Getting Back to Writing

I'm back, after a wild week. Didn't get much writing done, but did manage to experience a lot of stuff to write about — like finishing a house without my husband and I killing each other. In fact, there's probably a whole book in there somewhere.

Bad Water

The biggest event though happened in the bathroom. I finally got a few minutes to run a long-awaited bath. It's where I do all my first drafts and I had some serious writing to catch up on. I put in some bubble bath, started the water, and came back a few minutes later with my pad of paper and pen to get down to business.

When I walked into the bathroom I was assaulted by the smell of rotten eggs and a bathtub full of brown water. We'd smelled the sulphur in the water before, but nothing like this.

I'd like say that I immediately emptied the tub, but I wanted that bath so bad I just threw more bubble bath to cover the brown water and cover some of the stink, and jumped in.

Good Water

The next day I made a call to the water guys, who immediately came out a did a test. They told us what I'd already assumed from my bath — we had EXTREMELY hard water. The levels were off the charts. I was told we could keep the water the way it was, but my hair would eventually turn orange, among other things.

This morning we had a $4,700 filtration system put in. I wonder what the IRS would say if I took it off as a writing expense?

Oh well, the good news, I'm looking forward to my bath tonight and writing without holding my nose.

A Shout Out to a Great Blog

I follow lots of blogs and I'm guessing you do to. I'm curious to hear what some of your favorites are.

One I enjoy is Go Into the Story, by Scott Myers. You can view his entire profile on the blog, but the condensed version is Scott's been screenwriting since 1987, and also teaches and produces.

He's got about 40 amazing scripts posted on his blog if you're looking for something to read. I'm thrilled to see he has The Usual Suspects and Little Miss Sunshine — two scripts I've been wanting to read. (They are downloading as I write.)

But this blog is more than about scripts, it's full of great information about writing. And you don't have to been a screenwriter to enjoy it.

Other Blogs

Anyway, that's my pick for the day. If you've got other blogs you'd recommend . . . I loved to know. :-)

Have a wonderful weekend.

Diane

Dissect Great Stories to Better Your Own

I just watched the movie, Amelia, based on a couple books about Amelia Earhart's life. It was beautiful, but boring. I was stunned. How could you make one of the most dynamic female characters in recent history boring.

Answer: every time there was conflict in her life, the moviemakers/storytellers didn't get into it. They quickly wrapped it up and walked on to the next event in her life.

This woman had a complicated life — a marriage to a giant publisher, an affair, having to sell products she disliked to finance her flying, fighting to get recognized in a male world, the competition from other females, not to mention her own obsession with flying that ultimately killed her. Instead of living any of those events with her, I felt those those moments were presented as a stunning laundry list. Unfortunately, that's a history lesson, not great story telling.

A Time to Kill

Then, last night, I'm watching a rerun on TV last night of A Time To Kill, a 1996 movie based on the John Grisham book. Immediately, I thought, the Amelia folks should have had Grisham give them a few story pointers. Say what you will about the man, but this guy can pour on the conflict. Within less than an hour:

• a child is raped and left for dead

• the father murders the guys who did and is on trial.

• a young attorney who takes on the case partly due to guilt (he suspected the murder)

• an experienced attorney is ready to blow our young attorney out of the water for his career

• the KKK jump in, which causes some marital struggles for our young attorney when they start trying to blow up his house with wife and child inside

• we find out young attorney has no money and trying to case with no resources

• we find out experienced attorney has lots of resources

• the NAACP is trying to replace our young attorney too

• beautiful research attorney steps in who is brilliant by a temptation for our young attorney

. . . And this is all within an hour! Holy smokes!

Looking for Tension

I'm always looking for ways to increase the conflict and suspense in my stories. I'll be honest, I'm not mean enough to my characters and don't put them the tough scenes. Maybe that's because I like my characters and it's hard to beat up on them.

But after watching Amelia Earhart and a Time to Kill back to back, it's time to start getting tougher, because the alternative is to put the audience to sleep.

Capturing a Details

Because I want my scenes to be more detail rich, I'm trying to stop on occasion and take in what's around me. (I probably should have already been doing this for my mental health, but what can I say?)

Hardware Store

Today I was waiting to pick up some paint and looked around the hardware store. It was amazing — how could I have missed all this?

It's a tiny hardware store, the type you used to go to before the Home Depots and Lowes. The employees are friendly and know your name, and there's a popcorn machine next to the checkout counter where you can always get a free bag. Not to mention it makes the place smell great!

