Well, I do seem to post one blog entry a year, on average, to coincide with the birth of a new script.  However, last year, I only wrote 38 pp of the new script - since real life was problematic.

This April, that script was finally finished (born) in time, yet again, for the Nicholl competition.

Welcome to the World, THROUGH THE GLASS DARKLY.  A long pregnancy, and hopefully, worth the wait.

And now, since I do seem to only have one spec script a year "waiting to be born", I am entertaining the idea of writing a novel or two every year, in between.

What do you think, Universe (or any (?)  reading this).  Does the world need another female detective novel series.  I think "Yes!", but only if it is original, compelling, fun, entertaining, and something I can write.

My major research at the moment is watching oodles and oodles of PBS Masterpiece Mysteries (fun research, I must say : >)  )  One of my guiltiest pleasures is watching the short lived (2 years?) series Rosemary and Thyme, about two fifty something British lady gardeners, who always seem to stumble upon a murder or two when on their latest gardening assignment.  Being a recalcitrant gardener myself (I need to replace all my finally deceased potted perenials) - I have a lot of fun watching them solve crimes, while digging in the dirt (metaphorically, and for real).

So, back to my roots (ha!), given that before I wrote screenplays, I wrote 2.5 unpublished novels (one of which "Came within a hair's breadth of being accepted" by Atlanta's Peachtree Press in 1995,  according to the the letter I received from them on my birthday).  That was the inciting incident for my foray into screenplay writing - the 780 pp novel in question, became my first script.

Anyway - novel writing - back to long distance "running", writer style.

About to jump off the high dive into a new script - outline done, first seven pages (exploratory) written. Not in time for the Nicholl, but probably in time for the Page International Contest.  A new kind of script, where I (me, myself, I) will not be the obligatory main character.  Harder to write because of this, but ... stretching is good for a writer.

Birth of a new script

Well, the Nicholl Fellowship Competition has again served as midwife to a new script.  Maybe this time they will acknowledge their child.  "What's Past Is Prologue" is now out in the contest circuit, the sequel to my script "Neptune's Empire" born about this time last year.

If a script was written, but never made into a movie, did it really exist?  A skewed paraphrase of "If a tree falls in a forest, but no one heard ...".  Of course it exists, but it would be nice to share its existence with more than my family, a few friends, and some totally burned out contest readers.

Perhaps I need to do what my daughter has suggested.  "Mom, write novels again, ok!?"

But screenplays are so ... magical.  At least to me.  And novels .... the "he said"  and "she said" not sure I can go back to that again :>).  Time will tell.  However, in this present moment, I'm already pregnant with another script.  Two in one year!  Time for more pickles and ice cream!

When re-writing is real writing

Two more all-nighters and I've rewritten my third script just in time to enter it in the Page International Contest.  So, its one a.m. and feels like noon.  Well, it is dark outside ...

Gotta find another way to get my writing done, because my biological clock is now very confused.  But, the script, the script's the thing! (to paraphrase Shakespeare, my favorite writer of all time).  What's a little bit of daylight/nighttime confusion, if a script reaches another level, and has a better chance of being born (produced), and seeing the light of day, itself.

I guess its time to eat some chocolate ...

The Script Is Done - Long Live the Script!

After four all-nighters in a row, my new script is finally done.  I like it, which in my philosophy is what really counts.  The Ghost is the character that would not let me stop writing.  Thank you Harvey!  I also think Harvey (the ghost) turned out to be the main character, even though I hadn't planned it that way.  That's what I love about writing, if you give it enough energy, it comes alive, often in very surprising ways.

So, three scripts entered in the Nicholl, three in the Page International.  And, I now feel very much like I've just given birth, only there is no cute little baby to cuddle.  But then, I also don't have to worry about a babysitter.

Writing a new Script

After having killed a t.v. pilot whose plot would have haunted me if any station had picked it up, and brought it to life fully, I've started work on a script that's been a twinkle in my eye since 2000.  Am using my screenwriter tools (from a class I took) on it, which is helping the amorphous tale take a more stable shape.

There's a Ghost!  Three productions of that Scottish Play.  And a pair of mixed up lovers, one of whom gets time snatched by an old enemy and ricochetted into his future life where he meets the future incarnation of his love "back home".  I described the whole thing to my daughter (also a writer) - and she said, "Uh, Mom ... that's awful complex!"

I said "Yeah  .... but imagine it like a wonderous antique pocket watch, you know, one made of gold with jewels inside, that opens so you can see its inner workings ... if I can just get the workings right ... just how wonderful it would be!"

She basically implied, as much as you can in a nonverbal way over the phone ... "Then, get to work!"

So, I am.

A Tired Pitcher rests on the Mound

Actually, the pitch fest felt more like swinging wildly at a ball for the first two days, followed by four consecutive home runs on the last evening.  All told, I pitched to ten producers and or managers, and received four requests for a script, and one request for a one-sheet.  Not bad odds, 50 %, and better than the last time I did this.

So, yes, Hollywood IS hungry for good stories!  Hopefully they will like what I have written.  I have been told that I'm "Good in the room", probably because I'm a chatty sort, and also have theatrical training.  My challenge is to get my writing up to the level of what those I have pitched it to expect it to be.  Fantasy v.s. reality here.  Sometimes when pitching to buyers I feel like magician (when its going well), and/or a door to door saleswoman (when its not).

Well, back to the trenches.  I've got to finish that Detective show pilot before I lose my inspiration.