Thurs. June 1, 2023: Derailed By A Nap

image courtesy of  Christophe Schindler via pixabay.com

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Waxing Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Sunny and warm

Hop on over to see the latest on the garden on Gratitude and Growth. I even posted some of my own photos.

Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:

Episode 90: Drinks & Dynamics

With love on the rocks & murder in the air, things get interesting.

Legerdemain Serial Link

Legerdemain Website

Yesterday was rather a lost day, in spite of the edits on episodes of Legerdemain and REP, and getting laundry done. I worked on the blurb for my friend’s book. I’m not satisfied with it, so I’ll do some more work on it today and get it out to her tomorrow. I typed up a long email response to an old friend, disagreeing with him on a few points, shall we say. 

I did a library run, picking up more books than expected, and finding out what I needed to do to set up an appointment on the genealogy computer. I will try to set up something for next week. Swung by the liquor store on the way home.

The noise from the heavy machinery at the library across the street has hit a critical combustion point for me. It’s been months. I’m tired of the constant beeping. I’m tired of being shaken out of bed at 6 AM (well, on the days I’m still in bed). I’m tired of things falling off shelves and the walls because of the vibration. Enough already.

I couldn’t deal with lunch, so I picked up an order from Craft Food Barn, which I’ve wanted to try since we moved here. My mom had grilled gruyere on sourdough, with bacon, tomato, baby spinach, and garlic aioli. I had turkey, apple, and brie. We shared an order of French fries. Huge portions and delicious. The fries could have been a little crisper, but other than that, it was great.

Did two small client projects. Got an email back from my friend that kind of left me thinking WTF? But whatever. Substack was down for a bit, but I finally managed to make the rounds for The Process Muse and Angel Hunt. Realized I hadn’t made the two TikTok episode videos for Angel Hunt for the week, so I did that, and uploaded the one for the day.

And my brain just shut down. I ended up taking a nap (I hardly ever nap), and then enjoying the first Blue Angel cocktail of the season on the front porch. I started reading Dore Schary’s autobiography HEYDAY, about his days working his way up from playwright/screenwriter to studio exec. One of his first screenwriting partners was Ethel Hill, and now I’m curious about her.

The House passed the debt ceiling bill, albeit with drama queen moments. Now it goes to the Senate, where I’m sure Sinema and Manchin will pull some more drama queen shit. I’m trying to be hopeful – June will be so much easier if we don’t default. And all this screaming about another recession? If we have one, this time around, it is completely manufactured by corporations. We don’t have to fall into that trap.

Even though I was exhausted, the nap derailed my sleep, and I’m even more tired this morning. But meditation will help.

There are a bunch of things I need to get done today, and even more I should get done, but I have no idea if they will happen. I’m playing the day by ear. On the agenda for the weekend is some rest, since I’ve been pushing hard the last few weeks.

Have a good one.

Wed. May 31, 2023: A Solid Writing Day

image courtesy of  Clker-Free-Vector-Images via pixabay.com

Wednesday, May 31, 2021

Waxing Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Sunny and pleasant

I’m kind of enjoying these pretty days.

Today’s serial episode is Angel Hunt.

Episode 37: Hunting Your Own

Lianna discovers the position Lucius DeWitt’s put her in, and she is not amused.

Angel Hunt Serial Link.

I got today’s Process Muse post, on Interruptions, ready to go, and wrote next week’s post. That’s up, polished, and ready to go.

I adapted two chapters of Angel Hunt into 8 serial episodes. I read through the rest of the material, figured out where to insert the sequence to fix the unresolved arc, went over and smoothed out the notes for the climactic sequence and the resolution. I need to get ahead a bit on Legerdemain, but maybe later in the week, I can put in some concentrated time on ANGEL HUNT, get the rest of the episodes sorted out, and then, next week, upload and schedule all the rest for this serial.

Did the rounds to promote Legerdemain. Did the three client projects. My friend wanted to know if I could get her the blurb for the book by Friday (my original deadline was July 15). Good thing I’ve been reading the book!

I found out I was not offered the residency in Buffalo this summer. I’d sort of figured that out (the residency dates began June 1). The letter was perfectly polite and proper, but there was a hint of disdain under it, that they were funding “serious” projects and not “entertainment.” Which isn’t what the guidelines stipulated. But then, this is their first year offering such a program; maybe they’ve learned what it is they really want, and will adjust their guidelines for next year. A month ago, it would have devastated me; now, I’m disappointed, but I’m curious as to what’s in store for me instead.  And I wouldn’t have had any chance if I hadn’t tried. However, that project is on indefinite hold, since I have to do onsite research in Buffalo, and I won’t do it without proper funding.

Hey, it’s not like there aren’t other projects to keep me busy.

I did three short client projects in the afternoon, and then finished reading my friend’s book, so I can write the blurb today, polish it, and send it off by the end of the week. I noodled with some ideas for the Llewellyn project.

The idea for the short play that’s due July 1 dropped into my head, almost complete. I checked the guidelines to make sure they could accommodate 6 characters, and they can. It’s silly, goofy, and slightly bonkers, definitely a farce that needs actors who can handle quick lines, but I’m having a blast writing it. I hope to finish the first draft over the weekend, let it sit for a few days, give it a few more passes, and then send it to a friend for her opinion before I do another draft and get it out the door.

The ideas are starting to form for the memorial scene in FALL FOREVER. I hope, in the next few days, they are solid enough to put on the page.

I did not send any follow-up emails from the Playland Painters project. I sent them out close to Memorial Day, and the poor recipients deserve at least a few days to recover.

The National Archives sent me information to be a “volunteer transcriber” for some of their materials, which sounds really, really interesting, but I’m not sure I can take on “volunteer” anything right now. Depending upon which materials are available (say, maybe the journals and letters of interesting women?), it could be a great deal of fun. But again, time. Money (or lack thereof). I have to think about it. It would be an awfully cool credit to have on the resume and the website. And, as I said, the work itself would be fascinating.

Well, it’s not like they’ll have run out of material if I take a few days to mull it over.

As I predicted, the Republicans are stalling and doing whatever they can to make sure the debt ceiling doesn’t get raised on time and the economy crashes. That way, they get everything they want and more, and still destroy people’s lives.

Well, Friday is going to arrive, one way or another, and depending on what shows up in the bank account, I’ll know how I have to restructure the month.

This morning, I was at the laundromat when it opened. I revised the next batch of Legerdemain episodes. I also reconfigured the first five episodes of REP. I really need to end the third episode (the last free episode) with the news that this Rep company will be in space, which is part of the hook and the premise. The early episodes have a real 30’s-40’s touring vibe to them, and then I want to contrast it with the high tech but vintage look on the station itself. But the information that the company will be on a space station needs to happen at the end of the 3^rd episode, in the chunk of episodes that are free. It was currently in the fourth. So I reconfigured the first three episodes to be the first two episodes, and the fourth episode is now the third, and the fifth episode is now the 4^th. The first three episodes, the free ones, can be a little longer than the typical episode, which I want to keep between 900-1200 words.

So basically, by the time I got home a little after 7 AM, I felt like I’d put in a full day!

On today’s agenda: drafting an episode of Legerdemain, working on the new play, writing the blurb for my friend’s book, library run, noodle on the Llewellyn pieces, read the next book for review. I’d like to do some more work on ANGEL HUNT, if I can. I want to stay in its flow. I have to do the social media rounds for ANGEL HUNT and for The Process Muse. And I have two small client projects to turn around.