Piano Player

Today was the day the little old lady comes in and play piano for three hours. Don't ask me what this has to do with hardware, but the lady was pounding out the tunes. She has a bit of the palsy, so the songs have an interesting rhythm, but that just adds to overall effect.

There were people there buying shovels and picking up cement that I went to school with, all while the lady played You are My Sunshine, swaying back and forth. There was a tip jar by the piano and I noticed she'd only gotten a couple bucks, so I threw another one in.

Over the piano I saw these old pictures of the town — the first tree cut, the old mill, and some guys standing on an enormous tree, which I believe they cut down with a hand saw. People were obviously made of stronger stuff back then.

Pictures and Popcorn

The pictures were hard to make out, not because they were old, but because someone had put their kid's football trophy up there.

There was a new bench sent out by the counter. It says it was made with lumber donated by the store and it's going to be auctioned off for the senior surprise this June. It also has the dates you're supposed to show up and bid.

This stopping and looking is pretty cool. I did it all while eating popcorn. I'm going to have to do it more often.

di

Who is Your Oscar Favorite?

Sunday is the Oscars and I can hardly wait. We're building a new home and I'm hoping to have the TV room done by Sunday so we can sit, watch and root on our favorites. (The perfect christening.)

Who are you hoping will win, and why?

I have two categories — the movies I hope will win, and the ones I think will win. For Best Picture, I think The Hurt Locker has a good shot at it. Personally, I'd like to see Up receive it. I'll be REALLY disappointed though if Avatar gets it. Technically amazing, but the story was serviceable.

Best Original Script. I'm rooting for UP or Inglorious Bastards. I think The Hurt Locker's going to get it. But they are all great.

Best Adapted Script. Rooting for Up In the Air, but again everyone is deserving.

So, what do you think?

One Writer Gets a SIGN

Maybe we writers are an insecure lot — or maybe it's just me — but as I write, I'm wondering if this manuscript is even worth the time. I like the story, but will thousands of others like it too?

Maybe my time would be better spent learning to knit or working at a food bank.

Looking for the SIGN

I'm continually looking for that SIGN — the SIGN from the universe that I'm on the right track. Let me put this another way, I'm not looking for signs, I'm desperately searching for signs. I'm so desperate, I'll make them out of thin air if I have to.

Here are few of my recent SIGNS:

• My computer was open to my story when I sat down (of course, I was working on it when I left, so chances of this sign were pretty good).

• I'll be working on a working on a story and talk to someone who has the same name as one of my characters (I helps that I always have a character named Mike.)

• My favorite song comes on while I'm writing. (Helps to have LOTS of favorite songs.)

• At least one line comes easily that day.

• Lucky pennies. (Of course, I leave them so I can find them again and again.)

The Real SIGN

I realize that I fabricate most of my signs. But what can I do, I'm a SIGN junky.

That's why today is a big day. I had one — a SIGN! Not one I made up, but an honest-to-god SIGN. I was writing a scene in the story where a woman talks to a little spider and the spider leads her to a chamber. As I'm writing this, the tiniest spider you've ever seen slides down on his web and lands on my computer.

Is that a sign or what?!!

I picked him up and set him out of harms way, then wrote like crazy. This next manuscript is going to be great, I can feel it now.

Also, I might leave the window open (accidently, of course) to let a few more spiders in.

di

The Create a Character Challenge

Just got back from a conference in Oregon. It wasn't writing related, but fun.

I found myself jotting down different characters or pieces of characters I could use for stories. Like . . .

• the cute Canadian guy from Quebec, who had a German wife. What language they spoke I wasn't sure, but he enjoyed fishing for Pike and and hockey.

• There was the guy who had completed a industry documentary, but he was also a former baseball player and was pitching reality TV ideas in LA. He was also a big fan of romantic comedies.

• There was the professional chainsaw carver that looked like a young surfer, with his sun glasses fluid movements. He'd actually trained as a carver and was doing spectacular carvings, like sea turtles swimming in coral.

Character Journal

I've always jotted these types of things down in my journal, but now I'm thinking of starting just a "character" journal. I'm challenging myself to a character a day for a year. Not a lot of work, just quick, minor character sketches, some cool details, or whatever makes sense.

The Challenge

Want to take it with me? I know, you're saying, "But I won't meet 365 this year."

Don't worry. On those days you don't have a new person, you can use a past friend or relative. That's just a good, because I think we forget how colorful some of our friends are.

Are you with me? Hope so. And also hoping you'll share some of the extra special characters you come across.

Happy writing!