount, I love connecting with other artists. But we have to reach our goal however we can. If you're an evening writer, turn off the TV and don't get on the web until you've written. Figure out what works best for you and stick to it.

Elaine

Doors doc update

2010-03-23T10:49:00.003-04:00

Hey all,

I was thrilled this morning to read writer/director Tom DiCillo's blog about WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE (the new Doors documentary, narrated by Johnny Depp) -- it has won an award at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. YAY!

Read the story here.

For more information and updates, see my previous post.

This film starts on April 9 in Atlanta, and I plan to go see it that weekend. Been waiting 2 years to see it, and finally going to be able to!!!

Until next time,
Elaine

Daylight Savings and Distractions

2010-03-16T08:39:00.010-04:00

So how is everyone else holding up with Daylight Savings?

Me, not so much. I have felt much like a cat who spends its days attempting to, getting close, but never quite catching its tail. Not sure why. What's strange is, this is a pattern. Every spring and fall, this happens.

Why?

Is it psychological? Is it because some primal force in me wants to get that hour back? Perhaps, but this happens even when we gain an extra hour. For several days, I just feel antsy and "off", so to speak.

Of course, spring is eventually arriving (our Southern groundhog, the General Lee, LIED about there not being 6 more weeks of winter on this year's Groundhog Day) and I am looking forward to that. Bradford Pear trees blooming across the city--making all of Atlanta appear like it's dressed in lace and ready to attend a wedding. People sit out on front porches, lounge around at clustered tables on patios, enjoying the beautiful spring days that will arrive (or so I am telling myself - it consoles me with this cold snap we've been having). And of course, let's not forget that those of you in Atlanta can also enjoy the Doors documentary when it starts on April 9.

But, like all distractions in life, it's time to not let it get the upper hand. Things affect our lives all the time; the key is not letting it send you into upheaval. Yes, Daylight Savings and its offbeat self has tried to strike at the core of my creative nature, trying to zap me of any artistic impulse. But it's 2 days past when we turned our clocks, and I'm getting a bit wiser (or, I wish to think so).

Don't let distractions get to you. They can't be eliminated entirely, but you can conquer them and keep focused on your goals. As for me, that goal is to up my word count at the moment.

Keep going. Even without that extra hour, good things can come.

Elaine

When You're Strange...

2010-02-19T09:07:00.018-05:00

Update 3/23/2010:

WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE wins award at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. Read the article here.

Update 3/15/2010:

WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE - the first-ever documentary on The Doors, will open in the following extended cities on April 9, according to Doors manager & film producer Jeff Jampol:

New York City - Los Angeles - Boston - Philadelphia - Chicago - Dallas - Houston - Seattle - San Francisco - Nashville - Madison, WI - Houston -

Atlanta (opens at the Cinefest Film Theatre)
and
Athens, GA (opens at the Cine theater)

Word has it that it will also open in New Orleans on 4/16, and in Albuquerque, NM in May.

See the new and updated site, and follow The Doors on Twitter!

Earlier Post:
Earlier this week, I blogged about artistic passion--a fitting precursor for today's post. Why? Because today I'm giving updates on When You're Strange, the Doors documentary I've been waiting to see for over a year.

When You're Strange will be released in 8 cities on April 9th. Once word spreads, more cities should follow. Atlanta is 1 of the 8. (Excuse me for a moment while I do the Snoopy Dance down Peachtree Street...)

The cities are: Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Whether you're a Doors fan or not, these 4 artisans were an influential part of our history. Seeking, questioning, and expressing how they saw the world, even when others didn't understand them. Particularly Jim Morrison. Whether the public liked them or not, "got" their message or not, they remained dedicated to their art and made music the way they wanted to make it. In today's world of pop culture and celebrity (and everything for sale in between) I must say, that element of sticking to one's convictions is a rare and precious thing.

And while I'm talking about artists who stick to their vision, let me add here that When You're Strange is written/directed by Tom DiCillo, an award-winning filmmaker as well as one of my favorite artists on the planet. For a complete listing of his previous films, click here. (These are all in my DVD collection, by the way.) You can view the trailers for his other films on the main blog page, links are to the right.

And did I mention that When You're Strange is narrated by Johnny Depp? Yep. I think he's an ideal choice for a narrator, seeing as how there is a soulful and reverent quality about him.

So if you're near one of these 8 cities, help spread the word and go see this film. More cities will follow, and let's keep the word spreading.

Links:

My original blog post on the topic

When You're Strange website

Writer/Director Tom DiCillo's Blog for updates

When You're Strange soundtrack listing

Artistic Passion

2010-02-16T17:03:00.007-05:00

Hey all,

Know it's been a long time since I've posted a blog (I am so trying to blog more) but now there are several topics in my head just wanting to spill out. Today's blog post is the first of (I hope) many more to come.

Artistic Passion. This might be a phrase we hear on occasion, something that might cross our minds once in awhile, or something we strive for in our own work. And even if you're not an "artist" per se, we all yearn for passion or love in our daily lives, do we not?

Each time I sit down at the keyboard to write, I am reaching toward something--a drive to create, to dance and enjoy my time with the characters roaming around in my head. This passion is what keeps me going, even when sometimes the words feel like pulling teeth.

And then there's the passion we see in others. I think this is just as important as yearning for our own--to try to surround ourselves with people who are wanting to create something--a song, a poem, a book, a photo, a home--because it keeps us in tune with the muse and inspiring energies.

This past weekend, I went to Savannah, GA, for the Irish Festival. Two years ago, I happened to catch the last 10 minutes of a music set from Roger Drawdy & The Firestarters. And in those 10 minutes, something in my imagination came to life. I saw it then, and I saw it once again this past weekend--this band *is* creative passion in humanized form.

I think that's what draws me to watch their shows and listen to their music. When they perform, they are in complete and utter bliss. You can see it on their faces; that energy and passion for their artistic pursuit comes alive. It inspires. (Actually, it literally does inspire...the lead singer was the inspiration for a character I created in my third book.)

We all have to devote time to our craft, whether it's singing, writing, living, being a parent, whatever task is most important to you. Some days that's easy; some days it's like trudging through molasses. But it's that spark that keeps us going. In Savannah this past weekend, I saw that spark light up the stage. They were one of the last acts of the day, and when we did leave, my husband said, "They were worth waiting for." Earlier in the day, I heard people near me whisper, "Don't miss the Firestarters! They're amazing on stage!"

I couldn't agree more. Other artists do inspire me, and that energy helps me to create. Seems like one of the most beautiful cycles of life there is :)

So devote some time to your passion today. Write something. Listen to some music. Take a photograph; see something in a new way. Hug a small child and become part of their universe for just a spell. See what happens; see how your own creativity grows.

Til the next post, I've put some pictures below from the Irish Fest...

Elaine

A New Year Reminder: Back Up Your Material!

2010-01-07T15:12:00.002-05:00

Hello all,

Greetings from a snowy Southeast USA. I love having a desk near a window. I can look outside and see fat white flakes falling past dark green pine needles and woodsy clusters of trees and think "Aaaahhhhh. Relief."

Of course, I wouldn't be thinking that if it weren't for my jump-drive. Or flash drive. Or whatever you want to call those little things - the external drives where you can keep your important documents so as to back them up and be able to access them from any USB port.

Why?

Because my computer has decided to die yet again. It's been ill lately; my neighbor who works wonders for the price of beer (Note: this is a great thing) had given it some updates the last time it fell ill, and unfortunately, it has come closer to dying again.

Sooooooo...

1. Yes I'll be talking to the neighbor once more, and picking up his favorite brew.

2. I'm looking into another laptop because mine is old anyway.

3. I am not pulling my hair out because I had everything backed up. I even had my recent novel changes on a jump drive.

The solution? I am borrowing hubby's laptop and plugging in my jump drive into his USB port. Voila! Instant material, like it never left me. I even got some writing done today.

It may sound simple, but trust me. Take the time. Back your stuff up. On CD, a jump drive, anything. It's handy on a jump drive b/c then you can easily work off of another machine. But definitely back your stuff up! I have been able to get some things done today because I didn't lose any recent changes.

My high school English teacher used to say, "Stupidity won't kill you, but it sure can make you sweat!"

True. So don't sweat. Back your stuff up and keep on plugging...

Elaine

Intriguing Piece of Art...

2010-01-03T10:17:00.005-05:00

Hope everyone has been enjoying the New Year so far! As I tiptoed downstairs this morning (oh, so chilly even with the heat going full-blast), my goal was to sit butt in chair and start writing. No distractions. No writer's block. Just pouring forth.

And then I sat here.

And sat.

And well, sometimes I have to admit that I need inspiration to begin. Most times the self-discipline and excitement in a project can be enough to get me going. Other days (like this morning) I will browse a few blogs and then "dive in" as they say.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors; I was delighted to discover he had written and directed a short film called Statuesque starring Bill Nighy (who I really like from Richard Curtis films anyway).

The link below probably won't be active for long, but it is a lovely, artistic, unique and pleasing-in-the-morning little gem. Thought I'd share here...

Watch the short film.

I'm not usually one for films without dialogue, but I must say these 8 minutes are a beautiful little treat. And now, inspired and craving strawberry jam (great visuals in the film)--I am off to write and float and let my imagination rise...

What's on Your 2010 List?

2009-12-30T13:47:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday season, and that you're all ready to enter 2010 :)

For the writers out there, this might mean stepping up the word count, finishing that manuscript, joining an organization or critique group, or perhaps attending a conference. For those who don't hear character voices in their heads (oh, how quiet that must be!) the resolutions could be anything...but this seems to be the time of year where we all look back, then we look forward.

I once heard someone talk about this topic, and her approach stuck in my mind. She said our lives are like driving a car. We need to use our rearview mirror; we need to keep tabs of what's behind us so we know how to navigate forward. BUT our rear view mirror (aka our past experiences) can't become our primary view source. We need to keep our eyes ahead, looking at the new, making sure we navigate to where we're going.

It's good to remember some pieces of the past (particularly for a writer as it is great fodder for fiction). But if you constantly watch that rearview mirror, what happens? You crash into a tree. It's all a balancing act, so as we approach the end of 2009, look back. What went well? What didn't? What would you change if you could do it over? What would you like to add into the mix?

These are things we should put in our recipe for 2010. (Yes, I'm using food analogies. I'm hungry and have yet to eat lunch...)

So, I ask yet again...What's on your 2010 list?

My primary 2 resolutions are:

* Do a set word count every day. I don't have a problem in making time to write each day, but the word count tends to vary depending on mood. I want to put a word count on each day. If I miss a day (as life will sometimes cause us to do) then I'll make up that wordcount by the end of the week.

* Remember that negativity always blocks out the voice of the muse. It's like a kid covering his ears and singing a song to himself. You can't hear that inner voice, that inspiration, if your mind is cluttered with negativity.

Hope everyone has an incredible new year, and here's to a great 2010 :)

Elaine

Indie # 14 - Mississippi Son

2009-11-11T19:09:00.008-05:00

Hey all,

Yes, I'm back on the Indie path. Time to promote more good films! And the next one on the list is:

Indie # 14 - Mississippi Son

Written and Produced by Don and Leslie Wilson

Edited and Directed by Don Wilson

http://www.mississippison.com/

Buy the MP3 album here. (If the link doesn't work, go to amazon and search on 'mississippi son' and you'll get the result.)

I've been battling a sore throat and stuffy sinuses for a few days now, and stayed home sick from work today. By mere chance, I happened to catch this documentary on the HALO channel.

The result? I am in awe. And immediately after posting this blog, I'm going to go buy the MP3 album as well as the DVD.

This documentary was made in 2007, 2 years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It examines the life, culture, and people who dealt with the storm and how they are coping several years later. The film offers a slice of life and a greater understanding of the Gulf Coast people, which is one of the many things I admire about this film.

I'm from the Gulf Coast area myself but no longer live there. Since I've left, I've encountered numerous people who don't understand the Gulf Coast way of life. This film offers a bit of explanation and peek into the hearts of its resilient water-loving people.

Some key points that resonated with me:

* People who barely got 10% of the value of their homes to rebuild, and yet they rebuilt anyway. People so connected to the land that it's a primal bond; it can't be separated, even by Mother Nature's worst tantrum.

* Musicians who needed some semblance of normalcy after the storm went out and gathered boards, wood, random tree branches, anything they could find. They built up an area for a stage, and they played/created music that they played to the Cypress trees. They now have a cult following, but they went out and played music--in the midst of despair--because they were dedicated to their art and they needed to embrace it in order to survive. I highly respect and admire that attitude and dedication.

* That complete strangers reached out to help and for a sliver of time, there was what used to be known as 'community.' Not "us" and "them".

I highly recommend this film. Granted, I'm a bit biased on the post-Katrina issue. I wrote a poem right after the storm hit and am now trying to market my women's fiction novel set in New Orleans post-Katrina. But it's more than that. I admire any artistic medium that brings out the best in us, that inspires us to survive--no matter what.

So go check it out :)

Wishing I lived in NYC today...

2009-11-01T09:57:00.007-05:00

Been awhile since I blogged, I know. I went to a few writer's conferences and meetings, which were wonderful but draining. Plus, I've been sending out those requested submissions and trying to piece together the next book idea, which takes some time.

But onto today's subject. I must say, I like the South. It's the ideal place for me. Four distinct seasons, I live in a large metro area with everything available, I get nonstop flights everywhere.
Most times (despite some friends urging me to move there) I have no desire to live in NYC.

But on occasion, particularly when a film comes out that I *really* want to see, I wish I lived there. Because many films start in NYC and LA before coming to the bigger cities in the country.
And I was disappointed that the Oct 30th start date of "All Saints Day: Boondock Saints II" did not include Atlanta. So I decided to wait...patiently...until it does arrive in bigger cities.

Then I saw this link on Facebook. Now I want to get a one-way flight to NYC and watch this film!!!!

I know, I know. It'll come to Atlanta one day. And when it does, I shall be there. Because as much as I don't like bloody movies, I think writer/director Troy Duffy is fantastic. He's got that Indie spirit of persistence, that "I'll show you" attitude of an artist.

Watch a clip of the first 5 minutes of the movie. I so can't wait to see it now :)

Preparing a Book Pitch

2009-09-25T09:39:00.002-04:00

Hello and happy Friday all,

Today's post is about how to prepare for pitching your book. For those who haven't pitched before, it means taking a 350-400 page book and compressing it into a few paragraphs--the character, what they want, what will stand in their way, why this matters.

