I was not having a good time writing via that Wolfram program, and came to figure out that it wasn't really meant for long documents. Page three or four, and there would be a lag between my typing and when the letters actually appeared on the screen; once the lag started, it quickly because much worse, until I ended up typing a sentence, then waiting to watch it appear, letter by letter. When there was a typo in the middle of that sentence, I would have to go back and fix it...which would take nearly as long.
So I did some more research, gave it another try, and successfully installed LibreOffice on my Pi. Oh my gosh, it works so much better, I basically could have cried.
I still haven't worked out the whole flash drive thing, but I may not bother. Emailing docs back and forth is no big, and for some things I can just write the whole story/chapter on the Pi and email it when I'm all done. No more trouble than all the times I've written at work and not been able to use a flash drive, or gone between my desktop, my laptop, and Drive.
I can seriously sit here and write forever, though; it's so much more comfortable, even on this fifty-year-old couch, than sitting at the kitchen table or in an office chair. And I find myself more focused, too, down in my quiet basement. (My
quiet, COLD basement - my feet are going numb, so I'm gonna call it a night!)
I like how this blog has turned into a record of my troubles writing on a Raspberry Pi. What dumb thing can I struggle with for weeks next...
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Success!
Attaching an .rtf file to an email and downloading it to open in Wolfram totally worked! Not that it was one hundred percent smooth sailing after that. When I opened the file up, each paragraph was a single line, stretching out to the right and forcing a navigation bar at the bottom. As that is impossible to try and work with - especially as I have to use a goddamn track pad with my wireless keyboard - I knew I would have to fix that if I were going to be able to write.
Thankfully it didn't take long at all to find the setting to wrap words based on screen size, instead of the default, which for some reason is don't wrap words at all.
So I got my file open, it's looking right, I start writing...
...and two keys on my keyboard are flip-flopped. Shift-apostrophe gives me an @, and shift-2 gives me ". OMGGGGGG but I was able to adapt surprisingly quick to hitting shift-2 every time I write a line of dialogue.
Seriously though, like, this was a million times harder than I thought it would be. But my amazing sense of triumph right now!
Thankfully it didn't take long at all to find the setting to wrap words based on screen size, instead of the default, which for some reason is don't wrap words at all.
So I got my file open, it's looking right, I start writing...
...and two keys on my keyboard are flip-flopped. Shift-apostrophe gives me an @, and shift-2 gives me ". OMGGGGGG but I was able to adapt surprisingly quick to hitting shift-2 every time I write a line of dialogue.
Seriously though, like, this was a million times harder than I thought it would be. But my amazing sense of triumph right now!
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Managing Frustration
I am having a much harder time working on my writing on my Raspberry Pi - which is the primary reason I wanted it - than I expected to. First, I tried to install LibreOffice, as I had read that it was available for Linux. Unfortunately, between when I was researching the Pi and when I got one, the Pi Store had closed and it was no longer a simple process. Now you have to do all these programming commands, etc. I spent an hour one night going through various tutorials and message boards and could never figure it out.
The Pi came installed with a program called Wolfram, which has a text editor. I looked up, and it opens/saves rich text files. So I saved one of the documents I'm currently working on as rich text to a flash drive and decided to give it another try.
Except you apparently can't just stick a regular flash drive into the Pi. You have to format it, and then program the Pi to accept the drive, which involved like coding some sort of dock for it inside the OS? I'm quickly learning that a lot of this stuff is sort of like the point for people with Pis, but I really just want to write.
So scratch that, I'll just operate from Google Drive. I'm not a huge fan of working on Google Drive, not really sure why. I think fundamentally don't trust cloud-based storage? And I don't really care for the interface, and it's kind of a pain in the ass to constantly be copying and pasting from documents into Drive and vice-versa - especially when I end up losing my formatting.
But you have to do even more coding and programming and whatever in order to use Google Drive. Like.
So my next plan of attack is to take the rtf file and attach it to an email and see how that works. I already experimented and was able to download a file my sister had emailed to me; it was docx, so it wouldn't open, but the Pi downloaded it and sees that it's there, so I'm hopeful that that will work. A bit clunky, but I've certainly emailed things back and forth to myself plenty over the years, and if it works it won't be too terribly much different than using a flash drive, since I would still be copying and pasting text back to master documents in that case.
But I'm at more than a week here of just trying to figure out how to do this, so it's starting to get a bit frustrating. I'm gonna make it work, though. I will.
