Use Your Relatives for Future Stories

Just finished up another Christmas holiday. With my family that means three days of dinners, present exchanges, and LOTS of relatives. With lots of relatives come some unavoidable tension.

This year I decided instead of getting frustrated, I'd pick up a pen. I collected some interesting character sketches and scenes that I tucked away for future stories. Here are a few:

• My aunt brought her two large dogs into a crowded house, even though she's been asked to leave them home. Tension built as the dogs jumped on people, tried to eat off the table, growled at the family dog, and left my brother, who has dog allergies, wheezing and barely able to talk. The aunt seemed to think this was all as it should be. The rest of us will forever call this The Christmas of the Dogs.

• Took a walk on my folks farm to feed a calf. It was dusk and the fog had rolled in, so I didn't realize my parents had gotten a new bull until I was face to face with it. Luckily, the bull was seriously interested in one of the cows, and hardly noticed a woman running across the field, screaming like a banshee.

• Got a very interesting gift — a huge bat house. It will house over 300 bats. It's not the house that has me thinking of future scenes, but the idea of 300 bats come to roost. (Do bats roost?)

These are just a few of the story ideas/scenes I collected over the holiday. How about you? Any good ones you want to share?

di

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Christmas is a time for Networking

For anyone who was thinking about coming to the NWSG's (Northwest Screenwriters Guild) Christmas party, you better decide fast — it's tonight. Get your RSVP in ASAP at rsvp@NWSG.org. It's free for members and $4.00 for guests.

I'm a HUGE fan of Christmas. (When your birthday's the 23rd, you can't really help it.) Over years I've discovered that the season is not only a time for giving, but also a time for networking.

Bad Networking

Networking is not going out there, hunting down people who can help your career and sucking up to them. That's anti-networking.

Good Networking

Real networking is about going out and meeting people, learning about them and making human connections. In short — becoming friends with people. And because friends tend to do nice things for their friends when they can, healthy networking is born.

There are a variety of ways to meet people and make friends — going online, attending conferences, participating in events, etc. — but during the holiday season, networking becomes amazingly easy. There are parties galore, folks are happy, and (in my opinion) in the mood to make friends.

In fact, you'll be networking whether you know it or not. While you're drinking eggnog at the next company party and talking about about Bad Santa, you'll actually be networking. How easy is that? No swapping cards and awkward moments — just good ol' fun. Networking the way it was meant to be.

So get out there network folks — and drive safely.