If you are still checking this blog...and that's a big if...you'll notice I haven't blogged in about a month and a half. It's not that nothing is going on. I guess it's just because I haven't thought about it much. So quick recap:
- A group of lady friends and I are working on putting together a showcase of my work. We don't know when/where/how it will happen but it will happen. And since it is a showcase of my work, I have get writing. In fact, I should be doing that now instead of writing this blog.
- March submission: completed. Just under the wire.
- I will be directing a new ten minute play at ACT in April (thanks to the suggestion of my lovely and talented friend Dayo Anderson). It's part of a New Playwrights Competition for high school students. I'm excited to work with a new young playwright. The next challenge: casting 8ish people. Anybody? Anybody?
So that's my quick update. I'm going to try and update more often. Try.
3.31.2011
2.15.2011
Taking Steps
February submission: completed!
This time it was a poetry submission to a literary magazine.
Alright folks, I'm two for two here. I must admit I had to push myself to do this one for February. The only things I have "ready" that haven't been published or produced before is poetry. At least for plays, the produced stipulation is the one that gets me. Because, of course, what I have that would be ready to send somewhere has been produced before. That's what makes it the most ready to be submitted. Oh well, my poetry should be submitted as well. Plus, it's been awhile since I've written poetry and hopefully this will inspire me to continue with that aspect of my writing.
I also finally began my novel this weekend. It is already at a stalemate but it has been started which I must admit is a feat. I've been noodling on it for years now but every time I sit down to write, the idea of a novel scares me. I'm so used to writing purely dialogue and/or poetry that I am quickly discovering I have a lot of growth to do in the area of description.
At the very least, writing is happening!
This time it was a poetry submission to a literary magazine.
Alright folks, I'm two for two here. I must admit I had to push myself to do this one for February. The only things I have "ready" that haven't been published or produced before is poetry. At least for plays, the produced stipulation is the one that gets me. Because, of course, what I have that would be ready to send somewhere has been produced before. That's what makes it the most ready to be submitted. Oh well, my poetry should be submitted as well. Plus, it's been awhile since I've written poetry and hopefully this will inspire me to continue with that aspect of my writing.
I also finally began my novel this weekend. It is already at a stalemate but it has been started which I must admit is a feat. I've been noodling on it for years now but every time I sit down to write, the idea of a novel scares me. I'm so used to writing purely dialogue and/or poetry that I am quickly discovering I have a lot of growth to do in the area of description.
At the very least, writing is happening!
2.02.2011
1.31.2011
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.
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.
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.
1.11.2011
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.
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.
1.09.2011
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...
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...
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