The Pi came installed with a program called Wolfram, which has a text editor. I looked up, and it opens/saves rich text files. So I saved one of the documents I'm currently working on as rich text to a flash drive and decided to give it another try.
Except you apparently can't just stick a regular flash drive into the Pi. You have to format it, and then program the Pi to accept the drive, which involved like coding some sort of dock for it inside the OS? I'm quickly learning that a lot of this stuff is sort of like the point for people with Pis, but I really just want to write.
So scratch that, I'll just operate from Google Drive. I'm not a huge fan of working on Google Drive, not really sure why. I think fundamentally don't trust cloud-based storage? And I don't really care for the interface, and it's kind of a pain in the ass to constantly be copying and pasting from documents into Drive and vice-versa - especially when I end up losing my formatting.
But you have to do even more coding and programming and whatever in order to use Google Drive. Like.
So my next plan of attack is to take the rtf file and attach it to an email and see how that works. I already experimented and was able to download a file my sister had emailed to me; it was docx, so it wouldn't open, but the Pi downloaded it and sees that it's there, so I'm hopeful that that will work. A bit clunky, but I've certainly emailed things back and forth to myself plenty over the years, and if it works it won't be too terribly much different than using a flash drive, since I would still be copying and pasting text back to master documents in that case.
But I'm at more than a week here of just trying to figure out how to do this, so it's starting to get a bit frustrating. I'm gonna make it work, though. I will.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Writing Updates
I haven't really posted about this much, I think at first because I was waiting for something to "happen," but that doesn't seem too likely. So anyways...
In October 2014 my script "The Dead House" came in third in the horror category at the Page Awards. One of the judges was an independent producer and contacted me that day about optioning the script. A week or so later the paperwork was done. From October till April 2015 we did rewrites. The first few were fairly decent - editing out superfluous scenes, rewriting quite a bit of the antagonist's POV scenes to clarify his motivation and arc - but they weren't full rewrites by any stretch. After that, the passes became increasingly small and specific, to the tune of changing individual words here and there, cutting just one line from a long beat of dialogue, etc. Fine-tuning. I would get notes, spend anywhere from 3 days to a week doing my rewrites, and then I would send the new draft in. The independent producer had a production company sign on for financing early on, so I was getting notes from both, though they helpfully collated them together for me. Sometimes it would be a month before I'd get notes back on the latest draft, so it was a very start-and-stop process.
Starting in May, they sent the script out to specific directors. Who all passed. That was the bulk of this summer. Last I heard, an actress was reading for the main role, but that was months and months ago, so I'm assuming she passed, too. I actually haven't heard any updates since...August, I think? I should probably email just to say hi, but I've been assuming that if they'd made any progress they would tell me, haha. At any rate, I mostly forget that it's even out there.
In I want to say September, an agent at a talent agency that mostly reps writers contacted me. He had read "TDH" as it made its rounds, and wanted to see what else I had. I sent over three of my older scripts. He emailed back a few weeks later that they were good but not really what he was looking for. I had just finished a first draft page-one-rewrite of a script I've been working on for literally a decade, and hastily sent it over, not wanting to lose this chance. And he liked it! And he sent it over to a friend of his who works as a manager for a production company, who liked it, too! I got notes from both of them, and started working on a second draft. In the meantime, the manager and I have had several hour-plus long conversations about new script ideas, and I've started working on one with his input.
So even though I haven't signed anything concrete (because you just don't at this stage of things), I essentially have a manager and agent. Which is pretty amazing! However, the pressure it has put on me, gosh. I'm used to just writing for myself when I feel like it. I enjoy writing so it do it mostly every day, but at my own pace and with my own process. It's very different having to do the "write a brief synopsis, notes, write a treatment, notes, write an outline, notes" thing. So I find myself procrastinating and worrying a hell of a lot more than I ever did before.
I'm typing this mostly to remind myself that I only got to where I am now because I have a slight idea of what I'm doing, and to just trust in myself and go for it. It's hard, though, because I don't want to screw this up, haha.
In October 2014 my script "The Dead House" came in third in the horror category at the Page Awards. One of the judges was an independent producer and contacted me that day about optioning the script. A week or so later the paperwork was done. From October till April 2015 we did rewrites. The first few were fairly decent - editing out superfluous scenes, rewriting quite a bit of the antagonist's POV scenes to clarify his motivation and arc - but they weren't full rewrites by any stretch. After that, the passes became increasingly small and specific, to the tune of changing individual words here and there, cutting just one line from a long beat of dialogue, etc. Fine-tuning. I would get notes, spend anywhere from 3 days to a week doing my rewrites, and then I would send the new draft in. The independent producer had a production company sign on for financing early on, so I was getting notes from both, though they helpfully collated them together for me. Sometimes it would be a month before I'd get notes back on the latest draft, so it was a very start-and-stop process.