Not an easy task. (And I must confess, I need to finish mine by this weekend. What am I doing? Writing a blog post, while successfully procrastinating on my actual pitch because it's driving me crazy to write it.)

I start with a blank page and start writing. Who is the protagonist? While query letters, book pitches, back cover copy, etc. often use the full character's name, you can also use an adjective and noun to accurately describe a character more than their name. For example, an "obsessive-compulsive dog trainer" gives one a better image than "John Smith."

Next, what does the character want? This one can be a toughy because the character often wants a specific goal (external, such as winning the Olympics) and something within himself (internal, such as getting over his self-esteem issues).

Next, what will get in his way? The best fiction puts your character up a tree without a way down, and the book is how they get themselves out of the tree. There's more to play with when the character must undergo many obstacles in order to wrangle himself free. So what's the conflict, what stands in his way? Many times this can be another character.

Putting all these items in a high-level yet informative few paragraphs in order to pitch your book takes time...and it determines whether anyone will want to read the book.

Sigh. It's not my favorite part of the process, but it must be done. I usually mesh various sentences from my brainstorm listing, and somehow (often without knowing how) a pitch or blurb appears amidst the muck.

Now I must go, for by the end of the weekend, I've vowed to not be blurbless. Wish me luck, and good luck with any pitches you may be prepping for too!

Elaine

Violence and Art?

2009-09-07T18:24:00.005-04:00

Hey all,

I'm curious about something--am opening up this discussion to the blog followers and those who might read this post.

The question? Is there a time and place for excessive violence in artistic mediums, if done well and with a purpose?

I ask because I've recently found an online film trailer for All Saints Day, the sequel to The Boondock Saints (written and directed by Troy Duffy). Watch the trailer here.

Now, let me openly admit that I'm not a fan of Friday the 13th or Saw flicks. Too gory for me, and it seems that there isn't a purpose/set of characters I like enough to spend the time with or subject my delicate stomach to. And yet I am gleefully excited about Troy Duffy's upcoming film, which releases on Oct 30th.

Will it be violent? Yes.
Will it likely be super violent and bloody like his first film? Yes.
Is it the violence that I enjoy in the movie? No. It's the characters, and the violence is essential to the story and who they are.

I thought Duffy's original film, The Boondock Saints, was excellent. Bloody, definitely. Violent, absolutely. But the characters, the plot, the background, the conflicts, the way each character is portrayed--absolutely brilliant. I also think it was one of Willem Dafoe's best acting performances in his career. Hence why I will go see the sequel, even though I know it will be as bloody as (or perhaps more so) than the first one.

Perhaps violence is not as unlikable, so long as it's done for a purpose or fits the story? I'm not ever one who likes or enjoys any kind of violence for the sake of violence--and even in Duffy's bloody films I still don't think it's purely gratuitous. Some of it, perhaps. But the story of these 2 Irish brothers couldn't be told without it.

I also hold a soft spot in my creative heart for writer/director Troy Duffy, because I think he's got that resilience, that never-give-up spirit which is inspiring. (Trivia here...the original story idea formed in Duffy's mind when a woman was attacked in his hometown and the perpetrator got away with it. The first film came out of Duffy's anger at the justice system, at the damage done to this woman. Instead of seeking revenge himself or going off on someone, he wrote a script about revenge. That became The Boondock Saints.)

I'm not very patient with director commentaries, and often don't get past the first 10 minutes unless I really admire the person or the work--or both. Duffy's commentary was hilarious and yet inspiring, for the journey to make his first independent film was filled with struggle and chaos. I admire his tenacity and appreciate his sense of humor. This helps me to overlook the excessive violence when I see it as fitting to the story.

What do y'all think?

4-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

2009-08-30T16:07:00.003-04:00

Hi all,

I meant to post this yesterday (8/29) but I was out of town visiting a friend and didn't have Internet access. This weekend is the 4-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. While so many things about New Orleans and the surrounding areas have improved and rebuilt, it is also surprising to note that many areas have not.

Please keep the city and the residents in your thoughts. I wrote the piece below after Katrina happened, as a way to cope with the feelings of sadness for the city I grew up in, the city I loved. I hope you enjoy.

The Lonely Saxophone
Copyright 2005
Elaine Burroughs

The saxophone’s melancholy notes dance in the humid air like lightning bugs flitting about in summertime. The musician is nowhere to be seen, but his music can be faintly heard along the lazy Mississippi River. The rich, slow music is the heartbeat of New Orleans, this port city surrounded by water. The Big Easy.

As the city awakens, noises fill the air but the saxophone still plays. The Creole Queen riverboat makes a loud whistle as she takes tourists down the river. Mounds of crawfish, shrimp, and spicy seafood abound here. Clapping visitors surround street performers in Jackson Square, wanting to see their favorite acts. Horse-drawn carriages make the ‘clop clop’ sound down the narrow French Quarter streets. As my spirit absorbs these surroundings, I smile as I listen to the sad notes of a lonely saxophone, playing faintly as a constant backdrop to my home. The tunes may change, but the music goes on.

Black iron gates flank the streets in this Crescent City. Cherry-red geraniums bloom in decorative pots, and window boxes attempt to contain flowers bursting with pink, white, and purple. The flowers and the ivy cascade from the black iron balconies; they look like children dangling their feet before taking a swim. The spirit of New Orleans – its people and its music - welcomes them all. At the time, I believe that the music will never stop.

On August 29, I was proven wrong. Katrina’s fury drowned the city’s own and the heart of New Orleans stopped beating. Cries for help and sobbing remained. I gasp back tears as I see the rusted saxophone start to sink, its hollow insides consumed with Katrina’s waters. I hope that one day I can hear the music again. Until then, the absence of the lonely saxophone is deafening.

Trying to kick the doldrums to the curb...

2009-08-22T13:26:00.004-04:00

Happy weekend, all. Sorry I haven't blogged much lately (and some of you have mentioned it...you know who you are!)

I'm attempting to fight the doldrums today. Life threw me a curve ball this morning. I'd been looking forward (all week) to attending a writing seminar on Sunday. I'd made plans to check into the hotel early today (Sat) and have a mini-writing getaway without distractions, then attend the seminar all day tomorrow.

Enter reality: the instructor had a family emergency and had to cancel the event. While I still enjoy mini-weekends away (even if in my same city) to write and relax, I wasn't up to doing it this time unless the seminar happened. It's a quiet weekend around our house, and I could just as easily write here (without paying $ for every Diet Coke I consume, which, when writing, is a lot).

Financially, all money will be refunded so I'm not worried. It's just that I'd been super excited about this one, and now it won't happen. He's booked for the next year w/seminars (none of which come back near my area) so it may be a long time before I get to attend this one workshop.

Nuther sigh. Well, let's just say it right now. BIG SIGH. Whine. Sigh. Whine some more.

But this moan-and-groan post is serving one purpose: I am disappointed that I will not be spending 9-10 hours on Sunday sitting in a writing workshop. What's the plus side of this? I am a person who actually would enjoy giving up 1 day on my weekend to do this. Which is another stroke of reality that writing is my calling--whether publication happens or not.

I've had to attend all kinds of snore-fest seminars for my day job(s) over the years. If one of those got cancelled, I would be doing cartwheels across America. But one which I *want* to go to gets cancelled, and I'm suddenly Mrs. Eeyore. (and yes, some of you say I can be stubborn as a mule too, so no jokes!)

So...it's 1:40 pm. I have time left today to write/edit my mess of a current manuscript, and that's what I intend to do. The Eeyore part of me wants to crawl away and hide somewhere, but I can't let life's curve balls stop me. Got to keep moving forward, yanno?

The last few days have been quite productive (as I anticipated the weekend, of course!) but I need to keep up the pace. Always take time to relax and lick the wounds when needed, but always continue the work.

Nuff said. Now go write!

Elaine

Different Writing Processes...

2009-08-14T10:16:00.002-04:00

Good morning, all :)

Many thanks to those who responded about their favorite artists. I will be doing a post on my favorites soon (promise!) but for now, I wanted to put words to web for what's happening.

There are many ways to write a book. Some are better than others, and one good thing is that after writing more than one, you can tell what works and what doesn't. Sometimes I try to take certain things from one and other things from another. Sometimes in the beginning, a certain process works great, but toward the end it becomes like pasta (ever-growing, no way out of).

Case in point. Current manuscript in progress. Don't ask me why, but I decided to "quilt" this manuscript together. Normally I stick to a linear approach, and write the book from beginning to end. Sometimes I detour, sometimes I get stuck, sometimes I plot, sometimes I don't. But it's usually linear. Not this time. Linear wasn't working, but all these 'random' scenes in my head seemed to flow.

Why argue w/the muse? I began writing down various scenes, had a vague idea what the storyline would be, and knew my characters well. This worked...for 185 pages. Then a horrible thing happened. It no longer worked! I had no more 'new' scenes to put in, and I needed the linear approach to make it all make sense to me. In the midst of this, I also changed the title and that cast a new spin on things.

Moral of the story--each book is unique, and each approach has to use the best things that have worked before while trying to avoid what didn't work. I am to the point of believing that odd numbered books work and even numbered ones don't. Yes, this sounds ridiculous, but it's been true for me. Book 1 didn't exactly "flow" but there were moments of sheer inspiration that surprised even me. Book 3 practically wrote itself...seriously. It's the easiest book I've ever done, and also one of my favorites.

So my advice is...figure out what works. Don't start writing until you're ready. Make a few notes for scenes/turning points and put them on a bulletin board. Try to have a plan if you get stuck.

So, right now, I pick myself up out of the quicksand I feel I am in, and will go back to being linear. I'll patch these scenes together, bridge some where necessary, and heave ho my way onward.

Elaine

Who are your favorite artists?

2009-07-18T09:30:00.002-04:00

Hello all,

What an incredible surprise this morning. I stepped outside to let the pets out and feed them, and it's about 65 degrees, with a cool breeze blowing! This is the South, otherwise known as "The Almighty Sauna" for those of you who may not live here. It was so different, so refreshing, that I stood up and took notice.

I think that's what happens when we find artistic things which inspire us. Whether they be books, films, paintings, photos, or people--these are the things which make us stand up and take notice.

So, my question to you on this lovely Saturday morning is...Who are YOUR favorite artists? What excites you about a character, a place, an art gallery, a photo, a person?

I will post my responses in another blog entry, but for now...calling all followers and people who comment (c'mon...you know who you are!) to tell me your thoughts first.

Thx!
Elaine

Dr. John--what an artist

2009-07-12T18:23:00.004-04:00

Hey all,

I'm originally from New Orleans, so I admit I'm partial to any jazz, Dixieland, zydeco, etc. music that comes out of the swampy area brewing with great food and drink.

Found this video on youtube - Dr. John playing the song "Iko Iko." What a talented musician, with such a unique voice all his own. Play it again, Dr. John!

View the video here (2 minutes, 27 seconds).

Keep your eyes open...It Might Get Loud

2009-07-12T11:03:00.017-04:00

Hey all,

First, I need to thank Simon Owens for today's blog post. He sent me the info and the preview link. WOW. What a great discovery in just a few minutes time.

I kept my eye on several films which played at Sundance Film Fest this year, but didn't know much about this one. It's called It Might Get Loud and tells about the history of the electric guitar from the point of view of 3 musicians: Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2's The Edge and the White Stripes' Jack White.

Now, I'm the first to admit that I was never a Zeppelin or White Stripes fan. I do enjoy U2 but haven't bought many of their albums. But It Might Get Loud seems, at least from the preview, to have that transcend-its-main-audience capability, meaning it can be enjoyable for audiences who may not be die-hard fans. Watch the preview here.

I'm particularly drawn to the moments in the preview where they speak about storytelling, about finding the words that are living in your soul and getting them "out there" to share with others. I may not like Zeppelin's music, but as a writer trying to get stories out of my imagination and onto the page, then into the hands of readers--I definitely identify with the need to express something.

Another documentary which played at Sundance this year, Anvil, The Story of Anvil, acheived this feat to perfection. For those who haven't seen it, it's the story of the Canadian heavy-metal band's path to success, with many, many setbacks. Yet the 2 main band members, friends since high school, never gave up. While I never enjoyed heavy metal music, I was riveted by their story of persistence and hope. I drove an hour to our artsy cinema to watch it--twice. When it's available for purchase, I'll buy the DVD.

And it seems It Might Get Loud might have an inspiring tale to tell too...so keep your eyes open!

Inner Critics and Kazoos

2009-07-09T14:30:00.002-04:00

Hello all,

Yes, it's true. It's been 2 months since I've blogged. *Gasp* I'd love to say it's because my fingers have been dashing across the keyboard at such a fast pace that even the muse can't keep up, but...well, you get the picture.

Yet it HAS been a productive few months, and something key I wanted to share with my blog readers. Ready?

There is an inner critic inside each of us. Yep, it's true. Writers are especially aware of this sneering little voice, which appears at the worst times to destroy our mojo. We want the critic around when we're editing, polishing, and prepping our manuscripts to go out into the world. But during the creative process, it's best we kick the inner critic's butt to the curb.

So HOW do we do that? I don't have the definitive answer, but I do have several things which have worked for me.

1. Imagine your critic talking through a kazoo. One of my twitter followers mentioned this was horrible, as there was "nothing so frightening" as a kazoo. Well, perhaps. To me, a kazoo is like those fun/silly mirrors at an amusement park. It takes reality and skews it to something silly, overdone, and ridiculous.

So the next time this voice inside your head tells you that your chapter doesn't make sense and it's crap, repeat those words in your head in a kazoo voice. It may make the critic be silent, if only for a spell.

2. Picture yourself out on a ledge, holding that manuscript, painting, whatever creative art you produce in your hands. Imagine yourself ready to fling that thing out into the wind, ready to be destroyed. What would you say to yourself to get yourself back inside? What rational arguments would you use to talk yourself back to a better place, a more realistic one?

Bottom line, our inner critics tell us things that we would never accept from people outside of ourselves, so why should the critic be this big, looming creature? Give it a voice like a kazoo. Or imagine it's a fluffy white rabbit covered in easter egg shells. Anything to shake it up, and make sure that your inner critic isn't welcome until the editing process begins. Then that critic can come in and stay awhile, because it will help you.

Thx!
Elaine

Anvil Rocks...Perseverence Style

2009-05-25T09:30:00.006-04:00

Hey all,

Happy Memorial Day!!! Hope everyone is enjoying a great holiday weekend. It's a great chance to remember what service men and women have done for our country as we spend time relaxing, grilling out with family and friends, or just taking a breather away from the normal routine. Whatever your plans may be, I wish you a happy Memorial Day.

