Been away too long

I've been remiss with my blog writing.  The good news is that I've simply been very busy.  I just spent last week at the Sacramento Film Festival where I co-chaired a panel on screenwriting with my dear friend, Lew Hunter.  It was a wonderful experience and I met a lot of young, aspiring, filmmakers.  Because of the experience I decided to start an on-going writing workshop for folks in the Sacramento area.  We just finished our first workshop today and it was very exciting and stimulating.  I hope other writers will join the workshop in coming weeks.  Anyone interested should contact me for details.  Keep writing everyone!

Frustrated

I haven't blogged for some time.  My only excuse is frustration.  I begin to wonder if anyone is out there?  So, in case there is, I want to make a pitch to EVERYONE.  If you REALLY want to write, find a mentor or teacher and use them.  This isn't even a pitch for myself.  What continues to amaze me is how many folks just assume writing is a piece of cake.  I suspect technology is to blame.  With the advent of computers, softeware, and spellcheck everyone assumes that writing is sort of like fill in the blank.  Indeed, it's not that "difficult" to turn on your computer, plug into the right software, and turn out a 110 to 115 page play or screenplay.  Unfortunately the minimal lack of effort involved in creating these works oftentimes leads to less than stellar results.  I'm not sure what the resistance is to learning.  What I do know is that the times in my life when I have grown the most have been the times when I have sought out professionals to show me the way.  So I encourage anyone who MIGHT read this blog to take this little bit of advice and run with it.  You won't be sorry.  AND, I say this with all sincerity, it makes NO difference to me who you find to help you but...find SOMEONE.  Good luck and...if all else fails, I'm out here.

New Seminar

I've got another screenwriting seminar coming up on August 28th and August 29th.  That's Sat. and Sun.  1:00 to 5:00 each day.  The last seminar was GREAT fun and I think EVERYONE got something good from the work.  By the way, if you do come, you'll be writing.  I don't like to just sit around and talk about screenwriting.  I'm a big believer in doing. 

If you'd like to know more about me and reserve your spot for this next seminar go to my consulting page.  You'll be signed up for the seminar once you pay for it via pay pal.  The cost is $200.

I LOVE teaching and my biggest goal is to inspire folks to write.  I'm also a believer in writing because you LOVE to write and HAVE to write, not because you think you're going to get rich selling the next blockbuster screenplay.  It's ALWAYS a long shot.  That doesn't mean you can't dream big.  It simply means, I think you'll be much happier if you focus on the work and not the end results.

I also want to encourage folks to send me questions here.  There's no charge for answering a few questions.  :-)  I hope to see a few of you at this next seminar.  And remember...think small, dream big.

Upcoming Seminar

I'm very excited about my upcoming screenwriting seminar, to be held at the It Factor Studios in Rancho Cordova, CA.  The It Factor is a wonderful new facility owned and operated by writer/director/teacher Ryan McKinney.  Ryan is a real go getter and has great enthusiasm for the craft of film making.  I hope this seminar will be the start of a fruitful collaboration between the It Factor and myself.  Anyone wishing to sign up for the seminar may do so through my web site or they can contact the It Factor directly.  It should be fun and I expect everyone to come prepared to work.

I woke up with an interesting thought which I wanted to share with my fellow writers.  "Truth may be stranger than fiction, but it's almost never as much fun."  The point being...people will often tell me they have a wonderful "true" story (oftentimes about their own lives).  While I'm certain all of us have had some engaging and provocative experiences in our lives it may be necessary at times to "embellish" the facts to keep an audience involved in the story.  The key is to make sure readers continue to turn the page and very few readers will be family members who find your story entertaining and compelling.  Conversely, I've also found that there are times when the "truth" can be too unbelievable.  I knew a woman who (sadly) had six miscarriages before she finally gave birth to a healthy little boy.  With the woman's permission I used the "truth" in a character monologue I had written for a play.  NO ONE believed the story.  Once I changed the monologue to indicate that the character had three miscarriages, the story seemed more credible to the audience.

Over the rainbow and back

Well, I've returned from Kansas.  It was a great trip and I had the opportunity to work with a bunch of VERY talented young people.  They were all very open and receptive to what I had to offer.  I hope to do more of these workshops in the future.  I was very sorry to leave.

On my way out I spent a night in Sterling, Nebraska with Lew Hunter and his wife Pamela.  Lew is the head of the screenwriting department at U.C.L.A. and he and I have become good friends after chairing a few panels together at various film festivals.  Lew and Pamela actually to the time to drive down to Kansas to see the reading of one of my plays on my second Saturday in Kansas.

Eastern Kansas really is a hidden treasure and I recommend it as a stopping off point on any trips.  Watch out for the tornadoes though.  :-)  There were two warnings while I was there. 

I'm here if anyone needs me.  Think small, dream big.

A Reminder

The Sacramento Film Festival was a wonderful experience.  I was honored to co-chair a panel with Lew Hunter.  He's not only a wonderful teacher, he's a kind and generous man.  The turn out was great and there were some wonderful questions asked by all who attended.

I have some more things coming up, including a writing seminar of my own in Sacramento on Saturday, May 22nd.  Stay tuned.  Also, I'll be leaving on May 1st to return to Manhattan, Kansas (where I grew up).  I've been invited by the high school drama department to be a guest resident artist and work with the kids.  I did the same thing three years ago and had great fun.  I'm looking forward to it.  While I'm in Manhattan I'm also going to have an adult writing workshop on Sunday, May 8th.  I hope to see old friends while I'm in Manhattan.

Remember everyone...keep writing.

Think small, dream big!

Several things of interest came up at my seminar.  One of the actors asked when they could be considered "professional?"  My answer was:  "You're a professional when you can say it out loud."  Being a professional has nothing to do with making money.  It's about how we see ourselves and how we present ourselves to the world.  There's a great deal to be said for identifying yourself as a professional.

I also had another thought at the seminar which is the title of this blog:  "Think small, dream big!"  What this means is that it's important to stay focused on the baby steps instead of worrying about some end result.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with having big dreams as long as you stay grounded in the present and focus on your work.  You can even apply this phrase to your daily work.  Start by writing a monologue, then try to figure out who the person in the monologue might be speaking to.  Next, you create a scene.  After that...another scene.  Perhaps, before long, you've built and entire story...and you started "small."

This Friday, April 23rd, I will be a screenwriting panelist along with Lew Hunter (often referred to as "The Godfather of screenwriting").  Lew has become a good friend and he and I will be the only two people on the panel at The Sacramento Film Festival.  The seminar begins at 2:30.  Anyone interested in attending should go to SacramentoFilmFestival.com to get the details.  Perhaps I'll see you there.  If you've been reading my blogs come up and say "hello."