Starting in May, they sent the script out to specific directors. Who all passed. That was the bulk of this summer. Last I heard, an actress was reading for the main role, but that was months and months ago, so I'm assuming she passed, too. I actually haven't heard any updates since...August, I think? I should probably email just to say hi, but I've been assuming that if they'd made any progress they would tell me, haha. At any rate, I mostly forget that it's even out there.
In I want to say September, an agent at a talent agency that mostly reps writers contacted me. He had read "TDH" as it made its rounds, and wanted to see what else I had. I sent over three of my older scripts. He emailed back a few weeks later that they were good but not really what he was looking for. I had just finished a first draft page-one-rewrite of a script I've been working on for literally a decade, and hastily sent it over, not wanting to lose this chance. And he liked it! And he sent it over to a friend of his who works as a manager for a production company, who liked it, too! I got notes from both of them, and started working on a second draft. In the meantime, the manager and I have had several hour-plus long conversations about new script ideas, and I've started working on one with his input.
So even though I haven't signed anything concrete (because you just don't at this stage of things), I essentially have a manager and agent. Which is pretty amazing! However, the pressure it has put on me, gosh. I'm used to just writing for myself when I feel like it. I enjoy writing so it do it mostly every day, but at my own pace and with my own process. It's very different having to do the "write a brief synopsis, notes, write a treatment, notes, write an outline, notes" thing. So I find myself procrastinating and worrying a hell of a lot more than I ever did before.
I'm typing this mostly to remind myself that I only got to where I am now because I have a slight idea of what I'm doing, and to just trust in myself and go for it. It's hard, though, because I don't want to screw this up, haha.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
As you may have guessed from the lack of update, the seller accepted a different offer - Laura and I did not get the house. Now we're kind of back at square one. It's tough, because houses generally fall into two categories. There are houses we can afford, but they're in bad shape. And there are nice houses, but we can't afford them. This house we made an offer on was nice AND affordable, which is why we were so excited. We offered $8000 more than the asking price but apparently that wasn't enough. :(
So, a little bummed. It's tough to go from already planning on having your own place to being back to living at home, no end in sight. Ah well.
I've spent pretty much every weekend the past month writing, and it did actually pay off - I finished the second draft of my vampire screenplay in 30 days, which is pretty awesome. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to juggle writing with a full-time job. I did, though I couldn't really juggle, like, free time or watching TV or anything like that in the bargain, too. But I should be in good shape for submissions here coming up, and then I can take a breather for a bit. That'll be nice.
So, a little bummed. It's tough to go from already planning on having your own place to being back to living at home, no end in sight. Ah well.
I've spent pretty much every weekend the past month writing, and it did actually pay off - I finished the second draft of my vampire screenplay in 30 days, which is pretty awesome. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to juggle writing with a full-time job. I did, though I couldn't really juggle, like, free time or watching TV or anything like that in the bargain, too. But I should be in good shape for submissions here coming up, and then I can take a breather for a bit. That'll be nice.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
So I finally, officially start work on the 16th. Today I turned in my time sheet and formally resigned as a substitute (in that I went, "Um, I won't be subbing anymore, JSYK.") - and that felt really good, let me tell you. I'm going to try in lots of writing in the next week, because soon I will be working the good ol' 9-5 and won't be able to just chill at Starbucks every afternoon.
The weather has been positively scrumptious round these parts; today it got up to 77! On November 9th! So I went over to Gamps today, and mulched some leaves, and then we just sat outside in the sun, and it was v. nice.
New website: Damn you, autocorrect!
The weather has been positively scrumptious round these parts; today it got up to 77! On November 9th! So I went over to Gamps today, and mulched some leaves, and then we just sat outside in the sun, and it was v. nice.
New website: Damn you, autocorrect!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Back home. Too tired to type it all up again. The past four days!
Although just between me and you guys - I sometimes worry I'm too lazy to actually make it as a screenwriter. Some of the advice they were giving...I was just like, you know, I think I'd rather hang out and have my day job and write when I can and hope I catch a lucky break. I don't want to send 100 faxes to PAs and hope that one of them reads my script, and that she ends up liking it enough to send to her boss who is just someone else's assistant, and it goes up the line, etc. I don't want to move to LA and starve while I hope that I meet the right person at random parties I go to. And so on. I find myself, like, disliking the way the business is set up and just not wanting to play that game even though there's no other way to play it. I don't know. It just irritates me in principle, I guess. Which is dumb, but there you go.