Anyway, it’s a very pretty day, and I intend to enjoy it, even if it’s just looking out the window while I’m working! We’re lucky to have such lovely tall windows, and so much natural light.

Have a good one.

Tues. May 23, 2023: Unpleasant Limbo

image courtesy of Melissa G via pixabay.com

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Waxing Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Sunny and pleasant

Big announcement: You can find short videos about my work over on Tiktok. Trying it to see if that will expand the audience, especially for the serials and the Topic Workbooks.

Ready for our usual Tuesday morning catch-up? How was your weekend?

Today’s serial episode is Legerdemain:

Episode 87: Roommates

Shelley sets up a sting to catch a killer.

Legerdemain serial link

Legerdemain website link

Remember I mentioned interest in Alice Diamond’s Forty Elephants gang last Friday? Turns out there are already several novels out about it: Erin Bledsoe’s FORTY THIEVES and Beezy Marsh’s QUEEN OF THIEVES. So I don’t need to write a novel! I’m going to read their novels, though, and I’m going to read Brian McDonald’s nonfiction book on Alice. Disney’s doing a series, supposedly, which I’m likely to have mixed feelings about. (I’m glad Disney’s fighting DeSantis, but that doesn’t mean I suddenly love Disney). There might be another one of my historical women plays in there. Or I might read it just to read it.

It makes more sense to work on the script (or maybe it will be a novel) about Katharine Cornell’s tour. I have Gladys Malvern’s books (I ordered my own copies), and Gladys is quickly becoming one of my favorite people. In addition to being an actress touring with Cornell and others (also known as a “trouper”), she was an author, best known for the children’s books she wrote.

There are so many wonderful arts and culture events happening around here that it would be very easy to overload and not have any time for my own work. I need to make sure I keep a balance. I want to meet fellow artists and support their work, but I also have to keep putting my own work first. And I have to avoid unsafe situations where I might get infected.

On Friday, I finished the episode of Legerdemain I’d started writing a couple of days prior. This week, I have to upload and schedule the next batch of episodes.

I went to the library for what should have been a quick drop-off/pickup of a few books. However, I ran into a stranger and we started talking. Turns out we’re close to the same age and have both been in business all our lives. He works for MCU and was one of Stan Lee’s proteges. We’ve worked with about 30 or 40 of the same people throughout the years. Anyway, what started as a quick chat moved outside the building and wound up being a two-hour conversation. So that was fun, but I wasn’t wearing a jacket, and by the end of it, I was chilled to the bone.

Finally got the grocery shopping done, then came home and tried to warm up. Some client work came in for next week, so I didn’t worry about not having anything for Friday. And I’d missed my window to go to the Clark, plus it was clouding over, so I stayed home.

I experimented some more with FlexClip and Canva video tools. I like FlexClip much better, but there are instances where Canva does more of what I need.

I worked on the poem. I did the social media rounds ANGEL HUNT. I wrote up my review and sent it off. I continued reading THE SECRET SERVICE OF TEA AND TREASON, which is hilarious. So clever. I needed the rest.

Saturday, the cats tried to roust me out of bed and I refused to get up.

When I finally got up, I played with video again. I tried ClipChamp (urg) and Power Director (which just needed more time than I have to give it right now). Between FlexClip and Canva, I finished the Devon intro video, polished the Topic Workbooks videos, polished the ANGEL HUNT intro, and created a Legerdemain intro. I also set up video templates in Canva for AH and Legerdemain episodes, where I just have to pop out that week’s logline and/or graphic, save it, and the rest is set.

I also worked on the poem.

In the afternoon, I finished reading THE SECRET SERVICE OF TEA AND TREASON. What a delightful book.

Slept well Saturday into Sunday, although I had weird dreams, which fled as soon as I woke up.

I worked on the poem some more, adding in breath marks (I like to do that on pieces I read, so I don’t run out of air in the middle of a sentence).

I then worked on the Heist Romance Script, which has been begging for attention, doing the Corsica and Sardinia sections. They need work, but at least they’re there. About 20 script pages.  Got my characters back to Marseilles and separated them. Ben is back in London. Tara is wherever she is. I have to do some montage-y stuff and then do some research for the next bits, which are in Barcelona, and then York. I also have to write the dramaturgy on the treasure. I’ll only put bits and pieces of it in the script itself, but I need to know the whole story in order to do that well.

This draft, however, is to get characters and the main plot points in, and make sure I hit the action/team/romance bits. As I work on subsequent drafts, I will rip out what’s reading flat and build more dynamic beats that serve on multiple levels.

Which is ass-backwards, because most scriptwriters plot out the beats first and then write the script. But, since I’m not in a room with others, and it’s not on contract (nor would it be, with the strike going on), I’m doing it this way. Takes longer, but I’ll get there, even if it’s not the considered best practices.

I put on real people pants and makeup, and drove down to the Mount, in Lenox for the poetry reading. We had a stage out behind the stable, with a backdrop of trees. It was lovely. There were 11 poets, and it went well. I was second up. The piece got laughs where I hoped, and acknowledgement of the more serious beats where I hoped. I only blew one humorous line in delivery – the beds of kale line. Note to self – have full stanzas on the same page; end the page early if the stanza needs to spill over, because turning the page mid-stanza loses the rhythm.  I made a few adjustments as I read, when I realized the upcoming word wasn’t sustaining the rhythm created, but I could change those on the fly, without stumbling. Hopefully, I’ve remembered them all to fix them for the next draft. I’d printed it out in 16-point font, which made it much easier to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the other poets’ offerings. One of the things I love about the WxW events is that the audience are active listeners. They really pay attention and pick up on nuances and details.

On the way home, filled up the car with gas, and picked up a few things at Adams Fresh Market. Home, made dinner.

Read for a bit in the evening (not that thrilled with the current book, might just stop and take it back to the library).

Went back and did a few more pages on the Heist Romance Script – these scenes will need a lot of reworking in the next draft. Not happy with them.

Charlotte started bothering me at 2 AM, but I refused to get up until the coffee started at 5:30.

They’re still “painting” the library across the street, the machines making lots of beep-beep-beep all day from 6 AM onwards. It should have taken then a week to paint the building. We’re going into our third month. Ridiculous.

Instead of doing what I should have been doing all morning, I did a fix pass on the pages I wrote the previous night, so they’re better (but not where they need to be), and then wrote about 20 more pages. This will be a limited series (used to be called a mini-series), but this first draft is one big ole draft no one could ever use, and then I’ll cut and shape it. Again, not following best practices for the format, but, since I’m doing it for me at this point, not anyone else, I’ll do it my way. If I get a draft I feel is submission-worthy, I’ll make the necessary structural/format tweaks in that stronger draft.

Someday, it will actually get a title.

Also uploaded the first four videos to TikTok: the Devon Ellington intro, the Topic Workbooks, Legerdemain Intro, Angel Hunt intro. The only way I can edit sound attribution was to put the damn app on my phone, which I am not happy about. But, needs must.

