Legally Blonde from film to stage

Saw Legally Blonde last night at the 5th Avenue Theater ins Seattle. I enjoyed it, although I was little distracted as I watched humorous scenes from the movie turned into big, flashy show tunes. It was a little like watching a movie made from one of your favorite books. You're extremely conscious of the adaptation.

But it was fun and I'd recommend it — especially if you're a fan of musicals and Legally Blonde.

This is the second time this season that a musical was adapted from a movie — the other being Catch Me if You Can. Not one I would have ever even thought to adapt into a musical, but it worked.

Be a Little Creative

As much as I liked both of those movies and musicals, I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed by the lack of creativity out there. It's bad enough to watch all the sequels at the movie theater. But now we get to watch remakes at the theater?

As writers we need to show them how it's done. Grab your pen, pencil or keyboard and knock out those novels, musicals and scripts. Lets show them how to be creative.

I definitely don't want to see Avatar the Musical.

How a Rock can in Improve Your Writing

Now that I'm living next to my folks' farm, my new chores in the morning are to feed the cows hay, bottle feed a calf, and make sure a cow and her calf housed in a separate area are watered and fed.

While taking care of the cow and her calf, I got a glimpse of my dad's creativity. He doesn't have the chance to express his creativity in the obvious areas, like art or music, so it shows up in less obvious areas — like how he uses the enormous rocks on the property.

In this single cow pen, he'd used rocks to:

• shore up a shed as makeshift foundation

• as a fence

• as a water trough holder

• as stepping stones.

And if you looked across the field you'd see he'd also used them for pet tombstones, car blocks and, I think, art.

Thinking outside the box

I was impressed. He's like the MacGyver of rocks. You should see what the guy can do with barbed wire.

Seeing how my dad's mind works makes me realize that my characters don't necessarily see things the way I do. One character may see a rock and think it's a stone, another sees a tombstone, and another may see a piece of art.

Be MacGyver

My challenge, should you accept it, is to think of all uses for that ballpoint pen on your desk. Yes, be MacGyver. Go for it.

I'll get you started:

• a straw

• a weapon (dull knife)

• self-tattoo instrument

• . . .

Creating Your Writing Space

We're in the final stages of building a new home and it's hard work but a dream come true.

Besides the flooring, counter tops, paint colors and the 100 other details that go into the house, I'm also focussing on creating a creative spot to write.

Physical

Creating the physical spot is the easy part. I chose the bonus room over the garage for my writing area -- which I'll be painting today. It looks over trees tops and I couldn't ask for a more beautiful location.

I also purchased an AWESOME bathtub, which the IRS should let me take off on my taxes because I spend so much time in there writing -- especially first drafts.

Mental

Creating a physical location is easy. When you get down to it, you can take your pen and paper or laptop anywhere. What takes work is preparing that mental spot.

I've been spending the last couple months really meditating and preparing myself for this move. This the next big chapter of my life and I want writing to be front and center. When I step into this house, I want to (no I will ) experience that excitement of a fresh start. I'm already looking forward to turning out fresh pages a new room.

Today

This is a short blog because I'm running out to the new house now to try to finish painting, put in a dog fence and oversee the driveway. But while I'm doing this, I'm going to be spending time visualizing the successful and happy writer that's going to live in this fabulous place.

di

A Walk in the Garden, aka Story Development

People tell me, "Your garden looks great." I respond, "It's all in the fertilizer," but really it has more to do with story development.

While I'm out weeding, pruning, watering and fertilizing, I'm working on the scenes, plot points and characters.

Stepping in to the Garden

I can literally step into the garden and an hour later step back out unable to remember what I did because I was working on the story.

Yesterday, I was out with a new character — a successful underwear model named Michael — trying to find out why he's so set on becoming an actor.

After talking to him (thank god no one can see me garden except for my husband), I found out that he's been serious about acting since he was in high school. It was while he was in L.A. trying to break in that he did this underwear commercial. How could he know that he'd become an overnight sensation.

Today he's splashed on billboards across the company, famous for his tight buns, and avoided like then plague when it comes to serious acting roles. Everyone sees the Underwear Guy as a joke. He's depressed and wants a real acting roll in WORST way and will do just about anything.

All this information while I was cutting back the dahlias and pruning and weeding the herb garden. I consider it successful multitasking.

No Sharp Instruments

Maybe other writers are different, but I think everyone needs that place they go for inspiration and creative freedom. That place they feel free to wander around with their characters or play around with story ideas. It can be anything from long walks to doing chores.

However, I do recommend avoiding story work while you've got sharp instruments in your hands. I've pruned my fingers and fallen off more ladders than I care to admit.

OK, back to writing.

Crazy or Creative?

When I'm really getting into a story, I enter what I have just decided to call my "Story Zone". My family uses "Your seeing things", which I've never liked because it has a "crazy" ring to it. But I have to admit, it's accurate. Once I'm in the Story Zone, it's like everything looks like something else. It's like I've stepped halfway into my story.

The Story Zone

Yesterday morning I was trying to sneak out of the house without waking my husband. When I got to the door I stifled a scream because a strange guy was standing there, which seconds later turned out to be a coat hanging from the coat rack. Still catching my breath from the scare, I stepped outside and there was a tapestry stuck in the fence that upon closer examination turned out to be blackberries vines. Then I was sure I'd spotted a mini armadillo (rocks can take about any shape).

Some people at this point would probably check themselves in. Not me. The Story Zone is wonderful and fleeting. And it's a place where anything is possible and I'm going to take advantage of it today and write!

. . . or, of course I could also be crazy.

di