(I was also irritated by the number of times I heard "woman writers" or "woman directors" this weekend. Really? We're still gonna do that?)
Although just between me and you guys - I sometimes worry I'm too lazy to actually make it as a screenwriter. Some of the advice they were giving...I was just like, you know, I think I'd rather hang out and have my day job and write when I can and hope I catch a lucky break. I don't want to send 100 faxes to PAs and hope that one of them reads my script, and that she ends up liking it enough to send to her boss who is just someone else's assistant, and it goes up the line, etc. I don't want to move to LA and starve while I hope that I meet the right person at random parties I go to. And so on. I find myself, like, disliking the way the business is set up and just not wanting to play that game even though there's no other way to play it. I don't know. It just irritates me in principle, I guess. Which is dumb, but there you go.
(I was also irritated by the number of times I heard "woman writers" or "woman directors" this weekend. Really? We're still gonna do that?)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Yesterday was biz-zay. It was Laura's birthday. We had a traditional Easter ham dinner at home, and carrot cake for dessert. I also had to finish polishing the pilot to submit it. The deadline was today, but I don't like leaving online submissions till the last minute ever since the time it took me three solid hours to finally connect with the Nicholl website when it was overloaded with people trying to submit, and I freaked out, as one does. I was distressed at finally just uploading it, because every time I read it I found one more typo, or place with two spaces between sentences instead of one, or a double dash that should have been a single dash, etc. But I finally just did it - I can't imagine that there are many cleaner screenplays that get submitted, honestly. I'm a bit of a stickler for format, and most people aren't.
Today's my last day subbing for this long-term maternity deal. It's been nice having a steady job for six weeks, instead of never knowing if I'm going to be called in or not. Also, it's been VERY nice getting paid nearly full-time for doing a part-time job. But I am looking forward to having a few days off. I want to buy clothes and make-up and such, and I hate shopping on the weekends.
You know those Toaster Strudels that are filled with egg and meat and cheese? I know I should find those disgusting and gross and against all laws of what is acceptable breakfast food...but I like them. I know! I have such a degraded, awful palate. But they're tasty and easy and the fat content is a little high but if I come home and have oatmeal for lunch it balances out.
Today's my last day subbing for this long-term maternity deal. It's been nice having a steady job for six weeks, instead of never knowing if I'm going to be called in or not. Also, it's been VERY nice getting paid nearly full-time for doing a part-time job. But I am looking forward to having a few days off. I want to buy clothes and make-up and such, and I hate shopping on the weekends.
You know those Toaster Strudels that are filled with egg and meat and cheese? I know I should find those disgusting and gross and against all laws of what is acceptable breakfast food...but I like them. I know! I have such a degraded, awful palate. But they're tasty and easy and the fat content is a little high but if I come home and have oatmeal for lunch it balances out.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Hey babies. The TV pilot is done! Or, at least, this first draft of it is. I was hoping that there might be a few of you who would have the time and/or be willing to give it a quick look and give us some feedback before we send it off. If you're too busy or you just don't want to (and that's fine, and you don't have to give me a reason why - I understand!) then don't worry about it.
I also did a little picspam of who I would cast as the characters and a brief synopsis here.
XOXO.
I also did a little picspam of who I would cast as the characters and a brief synopsis here.
XOXO.
Friday, September 10, 2010
OMG LOL FALL RIVER MADE THE SEMIFINALS AT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL WTF.
They just called me. That means it's in the top 20 out of 4,400 submissions. Guess who's flying back to Austin next month? I guess actual "industry professionals" read the script at this point for judging, and if anyone likes it, even if it doesn't make it to the finals/wins they still talk to you and stuff. So this is pretty much going to be my best bet of finding representation.
I still find it hilarious that Fall River didn't do shit in any other competition. I mean, it didn't even get a "p.s. at least one judge didn't think this totally sucked" note from Nicholl. It really does all depend on who reads it. Laura is theorizing that it landed in the hands of some true crime fans. "Hey she wrote the part about the pigeons! Neato!"
ENDORPHINS OMG YOU GUYS MY INSIDES FEEL ALL FLUTTERY.
They just called me. That means it's in the top 20 out of 4,400 submissions. Guess who's flying back to Austin next month? I guess actual "industry professionals" read the script at this point for judging, and if anyone likes it, even if it doesn't make it to the finals/wins they still talk to you and stuff. So this is pretty much going to be my best bet of finding representation.