I had four short client projects to turn around in the afternoon, which I did. I was assigned the next book for review. There’s not much from that editor now, and, with the strike, there’s not much coverage work. With the looming debt ceiling crisis (if my mother doesn’t get her social security check, I have to cover her expenses that it usually handles), AND the fact that I’m still waiting for the effing grant money (it’s going on three months late, which is just fucking with us at this point, just to fuck with us), it’s stressful, and I’m in a holding pattern. (Think Hanged Man Tarot card, hovering over The Tower). I can do it, even if (when) the Republicans catapult us over the debt cliff next week,  but it means reshuffling bills and other payments a bit. If I was in the usual work rhythm with the usual workload, it wouldn’t be a problem. I could take on a few days’ extra work, and it’s covered. But with the strike, a review pool slump, and Topic Workbook sales down because of the Muskrat’s algorithm changes, it all hits the squeeze point at once. Fortunately, the serials are still bringing in some cash (not a ton, but enough to make them worth continuing).

Such is the life of a full-time writer at this point in time. We’re all struggling. But we’re not giving up the fight.

Hence the expansion into TikTok, but again, none of this is instant. It all takes time, energy, focus, and work to build audience on any platform. I already have to reconfigure how I do it on the other platforms. Spending more quality time on specific platforms on specific days, while cycling through the others makes the most sense, at this point, but I have to be ready to adjust as needed.

There’s no point in building any of it if I let the actual creative work fall to the wayside. I can’t market what isn’t ready to market, or hasn’t yet been created. Well, I COULD, but it would come back to bite me in the butt.

And let’s face it, the GOP WANTS the country to default and everything to come crashing down. It’s all part of their plan. They haven’t even pretended to be anything but who they are since Reagan, but too many people are complacent. So, here we are.

Well, by the end of next week, I’ll know what needs to be shuffled where, and can actually DO something.

Anyway, once I finished the client work, I downloaded the Kindle App onto my creaky old tablet (and yet, it still works better than the Hive app ever did). I like using the tablet to read.

I also went in search of my SD card reader. Before my friends came, I put it in a Very Safe Place. You see where this is going, right? I can’t find it. Anywhere. I keep electronic stuff – extra cords, adapters, charging squares, et al – in a specific place in my office.

The SD card reader isn’t in there.

I checked ALL the bags and ALL the drawers.

Can’t find it anywhere.

I needed a specific photo, that I took way back around 2003 or 4 or something. I decided to go through the photo backups and the imports I tried to do from the Mac. It took a couple of hours, but I found the photos I needed.

I don’t have photo permissions to share them, or I would. The photos are of five women who did the specialized art painting at Playland Amusement Park from 1928-1940. I took the photos of these photos way back when, at the Playland Amusement Park’s small museum. Those five women have always fascinated me. They show so much individual personality in these photographs.

If you’re not familiar with Playland Amusement Park, it is in my hometown of Rye, New York (I grew up and went all the way through elementary and high school there). It’s an art deco amusement park with the infamous Dragon Coaster and one of the old Derby racer rides. I have a lot of pictures taken over the years (good thing, since the current owners are wrecking it). I set the novelette “That Man in Tights” there (and the big chase scene is based on The Flying Witch House Ride, which has been destroyed), and set a couple of the Christy Miller bylined short stories there.

Anyway, I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a piece in a fictional park of the era inspired by Playland for years. I want to know who these women were.

I finally found the photo and sent it to the office at Playland, asking for more information. I printed the photos out, and I also saved them in my picture file. I sent a similar email to the Westchester County Archives, asking if they had any information, or could point me in the right direction. I may have to go down and dig in there myself at some point.

On the Archive digital website, I found some cool photos of the park at that time, which I will also use as inspiration. But I didn’t find a match for these photos.

I want to know these women’s names. Their names shouldn’t be lost.

Possibly, the Archives will have employment records, and I can try to match them. Or maybe I can try looking in the census.

Anyway, that was the rabbit hole from yesterday afternoon through this morning.

On today’s agenda: draft an episode of Legerdemain. Work on the flash fiction. I’ve percolated the beginning and the end; I need to work the arc between them. Maybe work on REP or the Heist Romance script (although I have to do more research on the latter’s next section). Do the research for the first Llewellyn pieces.

I desperately need to do some filing.

Fill out the paperwork for the residency. Do the social media rounds for Legerdemain, including posting today’s episode video on TikTok. I have a client project in the afternoon. I don’t think I’ll make it to yoga this afternoon; I’ve had a fever on and off through the night and into this morning, so isolating seems like the smart choice.

I better get going, huh? The clock is running! Have a good one!

Fri. May 19, 2023: New Moon = New Focus (I Hope)

Clark Art Institute Reflecting Pool. Photo by Devon Ellington

Friday, May 19, 2023

New Moon

Partly cloudy and cold

Still in the 30s when I wake up. I prefer cool to hot, but I’m worried about the plants.

Last year, when I turned in my section of the collaborative poem, I was terrified. This year I’m giddy. Growth, I guess?

Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:

Angel Hunt Serial link

Episode 34: A Castle That is Home

An oddly-built castle with a wall and a drawbridge out of amethyst and ghosts dancing in the moat. What’s inside? Lianna is determined to find out.

Angel Hunt Serial Link

I’m pleased that SAG-AFTRA authorized a strike, and stands so strongly with WGA. The writer-actor partnership can be wonderful. Let’s hope the DGA doesn’t throw us under the bus in their current negotiations. The SAG-AFTRA position might put more pressure on them to work with us, but I’ve worked with too many directors who have contempt for both writers and actors and believe they (the directors) are the only ones with vision. A good director with both a strong vision and strong collaborative ability is wonderful; the ego-centric ones are a nightmare. It takes everyone to put on a good show. The DGA is fussing about the rules that hyphenated members (belonging to both guilds) can’t make “minor” script changes during the strike. Um, when it comes to directors, there’s no such thing as a “minor” change and even non-hyphenated directors do way more script changes than is in their purview far too often. The WGA should stand firm, and the fucking DGA members should not have given up their strike clause and should not be crossing picket lines no matter what.

Neil Gaiman showed up on the picket line, which is a big deal.

I think I fixed the dishwasher. I ran some tests, and it’s the outlet, not the dishwasher itself. I got it back into the outlet so it gets power – but I knocked something that dripped. We ran sink tests and it’s not one of the pipes for the sink, which means it’s probably one. . .connected to the dishwasher. So I’ll have the maintenance guy check it when he’s here to check the smoke detectors and the fire extinguisher. I don’t want to start the dishwasher and find I’ve disrupted a pipe and cause damage. Although I checked the lines with a flashlight, and everything looks like it’s connected tightly.

Or maybe the dishwasher is just going to conk out every Mercury Retrograde, and come back to life when Merc goes direct.

Worked my July poem and worked it and worked it. Did several drafts. Read it with the stopwatch. Adjusted for time. Read it until it came in consistently at 30 seconds (our time limit). Sent it off, so today’s collaborator begins with my last word.

Still have not found the final two lines for Sunday’s poem, which needs to happen today, so I can work it some more tomorrow, time it (I have a 3-minute limit), make necessary cuts, and get comfortable with it. Because Sunday is. . .soon. It sounds like I’m hunting through the sock drawer and closets for those lines, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

The good thing about writing for radio is that I can work the material so it fits within the time limit.

Had some email discussion about the September reading and promoting it. Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain. Worked on a future post for the Process Muse.

Worked on an intro video about my work. I’d already created/updated the logo for the Coventina Circle Mysteries. Created one for the Gwen Finnegan mysteries. Eventually, I will do one for the Nautical Namaste Mysteries, but right now, it’s just listed. I may change that, and do a collage of covers instead. I’m using the Ava Dunne avatar for the pieces under that name. I should come up with a logo for the Delectable Digital Delights shorts, and I need to have an alternate Topic Workbook logo. I have to do an avatar for the Cerridwen iris Shea name, and add that in, and then do a slide of the other names that I don’t use as often.