On to today's topic...perseverence. There are many ways to define it, give examples of it, talk about it, blog about it, think about it, and well...the list goes on and on. But there's a wonderful little film out in theatres now that SHOWS what perseverence is. That film is called, "Anvil, The Story of Anvil." Click here for the movie website.

Now, let me admit a few things here. One, I love independent films. Anything out of Sundance or Cannes is something on my list to see. But I also know that independent film isn't everyone's cup of tea. However, there are some Indies which fit into both the 'art house' audience and the general audience. This is one of them. Go see it!

Two, I (like many) had never heard of this Canadian band who were playing gigs the same time as Metallica, Whitesnake, Slayer, Twisted Sister, Judas Priest and all those other heavy metal bands that I vaguely heard of but never really listened to.

Three, I don't like heavy metal. Never did. I heard of those other bands above either because friends listened to the music or because their ballads were played at every high school dance. But I'd never heard of Anvil.

What a story. These guys should have their picture next to 'perseverence' in the dictionary. They began playing when they were 16. Despite never hitting the big success that their aforementioned peers did, they continued to play gigs, using their vacation time to go on tours which were often filled with various complications and disappointments.

You know what? They kept going.

This isn't a pollyanna story; things were far from perfect. Their families began to question how things would work, the band members began to question themselves, and sometimes that doubt crept in so strong that it ripped the members apart.

But you know what? They kept going.

Now there's a film about their journey, and it's wonderful. Even if you don't like Indie film, even if you hate heavy metal music - - this is a wonderful documentary about 2 guys who just wouldn't quit.

Inspiring, I'd say. Now, off to write and chase that dream...

The future of Kindle?

2009-05-22T09:16:00.000-04:00

This was just too funny. I know people like their Kindle's, but I've always liked actually feeling and touching the book. Happy Friday and holiday weekend!

Funny Videos Funny Cartoons More Video Clips

Artistic Life in the Trenches...

2009-05-15T10:01:00.009-04:00

Happy Friday, all! Yes, I do keep meaning to blog more often (and will acheive that goal one day!) but for now, it's doing good at 2x/week. And the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it's beautiful outdoors and I'm like a cat scrambling to get out there myself.

Today's topic...artistic life in the trenches. Whether you're a writer, painter, photographer, filmmaker, musician, etc. - - it helps to have a support system. I've been fortunate to be part of several writers groups in my area, but I think it helps to go beyond our comfort zone. If you're a writer, try to meet some photographers, painters, musicians, filmmakers.

Artists are everywhere. We just have to look for them. Several times per week, I go to a nearby cafe for lunch to write. It's about 5 minutes from work and the tables/lighting/setup are conducive to writing away without too much hubbub all around. Since my face has become familiar, the staff asks me what I'm writing on, what I write, etc. (I use an Alphasmart Dana - best thing in the world!) One waiter there is a musician and it's wonderful to hear how his music is coming along when I see him. He keeps me in good Diet Coke supply and wishes me luck on my writing. These are more than simple exchanges; they keep us going and let us know that we're not alone.

This helps when the bullets start whizzing over our heads or crises occur. Knowing there are other artists in the trenches too is not only comforting; it's one of the best gifts I can imagine.

I've been incredibly fortunate to have encountered artists in a variety of fields. A filmmaker is able to help me see things in a visual way, how certain ways of editing a film can quicken the pace or heighten the tension in scenes. My current manuscript has some filmic pieces, and having another type of artist's feedback besides a writer is helpful. Same thing goes for painting. Knowing someone who paints on a regular basis helps me understand how they approach their art. I find value in this as a human being and as a writer.

Artistic life in the trenches gets to the best of us, but remember--we're not alone.

Now, go write your little hearts out!

Elaine

The few, the proud, the ones who don’t send us to the loony bin.

2009-05-08T22:42:00.005-04:00

Writers are an odd bunch, and I’m happy to consider myself part of this group. We create imaginary friends, then put them into a tangled web of conflict to watch them break free. We devise the best ways to kill someone, woo someone, attain that Holy Grail and just plain survive this puzzle known as the human condition.

While writers know each other’s strange behavior patterns, the general public tends to not always understand how much bliss we feel when the muse is smiling. I’ve been known to write in cafes, headphones in and music going, an endless supply of Diet Coke a few feet away. When a scene begins to unfold, my fingers will dash across the keyboard as I giggle and smile. This generates a few glances from people sitting nearby.

On occasion, depending on the scene, I also bounce. (Only a little bit; it’s not like I become Tigger reincarnated.) This generates bizarre glances. And then there are times, like 2 weeks ago, where I’m listening to a phenomenal song and writing an emotional/gut-wrenching scene, and I start crying as I’m typing. This generates concerned glances.

Leading into today’s post...those behind the scenes, the immediate friends/family of the writer who know and accept our strangeness, and don’t become afraid when we do things such as:

* Asking off-the-wall questions at random times. Grocery shopping, driving somewhere, waiting in line. “Do you think a fireplace poker would kill someone, or just disfigure them?”

* Leaving the house, saying, “I’ll be back later, I’m going over to Annie Oakley’s house so she can point her guns at me.” Read archive topic on book research and Annie Oakley here.

* Listen to a song over and over again because it’s the one song which opens the vein of creativity for the muse. FYI, family members are great w/my music habit, though I usually wear headphones. On one occasion, I had the speakers on and was playing a song over and over because it was soooo intensely powerful at placing me right in the scene that I was writing.

It took family until the 30th time to become a bit irked, which isn’t bad in the scheme of things.
Conversation went like this:
1st time song plays: “That’s a pretty song.”
5th time song plays: “Nice. Who’s it by?”
20th time song plays: “Uh huh.”
30th time: “Are you still listening to that depressing chick music?”

So, if you’re a writer, thank those around you who don’t commit you to the loony bin. If you know a writer, accept their strange quirks and know that they may talk about random things at random times, but they really do have a point. There’s a method to the madness, as they say.

Some YouTube'ing with the greats

2009-05-01T11:47:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday all,

Well, I had this really hilarious post ready to do today--and my brain power just isn’t catching on. Post is going to have to happen later in the weekend. But, I won’t leave you hanging!

Check out some youtubes of cool writers -

Ray Bradbury (2 min) - speaking on writing and passion over the years

Neil Gaiman (1 hour) - master craftsman of words

More later!

Powerful Music - See if it works for you

2009-04-27T15:01:00.004-04:00

Hi all,

Just a quick post to talk about the incredible power of music. While I know not everyone likes to write to music, I still wanted to share this for those that do. These 2 songs have been immensely powerful as I am filling in the details/polishing up the prologue of my fourth manuscript.

Every book tends to have a different soundtrack. Some songs work better to write scenes with certain characters. Right now, even though there are no Irish themes in my current work in progress, music by The Pogues is a wormhole straight to the muse as I write one specific character’s scenes. I tried listening to them while writing other characters. It didn’t work. Hey, I don’t question the muse. I just court her when she shows up. If The Pogues works for one character and other music/randomness works for others, that’s what I’ll do.

But for this prologue...the 2 songs below ROCK. If you can write to music, and you have any kind of intense, emotional, or heart-wrenching scenes to write - - these 2 songs have done wonders for me. Wanted to share with you. There’s a link so you can listen to a preview on Amazon.

Enjoy, and go forth with wherever the muse might take you!

Bring on the Wonder by Susan Enan featuring Sarah McLachlan

Feel It Now by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

300-threadcount weekend

2009-04-24T11:16:00.002-04:00

Hey all,

Last weekend, I attended a Deb Dixon seminar with my local writers group. Since the hotel/forum was about an hour away and Atlanta traffic is insane even during normal hours, I stayed at the hotel to relax, recoup, and get some writing done when we weren't using all our brain power to keep up with Deb Dixon's fantastic seminar.

One writer mentioned this was the first time she'd stayed at a hotel for a writing task, and how much she loved it. Loved having a bed to herself. Loved feeling 300 threadcount sheets. Loved room service. She was preaching to the choir. Not only does it let you go out with friends and get back late (without the worry of driving an hour home) but it's a great solitude place to catch up on some writing or editing. I spoke to another writer who does this once a month. My wallet and my home life don't really allow for that frequency, but I certainly understand the bliss she gets from getting a 300 threadcount weekend when she needs it.

Many hotels, particularly if you use someone like hotels.com or expedia, have discount rates in their low seasons. That means you can get a 300-threadcount writing weekend (sometimes w/jacuzzi in the room too!) for less than $80 per night. Very worth it, though in this economy I confess that I'm only doing it if we have another function attached to it.

Try it sometime - you might be surprised at how much you get done. Someone asked me if I watched TV on those weekends, and my answer is...yes, but in moderation. Make sure writing is your first priority, but after I've written for several hours or done an intense day, yes I watch TV at night. The key is to have some balance, but not to forget why you're there.

Off for a writing bliss weekend!

2009-04-17T08:29:00.002-04:00

Hey all,

I'm attending the Deb Dixon Goal, Motivation, Conflict seminar this weekend outside of Atlanta. Due to traffic constraints, timing, and well...just general wanting to get away, I'm staying at the hotel for the weekend too.

If you can get a great hotel rate, I recommend trying this at least once. Give yourself even one weekend night in a hotel. Take your laptop, enjoy the solitude and write your little hearts out. It often helps me to get a change of scenery (it always helps to get away from the daily chaos that is often at home) so it's a nice break to try and tap into that creativity.

Usually for every book, especially when I've hit the "sagging middle" part, I do one hotel weekend and productivity seems to come easy. I can't explain it; it just works.

There'll be a book signing, a movie night for my writers group, and the seminar this weekend, but I'm determined to get in some writing time too.

Enjoy the weekend and keep on writing!

Elaine

Being a Lit Agent for a Day...

2009-04-14T13:05:00.002-04:00

Hey all,

I recently stumbled across another lit agent's blog, Nathan Bransford, who offers some valuable information. This week, in response to Jessica Faust's AgentFail blog topic comments, he is letting all writers be Agents for a Day.

He's posted 50 anonymous queries, and is asking authors to respond to each one with an accept or reject. Authors can request up to 5 manuscripts out of 50. Everything has to be done by this upcoming Saturday, making it about 10 queries per day to review.

Check out his blog.

One thing I have learned from this exercise (and there are many!) is that there are many queries which come in that hold no personal interest to me whatsoever. It's easy to send a form rejection in those cases, but is that really helping a fellow writer? I tried adding in comments for every reject I gave, but it began taking up so much time that I couldn't continue unless I *really* saw something special in the writer's query.

This also lets me know that I need to go back and thank those agents who were kind enough to send personalized reasons why a certain manuscript of mine was not right for them. Any of these tips helps, and helps us navigate our way to the publication path.

So THANK YOU to those lit agents who respond to our queries and let us know your thoughts. You're helping writers everywhere.

A Trip Down Flannery O'Connor Way...

2009-04-06T11:12:00.024-04:00

This past weekend, I had the dual pleasure of not only escaping Atlanta for a day, but seeing Southern writer Flannery O'Connor's homestead. For those of you in the Atlanta area, the farm where she lived--aka "Andalusia"--is in Milledgeville, Georgia, a little over an hour outside Atlanta. Take I-20 East, Go South on 441 for 30 miles. Boom, you're there. And if you have the time to visit other Southern author homesteads, there are many within driving distance of Atlanta.

Strange things happen when one escapes a metro city. We're so frenzied with work, life, etc. that we often don't "see" things. Worse yet, we don't realize we're missing out until we get the chance to escape. We've gradually grown accustomed to fuzzy sight, and leaving for a spell gives us that perfect 20/20 vision. Suddenly we realize how much better everything looks, smells, sounds.

15 miles outside the city's limits, I began to breathe easier. 18-wheelers were no longer jockeying for position along our potholed interstates; anything left undone at home was out of sight, out of mind; and the further away we drove, the more industrial-looking neighborhoods and businesses gave way to rolling green pastures peppered with horses and cows, red barns and silos, and a more relaxed pace. Try as we may to remember these gems so close to the city, we often forget they exist.

Flannery O'Connor's homestead is a beautiful farmhouse with an amazing front porch overlooking a lake. She loved peacocks, so there are vases with peacock feathers everywhere, along with peacock rugs and framed paintings. The white stove and kitchen cabinets reminded me of my grandmother's kitchen.

Her desk and typewriter were in her bedroom on the first floor, as she had lupus which eventually caused her death. She used crutches to get around, yet every morning--without fail--she wrote for 3 hours before taking care of farm life. All these daily events while on crutches. I was astonished to learn more about her. She attended college (and got her Master's degree) when most women flocked to become housewives. She studied at Yaddo with some of the greats. And she continued to write daily despite a debilitating disease.

My mantra coming away from learning this? No more excuses. Some days the muse might appear, other days she may be elusive. But consistently showing up to the page is the only way to charm her into staying.

Walking around the farm, including seeing the barn (see photo above) which inspired her short story, "Good Country People," was like strolling back in time. Fat, fuzzy bumblebees danced near the flowers; a warm breeze blew, bringing a smile to everyone's face while there; a green furry caterpillar inched its way along dark gray rocks. It was an enlivening afternoon.

Returning home was interesting. Atlanta is a jealous city; her gravitational pull on residents to stay nearby comes with a price for those who escape her grasp on occasion. Re-entering the city--no matter what day, time, or route--is like re-entering the Earth's atmosphere without a heat shield. It's as if the city keeps a detailed record of the residents who betray her by leaving, and she'll make it hell on them upon return so they're reluctant to leave again.

But not me. Plenty to see and do nearby...and plenty to blog about. Happy writing and creating, all!

That old adage: Show, Don't Tell

2009-04-03T13:07:00.008-04:00

Oh, c’mon. Don’t frown and groan yet. Granted, this topic is overdone in the writing world, but occasionally I stumble across examples which revitalize my faith in its truth. Magic happens when writers follow this simple (and yet elusive) advice.

Key Point: Your audience doesn’t want information; they want experiences. It’s our job as writers to offer that to the best of our ability.

How can we do this? By using what we have in our toolbox. Words, description, sentence structure, our own experiences and knowledge of the human condition, etc. For you blogaholics out there like me, Margie Lawson is guest blogging today at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales. I attended a few of her brief presentations in Atlanta last year; she’s one of the best teachers on character emotion that I’ve encountered.