I still find it hilarious that Fall River didn't do shit in any other competition. I mean, it didn't even get a "p.s. at least one judge didn't think this totally sucked" note from Nicholl. It really does all depend on who reads it. Laura is theorizing that it landed in the hands of some true crime fans. "Hey she wrote the part about the pigeons! Neato!"
ENDORPHINS OMG YOU GUYS MY INSIDES FEEL ALL FLUTTERY.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I made a big post about the Buffy musical episode "Once More, With Feeling" over here, if anyone cares. Also, you can reply on LJ posts if you sign in with OpenID - it's just your login from Google or another of those kinds of sites. Again, if anyone cares.
Flesh and Blood didn't make it to the semis at AFF. Didn't get a letter for Fall River (I would have been called by now, so I'm not thinking it made it.). I...have not been happy with the way they've done things this year. First of all, why are they still mailing out actual letters? Just email people. Secondly, we got an email way back in August or late July telling us we'd get an email notification of whether or not we'd advanced on September 2nd; the day came and went with no email whatsoever. I finally had to Google for like half an hour before I found the AFF Facebook page, where several people had asked the same question. A staff member didn't answer till the next day. I just kind of find that sort of thing to be really unprofessional. Whatev.
Flesh and Blood didn't make it to the semis at AFF. Didn't get a letter for Fall River (I would have been called by now, so I'm not thinking it made it.). I...have not been happy with the way they've done things this year. First of all, why are they still mailing out actual letters? Just email people. Secondly, we got an email way back in August or late July telling us we'd get an email notification of whether or not we'd advanced on September 2nd; the day came and went with no email whatsoever. I finally had to Google for like half an hour before I found the AFF Facebook page, where several people had asked the same question. A staff member didn't answer till the next day. I just kind of find that sort of thing to be really unprofessional. Whatev.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
I am a finalist! I have been checking this website constantly, especially since they claimed they would post the results in August. Laura has also been in on this, and checked at 1:00 am last night and it still hadn't been posted. (They sent the email at 1:26.)
I'm very excited!
I'm very excited!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
There's no way in hell I'm recreating it here (it took me over an hour last night), so if you want to see a post with a whole bunch of icons and wallpapers from B5, it's here.
Act three of TV pilot done, act four to commence tomorrow! Hopefully I can get this one done in a week, too.
Act three of TV pilot done, act four to commence tomorrow! Hopefully I can get this one done in a week, too.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Started drafting on our new slimmed-down, one-hour TV pilot for Scriptapalooza. UT Laura is doing the teaser and acts one and two, and I'm doing acts three and four. Beginning to draft, for me, is always the hardest part. Researching, writing the treatment, working out the structure, doing the beat outline, editing, revising, polishing - those are the writing parts I like. Drafting? HARD. (I'm sure this is no different for anyone else.) Like, what are my ins and outs for each scene? Do I have the right setting? Am I finding the most expedient way to move the plot forward, advance character, convey any necessary exposition without making it seem like exposition - all at the same time? Is my dialogue in character? How's the pacing? Are these scenes in the right order? Ugh. Sometimes I just feel like I have the movie/episode all up in my head already, and if I could just download it... Now, I know that the actual process of writing means I discover things that I never would have thought of otherwise, and once I get into it it feels great and I like it. Like, drafting after page ten usually goes well. But those first few days, those are the ones that are rough, that I tend to put off. Which is why it's great we have a deadline, because I can't procrastinate at all.
Still, this is one of the reasons why I draft longhand and leave my house to do so. No frakking around on the computer, no spider solitaire, no organizing my files. No "I'll just watch this episode of TV...as research." Just get out of the house and write.
So, last night I'm at the library, and back at the A/V counter they have a trivia question up each day. If you know the answer, you get, like, a Starburst or something. It's fun. I was waiting in line, and while the employee was unlocking the DVD cases, the woman in front of me turned and asked if I knew the answer to the question - "Who founded the Sundance Film Festival in 1978?" I told her the answer - Robert Redford. She asked, "Why is Sundance important?" So I started to answer - "It was one of the first ways for independent filmmakers to have an opportunity to present their work and potentially find a larger audience--"
And then the A/V employee, a young man probably around my age, turned around and talked right over me. "Sundance was one of the first festivals that exhibited independent films. Studios could buy them and distribute them, and that wouldn't have been possible before." And the woman in front of me nodded, smiled at him, took her movies, and left.