Because I don’t go on camera, I have to come up with interesting visuals that aren’t about ME. Because none of this is about me, anyway; it’s about the work.

Did some client work in the afternoon. Finished the book for review later in the afternoon/evening, and will write up the review today and hopefully get my next assignment.

Got my paperwork for the autumn residency at MASSMoCA; will fill it out and get it back to them next week. I have to scan some materials for them.

Started reading THE SECRET SERVICE OF TEA AND TREASON by India Holton which is absolutely hilarious. Loving it, and I want to read her other books now.

Someone on Spoutible posted something about the Forty Elephants Gang and I want to write about them, especially when Alice Hill was in charge. No, I’m not worried someone will “steal” the idea; we’d do it very differently.

Dreamed about looking for parking so I could attend a loft party. Huh?

On today’s agenda: Get the last two lines of Sunday’s poem settled, finish the Legerdemain episode, do the social media rounds to promote today’s episode of ANGEL HUNT, do a drop-off/pickup at the library, do a minor grocery shop.

I don’t have any client work (although that may change). I’m not sure if I’ll stay home to work on Legerdemain/Angel Hunt/Rep (once the poem is sorted out), or if I’ll head over to the Clark, for that project. I’ll play it by ear.

Will probably do a bit of writing tomorrow morning (Legerdemain and Angel Hunt, most likely), and then household stuff in the afternoon. Sunday will be about the reading over at the Mount.

Next week, along with juggling serials and client work, I have to get back on track with “Labor Intensive”, the current revision of FALL FOREVER (so it can rest, before the next round of revisions), and work on the material for Llewellyn. I also want to rough out some promos for the reading in September. The sooner we get these materials done, the better lead time we have for promotion. Next weekend, I get to read an ARC of my friend’s new book and blurb it.

Have a good one!

Wed. May 17, 2023: Arranging Word Pebbles

Reflecting Pool at the Clark Institute. Photo by Devon Ellington

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Day Before Dark Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Cloudy and chilly

Day before dark moon is always my lowest energy day of the month, but I need to buck up and get things done.

Today’s Process Muse post is about Managing Energy, which I’m trying to get better about. You can read it here.

Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:

Episode 33: Forest Dreams

Where is this astral travel journey taking Lianna?

Angel Hunt Serial Link here.

Yesterday was just kind of an all-over-the-place mess. I’m having serious Sense Memory Stress that has little to do with my current reality. Yesterday, it was almost paralyzing. Yes, there are things I’m concerned about: the continued delay in receiving the grant money, the WGA strike, the looming debt ceiling crisis, trying to find a vet so I can update the cats’ shots and get them wellness exams, the need for new glasses, etc. But it doesn’t need the extreme stress response I had yesterday.

I figured out a few things on FALL FOREVER, and, once I get the big August rewrite done, I have a submission call to aim it at on September 1. I found another submission call with a July 1 deadline for a fun piece that I should be able to whip up and hone between now and then. I found another call and submitted a short play that fits, but I’m so close to the deadline that they might have found what they want. Last week, I had a great exchange with a company in the UK who does audio dramas, and I will submit to their next open call in June.

Drafted an episode of Legerdemain. Adapted two chapters of ANGEL HUNT into a total of 9 serial episodes. I hated to stop work on it; I was in a flow. If ANGEL HUNT continues to perform well and improves (which is always the hope, get more readers), there will be a second “season.” I’m hoping it will be between 30-50 episodes, and I’ve gotten it roughed out. I even have a working title. If that does well, there will be a third season, taking place in one of the more interesting astral locations from ANGEL HUNT, and I hope that will be around 60-90 episodes. But first, I need to finish adapting all of ANGEL HUNT, polishing, and uploading, so I know what I have. Then I can plan for the other two. Those will build on ANGEL HUNT, while still being different enough that they can be read as stand-alones.

I struggled with the poem that I’m reading Sunday, and considered giving up my slot so that someone with something that works could have it.

Had trouble focusing on client work. I’m fine with their deadlines, so I just cut myself a break, and started the 4^th draft of FALL FOREVER. I got most of the first act done before I had to leave for yoga. I made a lot of internal cuts to tighten scenes, rearranged some material, and changed the approach to one of the conflicts. All in all, it’s two pages tighter, even with the new material woven into it.

Went to yoga. It was great. We were all dragging, so we did yoga Nidra, instead of what was originally planned. During Savasana, I found the poem for Sunday.

I’d been using the wrong voice. I was using Tragic Poetess Voice when it needed to be Cynical Chick Lit Voice. Once I found the voice, the rest of it clicked into place. Just because it’s personal doesn’t mean it has to sound “precious.”

Came home, scribbled most of the poem, ate (I’d made crockpot chicken fajita). Went back to work on FALL FOREVER, and did a good portion of work on the second act. I stopped at the memorial scene, because I need to completely rip that apart and restructure it, and I have to come up with short anecdotes for them to share as their celebration of Lily that arise organically from their characters and unique perspectives. The scene from the third draft runs 6 pages; I certainly don’t want it to run anymore than that. Hopefully, it will be less.

Got the heads up that my word for July’s poem will arrive within the next seven days. How much do you want to bet it shows up on Sunday, when I’ll be spending most of the day with the poets at the Mount? But I’ll still get it done. I know what I want to write about, and I’ll find a way to weave in my starting word.

Up early and out the door to the laundromat. Revised 4 episodes of Legerdemain, and about 3 of REP. I worked on Sunday’s poem a little bit. I tweaked a few things to sharpen images and improve flow. I need a Big Finish – a couple of lines to wind it all up. I’m playing with and discarding images, not yet finding the right one. I’ll get there.

On today’s agenda: type up Sunday’s poem and figure out the ending so it sticks its landing. I’ll work it for precision and rhythm the next few days, and time it so I’m within my 3-minute slot limitation.

I’m letting the memorial scene for FALL FOREVER percolate. Maybe I’ll write a couple of the anecdotes; maybe they need a few more days. I have another episode of Legerdemain to draft, and I’ll make the social media rounds to promote today’s episode of ANGEL HUNT and the day’s Process Muse post. I’d like to do some more work on AH, but not sure it will fit into this morning.

When the bookstore opens, I’ll head over and talk to them about the reading in autumn. Hopefully, the requested day will work for all of us. We’re supposed to get our residency contracts soon, which is exciting.

I didn’t get my contract back to Llewellyn yesterday, so I’ll do that today. I have some fun dates to work with, and the research will be great. For this almanac, I’m assigned 24 specific days, which I research and build the material around, and then a bonus piece that could fit in any day.

In the afternoon, I have to catch up on the client work I didn’t finish yesterday. I’m still fine on deadline, as long as I focus and get it done. I also have to read the next book for review.

That’s the plan. Let’s hope I can make it work! Have a good one, my friends!

Tues. May 16, 2023: Trying To Balance The Writing Needs

View across the Clark Art Institute Reflecting Pool. Photo by Devon Ellington

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Waning Moon

Mercury Went Direct on Sunday

Pluto Retrograde

Cloudy and chilly

Busy weekend. Good busy, but still busy. So, I hope you have your favorite beverage handy for our Tuesday catch-up.

Today’s serial episode is Legerdemain.