Keep in mind that for any technique, like flavorful seasonings, use in moderation. Description can be a wonderful tool, but it can also be like letting a full saltshaker loose on that prized soufflé. One author I was required to read in high school described a leaf for 5 pages. FIVE PAGES. A LEAF. It wasn’t even important to the story. All of us have things which we avoid. Stephen King hates the word “zestful” and has vowed to never use it in his books. I’m with him; my vow is to never describe a leaf. Ever.

Point being? A few well-placed words can go a long way. Below are some examples I’ve read recently. They restore my faith, because writers like the below not only offer a glimpse into whatever it is they are trying to communicate, but they let us share in those experiences with them. That takes talent, folks, and it’s something I am more determined than ever to remember as I continue writing.

My thanks, kudos, and deepest respect for all the artists below who were brave enough to share their talent with the world. All of you are my heroes and heroines, my inspiration.

The street door was still open, just a little, where the knife and the man who held it had slipped in, and wisps of nighttime mist slithered and twined into the house through the open door. His shoes were black leather, and they were polished to such a shine that they looked like dark mirrors: you could see the moon reflected in them, tiny and half full.
-- Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book

It’s 5 degrees. The street is dark and absolutely still. The cold has already made it through all three of my coats. Above me the obsidian sky is glittering with millions of stars. I take a breath. The whole night sky rushes into my throat, the stars tickling into my lungs like tiny fragments of ice.
--Tom DiCillo, filmmaker, on the atmosphere at the Sundance Film Festival 09

Now imagine being frozen from the waist down in a lake of ice for eternity. Imagine that the slightest movement would freeze the tears on your face and the water surrounding you. God, according to Dante, was all about motion and energy, so the ultimate punishment for Lucifer is to not be able to move at all. At the very bottom of hell, there's no fire, no brimstone, just the utter inability to take action."
--Jodi Picoult, The Tenth Circle

The following 2 examples are the first sentences of 2 Dennis Lehane books. His tone, his words automatically bring you into the story.

The first time I met Karen Nichols, she struck me as the kind of woman who ironed her socks.
--Dennis Lehane, Prayers for Rain

A piece of advice: If you ever follow someone in my neighborhood, don't wear pink.
--Dennis Lehane, Sacred

Rituals: the key to unlocking your creative mind

2009-03-27T17:22:00.011-04:00

Happy weekend, all! The forecast for Atlanta this weekend is drizzling rain and cold--perfect weather to stay inside and write. If I go stir crazy, it's ideal weather to go to a local cafe and write there as I watch the rain droplets stick themselves to the window.

On to today's topic...I read an article recently about our subconscious mind. Seems it's quite an interesting part of our brain, and it's directly connected to our creative processes. This article specified that many times, rituals of any kind can help tell our minds that it's time to write (or begin any kind of task, really.)

So, what rituals? The article mentioned anything non-verbal. It could be lighting a scented candle, saying a silent prayer to the Muse, taking three deep breaths, whatever have you. The point is that our subconscious mind picks up on these ritual actions--if we do them consistently before we create--as a cue to begin work.

While I don't have any scientific proof of this, I can tell you that it works for me. And hey, whatever works to get the creativity going is a good thing! My desk is decorated with all kinds of magical, faery art, along with sketches of New Orleans and Savannah, along with anything to inspire me.

In the picture above, there's an intricate moon inside a glass circle which spins on its stand, a pewter fairy with an emerald stone in her outstretched hands, and a Celtic cross. My ritual before writing is to spin the moon on its stand, run my thumb over the stone the fairy is holding, kiss her wings, and then run my fingers over the smooth surface of the Celtic cross. I also keep some loose raspberry tea leaves in an azure blue pottery cup nearby, and I take a deep whiff of that mixture too, then sit down to write.

How did I come up with this? I don't know. But it's non-verbal, I do it in a certain order, and somehow it makes starting at the computer easier to do; easier to begin that writing task.

Try it sometime - it might work for you.

What are your rituals?

No right and wrong answers...only variety

2009-03-22T17:15:00.015-04:00

A fellow artist recently mentioned that he likes complete silence when he's writing. I'm one who needs music. I've tried the total-silence approach, but it makes my ears feel like they're stuffed with cotton.

But my using music to write isn't the right answer, or the best answer, or anything except my preference. I've read his work; it's incredible. The write-in-silence process works for him.

The key secret that nobody tells you: There are NO right and wrong answers. There's only what works for you, enabling you to get the job done.

This is why I'm wary of writing classes. They can be valuable tools, but remember that the instructor is not the ultimate authority on what works and what doesn't. Years ago, I took a short story online class from a place which I won't mention. The instructor used one approach. I used another. She told me I was wrong. Not good.

In the fiction world, there are plotters and there are pantsers, and some folks who are a bit of both.

You know the plotters when you see them. They're the ones with color-coded post-it notes threaded throughout their synopsis and manuscript. They know what has to happen when, they have timelines, graphs, charts, colored dots for when each event occurs, etc. They're efficient, organized and often produce many pages because they've already laid out where they want to go. They're hard to miss.

By the same token, you know the pantsers. They scatter like mice when anyone mentions a "synopsis" or asks for plot detail on a manuscript in progress. They write a book so they can figure out how it ends. Where's the fun in writing if you already know how it ends? They shun graphs and charts, and instead write by the seat of their pants--oftentimes surprising themselves with glee in the process.

I am a reformed pantser, still leaning toward the pantsing side but with enough plotter thrown in so I don't write myself into a big circle. My writing instructor was a strict plotter. "Why are you letting your character do this?" she would ask. "You write to have something happen, and you create characters to do what you want so the action takes place."

Huh? To my pantser mind, this made no sense. Don't characters drive the story? Oh sure, I had a general idea about what I wanted to focus on, plot points to move the story forward, etc. But not let my character drive the story? Why would I write otherwise?

Don't ever let anyone do this. Different approaches work for different people. I find that I'm a combination of plotter/pantser now, and it works well. As long as you know your characters (including their goals/motivations/conflicts) then use what approach works for you. You're the one having to crank out pages, splash that paint on the canvas, or sketch that landscape.

Some people wear funky outfits while creating. Some prefer hard rock music, some prefer classical. Others prefer silence. It's a matter of what creates the best environment for you to create, to call the muse.

Do what works for you--because getting that art created and into the world is all that counts.

:)

Adding humor to the day...

2009-03-21T20:24:00.004-04:00

Always remember to keep your sense of humor. If you have lost yours, or can't find yours, then try to absorb someone else's until you regain yours back.

Have become addicted to Twitter recently. For any Twitter-bees out there, I recommend that you follow actor Christopher Walken. The guy is hilarious. I admit, I have liked him ever since he played Duane, Diane Keaton's crazy brother, in "Annie Hall" in 1977. Then I heard he was once a lion tamer. That made me like him even more.

Now he's on Twitter, and he's got some hysterical posts. If you're on Twitter, check him out - http://twitter.com/cwalken. It'll make you laugh. And you know what they say...laughter is the best medicine, so take plenty and call me in the morning!

Elaine

I'm everywhere!

2009-03-14T13:16:00.004-04:00

No, not really. That would be impossible. But I have signed up for Facebook and Twitter, and figured I would list all the various technology arenas where you can find me these days:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/writerscanvas

Facebook: Author Elaine

Web Site: www.thewriterscanvas.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thewriterscanvas

If you’re active on any of these, stop by and say hello!

Back to writing inside on a cold rainy day!

Take a Day to Refill the Well

2009-03-08T11:56:00.006-04:00

By our very nature, writers struggle with finding the time to write. Once time is available, the issue changes into what to write, how to write, is it any good or is it the latest skunk craze and well--you get the picture. Getting trapped in this cycle can drive anyone insane.

Someone once said, "You never reach the bottom items on your to-do-list, so put writing at the top." I could have saved hours at writing workshops if I'd only heard that line earlier. That sentence clicked with me, so now I put it at the top. And it does work. I take my Alphasmart Dana with me and write on my work lunch hours; I often stop at a coffeehouse on the way home and write more; and try to do at least 3-4 hours on weekend days.

Whether you're budgeting 10 minutes or 10 hours to write, it's also important to stop and refill the well once in awhile. Take an entire day to refill the well. I did this yesterday and not only was it enjoyable, but during a dinner conversation with a friend, I discovered a little tidbit I could put into my current work in progress. This couldn't have happened if I'd planned it; it was one of those mysterious things that just clicked at the right moment--and it's ideal. So the day was enjoyable, I met up with old friends I hadn't seen in awhile, and I got a tidbit for a story.

It's also important to get "out of one's element" and see things differently once in awhile. In a big city, this can mean going across town and discovering a few new places or spots; in a rural area, go out for a drive and find some new highways with horse farms.

Now it's time to return to that manuscript! Make time to refill the well - you'll be surprised at the gems you come across when you're not looking for them :)

Slumdog Millionaire Wins Oscar - Great Way to Tell a Story

2009-02-23T07:50:00.003-05:00

Happy Monday, all!

"Slumdog Millionaire" took best picture (along with many other awards) last night at the Oscars. For those of you who haven't seen this yet, GO. It does have some disturbing scenes (just a warning for those who are somewhat squeamish) but this is one of the best films I've seen recently.

Why?

* The storytelling method is incredible. I would encourage writers of any kind to go see this film on that fact alone. This could have been told in several ways, and it would have made the film entirely different. It's the WAY the story is told which thrilled me. Begin thinking of that when you're writing a scene for your screenplay, novel, or short story. Are you telling the story in the best way possible? What other options could you try? Is there a way to increase the stakes by doing something just a bit different?

* Because it's a great story of a little Indie film which almost went directly to video, but instead got distribution in tough times. Now it's won Best Picture 2008 along with many other awards which I can't remember this early in the morning. We all love underdog stories; the film's storyline is an underdog story, but so is the filmmaking process for this movie. Go see it!

I also loved "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and was pleased to see it won some awards. The one thing I remember saying at the closing credits of "Slumdog Millionaire" is that, "Wow. That was an incredible way to take information and tell a story."

Check it out!

Doors Documentary web site is up!

2009-02-17T09:28:00.001-05:00

Hey all,

Yep, I'm excited about this one! The Doors documentary (When You're Strange) website is up and running. There's the preview, Q&A links, etc.

View the When You're Strange web site.

Back to writing...

Elaine

Don't fight the muse...join her

2009-02-14T09:42:00.006-05:00

I'm learning not to fight the muse...though I seem to be having many arguments with inanimate objects recently. Typing this stings a bit, as my right ring finger got stuck in a grocery cart 2 days ago, right before the guy loading it yanked it forward. OUCH! It's black and blue.

Months ago during a cleaning frenzy--an attempt to keep my mind occupied after submitting my third book to editors--the window blinds in my living room attempted to eat me. (Yes, you read that correctly. And while it may be difficult to picture, I assure you those things looked like they had mini jaws attacking me.)

These things make me wonder if I'm losing more battles than I'm winning. But one thing is clear...you have to roll with the punches when it comes to creativity. You can't force it, you can't ignore it. You're either excited about what you're creating/doing, or you're not. That's not to say that you should stop putting the time/effort into it, or that you should start a new book idea every time your current manuscript starts to taste a bit dull.

BUT...if your current work in progress is not going anywhere, and all various attempts to rekindle it are not working (write a new, upbeat scene with tension; jump into some dialogue to freshen things up, kill a character, etc.) then it's not that bad of an idea to take a break. Listen to some music. Read a great book. Explore all different ways of storytelling, even ones you wouldn't normally use yourself.

Anyone a film buff out there? I'd suggest you go see "Slumdog Millionaire" when you get a chance. It's disturbing in some ways, but I will say this: It's an incredibly unique way to *tell* the story; that's what impressed me the most.

I began a 4th manuscript last August, then put it down and started another one in October. Now I've put that one down and am returning to the original one, but changing several things. It's not that I'm ADD...it's more of going where I feel pulled to go. There was no excitement left in what I was working on, and I'm changing gears, still moving forward, and will eventually return to it and try to rekindle something. But that excitement has to be there. It's what gets us through the lonely long days.

And yes, sometimes my muse still shows up wearing that silly purple hat.

Add in a dash of Johnny Depp...

2009-02-07T16:33:00.004-05:00

Looks like Johnny Depp is going to be the narrator for the Doors documentary, When You're Strange, that I've been plugging. Adding Depp's incredible voice and star status to this film is going to make it soar. I couldn't be happier for writer/director Tom DiCillo.

Read the Johnny Depp announcement.

The film also got a worldwide distributor in Berlin; the Berlin film fest is happening now. Now I just have to wonder how long it takes to get into a USA theatre in the South...cuz when it does, I'll be the first in line to buy a ticket!

Happy weekend all!

The human being behind the artist...

2009-02-05T16:40:00.025-05:00

Greetings from arctic Atlanta! Yes, it's the South. If you don't like the weather here, just wait 5 minutes. Been in the 20s this week and supposed to be in the high 60s this weekend.

Onto today's topic...I always find it fascinating to learn more about the artists in our midst, be they authors, musicians, filmmakers, painters. Anytime they're generous enough to do an interview or a Q&A with others, it helps people get to know them a bit better. My monthly writers group knows this fact and has incorporated it into every meeting. The "Ask a Published Author" segment, no matter how many times an author may speak, is always valuable and gives us some extra insight into what keeps them going.

I love the TV show on Bravo, Inside the Actors Studio, for this very reason. Actors talk about their background, how they entered the acting profession, etc. It's a chance to not only learn more about some favorite actors/actresses, but I like the opportunity to see who they are as real people. You can learn a great deal by watching or reading an interview; this tells us who the person is, what art means to them, and how willing they are to encourage others.

Those who've been following my blog for awhile know that I'm a huge Tom DiCillo fan. He's one of the few writer/directors whose films always touch my soul. I've purchased all his films on DVD and also have his 2 books. I read somewhere that he wrote a play while studying at NYU. If I could get my hands on it, I'd purchase that too.

Below is a link to a recent interview he gave regarding his newest film about The Doors, When You're Strange. The film premiered at Sundance last month, is currently being shown at the Berlin Film Festival, and will play at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, TX in March.

Read the interview.

We all have our favorite artists, those who have a particular way of storytelling which reaches into our heart or excites some quirky spirit in us--we can't help but love everything they create. For filmmakers, my list includes Tom DiCillo and the Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan.

In terms of books, Dennis Lehane and Jodi Picoult are my top two. Lehane has a conversational yet brutally honest Boston voice. I must have read the 3 opening pages to Gone, Baby, Gone at least 50 times. The words almost sway in the breeze, those pages are written so well. Picoult takes current events and sagas, then uses them as a backdrop to her rich fiction characters. I read about her in an airplane magazine (yes, it was an interview, so always read interviews when you get the chance!) and decided to buy one of her books. I did and have since bought everything she's done.