I mutely gave the man my DVDs and card, waited for him to unlock them and check them out, and walked away. I didn't make any small talk like I usually do, and I certainly didn't answer the question. And as much as I would have liked to say something, I knew there was no point. Sure, you could probably say he didn't even realize he had done it, and that calling someone on that is the only way they'll learn, but I did not have the patience for it right then. But if I had decided to say something? Here's what I would have said:
"Buddy, I studied film at USC. My professors included Leonard Maltin, Tom Holman, Todd Boyd, and Drew Casper. I actually worked on a documentary short that played independent festivals. DO NOT MANSPLAIN SUNDANCE TO ME."
Jeez, things may not have gone as planned after USC, and none of that up there actually matters, but at least I know about movies.
(I kind of feel like Sigourney Weaver in Galaxy Quest, when Tim Allen yells at her to stop repeating everything the computer says. "I have one job on this ship, and it's stupid, but I'm gonna do it!")
Still, this is one of the reasons why I draft longhand and leave my house to do so. No frakking around on the computer, no spider solitaire, no organizing my files. No "I'll just watch this episode of TV...as research." Just get out of the house and write.
So, last night I'm at the library, and back at the A/V counter they have a trivia question up each day. If you know the answer, you get, like, a Starburst or something. It's fun. I was waiting in line, and while the employee was unlocking the DVD cases, the woman in front of me turned and asked if I knew the answer to the question - "Who founded the Sundance Film Festival in 1978?" I told her the answer - Robert Redford. She asked, "Why is Sundance important?" So I started to answer - "It was one of the first ways for independent filmmakers to have an opportunity to present their work and potentially find a larger audience--"
And then the A/V employee, a young man probably around my age, turned around and talked right over me. "Sundance was one of the first festivals that exhibited independent films. Studios could buy them and distribute them, and that wouldn't have been possible before." And the woman in front of me nodded, smiled at him, took her movies, and left.
I mutely gave the man my DVDs and card, waited for him to unlock them and check them out, and walked away. I didn't make any small talk like I usually do, and I certainly didn't answer the question. And as much as I would have liked to say something, I knew there was no point. Sure, you could probably say he didn't even realize he had done it, and that calling someone on that is the only way they'll learn, but I did not have the patience for it right then. But if I had decided to say something? Here's what I would have said:
"Buddy, I studied film at USC. My professors included Leonard Maltin, Tom Holman, Todd Boyd, and Drew Casper. I actually worked on a documentary short that played independent festivals. DO NOT MANSPLAIN SUNDANCE TO ME."
Jeez, things may not have gone as planned after USC, and none of that up there actually matters, but at least I know about movies.
(I kind of feel like Sigourney Weaver in Galaxy Quest, when Tim Allen yells at her to stop repeating everything the computer says. "I have one job on this ship, and it's stupid, but I'm gonna do it!")
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Kind of a boring week. Last night the heat finally broke, but it's been right around 100 actual temperature the last week or so, and high 90s for a few weeks before that; it just saps your will-power, it really does. Day before yesterday, I was so bored and was actually getting kind of depressed about sitting around inside the house, but the heat index was 115 and I just could not make myself have any desire to leave the nice air conditioned house; even just walking from the car to a store or Starbucks or whatever is enough to make you sweat. Plus, the blue van doesn't have AC, so that's always fun to drive around in when it's this hot.
Today's in the 80s, though, so I sat outside and read a little, which was very nice. I think I might go up to Starbucks and write later; UT Laura and I are pulling our old TV pilot out of storage. Scriptapalooza's having a TV contest in October, and usually those things only accept spec scripts for existing shows, but they're taking pilots. It's amazing how not looking at something in three years gives you absolute objectivity; it was easy to go through and see what worked and what didn't, and what definitely didn't. We're working on the beat outline now, and should start drafting by the beginning of September.
We're also still workshopping my new script in my local writer's group; we've got about 45 pages to go, or two or three sessions. Once we're done, I'll go through all the notes and come up with a revision manifesto. One thing I've noticed with each new script is that it takes me less drafts to get to something decent. With Flesh and Blood back in the day, it really wasn't until about draft four or five that it held up as a solid movie; Fall River took three; this new script, even though it's just a first draft, is pretty okay. I mean, it has problems, but there's no plot holes or huge characterization problems. I may be...getting better as a writer? That would be exciting.
