What I'm currently reading.

Taking a cue from Dennis Schebetta (If you don't read his blog, you definitely should. especially if you are working or want to work on a solo play.) I'm going to start recording what I'm reading. Because as he reminds us, what you are reading informs what you are writing. Plus, who better to learn from than already published authors?

So, what am I reading?

Well, I should be reading Great Expectations as it is the nice play coming up at Book-It. So, in theory, that's what I am reading. And I am...sort of. It stays in my purse and I pick it up now and then. I read most of it in college so it's really just playing catch up. I'll get there, but it is slow going.

What has really been on my mind lately is Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke. So far, it's incredibly insightful. I tend to really like books like this. There is something about an established writer encouraging a young, up-and-coming, struggling writer that is comforting to me. (That is also one of the reasons why I think Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith is a must have on any theatre artist's bookshelf.) No, I don't always agree with the advice given in these contexts but it is important to me to see how a person got to their advice. Their journeys are just as important to me as my own. We are interconnected by the simple nature of the craft. And I can always learn from a journey.

Next up: Wrecks and Other Plays by Neil LaBute. I must admit that Neil LaBute occupies a lot of space on my shelf. It is not always because I like his plays (Reasons to be Pretty, c'mon!) but because I relate to his style. And this book is some of his solo work so I'm interested to see how he approaches that.

The Apartment Series

I have a lot of blogging to catch up, it appears. So today: there will be two blog posts. And then...well you know how this goes.

You know that reading I keep saying I was going to throw in my house? The one I bought music stands for? Well, I finally did it! The Apartment Series: Brunch and a Reading, the first in the series happened on January 23rd. From now on, the plan is to have one at least once a month. Realistically, I'd like it to be salon style. I really want The Apartment Series to be an open forum for my artistic friends to come together and feed some need. Most of us work, probably too much and (I think) have been having a hard time finding a creative outlet. So that's what this is. Plus, it'll give me a chance to flex my hostess muscles and my cooking skills.

I'd say this first reading was successful. Small but mighty. There were about five people (excluding me) total for brunch. I think to be entirely successful for readings and what not, ten people would be a good number. This time it didn't matter because the play that was being read (one of mine) is in too early of a stage for a feedback session. I didn't think at this point in the play's development, feedback was going to be helpful to my process. But what was helpful to my process was simply being around my lovely and creative compatriots. Plus, to get to both share my work and act in the reading was a breath of fresh air.

The event in the series will be a dinner. I have a hankering to make lasagna. I'm not sure if I'll have anything to read for this one but we'll read something. That's really the important thing.

   
In other news: I have successfully submitted two things for January: a play to a festival in Seattle and a poem to a literary magazine at WWU. Now to search for contests, literary magazines, theatres and what have you for the month of February. It keeps me writing, that's for sure.

And when I write, I feel like I breathe easier.

Success!

Submission for January: completed!
Starting the year out right. [I mean, I've even worked out like twice now. Oh yeah!] Right now, the point to me is not necessarily to get anything produced. Although, let's be honest, I really want to have my work produced. However, I am trying to think about it in terms of setting a routine for myself. I need to make it the norm to enter/submit one thing a month. That also may insight me to set a normal writing schedule.

On a side note, I directed a 10 minute play for Northwest Playwright's Alliance tonight. Yay! My first thing is Seattle. More to come on that later.

I mean business.

Recently I bought music stands. Yes, music stands. I mean business here. I know have four music stands at my disposal for readings or what have you. It's a simple step [and one more thing to move in the future] to empowering myself to make my own theatre. They were cheap but they are nice. When I look at the one I set up in my room, I smile. Having it there is inspiration.

In an online shopping binge, I also bought myself a printer. I kept thinking "what kind of writer doesn't have her own printer?" Really, it's more inspiration. It'll help with all those submissions to contests, theatre, literary magazines that I'm going to send...

Speaking of which...

It's a Year of Magical Thinking

I think I stole that title. It sounds familiar...

Regardless, here we are: twenty-eleven. Oh dear. Two thousand and ten was a big year for me. I had some of my writing done, I was in a couple of shows, I graduated from college, I found my way into the professional theatre world. It seems pretty surreal mostly but I'm almost certain it happened. I do have my flimsy diploma in its cover sitting on my window sill. That must mean it's real, right?

For twenty-eleven I'm setting goals, not making resolutions. Resolutions seems flimsy to me (like my diploma) and it seems too awful when you "break" them. Goals are something you can attain, things that don't necessarily have expiration dates. So here they are:
1. Actor Fitness: get some.  Basically eat better, work out. Generally be healthy.
2. Enter a contest, submit to a literary magazine, etc. etc. at least once a month. That'll keep me writing. Or at least editing.
3. Get "The Apartment Series" up and running. Once a month (or every couple of months) host a reading/salon lunch/brunch/dinner/evening in my (or someone else's) apartment. That way us creative types can get together and fulfill some of the urges we've been having. (Not like that, silly.) The first one is January 23rd.

And those are goals for me for...awhile. I feel good about them.

Happy New Year all.

For my personal goals see: http://scooperwrites.blogspot.com/