Remember when your artistic creations get out into the world, give interviews or Q&As. It's a great way for your audience to learn a bit more about you, the artist who's behind the art.

Y'all have a great weekend!

The joy of what we do...

2009-02-03T17:33:00.003-05:00

I've been particularly impressed by a few recent conversations/things I've caught on TV/life. All of them have come down to this one point: Take joy in what you do. If it can't be your means of income, then make time to pursue those things which bring joy into your life.

I talked to the owner of a framing store today, as I was in there getting a wonderful gift custom-framed. I definitely see the immortality and creativity in taking photographs, filming something, drawing something. But somehow I never associated that a framemaker could see his job as an artist as well. He spoke about how people come in, wanting custom made retirement print frames which he designs, and those pieces of gold are in people's homes, living on with a soulful flicker.

I was definitely impressed. Take time to find the joy and artistic beauty in what you do, and do it as often as you can :)

More later!

Persistence...and we're into February!

2009-02-02T21:32:00.003-05:00

Hello all,

One of my New Year's resolutions is to blog more, especially after receiving some emails from people claiming that yes, y'all really DO read and recommend my blog! Puts the pressure on, but that's good. The brain needs to think.

And that's a key note for any creative endeavor: you have to refill the well. Some days I get so antsy with hitting a certain word count or spending so much time writing that the result isn't necessarily bad--it's just not as good as it could be.

Take time to breathe. Go walk around a town square or city avenue. Stroll under the glimmering high rises of the city or bask under a willowy tree in the country. Listen to music. Find new music, stuff you normally wouldn't even listen to. You might surprise yourself. Watch new films, devour looking at paintings, photographs, read books of all kinds--all of these things can speak to our souls, helping us refill the well.

And don't forget to never, ever quit!

Watch the Doors documentary trailer

2009-01-27T13:56:00.001-05:00

Hey all,

Been a busy week; not much time to blog. Wanted to include the link to the Doors documentary trailer. "When You're Strange" has gone to Sundance, and is heading to the Berlin Film Fest in February.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoyS8YxE-C4

Have a great week; I'll blog more soon!

When You're Strange Interview

2009-01-21T09:31:00.010-05:00

The Sundance Film Festival is currently going on in Park City, Utah. I so wish I was there, not only to see the amazing films but also because it is currently 10-15 degrees warmer than the South. Park City, Utah (ski town, has snow on ground) is warmer than the South (no snow, just shivering people). Go figure.

So, remaining inside with my furry slippers, I surfed the web to find this little gem. It's a Sundance Channel interview for the documentary, "When You're Strange" which premiered at Sundance last Saturday night.

The interview includes writer/director Tom DiCillo and the Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. I love how Tom speaks of the film's title and how it relates to humankind. I love how Ray talks about Jim Morrison as if he is still an active presence in their lives. I love how Robby, though admittedly wary at first, compliments the film's honest portrayal of the Doors more than previous sources. Let's just say in short: I love this interview.

I'm hoping that "When You're Strange" will be in theatres later in 2009. Regardless of opening date, I will be first in line to buy a ticket because it's sure to be mesmerizing.

2009: It’s Time to Decide

2009-01-16T11:34:00.000-05:00

Happy 2009, everyone! Sorry for the belated wishes; life has been immensely hectic the last 3-4 weeks. BUT one thing that recent events have taught me is this: Life is short. Follow your dreams now. Don’t waste any time, especially being afraid. Take a baby step forward and keep moving.

New Year’s 2009 was unusual. Normally, I like to sit back, make a list of resolutions, think about accomplishments, and write down goals. In December 2008, my Dad went into the hospital for a mini stroke, pneumonia, respiratory and heart issues all at once. Suffice it to say, New Year’s Eve for me was spent watching doctors and nurses wear celebratory hats as they waltzed in and out of my Dad’s hospital room. Then later, drinking some wine w/my mom, us toasting in the New Year before collapsing to sleep.

While I wish this hadn’t happened, I have to take a long look at what I can learn from it. Yes, my mind is swirling with all those life questions: What does it all mean? What are we doing here? Where am I headed? And one answer which keeps resonating with me is that we only have a bit limited time on this Earth - why waste any of it not pursuing what you want to do? I’m not saying quit your day job; I’m saying make the time for those pursuits you’re passionate about.

It only makes sense. I look at other artists and wonder: what would life be like if they’d chosen different paths? What if Aaron Neville had become a store manager instead of a musician? Whether you’re a person of faith or not, his version of “Amazing Grace” is absolutely beautiful. Think of your favorite authors, filmmakers, painters - - what if they’d been too scared to pursue their passion? Life would be different, and isn’t the entire point of life to enjoy its richness while we can?

So, it’s mid-January and I’m just now getting to that 2009 goals list. Continuing to write, telling stories which offer a glimpse into understanding humanity--that’s my top goal. Rejection letters, while sometimes depressing and painful, can only stop me if I let them.

One of my favorite episodes of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” hosts Dustin Hoffman. He talks about Picasso, who was asked once, “What would you do if you didn’t have any paintbrushes to paint with?” Picasso’s answer was, “I’d use pens and pencils, crayons, whatever I had to.”
On being asked, “If someone stripped you naked, put you in prison and gave you nothing to paint with, what would you do?”
Picasso’s answer? “I would spit on my finger and continue to draw images on the walls. I would never let anything stop me.”

THAT is passion, folks. So get out there and begin to follow yours!

Sneak Peeks into Artistic Creations

2008-12-12T18:52:00.002-05:00

There’s something delicious that swells in my soul when I encounter creative art in progress. Writing books is a muse-thrill all its own, but I also take great joy in learning, seeing, and watching others create something.

A great one-liner from the film “Art School Confidential” illustrates my point: Artists live for that narcotic moment of creative bliss.

Watching and knowing the behind-the-scenes details of something which the public finally sees is, I dunno, amazingly wonderful to me. It’s like those times in junior high school, when my good friend’s uncle was a radio DJ; he got us into sneak preview movie premieres all the time. We saw those great films before anyone else! *Thrills and Giggles*

So often in life, I feel like I’m the last to know something. So when creations enter the world which I've seen or heard about evolving, it’s a rewarding feeling--even if I’m not the artist behind it.

I wrote the Indie 13 blog post, announcing the eventual release of When You’re Strange. Tom DiCillo has kept a blog since he began this Doors project, and it’s been interesting to read how it progressed. I can’t wait to see it in theatres.

Today (12/12), “Delgo” starts in theatres. This is the creation of Fathom Studios (Marc Adler and Jason Maurer) located in Atlanta. They’re also an animation/film arm of the well-known and respected company Macquarium. I had the great pleasure of working a 6-week contract job there, about 1 ½ years ago. It’s one of the most exciting, innovative and creative places I’ve ever worked. During that time, all the employees were invited to see “Delgo” during work hours. Today, it’s released in theatres. It’s exciting, knowing this day would eventually arrive.

And it was cool to even know the behind-the-scenes information on pets. Disney made a movie called “Murder She Purred” many years ago. A friend of mine owned one of the German Shepherds in the movie, and she kept an ongoing blog of the many ups and downs of training/working with animals on set, and how it was challenging with some actors. (Incidentally, my favorite part of her blog was that the actor, Ed Begley Jr., loved German Shepherds, and was often scolded by the wardrobe lady because he continued to roll around on the grass playing with them between takes. As a shepherd lover myself, this tidbit instantly raised Ed Begley Jr.’s stock in my book.)

So, I am happy for these friends and past co-workers who are ushering their precious pieces of art into the world. One day, with whichever book may work, I hope to do the same. Meanwhile, I'm settling in to cornflower blue Atlanta skies, chilly weather, and warm raspberry tea to court the muse. We'll see how often she shows up!

Indie # 13 - WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE

2008-12-05T15:05:00.017-05:00

When You're Strange film by Tom DiCillo - updated links:

2010: Read the most recent updates here.

The film will open in select cities on April 9, 2010.

Older Links

Watch the When You're Strange AMC News Interview with writer/director Tom DiCillo and Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger (2 minutes)

Watch the When You're Strange Sundance Channel Interview with Tom, Ray and Robby (4 minutes)

Watch the When You're Strange In the Can Sundance Interview with Tom, Ray and Robby (9 minutes)

Read The Doors Magazine Interview

Well, perhaps I’m strange. I’m posting a blog to promote an Indie which hasn’t even been released yet. Why? Because I’m excited about this one and want to get the word out. Plus, this documentary is written/directed by one of my favorite Indie filmmakers, Tom DiCillo.

WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan 09, and is being shown at the Berlin Film Fest in Feb 09 and the SXSW Film Conference and Festival (SXSW) in Austin in March. The documentary is about Jim Morrison/The Doors. Stay tuned for additional details on a theatrical release.

Wolf Films (the folks who do Law & Order) is planning to do a full theatrical release of the film, which includes music and footage. Read Tom DiCillo’s blog post on this project.

Mention Jim Morrison in mixed company and you get an array of responses. Myths, legends, and ambiguous feelings all come together. Yet despite much being written about The Doors (some of it incorrect over the years), I encourage everyone--whether you’re a fan or not--to check out WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE when it’s released.

Why?

* Indie filmmaker Tom DiCillo has the rare, precious talent of extracting intimate, soulful moments on screen. He’s able to sift through the external muck surrounding everyday topics and enhance the gold underneath. His films always nourish my spirit, and I’m sure this one will too.

* DiCillo’s artistic eye--everything from music to cinematography--should make for an amazing film experience.

* I’m willing to bet this film will be a different take on The Doors than you’ve ever seen before.

* The music will be incredible with today’s sound technology.

* Learning more about those who influenced history with their quest for artistic freedom and truth helps us make sense of our own humanity.

* Because I’m recommending it, folks! Keep WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE in your memory. It will be worth it when it comes out. More details to follow!

Rainy Night in Georgia...and other artistic titles

2008-11-29T09:33:00.001-05:00

Or should I say "A Rainy Day in Georgia" because that describes it better! But after 2 days of relatives, turkey, relatives, and more turkey--the bleak winter skies and damp weather is a welcome change. If this were a bear talking, I'd be ready to hibernate :)

Hope everyone had a fabulous holiday, whether travel was part of your plans or not.

Wanted to talk a bit here about titles. How do artists come up with them? Song titles, film titles, book titles? As a writer, I can only speak from my own experience. Unfortunately, the answer is "I don't know." They just appear, whether suddenly or after anxious, painful extraction. The interesting mix of muse/inspiration/keywords floating around in my head finally puts something coherent together.

What confuses me is how the title search for each book is different. I'm working on Book 4. Right now it is untitled. It took me awhile to think of the title for Book 2, and it wound up being a suggestion from someone. Book 1 and 3 were instant flashes. If I were looking at patterns, perhaps all odd-numbered books will have easy titles and all even books will be a struggle? Who knows? Each is different, much like each artistic creation is different.

Sometimes playing with key words helps. I write key words which describe the themes/feelings I'm trying to evoke. Then I look up all those words in a thesaurus and dictionary. Sometimes this approach helps. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I'm just walking through the produce section of a grocery and BAM! The title wops me upside the head. Other times, it takes forever to figure one out. (Which seems to be the pattern for Book 4...)

But no matter which differences occur between artistic creations, bottom line--I love all of them. I love the ones I struggled with and I love the ones which came easily. These people living in my imagination sometimes teach me more than "actual" people do. And even the antagonists--my heart goes out to them. They're simply misunderstood, which makes them all the more human.

Off to write on this rainy, chilly Southern day. Hope the muse finds each of you as well, and happy holidays!

Indie #12 - Flakes

2008-10-23T18:35:00.006-04:00

Flakes: I LOVED this little Indie. It's going on my Christmas list. Starring Aaron Stanford (who was simply wonderful in "Traveler" though it got cancelled); Zooey Deschanel, and Christopher Lloyd. Directed by Micheal Lehmann.

I keep asking myself: would I love it as much, if it weren't filmed in my hometown of New Orleans? My answer is yes, though location is an important aspect of the eclectic people and atmosphere. In 2002, I went to Oregon. Certain parts of Portland and Eugene, Oregon would work well. Whatever the location, it requires intrinsic beauty and no pretension. Remember the quote from the movie 'Steel Magnolias' - "An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure."

That being said, "Flakes" did something no film has ever done for me: It made me fall in love with my hometown again. Hurricane Katrina broke my heart, and I mourned for weeks for a city I once loved. True, it's come back in many ways, but some things will never be the same. "Flakes" was filmed before Katrina hit, so it has all those local elements still intact; perhaps this is why I connected so strongly.

Meet Neal Downs (played by Aaron Stanford). He's a musician, but he's afraid to put all his effort into his artistic endeavor. To pay the bills and stall the time, he works as a manager at a cereal bar (yes, you read that correctly...a cereal bar). Think eclectic neighborhood coffeehouse that sells rare cereals and those which you can't purchase anymore. Add in a few strange characters--those who purchase rare cereal artifacts on eBay, those who come in daily and order the same custom cereal mix, and those who swap cereal trivia every morning at breakfast.

He's coasting through life, happy with mediocrity. Then his girlfriend (played by an enthusiastic and talented Zooey Deschenel) takes control. When he won't take a week off to work on his music and won't hire her so he can focus on his goals, she struts herself across the street...to ANOTHER cereal bar which just opened. She's going to help the competition if her boyfriend won't help himself.

The rest of the movie is about the competition, the rifts in their relationship, and finding one's purpose in life. All of these delicious themes set against the backdrop of my beautiful New Orleans. Those of you who are locals--and even you tourists who pay close attention--look for the following:

* The scene where they go meet the lawyer: It's the inside of Commander's Palace, one of the top restaurants in the city.

* The scene where they go to a fancy dinner at Antoine's: Yes, it really IS Antoine's. Many movies take a camera shot of the outside, then film the inside within a studio. This one was true, inside and out. When in high school, our yearbook staff went to Antoine's one afternoon (someone's uncle worked there) and we got photos of ourselves laughing and joking amidst Antoine's tables and the bar. This brief scene reconnected me with a happy memory.

* Scene 10 on the DVD--the first few minutes: He walks across Jackson Square in the fog and rain. GORGEOUS camera shot. Gray fog permeating the air, tall black iron gates flanking the French Quarter. I loved this scene, partly for the weather effect but partiy because it wasn't "traditional." The characters weren't getting drunk on Bourbon Street, with the Superdome in the background, while speaking in bad Cajun dialects. This scene was REAL. There's even a camera shot of a garbage truck cleaning up the French Quarter streets. Everyone thinks of the Quarter as party central; no filmmaker ever explored the 'clean up' factor. To the locals, this is normal. Another reason I connected with its realism.

