Back in the Saddle…

My life motto has always been I THRIVE ON MONOTONY.  After my life was turned upside-down for a little over a week, I am back to my mundane schedule and, believe me, it feels good. It feels right. It feels “write” to be back in the saddle.

And I have been writing, though I will admit I found it next to impossible to write in airports and on planes. There is too much noise. And it’s too crowded. But, I tried. Unfortunately that progress was almost nill.

However, FINDING VERITY made a huge leap even though I couldn’t write and that’s because I thought about the story. And, while I was thinking, I solved a problem. And after that problem was solved, FINDING VERITY grew. It grew to almost 88,000 words. And I’m feeling good about it. Damn good!

There is still a lot of work that needs to be done but I plod along knowing I can do it. This is my third novel. The first one didn’t get published. Last year I self-published WINDFALL. I think I might approach publishers with FINDING VERITY. However, if I do and there’s no interest, I’ll self-publish that one, too.

So, what is FINDING VERITY? Here is a hint. It’s a “coming of age” story about a boy who, after being abandoned by his mother, finds the strength to persevere. He survives a brutal experience in a foster family, befriends a homeless man, gets adopted into a loving family, and becomes a best-selling novelist though no one knows that because he writes under a “pen name.”  But then he meets an old woman who changes his life…

Book Mobile in the 1920s

To the Outlaw of Blind Dates… MY SCRIPT PLACED

Happy May 1st!

I woke this morning to some really great news. My short script, To the Outlaw of Blind Dates, earned a third place in MoviePoet.com’s April contest.

The premise behind this short five-page script is:   When two people meet in a park, their first impressions change as they get to know each other. 

I joined the  MoviePoet community in 2008. In a previous contest I earned an “honorable mention” but this is the first time I’ve placed. I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am because there are many accomplished writers at MoviePoet.com.

MoviePoet.com is a great place to hang out if you want to learn how to write a screenplay. The site is loaded with writers who care about helping aspiring writers hone their craft. The monthly challenges offer writers a place to try new things.

In my case, a comedy.

Usually most people think I have a kind of warped sense of humor.

I can’t believe I wrote something that people thought was funny.

For the Love of Books…

I’m Bored with my Writing…

I’m 66,000 words into my novel Finding Verity and bored. Now, when a writer gets bored with their own creation, all I can say is: Houston, we have a problem!

The first two-thirds of Finding Verity flowed. The story is original and I’m looking forward to writing “the end.” But I’m having problems with the last half of the last third.

Consider yourself lucky, if this never happens to you.

 Question: What do I do when I have this problem?

Answer: I have a little conversation with myself.

 Huh?

I sit at my keyboard and have a conversation with myself. That conversation goes something like this:

 Why is this boring?

Because character “A” isn’t doing much.

What could “A” do to spice things up?

What if  characters “A” and “B” got together and…

Where would they go?

The park?

Why?

Because the park represents…

How about Characters “A”, “B”, and “C” go to the park?

Why three characters?

If two is good, three is better…

more opportunities for conflict and action.

Would they go together?

They could.

Or maybe “A” and B” go together, and “C” follows.

Why would “C” follow?

Because “C” is suspicious of “A” and “B’s” relationship.

Or, maybe,“C’s” weary of “B” and wants to protect “A” from “B.”

Would “A” and “B” know “C” was following?

Maybe.
Maybe not.

That’s what I’m trying to decide.

Maybe “A” and “B” are following “C”.

Why would they follow “C?”

They think “C” has been acting weird lately

and they want to know what “C’s” been up to.

Maybe “A” and “C” have a problem they are trying to solve?

If that was the case, would “B” go with them?

“B” could be a look-out.

A lookout for what?

Cops? Homeless people? Vampires? Skunks?

And so it goes… Until I have figured out the problem!

And then I’m no longer bored with my writing!