I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged...I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.
- Erica Jong
This past weekend I finished a short story centered around a plot that came to me several months ago while watching a segment on the History Channel. Originally, I had envisioned it as the basis for a novel, but since it's been, well...several months and still nothing written on it, I thought I'd try out the idea in a short story. And since I haven't submitted something to the writing group in quite some time, and considering that I'm in the middle of a lull with my novel, this weekend seemed like the ideal time to sit down and write it. I even (knowing my own bad habits) alerted the group ahead of time of this soon-to-be submitted story, just to give me that extra push to get it done.
And so I got it done and submitted it early Sunday morning. The critique later that evening was to be expected of a first draft written with little time for editing. It was definitely constructive and pointed out some excellent instances of how an author can get caught up in a story to the point where he or she forgets to let the reader in on all the facts and details important to the plot. It opened up my eyes a little bit more, and while it wasn't a hit, I was relieved to be getting critique at all because it meant I was writing again. Let's keep it up.
Now back to that novel...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
back in class
Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.
- Olin Miller
Last night I was invited to speak at a Writers Round-Up panel discussion for a graduate journalism class at my alma mater, New York Institute of Technology. I remember attending such panels when I was an undergraduate (already more than three years now), which were then, as they are now, organized by the faculty adviser of the campus newspaper, John Hanc. So when he asked me a few months ago if I would be one of the guest speakers, a representative of NYIT alumni who have gone on to somewhat lucrative writing careers, I was quite honored.
Speaking about my career thus far as a writer was kind of strange, even more than how it felt to write a bio about myself to give out to the students. There was a lot of, I did that? I do that? I'm planning to do that, too? I actually ran the bio past a few people to make sure that I hadn't made anything up in my sleep. Not that I'm exactly touting Pulitzer Prizes left and right or Oscar nominations on the horizon, but still, even the small things sometimes make you ask, really? Especially when you're sitting at your computer and writing about yourself at 2 AM in your pajamas, with a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, reminding yourself to re-tape the top right corner of the LOTR poster that's been in your room since forever...Yes, it can be hard to acknowledge your own accomplishments when you're with you every day.
But getting back to the main point, in speaking about what I did in college, what I've been up to since then, and what I'm working on right now, some life truths and words of advice that came up were ringing pretty hard in my own head. I spoke about taking chances, and doing what it is you love when it comes to writing, and working hard, writing often, acknowledging when you just don't have an answer, promising to always look for one, not being afraid of the blank page, expecting crap some of the time, attaining not-crap other times, and always striving for brilliance. Saying it out loud was a very loud reminder to follow my own advice.
Yes, I'm launching my own online magazine. Yes, it's kind of scary. Yes, there's a lot I'm still trying to figure out. Yes, money hasn't yet started to grow on that money tree out back. Yes, there's also the book and the graduate school and the acting and the tennis.
And yes, I'm passionate about all of it.
So now it's just a matter of getting over the fear of that blank page.
- Olin Miller
Last night I was invited to speak at a Writers Round-Up panel discussion for a graduate journalism class at my alma mater, New York Institute of Technology. I remember attending such panels when I was an undergraduate (already more than three years now), which were then, as they are now, organized by the faculty adviser of the campus newspaper, John Hanc. So when he asked me a few months ago if I would be one of the guest speakers, a representative of NYIT alumni who have gone on to somewhat lucrative writing careers, I was quite honored.
Speaking about my career thus far as a writer was kind of strange, even more than how it felt to write a bio about myself to give out to the students. There was a lot of, I did that? I do that? I'm planning to do that, too? I actually ran the bio past a few people to make sure that I hadn't made anything up in my sleep. Not that I'm exactly touting Pulitzer Prizes left and right or Oscar nominations on the horizon, but still, even the small things sometimes make you ask, really? Especially when you're sitting at your computer and writing about yourself at 2 AM in your pajamas, with a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, reminding yourself to re-tape the top right corner of the LOTR poster that's been in your room since forever...Yes, it can be hard to acknowledge your own accomplishments when you're with you every day.