* While filmed in the French Quarter, it's on the outskirts. They have a montage sequence which shows the typical New Orleans sights, but it moves quickly. Lets the viewer know it's New Orleans, but doesn't beat him over the head with it. Hello? New Orleans IS a wonderful city which brings out beautiful connections in people--not all connections happen directly under the Bourbon Street sign. Does Hollywood not realize that?

Speaking of Hollywood and Indies, I find the main difference is that Indies focus on telling a *REAL* story, a realistic story. Hollywood does tell stories--and yes, I like some of them--but Indies have more honesty, more truth, more CORE than Hollywood explores.

There was a brief camera shot of a parade in "Flakes" but it lasted about 2 seconds--a refreshing alternative to the standard movie where parades break out on random streets for no reason. Hello? Who does that? Just to set the tourists straight--random parades do not occur in New Orleans. During Mardi Gras? Sure, let it all hang out. St. Patrick's Day, a funeral of a jazz musician? Absolutely. But otherwise, people do not randomly start playing trumpets in the streets.

Indie movies tell different stories--they shun predictability. So yes, it is a bizarre little film. But it's wonderful, and I encourage you to check it out!

The Power of Music and Creativity

2008-09-05T17:22:00.005-04:00

Happy September, everyone! Hope everyone is doing well. I am extremely thankful that Hurricane Gustav did not damage New Orleans and surrounding area as much as anticipated. Please keep all the people whose areas were hit hard by Gustav in your thoughts, as I remember Katrina's devastation all too clearly.

As I'm plugging along writing Book 4, the subject of music keeps coming up. I'm not quite sure why certain creative projects are attracted to certain types of music, and it's not like I choose certain genres deliberately. In many ways, whichever music allows the muse to flow and keep the words coming gets meshed into the 'soundtrack' for a specific book. As the book gets fine-tuned and the chapters get written, what begins as several songs shifts to a specific listing.

Book 3- Ghosts, Grits, and A Damn Yankee - had strong Irish themes. I lived on Irish music--lots of Roger Drawdy & The Firestarters, The Waterboys, The Saw Doctors.

Book 4 (I'm keeping the title secret for now, but it's a doozie!) seems to be flocking toward 2 different genres entirely, and I'm still open to others. Right now, it's the soundtrack for Mamma Mia and various 80s hits by The Cure. Odd thing is, I grew up in the 80s and was completely indifferent toward The Cure. Now I am listening to them more and more.

But music does more than keep us going on creative projects. Some of the quotes can be incorporated into our daily lives with great advice, such as some of my favorites below:

* If you're not part of the future, then get out of the way. -- John Mellancamp, "A Peaceful World."

* It's hard to begin, when you can't see the end. You can only depend on the courage you own. Take careful aim.--Roger Drawdy & The Firestarters, "Take Careful Aim."

* I wrapped my fear around me like a blanket. I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it. I'm crawling on your shores.--The Indigo Girls, "Closer to Fine."

More thought-inspiring lyrics soon. Until then, crank up the music!

Hurricane Katrina Poem: 3 Year Anniversary

2008-08-28T21:41:00.006-04:00

Hello all,

Friday, August 29 marks the 3-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Gulf Coast. While I no longer live in New Orleans, I have friends and family in the city where I grew up. Coping with the aftermath of Katrina was difficult. Not only because so many people were displaced and I met many of them who flocked to the Atlanta area, but because I was heartbroken for the city I knew, one who would never be the same.

Below is one of the poems I wrote to try and express my heartbreak for a city lost. As I read it today, 3 years later, I'm thankful many areas have begun to rebuild. Yet a certain flavor of New Orleans has vanished, many artists near Jackson Square have left for good.

Please keep everyone there in your thoughts, especially as they face another hurricane season.

The Lonely Saxophone
Copyright 2005 Elaine Burroughs

The saxophone’s melancholy notes dance in the humid air like lightning bugs flitting about in summertime. The musician is nowhere to be seen, but his music can be faintly heard along the lazy Mississippi River. The rich, slow music is the heartbeat of New Orleans, this port city surrounded by water. The Big Easy.

As the city awakens, noises fill the air but the saxophone still plays. The Creole Queen riverboat makes a loud whistle as she takes tourists down the river. Mounds of crawfish, shrimp, and spicy seafood abound here. Clapping visitors surround street performers in Jackson Square, wanting to see their favorite acts. Horse-drawn carriages make the ‘clop clop’ sound down the narrow French Quarter streets.

As my spirit absorbs these surroundings, I smile as I listen to the sad notes of a lonely saxophone, playing faintly as a constant backdrop to my home. The tunes may change, but the music goes on.

Black iron gates flank the streets in this Crescent City. Cherry-red geraniums bloom in decorative pots, and window boxes attempt to contain flowers bursting with pink, white, and purple. The flowers and the ivy cascade from the black iron balconies; they look like children dangling their feet before taking a swim.

The spirit of New Orleans – its people and its music - welcomes them all. At the time, I believe that the music will never stop.

On August 29, I was proven wrong. Katrina’s fury drowned the city’s own and the heart of New Orleans stopped beating. Cries for help and sobbing remained.

I gasp back tears as I see the rusted saxophone start to sink, its hollow insides consumed with Katrina’s waters. I hope that one day I can hear the music again. Until then, the absence of the lonely saxophone is deafening.

San Fran...the ending chapter (and pics)

2008-08-14T13:58:00.011-04:00

Hey all,

I realized I combined some of the best speakers in previous blog posts. The only thing remaining is that, on the day I was to fly home, there was a bicycle race scheduled on Market Street. This would shut down all roads near the hotel from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.--not good for flights. So I booked my flight home for 7 a.m. Yeah. Not good either.

As I walk out the hotel doors at 4:45 a.m., luggage in hand, the bellman asks me if I want to take a shuttle or a taxi to the airport. I glanced over at the shuttles, and who is standing there but VLADIMIR the race-car driver wannabe! I couldn't believe my eyes. I smiled at the bellman, said, "Taxi, please," and had a much calmer ride to the airport than the one to the hotel.

Below are several pics...I'll keep posting a few of different areas.

The rickety bridge I took to tour the boat:

Alcatraz:

Vista Views:

Fisherman's Wharf:

The Imaginary World of Writing...

2008-08-12T15:28:00.005-04:00

Hey all,

I'll finish the San Fran blogs in a bit, but came across this video online and had to share. This is so NOT how the publishing business works, but it's hilarious to watch!!

Jackson Pierce is hilarious. I checked out a few of her videos, but this one was classic! Enjoy!

San Francisco, Day 5: Interesting Speakers, Unique Life Experiences

2008-08-11T12:34:00.001-04:00

And we’re up to Day 5 in San Fran! This was the first “full” day of the conference, meaning continental breakfast started in the ballroom at 7:30 a.m. and the panels didn’t finish until 7:30 p.m. And there was a luncheon in there, so not many breaks!

It was wonderful, though. Heard some wonderful speakers, including but not limited to:

The writers for Guiding Light and As The World Turns soap operas. To be honest, I haven’t watched any soaps since high school, but their presentation was quite informative. A panel of sassy, smart women who are valued in their field and they offered tips on keeping the reader/viewer interested from day to day.

Hollywood screenwriter Blake Snyder gave a 2-hour presentation on screenplay structure and how it can be applied to the novel. This was one of the best panels I attended. While Hollywood has strict rules about when certain events need to happen in a screenplay format, I still found his general notes valuable, entertaining, and worth attending. If any of you saw Disney movies in the late 90s, you might remember Blank Check about the kid who gets 1 million dollars. Blake Snyder co-wrote that screenplay.

Nora Roberts Q&A. I’ve heard her Q&A presentations before, but I always enjoy them. She’s one of the most honest people you’ll ever meet, as well as always being entertaining with an audience.

The Agent Cartel. This was a panel of literary agents who each gave mini-presentations along with participating in a general Q&A session afterward. This is always a valuable session to attend. Not only is it informative, but it gives writers a chance to see potential agents interact with each other, with an audience, and gives us a hint about general personality.

As far as cool life experiences, I had dinner at the diner where American Graffiti was filmed. Such an iconic and fascinating experience being there. It was within walking distance of the hotel, and there were photos of the movie and James Dean on every wall.

On my last night, we ate at Wolfgang Puck. Another one of those “glad I could say I did it” experiences.

Stay tuned for Day 6 and 7!

San Francisco, Day 4: Lifelong friends, literacy book signing and Australian talent…

2008-08-07T17:44:00.001-04:00

Thanks for all the kind words y’all have sent regarding the blogs. Glad everyone is enjoying the updates!

We’re now at Day 4: First day of the conference. Sort of. The conference didn’t officially kick off until that evening, and I arrived at the hotel at 11 a.m. Hubby flew back to the East Coast and the shuttle driver (note: not Vladimir this time!) dropped me off at the downtown Marriott on the way.

To my delight, my hotel room was ready despite check-in not being until 3 p.m. I was so overjoyed that I accidentally bumped my large luggage bag into someone. After apologizing and moving forward in line, I realized the woman I bumped was a literary agent who’d rejected my first book. While conferences are a great networking opportunity, I didn’t think my clumsiness lent itself to being the ideal introductory moment. However, I did meet her in the elevator the next day, and she didn’t harbor any ill will about being a luggage target.

After getting settled, I hopped on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to go to Oakland. My best friend from high school lives there, so I spent the afternoon having lunch with her, her hubby and their adorably cute new baby. Friendships which span a lifetime are rare. What surprises me even more is that despite time, life, and 3000 miles between us, visiting with her was like being back in high school, like we hadn’t been apart for more than one school day. There are moments of closeness and busy times when we lose touch, but it’s always the sign of a true connection if you can pick up where you left off, no matter how much time/distance has past both of you by.

The visit was wonderful and at the end of the afternoon, they dropped me back off at BART and I returned to the hotel for the literacy book signing, the official start of the conference with over 500 authors signing books to raise money for literacy. I was able to meet one my favorite authors, Melissa Marr, and chat with her briefly. I attempted to say hello to an ole favorite, Sherrilyn Kenyon, but her table was surrounded by crowds of people, all dressed in black and paranormal attire. The book signing raised over $50,000 for literacy, and a good time was had by all.

The next morning, the conference kicked off with a motivational speaker and world-renowned pianist, Theresa Behenna. She was amazing. Her presentation was part motivational speech, part entertainment on the piano. At one point, she mentioned she’d met Roger Moore when playing piano in Europe, and he always requested her to play, “Georgia on My Mind.”

Confession: Despite living in Georgia, I’ve never liked that song. Until I heard her rendition of it. I didn’t know sounds could be extracted from piano keys like that. She must have had Janis Joplin and every blues musician pumping through her veins, because it was the jazziest, most energetic, most FUN version of the song I’d ever heard. Her motivational speeches were also the ideal start to a conference where we focus on attaining our goals as writers.

Stay tuned for: Best seminars, some famous speakers, and unique experiences.

San Francisco, Day 2 and 3: Tourist Spots and (ouch!) Those Steep Hills…

2008-08-05T11:13:00.001-04:00

Got an early start and walked toward Fisherman’s Wharf, about a mile away from our hotel. Walked across a nearby park which overlooked docked boats, the Bay, and Alcatraz. Older Oriental men did Tai Chi throughout the park, their fluid movements barely affecting the morning dew under their feet. People jogged, walked their dogs, and biked along the trails.

Fisherman’s Wharf was quite touristy, as we’d been warned. Still, San Francisco was a gorgeous city with several tourist activities to choose from. Below is my summary and opinion of the ones we did:

* Ghirardelli Square. Cute spot and free chocolate samples. What could be better?

* Taking the Cable Car throughout the city. While a good way to see the city and hop on/hop off where we wanted, it was overcrowded and took almost an hour to buy tickets and get onto one.

* Boat tour under the Golden Gate and Alcatraz. This was one of my favorite tours; I’d recommend this to anyone wanting to get good photos of the Golden Gate. One note: it gets COLD out on the Bay. Mark Twain was reported as saying his coldest winter he ever spent was summer in San Francisco. He’s right.

* Trolley tour through the city and going across the Golden Gate. Another favorite. It’s 2 hours and takes you around Pacific Heights, through the main city highlights, across the Golden Gate (which offers amazing views of the Bay and the skyline), plus little tidbit spots such as where Robin Williams lives and the location of the “Mrs. Doubtfire” house they used for the movie.

* Seeing Chinatown. This situation proved interesting, perhaps because of the one spot we happened to select. Two drinks and a small order of egg rolls cost $20. Right when I was ready to ask for a cost breakdown, the owner got into a shouting match with one of the customers, presumably over pricing. At one point I thought I saw him go get a knife. We hastily paid our check and got the heck out of there.

* Touring some of the local ships/boats docked along Fisherman’s Wharf. While interesting, I must say that this experience will help my writing. One of the ships had a rickety ladder going up to the door. It reminded me of the swaying rope ladders between 2 cliffs in the movies, where the actress typically slips through and the hero saves her. Walking up this set of stairs felt the same way, so now I can use that for any rickety-bridge scenes which may appear.

* One other note about San Fran: The hills are STEEP. At one point, we figured getting off the Cable Car next to the street our hotel was on would be easier than returning to our original departure point. Saying that somewhere is “only 6 blocks” means something different in San Francisco versus Baltimore. Some of those city blocks are at a 45-55 degree angle of STEEP. Found that one out the hard way, and learned that Advil can be a person’s best friend!

Stay tuned for writer’s conference blogs and cool entertainment!

San Francisco, Day 1: Long Flights, Surviving Vladimir, Local Pubs

2008-08-04T18:01:00.001-04:00

Back from San Fran! The first 3 days were spent sightseeing; the remainder of the trip I attended a writer’s conference in downtown San Fran.

I have no idea what day or time it is, considering my Eastern time zone self has been immersed on the West Coast this week. I have a newfound respect for anyone traveling to Europe, not only in the time difference factor but just that the flight is LOOOONNNNGGGG. Atlanta to San Fran is 5 hours. How people fly 13 hours to go somewhere amazes me now.

I was fine until hour 3, when I began feeling a bit antsy. Two hours remaining in this metal tube going 500 mph at 30,000 feet? Next to the kid whining about how SpongeBob is never on TV when he wants it to be? Ah, the joys of coach airfare. We had a bumpy landing but hey, any landing one walks away from is a good one.

