Author: Writer guy

Halfway

Writer guy

At…long…last I reached the halfway mark on Oriana’s edits. Yay!

Never have I struggled so much with revisions. Line edits have proven incredibly painful for two reasons:

1) Her corrections are right on the money. Every time I start doubting the red pen, I read the before and after version aloud. Oriana: 841. Me: 5.

2) Where she misses the mark–this is rare–she’s close enough that I yield. Begrudgingly. When I make some bank doing this, I’ll call more of the shots.

Hope to finish all line edits on The Last Track by June 18th, which is the point full on active querying resumes–if necessary. In her infinite kindness, Oriana offered a second pass, probably very granular touch ups.

My check for the Nicholl’s competition cleared, so it’s a good bet my entry reached them in time. In six weeks they announce semi-finalists, which is a good turnaround for judges who consider 5,000 screenplays. By the way, the only contest I would consider entering that has a fee is Nicholl’s, because no other competition offers such a generous prize ( $30,000 ), publicity and a chance for five pitch meetings with studio executives. A review of the last ten year’s winners reveals that within two to three years of taking home the gold, nearly the entire winner’s circle are full-time screenwriters. Therefore, there is a direct and tangible benefit of winning the contest.

And a chance like that is worth a few bucks on the front end.

So long students

Writer guy

After copious amounts of seafood, steak, and music, the 2007 school year ended with a bang. And a few coffin sized coolers of booze. For the first time in my tenure, I stayed on campus; one of the teachers lent me her son’s bed, since he was visiting relatives. Corbin, their house cat, slept next to me just like Oedipus. Walking back to my car the morning after was a very strange experience–rather like stumbling between the dorm and the dining hall after an intense bender. And the fact I had my parent’s green hate tank, instead of my own car.

Speaking of the trusty 2001 Nissan, I walked out the UPS store Saturday afternoon and discovered a shiny white 5 series BMW parked in the fire lane in front of Blockbuster’s blocking me into my legal, striped spot. Where others might see inconvenience, I see a chance for entertainment.

And maybe a paradigm shift. I cranked the ignition, dropped the car into gear, and rolled backwards..slowly. When it became clear I was not yielding to their socio economic statement, the honking started. I continued in reverse. More honking. About two feet before I left gray marks on the passenger front panel, the BMW driver confronted three realities:

1) My car is old and looks it.

2) I probably wasn’t stopping.

3) Should we collide and report the accident for insurance claims, there is no justification for parking in a fire lane to drop off a DVD. That’s a pretty hefty citation on top of the other essentially needless repairs.

And so the 5 series backed out of the fire lane and I completed my K turn. Pulling even with the car, I waved to my new friends and drove off in good spirits. Curiously, they refused eye contact.

Not sure what’s up with that…* evil grin *

Ode to Ms. O, my proofreader

Writer guy

Editing is fun

Editing is nifty

If I’ve seen one red mark on this novel

I’ve seen fourteen thousand and fifty

Of course I do jest

I love your eagle eyes and your red pen

For at finding my mess ups, you are the best.

I owe you many thanks

I owe you many beers

And for all your hard work

I owe you some cash.

I could not realize

I could not imagine

How hard it is to listen

To truths about the story I knew inside, but could not express

Or write on the page

Silver Shamrock

Writer guy

And the students leave for summer break in four days. Yay!

So another class goes into the world, ready for their next stage of their journey. I too am I on a journey, perhaps more important than their own.
Because the second the students walk, my four weeks of vacation may commence. Which makes me happy.

Anyway, what’s really more important? Young minds breaking out in the world, testing themselves and their freedoms for the first time or me? Survey says: me!

After mangling the landing Saturday, the pain in my left knee dropped off considerably. Over the counter anti inflammatories to the rescue. Ice and a knee brace took it the rest of the way.
It’s ironic I fell 11,000 feet and injured myself in the last three.
Ah well, dropping through a cloud makes it worthwhile. I’m still scared of heights, though.