Today's in the 80s, though, so I sat outside and read a little, which was very nice. I think I might go up to Starbucks and write later; UT Laura and I are pulling our old TV pilot out of storage. Scriptapalooza's having a TV contest in October, and usually those things only accept spec scripts for existing shows, but they're taking pilots. It's amazing how not looking at something in three years gives you absolute objectivity; it was easy to go through and see what worked and what didn't, and what definitely didn't. We're working on the beat outline now, and should start drafting by the beginning of September.
We're also still workshopping my new script in my local writer's group; we've got about 45 pages to go, or two or three sessions. Once we're done, I'll go through all the notes and come up with a revision manifesto. One thing I've noticed with each new script is that it takes me less drafts to get to something decent. With Flesh and Blood back in the day, it really wasn't until about draft four or five that it held up as a solid movie; Fall River took three; this new script, even though it's just a first draft, is pretty okay. I mean, it has problems, but there's no plot holes or huge characterization problems. I may be...getting better as a writer? That would be exciting.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Dude, you guys. Remember when, at the last minute, I decided to enter another screenplay competition? And I was all, help, which one should I submit? And then I submitted both - I was only going to submit Fall River, but decided to throw Flesh and Blood in there at the last minute.
I hadn't ever heard back, and I remembered today that they were supposed to announce quarterfinalists in June. So I thought I'd check the website. There it was, the list of quarterfinalists, and I figured that since I didn't get an email that was that.
Except not!
Man, I'm glad I entered Flesh and Blood, you guys. That's two major competitions now that it's advanced in. That's REALLY GOOD. (Ugh, I wish it had made Scriptapalooza's quarterfinals; that would have been really awesome.) So now I'm waiting on Austin Film Festival. (Please please please please.)
I am feeling really confident about this script now. I mean, I was before, but this is different; this is, like, independent confirmation that it's a good script. It's hard to be objective about something you wrote yourself. It would be great if I got some contacts out of this, since these competitions either send out information or make it available for agents who request it; but if I don't, I'll have some good things to include in my query letter.
I hadn't ever heard back, and I remembered today that they were supposed to announce quarterfinalists in June. So I thought I'd check the website. There it was, the list of quarterfinalists, and I figured that since I didn't get an email that was that.
Except not!
Man, I'm glad I entered Flesh and Blood, you guys. That's two major competitions now that it's advanced in. That's REALLY GOOD. (Ugh, I wish it had made Scriptapalooza's quarterfinals; that would have been really awesome.) So now I'm waiting on Austin Film Festival. (Please please please please.)
I am feeling really confident about this script now. I mean, I was before, but this is different; this is, like, independent confirmation that it's a good script. It's hard to be objective about something you wrote yourself. It would be great if I got some contacts out of this, since these competitions either send out information or make it available for agents who request it; but if I don't, I'll have some good things to include in my query letter.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Well, got an email from Nicholl Fellowship this morning. Fall River didn't make it to the quarterfinals. There were 6,300 scripts entered in the competition, and only 326 made it to the next level.
One of which was Flesh and Blood! That's right, everyone! After five years and twelve drafts, the old workhorse finally did something! They cut down to around 100-120 scripts for the semifinals, which we should hear about around the end of August. Honestly, though, if I make it no further than the quarterfinals, that is still a huge deal and I won't be (too tremendously) upset.
You guys, though. I read the "we're sorry maybe Fall River is a good script we can't say but you didn't make it" email first and I had an ENORMOUS SAD. You know how gmail is when you get two emails from the same person, how they're stacked on top of each other? It took me a couple minutes to realize there even was a second email. So it was with much Lucille-hand-waving that I read the second, which began with the greatest word any writer can read: CONGRATULATIONS!
One of which was Flesh and Blood! That's right, everyone! After five years and twelve drafts, the old workhorse finally did something! They cut down to around 100-120 scripts for the semifinals, which we should hear about around the end of August. Honestly, though, if I make it no further than the quarterfinals, that is still a huge deal and I won't be (too tremendously) upset.
You guys, though. I read the "we're sorry maybe Fall River is a good script we can't say but you didn't make it" email first and I had an ENORMOUS SAD. You know how gmail is when you get two emails from the same person, how they're stacked on top of each other? It took me a couple minutes to realize there even was a second email. So it was with much Lucille-hand-waving that I read the second, which began with the greatest word any writer can read: CONGRATULATIONS!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Went to the Farmer's Market this weekend. It was approximately a bazillion degrees and all the humidities, and every single person who lives in Kansas City was also there, and maybe some tourists too, I'm not sure. We actually don't buy much produce there, since we grow most of what we want at Grandpa's - tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, cubanelles, jalapenos, pumpkins, and watermelons; garlic, thyme, tarragon, mint, basil, sage. So we just picked up some limes and avocados, and then made our way to the spice and herb store, which is amazing. We buy a lot of their seasoning blends and such, stuff like Garlic Herb and Creole and Orange Pepper, but our favorite item is their Mexican Dip Mix.