Episode 85: Attack on Brone

Brone is attacked in the Infirmary. His rescuer is a surprise.

Legerdemain Serial Link

Legerdemain website

Friday, I wrote another episode of Legerdemain. I uploaded and scheduled this coming Thursday’s episode. I puttered on the poem.

Out the door late morning, headed for the Clark Art Institute. It was a gorgeous day, warm and sunny. On the way there, I stopped at the Milne Library in Williamstown, because the lilacs are just starting to bloom, and they have wonderful lilacs. Their lilacs were just beginning, but I got to see their reading garden (a lovely spot in which I hope to spend time this summer) and checked out their book cart, where I found a few things, including a couple of mysteries by Anna Clarke. I met a woman at the cart, an artist who uses discarded books to make collages. She’s currently working on one using prints of old circus posters. She grew up in Bridgeport, CT and used to watch the Ringling Brothers Circus train come in, when they wintered there (before they moved to Florida for winters; PT Barnum Museum is still in Bridgeport).

Anyway, after that, I headed up to the Clark, which was packed. I never even made it inside the museum; I sat in a chair under a linden tree out by the reflecting pool. I worked on the project for a bit, and just enjoyed myself. Okay, I also eavesdropped, rolling my eyes at a few things I overheard, and made notes that will be integrated into future characters.

On the way home, I stopped at Wild Oats and then Stop & Shop, to pick up a few things. In the afternoon, I read Anna Clarke’s LETTER FROM THE DEAD, which was very good, and one of the few mysteries where I didn’t get ahead of it and figure out the murderer.

In the evening, there was a special session at my yoga studio, where they hosted Lama Tashi Norbu, who is both a Tibetan monk and an acclaimed tattoo artist. He is the director of a museum of Tibetan Arts in the Netherlands. It was an interesting session and gave me a lot to ponder.

Home, dinner, and to bed early. Didn’t get much sleep, because it was the night before MCLA’s graduation ceremony, and everyone was doing one last blowout. Considering we live catty corner from the college, it’s amazing there isn’t a lot more loud partying all semester. I can deal with a day here and there. Charlotte sat in the window all night and watched them.

Just before bedtime, I got word that I did not get the August residency I hoped for in upstate New York. It was a very nice letter, but disappointing. I’d hoped to use that time to do the big revision on FALL FOREVER. However, now I can use all of August to do it instead. I still want to do another revision of it between now and then.

The alarm went off at 4:30 AM on Saturday, and we were out of the house a little after 5:30, headed to the Cape for a storage run. It was sunny, but cooler than the previous day.

The drive down wasn’t bad, and there wasn’t too much traffic over the Bourne Bridge. We got to storage, and loaded up a rather eclectic bunch of boxes. I didn’t find the family photos/scrapbooks yet (which should have been on the truck), and I forgot to bring up the blank canvases. This is the last run we can do before autumn, so what we have is what we have.

We headed along the canal to Sagamore to the big Christmas Tree Shop over by the bridge. The chain was sold to a hedge fund, who intentionally ran it into the ground (which is how they make their money; anything a hedge fund touches is destroyed for profit), and this store is closing. It’s been around a good long time; we shopped there well before we moved to the Cape. The vultures were already there, and many shelves empty. We didn’t buy much; it was too sad, and we weren’t going to buy just to buy. I took some pictures, because I bet they tear down the building, including the lovely large windmill.

Back along the canal and off Cape on the Bourne Bridge. The traffic was picking up, especially going on Cape; we missed the worst of it. It was a fairly smooth ride until Worcester, where we were caught up in 12 miles of stop & go traffic, losing the time we’d gained. But once past that, it was a decent ride home.

While driving, I pondered some of the things discussed in Friday’s session with the monk, and got an idea for a story. Not sure what I’ll do with it yet, but I made some notes, and will let it percolate.

Stopped at Adams Fresh Market for a few things, and then to get takeout. We were home just after 2:30, which was a pretty decent time frame for a roundtrip of a little over 400 miles, plus storage sorting, plus shopping. Ate first, then I unloaded the car.

Saturday was graduation day, but it had pretty much cleared out by the time we returned, and everyone was in that state of stunned exhaustion and adrenaline withdrawal.

We just rested in the afternoon and evening, and read. I read Lina Chern’s PLAY THE FOOL, which was a lot of fun, especially in the way it used tarot cards.

Slept well; up early on Sunday (because the cats figured 4:30 was better than 5:30 for breakfast, per the previous day). Baked biscuits for my mom for Mother’s Day.

We had a quiet Mother’s Day. I unpacked most of the boxes we brought up. I have to do some rearranging to integrate things. Stuff needed to be washed, so we did that. It was fun, finding things we hadn’t seen in a while. Finally found my poodle bookends. I’ve been looking for them since we moved to the Cape, much less than moved here.

Tried to make a pizza with all of my mom’s favorite toppings. Unfortunately, I used a commercial dough I hadn’t used before. I knew I wouldn’t be up to making dough from scratch after the storage run. The dough I like and usually use wasn’t available at Big Y, and I found this Birrittella’s dough in Stop & Shop. First of all, they don’t have directions on the package. They force you to their website. I shouldn’t have to watch a video; it should be printed ON THE PACKAGE. There are plenty of times I’m cooking at a residency or retreat or whatever, and there’s no internet. Second, it takes over 2 hours to prepare the dough. I mean, I might as well have made it from scratch. This was supposed to save me time. Third, once in the pan, it doesn’t bake properly. The toppings were starting to burn, but the crust wasn’t baked. It was a disaster. We ended up scraping off the topping and making impromptu garlic bread to eat with it instead. At least the topping was good: sauce, sauteed onions, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, pancetta, pepperoni, and lots and lots of mozzarella. But at least I know what dough to avoid at all costs. Absolutely awful. Worst pizza dough experience I’ve ever had.

At least I’d gotten my mother a nice cheesecake, her favorite.

Read THE FOXGLOVE KING by Hannah Whitten, which was good.

Relieved that Mercury went direct, and completely exhausted by it at the same time. This Pluto Retrograde won’t be particularly pleasant (lots of squares with other planets, causing tension), but at least we don’t have to worry about Mercury again until August.

Noodled with next week’s poem. It’s not where I want it. I need physical and mental openness/space to make it work, and not sure how I’ll manage it this week.

I was worried I’d get my word for July’s poem while we were on the road, so I packed my poetry notebook as insurance I wouldn’t, and it worked.

Weird dreams overnight, which fled as soon as I woke up on Monday.

Drafted an episode of Legerdemain. Did this week’s episode graphics, uploaded, and scheduled. Polished, uploaded, and scheduled next week’s Legerdemain episodes. Once they were approved, I created the episode graphics and uploaded those promos. Did a temporary graphic for FALL FOREVER, mostly so I could add it to my Creative Ground profile.

Did a dropoff/pickup at the library (and scored three fantastic cookbooks from the discard cart). Picked up my mom’s prescription at the pharmacy. Swung by the bookstore to talk about autumn’s reading, but their hours have changed, and they were closed. I have to go back on Wednesday. Mailed some bills. Deposited some checks at the bank. Swung by another store to pick up a couple of things, which, of course, they did not have. I need to go over to Carr’s Hardware on the other side of town instead, probably at the end of the week.

The siren song of FlexClip was calling again, but I needed to do my work first. I really miss iMovie from my mac. And, much as I want/need to create more enticing visuals for Legerdemain and Angel Hunt, I might start with something simpler like the Topic Workbooks. We’ll see. I need uninterrupted work time for that.