But getting back to the main point, in speaking about what I did in college, what I've been up to since then, and what I'm working on right now, some life truths and words of advice that came up were ringing pretty hard in my own head. I spoke about taking chances, and doing what it is you love when it comes to writing, and working hard, writing often, acknowledging when you just don't have an answer, promising to always look for one, not being afraid of the blank page, expecting crap some of the time, attaining not-crap other times, and always striving for brilliance. Saying it out loud was a very loud reminder to follow my own advice.
Yes, I'm launching my own online magazine. Yes, it's kind of scary. Yes, there's a lot I'm still trying to figure out. Yes, money hasn't yet started to grow on that money tree out back. Yes, there's also the book and the graduate school and the acting and the tennis.
And yes, I'm passionate about all of it.
So now it's just a matter of getting over the fear of that blank page.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
actorfest '08
Observe, don't imitate.
- John M. Ford
Today was Backstage's ActorFest NY at the Hammerstein Ballroom. It's a one-day event, a conference of sorts, where actors, singers, dancers, and performing artists, meet with acting teachers, headshot photographers, casting directors, agents, and a multitude of other industry professionals. In addition to meeting with exhibitors, there are a number of workshops and panel discussions you're given the option to attend.
Since I already have headshots and an acting studio (also one of the featured exhibitors), I was there more to learn about agents and casting directors. Probably the highlight of the day - I got to meet Jonathan Strauss, casting director for Law and Order: SVU. And I was not at all dorky about it, or even awkward, which is more than I can say for some others who were at the panel discussion and approached him afterward. Once again, the theory that no question is stupid was busted. Based on what I heard asked during the workshop, that statement couldn't be any further from the truth.
Second only to the casting director Q&A was the cool black Actorfest bag I got out of the whole deal. That's a reusable keeper.
I'm glad I went. It reaffirmed certain things I already knew about the industry and alerted me to some new ones. The casting directors we heard speak also emphasized the importance of - obviously - honing your craft, whether you're in a production at the moment or not. So classes, private teaching, individual work - they can tell when you get up there to audition whether you've done your homework or not. Right now I'm taking Master Classes at PTS, which builds on the work I was doing in the on-camera classes. A couple of months of this, more work on my monologues, and getting into the habit of submitting myself for auditions, and then I'll be ready to start submitting to agents and casting directors.
Yeah, luck plays a part in all of it, but it's just the start.
After all, luck favors the prepared, right?
- John M. Ford
Today was Backstage's ActorFest NY at the Hammerstein Ballroom. It's a one-day event, a conference of sorts, where actors, singers, dancers, and performing artists, meet with acting teachers, headshot photographers, casting directors, agents, and a multitude of other industry professionals. In addition to meeting with exhibitors, there are a number of workshops and panel discussions you're given the option to attend.
Since I already have headshots and an acting studio (also one of the featured exhibitors), I was there more to learn about agents and casting directors. Probably the highlight of the day - I got to meet Jonathan Strauss, casting director for Law and Order: SVU. And I was not at all dorky about it, or even awkward, which is more than I can say for some others who were at the panel discussion and approached him afterward. Once again, the theory that no question is stupid was busted. Based on what I heard asked during the workshop, that statement couldn't be any further from the truth.
Second only to the casting director Q&A was the cool black Actorfest bag I got out of the whole deal. That's a reusable keeper.
I'm glad I went. It reaffirmed certain things I already knew about the industry and alerted me to some new ones. The casting directors we heard speak also emphasized the importance of - obviously - honing your craft, whether you're in a production at the moment or not. So classes, private teaching, individual work - they can tell when you get up there to audition whether you've done your homework or not. Right now I'm taking Master Classes at PTS, which builds on the work I was doing in the on-camera classes. A couple of months of this, more work on my monologues, and getting into the habit of submitting myself for auditions, and then I'll be ready to start submitting to agents and casting directors.
Yeah, luck plays a part in all of it, but it's just the start.
After all, luck favors the prepared, right?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
me again...
Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.
- Benjamin Franklin
Check me out at this month's past NAVEL Expo, brought to you by Alex Lubarsky and the Health Media Group...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwuktPlIOaM
And me with no audio...
http://www.skheadshots.com
- Benjamin Franklin
Check me out at this month's past NAVEL Expo, brought to you by Alex Lubarsky and the Health Media Group...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwuktPlIOaM
And me with no audio...
http://www.skheadshots.com
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