Then came Vladimir, the Russian shuttle driver who would be taking us to our hotel. (Note: his name has been changed to protect his Mario Andretti alter ego.) With a thick accent, he barked orders over the phone about picking up new passengers, stopped and started with the ease of someone driving a stick shift for the first time, and I was personally surprised that he didn’t knock off any taxi doors as he sped and wove his way through crowded San Fran streets. Somehow, an hour later, we arrived at our hotel in one piece.

After taming my hair (it was temporarily stuck straight out in wind blown mode from Vladimir’s shuttle), we went to a local pub/restaurant recommended by the hotel. This is when San Francisco instantly become one of my favorite places…mixing with the locals in their environment, away from tourist traps and crazy drivers. We were in the Marina District (in “Cow Hollow” for those who know the area) and this little place (called “The Brazen Head”) was amazing.

It’s one of those places that doesn’t even have a sign on the door. “Look for the green awning” is what the hotel rep told us. Apparently the owner has 2 other successful restaurants in San Fran, and this was the local hangout he wanted for friends and locals who would only hear about it by word-of-mouth.

The bartender knew most people walking in by name. We sat at the bar and chatted awhile, talking to locals who offered sightseeing advice. The drinks and the company were wonderful, and I was delighted to discover the food was incredible as well. Best steak I’ve had in forever. If you’re ever in San Fran, check it out! The Brazen Head, near the corner of Buchanan/Lombard streets.

Thus began a week of living among the locals and seeing one of the most beautiful cities in the world…more to follow.

Prepping for San Francisco!

2008-07-26T10:51:00.000-04:00

I’ve recuperated from my bad experiences with window blinds and bathing the cat.

Life Lesson 382: When on a massive cleaning mission to avoid panic, some things just aren’t worth the battle.

Been busy all week preparing for a writer’s conference in San Francisco. Getting business cards ready, printing out necessary papers, packing, and let’s not forget laundry and dry cleaning for extra outfits just in case something from the formal luncheon decides to take up residence on the front of my shirt.

There’s also the interesting concept of preparing the ‘elevator speech’. I’m not quite sure how this phenomenon originated; I think it was Hollywood. “Tell me what your book or movie is about in 30 seconds or less.” In other words, time enough to tell someone while riding on an elevator with them.

With a 350-page book, this is not as easy as it sounds. You want to give enough flavor of the story so your idea makes sense, along with adding in enough of the conflict so they know your work of art is not akin to watching grass grow. Even in a query letter, the standard is one to two paragraphs which hint at what your story is about. Reading it in print is one thing. Memorizing it to be able to say it in an elevator (while, of course, looking and sounding completely natural) is another challenge all in itself.

But networking at conferences and seeing old friends is one of those rewarding experiences which are worth all the hubbub. Plus, I’ve never seen San Francisco before and I hear it’s incredible. We’ll have a few days to sightsee before the conference begins.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer; I’ll blog about SFO when I return!

Eliminating Panic and Preventing Fires

2008-07-13T21:00:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the hiatus on the blog. I’ve had many irons in the fire recently!

Book 3 (ghost story set in Savannah) is now complete. YIPEE! While the first draft was done in April, it took two months to revise and layer in all those things which weren't as visible during the first go-round. I finished the manuscript over July 4th weekend, making my own independence day a bit sweeter!

Finishing a book entices an array of emotions. Joy and relief are the first to appear, and I celebrated for days. But then, slowly, surely, the panic arrived. Will people respond to it? Will it be accepted? Rejected? These questions and more began to creep in, especially since I’m actively sending out queries/requested material to agents and editors.

Panic is a strange emotion. Some days, it mimics PMS in all its irritable glory. Other days, it sends a rushing need to DO something, anything, to feel in control. While all writers have control over their word choices, their story, and their book--once it’s sent out into the world, we can’t control others’ reactions. So we try controlling anything else. One of my writer friends bakes bread for days. Another shifts gears and does cross-stitch for three days. Me? I go into massive house cleaning mode, which brings about its own challenges.

My window blinds tried to eat me. Since I was not in the mood to become an appetizer, I struggled long and hard to battle these evil creatures. Current score: window blinds=1, Elaine=0. A rematch has been scheduled.

Life Lesson 205: Attempting to bathe the cat as part of massive cleaning frenzy isn’t a wise option, for the person involved or for the cat. Especially for the cat.

What DOES help alleviate these surging emotions, pouring through my mind at all hours?

Ironically, it’s jumping headfirst into the next book. This leap brings a new form of panic, but it’s somehow easier to cope with than the original panic. When I thought about it, it’s similar to starting a fire in order to extinguish another fire. Although, I confess that I never understood how this process worked. Start a fire to put out a fire? Huh? Start another huge project in order to alleviate panic on a completed project? I can’t explain the reasoning, but it works.

So, while prepping for San Francisco in the coming weeks, I’m happily starting Book 4. This one remains in the ghost story genre, but the plot and characters face different decisions and life challenges.

Next time you’re in a panic, try jumping into something which will help you feel creative and fill you with the pleasing emotions again! It works! And anyone out there who can successfully bathe a cat, feel free to contact me with tips!

The Muse Wears Pink Bunny Slippers...

2008-06-14T17:00:00.001-04:00

Whenever anyone mentions ‘the muse’ - that creative force which whispers in my ear at the strangest and most unpredictable times, I’ve envisioned her as mystical, a pewter fairy with intricate wings, dispelling her wisdom in brief, fleeting moments.

Apparently this delicate appearance is only when I happen to listen to her. When I don’t, she pulls out the bizarre outfits. The other night, I watched a documentary which reminded me of and helped me gain insight into various, shall we say, dysfunctional parts of my youth.

The muse appeared, wearing pink bunny slippers. “Your next book should tell this story.”

Me: “Uh, no. That requires me to face my demons, to fall down into the rabbit hole which I long ago scraped myself out of. Besides, this documentary has already covered a similar story.”

Now the muse became more detailed. Pink bunny slippers, a polka-dotted outfit, and an enormous purple hat. “The documentary told one story, something which happened to different people, in a different location, in a different time. Your story could be different.”

I ignored her again, terrified at the thought of even going near any of these ideas which I’d so successfully avoided over the years. Then I looked over. There was now a big green feather sticking out of that gigantic purple hat.

I turned back to the documentary, determined to focus all my energy on it. Then she temptingly whispered, “But you already have a manuscript which is 50% complete, which began telling a similar story. But you stopped because of fear.”

Me: “Yeah, so? It’s not like I need to write this story now.”

As I continued watching this documentary, a story so similar to dysfunctional moments of my own life, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if I made a fiction story about these themes.

The muse and I argued. We finally came to a truce, where I will consider writing this after my current work is done. In return, she will allow me to wear the gigantic purple hat to costume parties.

I think I got the better end of the bargain, but only time will tell…

Hollywood, Work for Me, Baby!

2008-06-08T12:05:00.003-04:00

Last weekend, “Sex and the City” was #1 at the box office. Interviews and online commentaries seemed to reflect surprise; the almighty powers that be were unaware a female audience existed. Are studios and producers so blinded by needing to cater to the teen boy idiocy demographic that they’ve completely forgotten other audiences exist?

According to Media by Numbers LLC, it’s women ages 20 to 55 who were the most interested in this film. There’s even talk of a sequel. On Monday morning, Atlanta radio stations made the movie their prime discussion topic.

My point? Whether I like the hardcore truth or not, Hollywood and TV affect what agents/editors want to see in terms of new books coming out.

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Charmed” thrust the paranormal genre into a whirlwind. It’s still kicking ass and taking names.

“Sideways” escalated Pinot Noir sales. “Cocktail” spurred hundreds of people to call travel agents (I was one at the time), all wanting to go to “Cocomo.” They were saddened to learn “Cocomo” didn’t exist; that movie was filmed in Port Antonio, Jamaica.

No, I don’t ‘write to the market’ only to sell a book. Note to beginning writers: never write to the market just to sell a book. Write the stories you want to write. Publishing is such a slow process, by the time you get that book ‘written for what’s hot now’ published, it won’t be hot anymore.

Back to Hollywood working for me…my first 2 manuscripts (which are neatly sitting on my shelf gathering dust) are women’s fiction, focusing on the friendship of four women and the conflicts they are going through. While they're more like ‘Steel Magnolias’ or ‘Joy Luck Club’ than ‘Sex in the City’ - the publishing world sees ‘a story about 4 friends’ and lumps it together.

Many in the publishing world have said 'Sex and the City' had come and gone. One agent specified on her blog that she didn't want any more stories with 4 female friends. Didn't matter what the plot was. ‘Sex and the City’ had come and gone, everyone said.

Based on the buzz talk and the film’s popularity, maybe the women’s fiction genre can revive a bit. It would be great if that could happen. Hollywood, work for me, baby!

Writing and Rewriting - Different Sides of the Brain?

2008-06-01T09:56:00.001-04:00

Happy June 1, everybody! Hard to believe it's here already! It also means my to-do-list now needs major focus, since I'm attending a national writer's conference in late July.

Most seminars I've attended have agreed on this one thing: Writing and Rewriting/Editing use 2 different sides of the brain, and you have to approach each one differently.

I agree it's important not to censor yourself while writing a first draft. Often that's when serendipity occurs, and subsconscious thoughts float to the surface. Many times, I'll be typing a first draft of a book or story, and am surprised when I look up to see how much time has passed. On the best days, I reread what I've written and wonder, "Where did THAT come from?" One can't plan these moments; they simply happen, often when we least expect it.

Those are the joyful days, and we can't have our 'editing' hats on during those first drafts. This made me put writing and rewriting into 2 different piles, and I always approached editing with a giant red pen and a harsh stick.

What I'm learning on book 3 is that a gentler touch is needed, but I still have to be objective. I write fast, yes, but I also use 30 words when 10 will do. So sharpening those scenes is key for me, yet I can't beat the manuscript up with a bloody red pen so much that I lose all enthusiasm. (During my first round of edits, I had nightmares where I'd transformed into an enormous red pen...)

It's a fine line, but I think the gentle touch is working better, as long as I'm objective and agree changes need to be made. So I'm focused on doing as many pages per day as I can, without shifting into a mood where I'm hating the process.

Try the gentler touch when polishing the art...see where it takes you!

Serendipity...

2008-05-27T09:08:00.004-04:00

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

One of our family friends, 24 years old, is in Iraq for a year. We were glad to know that, if he had to have an injury, it was from falling off his top bunk. We sent him a big Ace bandage, with the words "Bottom Bunk or Bust" written in ink.

Other news...

The last 3 days have felt like a Coen Brothers movie. Do you ever have those rare moments when things just open up and suddenly, everything makes sense? All the events seemed to interrelate, which the Coen's do so well within their scripts.

People I met 16 years ago are approaching me, asking about doing some artistic projects together in the next few years. Disappointments which occurred 8 months ago now make sense, and I met new people this weekend who needed to hear that the hellish interlude does eventually end.

Somehow it all is beginning to come together...which is cool (and yet frightening) in a way.

Project updates. I am returning to the book today. I've set it aside for a week and am itching to return to it. This next round of edits will take longer, and I plan to do one more final polish before sending it out.

Have a great week, everyone!

Let filmmakers help you with book setting!

2008-05-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

Recently, I’ve found myself envious of filmmakers. A talented production designer can decorate a room with specific artifacts, immediately conveying a mood, time, and what to expect. All without one word spoken. Damn, I’m jealous!

Novelists don’t have that luxury. We must use words to convey information, all while not using too many. A certain author (who shall remain nameless—let’s just say I was required to read her in high school) spent 5 pages describing a leaf. A &^@!* leaf!!! What made it worse? The leaf wasn’t important, which drove me crazy. I vowed to never describe a leaf in my work unless it was central to the plot.

All art forms have their challenges. The key is to use what works for you, and you CAN benefit from all those filmmakers you might be jealous of.

Some of the best nature footage is shot at early dawn or dusk. Many times, the photographer has to wait hours in the cold dark to get ‘that one shot.’

How does this benefit the novelist? Find movies which are filmed where your book is set. Let those directors and cinematographers wake up at the crack of dawn to get the amazing footage on film! Rent the movie and use the visuals to spur your description of a place.

For example, my current work in progress is set in Savannah, Georgia. While I’ve been there many times and have pictures, I can’t just drive there every time I need visual stimulation. That’s where movies come in.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Directed by Clint Eastwood. For outdoor scenery, this movie didn’t help me much. But there are a few scenes in the River Street bars, and those helped immensely. Seeing John Cusack’s amber-colored beer glowing as he sipped it, the dark mahogany tables and intimate bar settings helped spur description for a few scenes I needed.

The Gift
Directed by Sam Raimi, co-written by Billy Bob Thornton. Both who make more money than me, so let them stand in a swamp at four in the morning to get that footage!

The opening credits of this movie spurred more description than I could have hoped for. I think the sequence lasts about six minutes, and I must have played it over and over, frantically writing down what I saw on screen. Eerie Cypress trees, swampy water with tree reflections, alligators swimming in the water, etc. There’s not any way I could have gotten this footage myself, but by watching a few minutes on film, it gave me the visual stimulation I needed to write about an area which was on screen.

Of course, Hollywood takes liberties with all films, so make sure you verify scenery if you’re writing a key scene. But as an extra visual stimulation, I found the movies can be a valuable resource.

More later!

Publicity - Helpful or Insane?

2008-05-17T15:55:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the blog's hiatus. It's been a crazy few weeks.

Publicity can be a strange thing. Once it begins to snowball, people don't question things anymore. The cycle of attaining something becomes so all-important that we don't ask ourselves what we're doing along the way. An example? Parents who knock everyone down as they scavenge the aisles at Christmas. Another interesting example is below.

We had a brief stay in Savannah last weekend. This lovely historic town is one of my favorite spots in the world (hence why Book 3 is set there). On Sunday morning (Mother's Day) we had reservations for 10 people at Paula Deen's restaurant, Lady & Sons. For those who haven't heard of Paula Deen, she's a regular on the Food Channel. She also made a cameo film appearance in Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown playing Aunt Dora with great Southern authenticity.

Our reservation was for 10:30 am. We showed up at 10:20 am.

"Oh, the restaurant doesn't open until 11, but you're checked in."

"So you booked us a reservation for 10:30, but you don't open until 11?"

"Right."

I paused. Was I the only one who thought this was odd? "So what do we do now?"

"Wait outside."