It's great, because you can use it for just about anything. Grilling some chicken? Mexican Dip Mix! Making rice? Mexican Dip Mix! Spicy cheese for nachos? Mexican Dip Mix! Compound butter for roasted corn? Mexican Dip Mix! Mexican dip? Mexican Dip Mix!
Also, my dad finally managed to get us to watch the first episode of Castle with him, which Laura had been resisting, but it actually wasn't that bad. I mean, 90% of the charm is Fillion, but Rob Bowman directed the pilot so the visual style is nice, and there were a few laughs.
Wrote another short story; this one took me about two weeks. Some of the details, though not the main plot, are based on stories Gamps has told us over the years, so it was a little more personal than I usually write.
It's great, because you can use it for just about anything. Grilling some chicken? Mexican Dip Mix! Making rice? Mexican Dip Mix! Spicy cheese for nachos? Mexican Dip Mix! Compound butter for roasted corn? Mexican Dip Mix! Mexican dip? Mexican Dip Mix!
Also, my dad finally managed to get us to watch the first episode of Castle with him, which Laura had been resisting, but it actually wasn't that bad. I mean, 90% of the charm is Fillion, but Rob Bowman directed the pilot so the visual style is nice, and there were a few laughs.
Wrote another short story; this one took me about two weeks. Some of the details, though not the main plot, are based on stories Gamps has told us over the years, so it was a little more personal than I usually write.
Friday, July 16, 2010
It is so hot this summer. I was outside for all of five minutes washing a rug (I think a cat peed on it, sigh), and by the time I came in I had to cool off under an air vent. Yesterday, Laura and I got up really early to go mow Grandpa's lawn before he got out and did it himself, and by the time we got there he was of course all ready outside weed-eating. Anyway, I did the push-mowing parts, and his push mower is not power, and by the time I got done I looked like Albert Brooks in Broadcast News, when he has to go on air for the first time.
One of the reasons I don't mind winter is that I can always throw on another sweater or something. I can't, like, take my skin off in the summer.
I think I'm going to expand the third act of Flesh and Blood. I've been thinking about it lately, and I feel like there just isn't enough fall-out between Maggie and John, that the movie is really about the revelation of what he is and it gets kinda stuck in there at the end. So I have a festival-length version that works and I don't want to trash it, but instead of cutting out all the Butcher stuff, just taking off from those last ten pages and going from there. Like, what actually happens next between them. It would need to have some action because then otherwise the climax ends up, like, two-thirds of the way through the movie and that doesn't work. But I don't want her to kill him? So IDK, I'm thinking it through.
One of the reasons I don't mind winter is that I can always throw on another sweater or something. I can't, like, take my skin off in the summer.
I think I'm going to expand the third act of Flesh and Blood. I've been thinking about it lately, and I feel like there just isn't enough fall-out between Maggie and John, that the movie is really about the revelation of what he is and it gets kinda stuck in there at the end. So I have a festival-length version that works and I don't want to trash it, but instead of cutting out all the Butcher stuff, just taking off from those last ten pages and going from there. Like, what actually happens next between them. It would need to have some action because then otherwise the climax ends up, like, two-thirds of the way through the movie and that doesn't work. But I don't want her to kill him? So IDK, I'm thinking it through.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Did anyone watch Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives tonight? They covered Kansas City BBQ, and if you did watch, or catch it later, the third joint - Johnny's, with the deep-fried smoked chicken - is our regular place. I've been going there for as long as I can remember. I kinda feel like I was just on TV. Like, that's our waitress! We sit at that table! So if you want to see what the best BBQ in the world looks like, there you go.
I've been writing like a crazy fool the last few days...unfortunately, it's on that fanfic, which I can do nothing with. But it's been fun doing something that I don't have to worry about what happens next or anything, and I've enjoyed the whole process of writing prose. Right now I'm at around 10,000 words, which is ridiculous. Ridiculous! Oh, well.
I've been writing like a crazy fool the last few days...unfortunately, it's on that fanfic, which I can do nothing with. But it's been fun doing something that I don't have to worry about what happens next or anything, and I've enjoyed the whole process of writing prose. Right now I'm at around 10,000 words, which is ridiculous. Ridiculous! Oh, well.