Did the client work. Had time for dinner before soup class, which was fun. We’re almost at the end of our soup class journey. It’s been an amazing few months. I’ve learned a lot, and the sense of community built is fantastic.

Started working on the next draft of FALL FOREVER. Making a lot of internal cuts in the scenes, tightening beats, getting rid of repetitive information, etc. I’m reworking one of the arcs. I need to up a confrontation scene. There’s a bit near the end that I want to move earlier, and turn into a half page or so exchange, and I want the Solstice celebration scene to have more fun and energy, instead of being a little self-conscious and trite, the way it is now. I’m not combining two characters, as a Trusted Reader suggested; the two characters work better separately, because one of them is very much a fulcrum on what the two pairs of relationships balance. I tried writing a few scenes where the characters were merged, and it shifts the themes I want to explore too much. A dynamic like that would work better in a different play. When I read the play, there’s enough of one of the characters, but when I heard the play read, I felt his character should have a little more. That’s partly due to the actor, I’m sure. But I want to layer him a bit more, so his flashes of humor and insight come through the grief better.

My contract for the 2025 Llewellyn Almanac arrived. Woo-hoo! I will sign it and send it back today, and then get started on writing the 25 spells next week, doing 3 per week at minimum, to get them all done and give me time to revise them before the mid-September deadline. And, the rate went up! Very happy.

Weird dreams overnight, that fled when I woke up. I have a feeling they were tied to FALL FOREVER. I did some more work on the play first thing this morning. Worked on the poem for Sunday, too. I started wondering if maybe I was working on the wrong thing/theme. I may do some freewriting later this morning, and see where it leads.

On today’s agenda: Legerdemain, maybe some ANGEL HUNT, work on the poem, work on the flash fiction piece for the artist call. Some new grant opportunities landed on my desk yesterday, for next year. I have to look at the calendar and see what’s what, and then work on those applications. Client work in the afternoon, and then yoga. Maybe after yoga, I’ll feel like I can focus on the poem better. Social media rounds to promote today’s serial episode. One last look at tomorrow’s Process Muse post. I’d like to do some work on FALL FOREVER, REP, and the Heist Romance Script, but I don’t see that happening today.

Have a good one!

Fri. May 12, 2023: When The Idea Bulb Lights Up

image courtesy of Colin Behrens via pixabay.com

Friday, May 12, 2023

Waning Moon

Mercury and Pluto Retrograde

Early showers, then sunny and pleasant

Somehow, yesterday seems like a very long time ago.

Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:

Episode 32: Beliefs & Hypocrisy

Drogo confronts Lianna regarding her beliefs in being a witch.

Angel Hunt Serial Link.

Meditation was great, and I felt much better and more focused after (which is kind of the point).

I worked on July’s poem, and made some preliminary scribblings for the one I need next weekend. A little ass-backward, but that’s the way it worked out.

Sent off an email to one of the actors in Monday’s reading who had a reading of his own play  yesterday, wishing him well.

Wrote a Process Muse post, which wound up being longer than I expected, revised, edited, polished, uploaded, scheduled. It’s for a few weeks down the road, so I can take another look at in in a couple of days, just in case I want to make cuts.

Went to the post office to mail the insurance materials via Certified mail, bought stamps, caught up with what’s going on around in town (since the Post Office is the happening place here).

Swung by a store to pick up some of the WordSeek puzzle books my mother likes.

Grocery shop. Bought more than I planned (gee, what a surprise). But actually doing some meal planning again.

Uploaded and scheduled next Tuesday’s Legerdemain post. I’ll do the rest of next week’s and the following week’s today.

Did client work in the afternoon. Completed one project; answered follow-up questions on another. Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain, and the blogs.

Started reading MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT by Mary Winters, which I’m really enjoying.

Sat on the porch, reading, and noodling on the May poem. I know what I want to say, but I’m bloviating too much, and need to distill it down into specific, clear imagery.

Because I hope to get to the Clark today, working on the big project there even though I’m still waiting for the grant money to show up, my mind turned toward the Clark, and the exhibit I saw around my birthday (which has since closed). I’m still fascinated by the sketch of a private rail car that was turned into a theatre. I started playing with some characters and an idea that blossomed into a somewhat comic-horror-mystery idea that I hope will be novella length (maybe around 200 pages). I wrote up some notes. I have to do some worldbuilding. It’s going to have more psychological terror in it than physical, although that will also play a part. It melds that sketch with the reading I did about Katharine Cornell’s touring company and mind games played by toxic bosses. Horror is not my natural wheelhouse, but that’s what best serves this piece, so I’ll take on the challenge.

We’ll see where that goes. And when I have time to work on it, although I made some more notes for it this morning.

Today’s plan is to write an episode of Legerdemain, then polish, upload, and schedule the rest of next week’s and the following week’s episodes. Then, I’ll head to the Clark for a couple of hours, then to Wild Oats to pick up a few things. I hope, this afternoon, to get in some work on both REP and ANGEL HUNT.

I dread tomorrow because we’re supposed to do another storage run to the Cape. The traffic chaos will be awful, but if we don’t do it this weekend, it would have to be next Saturday (since my reading is on Sunday), and that’s too much. Anything beyond that, and we’ll be stuck on the bridge with seasonal traffic for several hours in each direction, instead of just one hour and change, which is what tomorrow is bound to be.

Sunday is Mother’s Day; we plan to have a quiet, pleasant one, and enjoy our porch and balcony. Maybe I’ll finally finish touching up the paint on the wind chimes and get that back up. And maybe it will be warm enough to put out some plants. And plant more seeds.

I will get some writing done in there, although I’m not yet sure which projects.

Have a good weekend, my friends, and I’ll catch you on the other side.

Wed. May 3, 2023: Arranging and Rearranging Words

image courtesy of Valerio Errani via pixabay.com

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Waxing Moon

Mercury and Pluto Retrograde

Rainy, chilly, and raw

Today’s Process Muse Post is about dealing with jealousy, envy, and uncomfortable emotions. You can read it here.

It was hard to get it together yesterday. Twitter is not allowing WP to connect anymore. I was getting a lot of trollish DMs, and I finally managed to lock my account, but I can no longer participate in community conversations. I’d leave completely, but a lot of the WGA conversations are happening there.

Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:

Episode 29: Actor or Character?

Lianna unravels the layers of actor energy in the rehearsal room from something much darker.

Angel Hunt Serial Link.

I wrote a future Process Muse, got it polished, uploaded, and schedule. Finished Episode 5 of REP. Could not get it together for Legerdemain.

I thought I’d started a Series Bible and Style Sheet for Rep, but can’t find them. So I had to redo them.

Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain.

Turned around two script coverages. it’s not scabbing, my coverage agency fully supports and is in compliance with the strike (I checked with the guild). Writers can lock their profiles so that their scripts can’t be downloaded by producers, et al, during the strike. How much work we’ll actually have as things go on, who knows? I feel like I should push this week, because there’s a lot that came in before the May 1 deadline, but I have this other big client project that must be finished, so I’ll have to risk the coverage work drying up.

Finished one of the categories in the contest. Wrote up the winning reviews (it was a tie, two very different and equally wonderful books), put in the other scores, named the finalists, and sent it all off.

Good news on the poetry front!

First of all, I’m getting to know my fellow poets for the fall residency via email, so we all know a bit about each other before we start. They are an amazing, talented group, and I’m so honored to be part of it.