Only one problem. Several tornadoes and severe thunderstorms were passing through. So dozens of us huddled underneath awnings, trying to keep dry while we waited to enter this magical palace of Southern cooking we'd heard so much about. At one point, I questioned whether it was a restaurant or a maze for mice and Paula Deen was the ultimate scientist, laughing at our every move.

They shuffled us from the side awnings, to across the way, to the center of the street while we waited for our names to be called. My mother-n-law nailed it right on the head when she said, "I just love being treated like a sheep."

But then I remembered something. This restaurant always had a long line, and rumors of 2-3 hour waits. So the people who see the long lines become convinced they should go there. And the cycle perpetuates. But I must say, the woman is doing something right. The food was absolutely incredible. Other than feeling like a meandering stick of butter when I walked out (probably because that is what most of her food was made with), it was a great experience. I just find it strange that all the hubbub keeps perpetuating to the point of accepting reservations for a time when they aren't open.

More tomorrow!

May 6 - A day in history

2008-05-06T16:23:00.003-04:00

Ahhh. Hear that? It’s the sigh of an eased mind, after 5 months of insanity. Other than book 3, some chaotic things have been happening, and it’s been my life goal to prevent the knots in my stomach from having fistfights with each other. (Note to self: I could make a fortune writing a book on how to deal with insanity’s stress and write a book at the same time!)

But as of this morning, things are done, and we’re MOVING ON…

Today is the day “Delirious” (Tom DiCillo’s latest film) comes out on DVD – the extended version w/commentary and extras. I’m sad to say that I don’t have a copy in my hands right now, simply because today has been busy. I’m also finding some stores don’t have it in stock, so I must peruse metro Atlanta tomorrow to purchase this wonderful gem.

DiCillo’s commentaries are fantastic. I always learn something new, and he’s one of the few directors I can tolerate on a commentary. Most put me to sleep. The last one I watched (Johnny Suede), I laughed so hard, I spewed a bite of spaghetti across the room. While this thrilled my German shepherd, I think the Southern bi-law committee would be appalled. But then again, I break many of the standard Southernisms, so perhaps it’s for the best…

“Delirious” stars Steve Buscemi. Steve Buscemi, folks, in one of his best performances. Not many actors could play the role of a paparazzi and be empathic, but he does.

He’s also one of my favorites. While Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Brittany Spears are making headlines with stupidity, Steve Buscemi, Morgan Freeman and Sela Ward made headlines with human decency. After 9/11, Buscemi returned to his local firehouse and became a firefighter helping out at Ground Zero. Morgan Freeman and Sela Ward, both who grew up in Mississippi, helped volunteer and raised public awareness after Hurricane Katrina. I consider all 3 of them my heroes.

In nostalgic news, for those who attended and remember, 13 years ago today, we enjoyed an incredible party where I wound up dancing the Electric Slide in a wedding dress. Thank God there wasn’t uTube in those days. Yep, 13 years today. Time flies when you’re having fun. And going insane. And having fun…

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! More blogs to follow!

Indie # 11 - Delirious (DVD release 5/6/08)

2008-05-04T11:05:00.003-04:00

Indie #11 – Delirious by Writer/Director Tom DiCillo. Starring Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Alison Lohman, Gina Gershon, and Elvis Costello.

A few other familiar faces appear in the film: Kevin Corrigan from “Living in Oblivion” (another DiCillo film) and his TV series “Grounded for Life.” Also Callie Thorne, who played a regular role on Denis Leary’s TV series, “Rescue Me.”

Watch the preview.

View the web site.

“Delirious” opened in theatres last summer and the DVD release with extras/commentary is coming out this Tuesday, May 6th. Blockbuster released a limited, no-extras DVD version, so I rented it a few weeks ago, and can’t wait to purchase the DVD on Tuesday. My only regret is that I have a web of entanglements occurring that morning and I can’t purchase the DVD first thing.

This film contains so many gems of poignant life advice, writer/director Tom DiCillo should get an honorary psychology degree. It’s no secret that I love all of DiCillo’s films, but this one is well and truly one of his best. His perception of the human condition and the meshing of two worlds radiates on screen with amazing performances by the cast.

Let’s face it. Not many people can play the role of a paparazzi with empathy and dimension. DiCillo’s script and Buscemi’s acting pull it off. I found myself wanting to reach through the screen to hug Buscemi’s character at times. Not a feeling one usually has for the paparazzi.

Buscemi plays this role with an emotional range I’ve never seen before. I always liked his acting. My impression of him as a human being skyrocketed when I learned he returned to the New York Fire Dept. where he once worked, volunteering to help out after 9/11. So rare in today’s celebrity world, where most stumble in and out of rehab in the midst of their life dramas. Buscemi gives the performance of a lifetime in “Delirious.”

This is the first movie I’ve seen Michael Pitt in where he isn’t playing a charming sociopath. Every frame of film brings out the soul in his eyes—not an easy task. The acting was amazing, by all the cast.

Check out this Indie! I recommend you purchase it but at least rent it and listen to the commentary. DiCillo’s sense of humor and commentaries are gems as well :)

Have a great week, everyone!

Book Research, aka my friend Annie Oakley

2008-05-03T16:05:00.000-04:00

Book research can be enlivening and fun! Especially when one has friends just as bizarre as me, who agree to help choreograph certain scenes. I have such a friend. For the sake of anonymity, I’ll call her “Annie Oakley.”

Annie Oakley has a 38 revolver. Annie Oakley’s cousin has a 22, 25, 38, and a 45.

The only gun I’ve ever seen or held was a toy one when I played cops/robbers as a child. I had no idea how much they weigh. I had no idea how one felt if pressed in my side. What’s the best gun in a crowd to get someone to come with them? What’s the best position so the gun remains unseen? What’s the best angle to scare the person you’re aiming it at?

I have several of these scenes in book 3, the one I’m currently editing with that familiar red pen. I’d guessed at the best way to write these scenes in my head. However, after playing with Annie Oakley’s (unloaded, of course—I am not an idiot) guns, I learned the scenes in my head were completely unrealistic.

This is why it’s imperative to do authentic research when you can.
Elaine’s disclaimer: Never do anything remotely dangerous with someone you don’t know or trust. I’ve known Annie Oakley for 10 years.

The evening was so much fun! Three of us, standing in different positions in the room, saying things like, “Oh! That will work! Come stick that 22 in my rib cage and we’ll try that!” and “No, that’s unrealistic. Back up five feet and aim the gun at me.”

At one point, she sat 3 feet away, aiming her 38 at me so I could get the feeling of being at gunpoint. But Annie Oakley owns 3 Pomeranians. So I’m looking down the barrel of her gun, her fixed face aiming it at me. And along side her, I see 3 puffball dogs. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing, wishing for a camera. German Shepherds, perhaps. Pomeranians? Made it seem a bit surreal.

What all writers want to attain is that emotional core. Not just list details, but relay experiences and extract emotion. Fortunately, after several mix and match scenes, I found the perfect moment which did it. I never could have arrived there without their help.

Strangest Questions Ever Asked…

2008-04-25T08:42:00.006-04:00

Book research can be fun. Resources are everywhere: Internet, books, magazines, and people. Sometimes you can gather enough information about a place/profession by reading articles. I find it’s invaluable to get a personal account—either by personal experience or talking to someone who intimately knows what you’re trying to authenticate on those manuscript pages.

Today’s blog lists the strangest questions I’ve asked people in the name of book research. Surprisingly, complete strangers were willing to talk with me, often giving up to an hour of their time.

This doesn’t work for all authors. Nora Roberts admits she would rather read 20 books than meet with a stranger to ask questions. Yet Jodi Picoult insisted on personal experience to research her books. She trekked through the Alaskan tundra (The Tenth Circle), lived with an Amish family (Plain Truth), and spent the night in jail (The Pact).

I encourage writers to get over their shyness and try it. It gives us an opportunity to learn, see the world differently, and those gems can’t help but find their way onto the page.

Has anyone died in this room?
Can you show me the cremation room?
How is a body cremated?
Where did embalming begin?
Has anyone stolen a casket?
How much blood is on you by the end of the day?
(to a friend) Can I come to your house and you point your gun at me?
(to a friend) Can you press it (unloaded, please!) against my neck so I can feel the cold steel?
How many flavors of pipe tobacco are there? Can I take a whiff of each?
What did the lost baby zebra do when he saw your black and white striped van in the Serengeti?

There are many more, I’m sure, but these are the more recent. Have a good Friday, everyone!

Indie # 10 - Passion Fish

2008-04-23T09:06:00.006-04:00

Indie # 10 is "Passion Fish" written/directed by John Sayles. Starring Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard, and David Strathairn.

Watch the preview.

There are 2 types of people in the world. Those who like John Sayles films, and those who don't. I typically like the powerful statements he makes about the world, life, and humanity within the last 10 minutes of each of his movies. But getting to those last 10 minutes is sometimes challenging for me. Passion Fish is one where I am captivated for the duration.

Set in small bayou towns in Louisiana, this is the story of a soap actress who becomes paralyzed from the waist down, and is bound to a wheelchair for life. Spending her days letting the TV glaze over her, and pouring enough wine in her body to set her afloat, she drives away the first several home care nurses sent out to care for her. It's only when Alfre Woodard shows up that each will bring about a way to cope with the other.

1. This film is set in Louisiana, and we see plenty of oak trees adorned with dangling Spanish moss. Even though I'm not from the bayou areas, I love the scenery and Louisiana water landscapes in this film.

2. Great Louisiana Zydeco music, without the fake accents and overdone effects of many Louisiana-set films.

3. I love all the actors in this film. Although I was surprised (and a bit disheartened) to learn that the bayou legend origin of the "Passion Fish" was completely made up, and has no Louisiana legend truth in it.

4. Movies where characters meet and bring about change in the other (without explosions, nudity or aliens showing up) are my favorite ones.

Since we're at # 10 on the Indie List, I'm going to occasionally list another Indie but will change the subject of the blogs for a few weeks.

Indie # 9 - The Squid and the Whale

2008-04-21T20:53:00.000-04:00

Indie # 9 is The Squid and the Whale, written/directed by Noah Baumbach.
Starting Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, and a brief Anna Paquin.

Watch the preview.

Admittedly, I will see anything with Laura Linney. However, this heartfelt story is well-written and well-cast.

What happens to a family when 2 literary parents suddenly separate? When each child idolizes one parent and blames the other, seeing things in black and white terms? As the kids begin seeing their parents' flaws, can they accept the shades of gray?

Baumbach's simplicity and complex family dynamics strike a chord with me, but I must admit I also have selfish reasons for liking this film. Being a stepmom of 3 for 13 years, it's frustrating when children don't see his/her parent in a realistic light, but instead see them as someone without any flaws. Yes, this is imperative when the children are young and need to feel safe. But as the kids get older, I think it's healthy to begin challenging certain things, making up their own mind instead of automatically accepting everything as fact.

When the movie "Stepmom" came out many years ago, my younger stepdaughter walked out and claimed, "But no mommy could ever do mean things like the mommy in the movie did." I bit my tongue so hard it turned purple, for in fact that very DAY her mother had done something insensitive and careless which affected them.

As we grow older and (hopefully) make amends with our childhoods, parents, and lives, we grow wiser. This film is a tiny snippet of how that wisdom's spark begins.

Completed the book's first draft!

2008-04-20T17:06:00.009-04:00

Today I'm taking a break from Indies because I can hardly think straight.

A wonderful thing happened at 2:15pm EST today...I typed the last words of the book!!! WOO HOO!

Finishing a book, especially the first draft, brings an array of emotions into play: elation, anticipation of more work/edits, happiness, pride, fear, depression, sadness, happiness, and back around again!

I've learned to let these feelings flow where they may. Stifling them only prevents moving to the next level: rewriting. All writers have their favorite/most hated parts of the process, but I enjoy rewriting. It's like sifting through treasures collected at the beach, figuring out what to polish and what to discard. Parts of this can be tedious, but in the end I enjoy this part.

I'm taking this afternoon and tomorrow off. Not looking at the manuscript. On Tuesday, I'll start going through it with a fine tooth comb, editing things such as:

Layering in Setting. Sure, those scenes have the beautiful Savannah background in my head, but are they clear to the reader?
Removing those "um" words. You know the ones. In everyday speech, it's "um" that we say more often than we realize. In fiction, it's words like "that," "just," "really," "very," and more. These aren't bad words in themselves, but like the "um" of a nervous public speaker, overdoing them can take the reader out of the story.
Correcting my forgetfulness. Was my character from Boston on page 1, but from Miami on page 200? Side character names and features are my weakness. Highlighting those spots in green as I write them helps me correct them easily. It's not uncommon to see "her boss, whatever his name is" written in and highlighted, and I can find out the name on the 2nd draft.
Adding in any research tidbits. Nora Roberts claims she writes/researches simultaneously. I will occasionally swing over and do some research, but on some items I'll wait until the 2nd draft to make the scene fill out more. A simple "research this" note in green highlight reminds me to do some brief Google inquiries. Any research needed from books or human beings, I'll try tackling in the first draft.

After these steps are done, it's best to let it sit for at least a few days, preferably a week or more. Then go back through and polish up word choices, make sure it flows smoothly, do one last printout/edit, and then the book is complete!

More tomorrow!

Indie # 8 - Neil Brown Fine Art Photography

2008-04-19T10:45:00.006-04:00

Happy weekend, everyone! The weather here is in the 60s, with a cool breeze shaking the yellow pollen out of the air. Great day to write on the patio! My aim is to complete the first book draft by the end of the weekend.

Today's Indie (#8) is Neil R. Brown Fine Art Photography. You can see his works on his web site, but you might see him at your local arts festival too. He had a booth at Atlanta's popular Dogwood Festival a few years back, an annual arts festival in Piedmont Park (although due to the Georgia drought, I think it's been moved this year). Neil will be at the Inman Park Festival in Atlanta. Those of you close enough to drive, it's worth checking out!

In addition to many black and white photos of stark nature, Europe, and national parks, he also has tinted images for sale. These are my favorites because they combine black and white with tinted blue streams or purple/yellow flowers. The juxtaposition of the two is intriguing.

You can select any three images to put in a trio frame, if you wish. Currently I have a trio of Banff Lake, Two Car Garage, and The Black Canyon. Then last year, my hubby bought me the 5x7 of Crimson.

While I loved the sharp red rose tint of this picture, it wasn't until I received it that I had the real gift. Neil signs the back of all his prints, and he informed me this photo was taken in New Orleans's Garden District. I grew up in New Orleans and was heartbroken when Hurricane Katrina hit, making this photo all the more special.

Check him out - at your local festival or on his web site!