For people who write screenplays, I don't know if I ever shared an interview I had with a TV development executive on how to pitch screenplays. She eventually bought me into the fold as an instructor at the University of WI - Madison's Writer's Institute in 2017. Which was a great experience. This, in addition to my teaching at a different college where I taught publishing and marketing since 2012. For writer's interested in developing a TV show, this article is a must-read. Screenwritersdaily, where I was an editor, launched in 2003. It became defunct in 2012, but we have maintained the site as a resource. https://screenwritersdaily.com/2018/07/16/a-conversation-with-development-executive-laurie-scheer-what-you-need-to-know-about-pitching-a-script-or-television-series/
I am feeling a bit bummed. In December 2024, I saw two kittens, about two to three months old playing in my yard. It was winter, cold, and dreary and they were playing out in the cold, wet winter. They scattered and ran when we tried to go near them. So I went out, me and my daughter and we purchased two insulated cat houses. We put in heated floors, and about a month later put in an actual heater that kept the houses around 80 degrees. We kept the houses stocked with kitty food.
We found that not only the kittens were going in to eat during the day and night, but that the houses attracted several animals, like racoons, possums, and about five total feral cats (including the kittens). Suddenly, an entire community of cats and animals were eating there and coming in to get warm. Feral cats are terrified of people, so the cats typically stayed away or ran when we came outside. I watched the two kittens, a girl and a boy grow. They may be 8 to 9 months old by now. They were such a joy to watch, and so cute.
The kittens had grown so comfortable with us that they lived and played in our yard (they also lived under the neighbors deck), and when spring arrived they finally started to come near us. Last week, 7 days ago I was in my garden and there was Noodles, sitting outside with me...watching as I worked in the garden bed. I said, "Hi Noodles..." and he sat like turkey with his legs tucked under him.
But the cats especially loved my daughter. They even allowed her to stand next to them while they ate. I admit that we bribed them with Tuna, and wet cat food.
Last week was the last time I saw Noodles. My husband drove around to see if he could find him. His sister Ramen is still around. She sat on our patio mewling out of loneliness. We think something happened to Noodles. He's never disappeared before and he's very protective of her sister, Ramen.
Did a predator bird get him? Did he get hit by a car? How? He never leaves the yard, except to slip through the fence to sleep under the neighbor's deck. They had full run of our three yards. The other ferals disappeared after the weather turned warm.
The ironic part was that I told my daughter that the ferals might be ready to let us adopt them and that we needed traps to bring them inside and get them to a vet. The fears that they had were finally subsiding. So it makes me feel terrible that something happened to Noodles. I watched the little kitten grow up. So... I'm not as inspired to write. I keep thinking of the kitty Noodles. So full of life and routine.
Noodles deserved better. There was also a fox that visited our yard. Sometimes a woodchuck. I asked a neighbor had he seen Noodles. He said the last time he saw him, he was chasing a woodchuck. Noodles deserved a better fate. I have called the Human Society, and rescue and lost and found centers. No sign of Noodles. Not on the street. Not anywhere. :(
E. Hughes He's too feral. He wont let them or people near him so he can't be adopted. That's why he's behind that blanket. Indoor life is too stressful. So he will be a barncat in my yard. We're paying to have him neutered, tnr'd and microchipped and they are releasing him to me tomorrow evening.
E. Hughes This is Noodles sitting on one of the cat houses we have for him and his sister. the warmer ones are behind him. He likes my daughter and likes to sleep under her bedroom window.
I have three different books to write. One poetry, one a nonfiction, and the last one a children's / Teen graphic novel. The hardest one to write is the teen novel. Much harder than writing a children's book for a younger reader. Kissing Henry has been delayed an entire year due to story changes and other books being more of a priority for me. I was done with poetry a year ago but life has a way getting in the way of our plans. I have two more fiction novels that I have yet to finish but I have been less interested in writing fiction novels of late.
Alex M I'm a big believer in setting a writing schedule that includes a minimum number of words per day. Sure much of it may be throwaway, but you can always edit down. It's a lot tougher to "edit up". Waiting for the muse to strike first isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need to set the stage for the muse to show up.
E. Hughes I agree. The concept and story came to mind one day, so I had the characters illustrated and them I put the layout and backgrounds together around the story. The story is fine, but I cannot determineif the story works because i dislike tv shows and movies that are centered around teens. So I have no basis for comparison to determine if I'm on the right track. I have one chapter left. I can't seem to finish it.
4 months ago
E. Hughes Alex, interestingly, I have done this twice. I started researching and working on my book, Sixth Iteration in 2013. I was doing research on AI, which was still in development throughout this time, so there were all of these delays. Finally, in 2021, the unfinished book was published under a 60 day preorder, giving me 2 months to finish writing and editing the book before books started shipping out to retailers and customers. Talk about writing under the gun! This was so challenging but I made my deadline and the fully completed book was released without a hitch. Same with Reality Unbound. The book was almost finished in August. It was published under a 60 day preorder, giving me 60 days to finish writing and editing the book. which I did, but I experienced burn out as a result because of the level of research involved. I wanted to have it peer reviewed first, but it would not have worked out since the technology is always changing and I did not want the content to become outdated ahead of its release.
M. C. Ryder It really depends on what works for you as a writer. Making tight deadlines or writing when you have the time and idea fresh in the mind. I know for me writing on a deadline does not produce my best work.
E. Hughes It forces me to get it done or the project may never be finished.😔 I agree, my best work is when I'm inspired and everything is coming easily.
I will be participating in a radio event on WORTFM 89.9 FM at 8:00 am Buzz Program to promote the WFOP Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Sequoya Library Summer Poetry Festival I will be a participant and reciting some poetry as one of the speakers. https://ww...
There's a movie that no one hardly ever talks about and it's Phantom Thread with Daniel Day Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock. Excellent film, beautiful direction, beautifully shot cinematography, the dialogue is brutal. I can dissect this movie for days. In some ways I found myself relating to Reynolds Woodcock...when you are so passionate about your craft that it can make you prickly at times. Mostly because you just want to focus on your art, as pretentious as that sounds. Especially his gripe about "The tea is going out but the interruption is staying right here with me." I know in my household, when I am busy or intense, my family will walk in and back out slowly if they see one look on my face. I don't have to say a word. I will either look through you, or I'm scowling and uttering to whoever it is, that they are being "disruptive."
When I am not working on something, I am sweet and cheerful...warm and welcoming. But my rule is, do not bother me when I am creating. On my busiest days my husband will get angry and say, "Is there ever a point in the day where I can talk to you?" Because I get that busy sometimes. Which of course, makes me feel guilty. I am not so nearly as rude as Reynolds because he doesn't give a damn. He forces everyone to conform to him. That entire House of Woodcock pretty much revolves around his prickly nature.
M. C. Ryder Will have to check the movie out! I hear ya though, when I'm in creative space, no interruptions please! (This includes my cats- and yes, I do feel guilty when I don't give them my lap all day lol)
I was seeing videos about people witnessing a red object in the sky, especially around Florida (cue X-Files theme song). Some people believe it is proof that we are living in a simulation (see Simulation Theory... a theory I explained in my book Reality Unbound). They are calling it the "Red Cachina," which has religious meanings related to the end of the world. The red sun is the actually the result of a wildfire in Canada and poor air quality. What are your thoughts? Red Cachina or no?
Yellowstone had a minor eruption today and St. Etna had a quasi-large eruption today. I'm sensing a pattern. It was just a thermal eruption at Yellowstone, but I pay attention to patterns and things happening in more than one place.