Second, I’m creating a new piece for Word X Word’s event at the Mount (Edith Wharton house) on May 21, as part of their Poets in Conversation series. I started turning over ideas in my head as soon as I got the invite. I’ve got an idea developing that I think will work; I’ll take what I learn from that performance, and it will be one of the pieces I bring into the residency, because it fits with the theme of the other pieces I want to work on then. That wasn’t intentional, it’s just how it percolated.

Third, I am one of the poets in this year’s Word X Word’s “World’s Largest Poem”, again at the Mount, in July. I will have 24 hours to write my section of the poem (same as last year), once I’m given the last word of the previous poet’s section. We’re being encouraged to be multi-lingual; I hope to compose my short section in English, French, and German. The word I receive to launch it could be anything, in any language. I may try writing part of it ahead of time, and then weave the word into it and adjust as needed. My final word will launch the next poet’s word, and so forth and so on.

Yoga was good. I admit, I rather dragged myself there, not feeling like leaving the house, but I was glad I went.

Worked on contest entries. I’m nearly finished with the second category; I hope I can get those off today, or, latest, by tomorrow. I’ll be down to the wire finishing off the final category.

Out of the house early this morning to go to the laundromat. I edited five episodes of Legerdemain, and a couple of REP.

On today’s agenda: draft an episode of Legerdemain, enter contest scores, make the rounds to promote Angel Hunt and the Process Muse. There’s an Ink-Dipped Advice post to finish and get up. I have two scripts to turn around, and I want to finish the second category in the contest, and get that winner/finalist list out. I also have to finish reading a book for review, because it’s due tomorrow.

I’d like to do another pass on FALL FOREVER today, too, if I can. Not an edit; more of some gentle tweaks. I’ll get my cast list on Friday, and need to send them the script so they can look it over this weekend, before the table read. I’ll also get the assignments of the other plays this week, since part of getting my play read is helping some of the other playwrights out with their readings. My play is in the first slot on Monday, the first slot of the whole table reads program.

Next week, I also want to draft the short piece for the artist call over in Northampton, and get back to work on the next Twinkle Tavern piece, “Labor Intensive.” Along with working on the poem that will be read at the Mount on May 21. I also want to play with FlexClip a little more. I have some ideas on creating short pieces on it to promote the serials.

But first, I have to clear off this week’s deadlines.

Have a good one!

Tues. May 2, 2023: WGA Strike (And Other Weekend News)

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Waxing Moon

Mercury and Pluto Retrograde

Rainy and chilly

The WGA Strike began as of 12:01 this morning.

I blocked 47 anti-WGA trolls on Twitter. Before 8 AM. Those who called themselves “writers” are on a list, so I know never to read or purchase anything they do. A lot of those posting anti-WGA material know nothing about how the industry works and thinks all writers are rich and deserve to be denied a living wage because they should go out and get a “real job.” Singing the block song as I block.

There is no “agree to disagree” on this issue. Either you support my right to make a living at my profession, or you don’t and I want you out of my life for good.

Pluto went retrograde yesterday, and will remain so until October 10 of this year. Yup, it’s a long one. This is supposed to be a tough one, with all the squares it goes through with other planets during that time. Pluto is about what’s hidden, so when it’s retrograde, things are exposed, deceit is revealed, etc.

Today’s serial episode is Legerdemain:

Episode 81: The Thief Named Pravin

Pravin’s known for sharing false information. Maybe putting him in a cell with a murderer will get truth out of him.

Legerdemain Serial Link

Legerdemain Website Link

Friday, I swung by Big Y to pick up the last few things, including fresh ciabatta and fresh flowers. Picked up the wrapping paper and gift bag. Went to the liquor store to get Rose Grenadine, prosecco, and beer. Went to Ocean State looking for a baby gate; they didn’t have one, but I found two rugs. A nice blue one to appease Tessa in my room, and one with wine glasses that was just fun. I got a baby gate at another store.

Unpacked, put the flowers in vases, made the pistachio mousse and the devilled eggs.

I thought they were flying into Albany and driving from there, but they flew into LaGuardia and drove up.

They arrived a little before 7 at night. I should have done quite a bit in the afternoon, but I didn’t. I rested and read.

Anyway, they came in, and I met the baby. She’s one, and walking quite well. She handled a long day and a long trip well. Willa was really good with all the company, including the baby. Charlotte was horrified and being a drama queen at first, but got friendlier as the weekend continued. Tessa just stayed in my room.

We had a good dinner and a good catch up. The baby likes her new book (she loves books) and the stuffed dog that went with it.

Slept pretty well. The baby only woke up a few times, and went back to sleep pretty quickly each time. Tessa slept on the bed. I don’t know where Charlotte was, but she came in the morning to wake me up. Tessa didn’t want to eat in her usual spot, so Charlotte ate Tessa’s food and Tessa ate Charlotte’s food and it all worked out.

I got almost a whole episode of REP written on Saturday morning before everyone woke up.

I made Eggs Benedict for breakfast. We had an easygoing morning, and, after lunch (black bean soup and bread), we took a drive around the area to show them Windsor Lake, downtown, The Spruces. We stopped at the alpaca farm to see the alpaca. The dog there fell in love with the baby and it was mutual, so they played together. We all bought stuff (I got a gorgeous all seasons scarf). We drove around Williamstown, and went walking on the acreage behind the Clark.

Pasta with mushrooms and pancetta in a cream sauce for dinner. Plenty of desserts.

Lazy morning on Sunday. I baked chocolate chip banana muffins. We drove over to Hadley – with their GPS, we actually found Trader Joe’s. I wrote out the directions so that I could find it again. Definitely not a quick trip if one has forgotten something! Then went to Holyoke for another store, which was a disappointment. But at least I know how to get there now.

Make chicken enchiladas for a late lunch/early dinner. I went to restorative yoga. We had snacks when I came back. The baby loved playing with potatoes, the cat toys, and the yoga blocks. She loves books. She’s an adventurous eater and had a little bit of almost everything I cooked. She learns really fast – one could see the progress just in a few days, and she adapted well to a new environment.

Monday morning, they had to drive back to New York to fly out of LaGuardia, so we fed them pancakes.

Once they were on the road, we finished stripping the bed and put everything in the laundry bag (I’ll go tomorrow morning). We switched out the red winter curtains with the lace panels.

I hung out on the couch with the cats and read. I read a book that was a lot of fun, but was too easy to get ahead of the characters, plot wise. I worked on contest entries.

In the evening, the Dramatists Guild held an “End of Play” event, which was fun. I’m glad I went, although I couldn’t stay for the whole thing. I have been invited to virtual “silent writing” sessions with the Guild throughout the year, so I’ll check into that schedule and see what I can do.

It was Beltane, but I was too tired to do much.

Didn’t feel well and had a bad night. Was up too often and too long on social media following the WGA negotiations.

Of course there’s a strike. Because producers like to forget that without a script, there is no show. Even “reality” shows have script needs. Having been a negotiator for my union’s Broadway contract, I’ve heard the producers go on about how everyone in the industry is “privileged” to work there – and they basically want US to pay THEM to work. Now, let’s remember that there isn’t a reason for a producer’s job to exist without writers, directors, actors, designers, and crew.

And so many people who don’t know the first fucking thing about working in the business are chiming in, anti-writer, of course. I blocked 47 people on Twitter before 8 AM. Those who call themselves “writers” and boast about scabbing are going on a special list so I know not to ever purchase or read their work. I mean, the Guild will block them from ever joining, but should they write in any other medium, I want to make sure they don’t get a penny from me.

What this means for me personally is no new commissions for radio work during the strike; no rewriters on any film, television, or radio material already under contract; no script doctoring or revision jobs. No pitching scripts.

The whole fellowship/competition arena is somewhat of a gray area and there’s a lot of conflilcting information. Many WGA writers are not applying to contests or fellowships; other committee members are saying, well, the decisions take months to reach, so submit, but if you get it and the strike is still on, you can’t accept/sign/work on anything. I’m still working on a few scripts that I planned to submit in the late autumn/over winter cycle; I’ll keep working (none of it is contracted, so I’m not scabbing). If the strike is over when the cycle comes around, I’ll submit; if not, I won’t (because I won’t submit during the strike), and wait until the next cycle. I can keep submitting stage plays, because those contracts are in good standing with a diffeent union, Serials and novels are not affected, although I would check with the Guild if anything was offered an option, since no one can be hired to do an adaptation until after the strike is over. If anything comes up I’m not sure about, I will contact the WGAE rep and ask.

The other union contracts are coming up soon; the producers are hoping to divide and conquer. Too many of the unions gave up a strike clause (NO union should EVER give up a strike clause, in my opinion), but that’s a different conversation.

People who don’t work in the industry can support writers by cancelling streaming services for the length of the strike AND TELLING THE COMPANIES WHY. Get DVDs from the library instead. Don’t rely on a single form of technology, because it will always fail you.

It’s going to be a stressful summer.

I had some other stuff I hoped to yap about, but the strike is more important, and the other stuff can wait.

On today’s agenda: writing on Legerdemain and REP. Social media rounds for Legerdemain. Work on contest entries. Client work.

The bulk of this week’s focus is finishing up the contest entries.

Have a good one!

Fri. April 28, 2023: A Weekend With Friends

image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska via pixabay.com

Friday, April 28, 2023

Waxing Moon

Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and cold

There was frost on the car windows again this morning.

Yesterday was busy. I had meditation. Had to get some work done. Filled out my sheet to be a reader for the plays the second week of May (as a playwright whose play was chosen, part of the deal is to help with someone else’s reading; I can do at least two that week).

Made a double batch of black bean soup. Baked a Swedish visiting cake, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Got some ironing done – I’d washed a bunch of old napkins that came up from storage, some of which I made for the monthly dinner parties I used to give back in the 80’s, and they’re linen, so. . .ironing). Moved the plant pots out of the kitchen; some onto the porch, some stashed in the laundry room; got the chairs rearranged and put cushions on them.

I really wish I’d found the retro kitchen chairs of my dreams before the guests arrived, but this is life. We have 4 sturdy chairs, even if they don’t match and aren’t as pretty as I’d like.

Stashed some more books. Rearranged the front porch a little bit. If it’s not as cold and rainy as predicted, maybe we can sit out there. If it’s rainy, well, they haven’t fixed the leak yet.

However, the door to the back balcony is open! Yay! My neighbor across the hall managed to get it open. But it was too late (and it’s still too cold) to set up the enchanted garden back there. That has to wait until next week.

My poor friends are here when winter is receding, but the weather’s not good enough to fully enjoy the assets of this place.

Turned around two script coverages. I am done until Tuesday. If possible, I will do a light coverage week next week, so I can finish the contest entries. I was ahead on that project for a while, but have fallen behind where I want to be this week (although I’m still fine for the deadline).

Both Charlotte and Tessa slept on the bed last night. I woke up around 3:30. Tessa was by my feet, which were on my usual side of the bed. Charlotte had pushed me so that she was lying across both pillows, and I was shoved all the way to the other side of the bed. In other words, I was beyond diagonal, and almost horizontal.

Got some good ideas for the first season arc of REP while I tried to get back to sleep.

Up early this morning. Made pistachio mousse and ranch dip. Have to run out to the store for a few last-minute fresh things like baguettes and flowers, and get the garlic I forgot and the teabags and another bag of chips, because Charlotte and I got into the chips the other night. Have to pick up the wrapping paper and the baby gate.

When I get back, I’ll make devilled eggs and the chocolate glaze for the Swedish visiting cake.

If our friends aren’t here by then, I’ll do the social media rounds for Legerdemain (which I didn’t do yesterday) and Angel Hunt (Episode 28 drops today). And I’ll start entering contest scores.

I hope the weather’s better than predicted, so we can show our friends some of the really cool stuff around here. I mean, we haven’t seen them since before the pandemic, and they’ve never even met Charlotte and Willa!

Have a good one!

Beltane on Monday (and Pluto goes retrograde – ick).

Wed. April 26, 2023: Today I’m Prepping the Play

image courtesy of  Gordon Johnson via pixabay.com

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Waxing Moon

Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and cold

I had to scrape frost off the car on my way to the laundromat.

Over on today’s Process Muse, we’re talking about Project Rewards and how to use new and shiny ideas as a reward for getting your other work done. Read and comment here.

Today’s serial is Angel Hunt:

Episode 27: Vanka Yelena Takes Charge

When Vanka Yelena intervenes in magic used against Lianna, the game is up and Lianna has to come clean to Amy and Bunny.

You can read the Angel Hunt serial here.

Polished and uploaded next week’s Process Muse post, and then went ahead and wrote, polished, and uploaded the following week’s post.

Spent some fun time on Substack Notes. I know people are grumbling about ANOTHER feed, but I enjoy it.

John Scalzi mentioned that Twitter will stop allowing WP to connect soon, for good this time. When that happens again, I’ll keep trying to lock my account and be done, at least for the moment. The frustration level at the difficulty in interactions is getting too high, and I’m losing too much time for it to make sense. I’ll step back, and revisit after a bit, to see if things have levelled out, although I don’t hold out much hope.

Instead, I’ll focus on building elsewhere.

Drafted an episode of Legerdemain. Trying to get some episodes in the bank, so that when I have to upload more in the middle of next week, I’m in good shape.

Did some development work on REP.

Did some more cleaning/tidying up.

Turned around three script coverages in the afternoon, and got them all done before I had to leave for yoga.

Yoga was great, as usual.

Picked up takeout on the way home.

Unpacked a box of cookbooks I’d brought up from storage. I’ve been in a cooking funk the past few weeks, except for soup class, so I need to get back on track with good meal planning, cooking, etc. This weekend, having guests, will get me back on track for a bit.

I mean, I don’t have anywhere near as many cookbooks or the thousands of stored digital recipes as my friend writer Chaz Brenchley, but I do have a lot of cookbooks and most of the time, I enjoy both reading them and cooking from them. But I’ve been in a food funk lately. Hopefully, when the Saturday outdoor farmer’s market starts up again, I’ll pull out of it.

Dreamed something about diamonds, so I’m assuming it has to do with the Heist Romance script tapping its inky foot, wanting attention.

Out the door early for the laundromat, scraping the frost off the windows. Got the laundry through pretty fast (only one load, and it wasn’t that big). While I was there, I did a read-through of the first 80-ish pages of FALL FOREVER, fixing the biggest problems. I finished the first pass through the draft when I got home. I filled out the information sheet for the reading. I still have to fill out the sheet for my time as a reader for someone else’s play(s).

This morning, I will put in the changes for this draft, and then I’ll have a draft that makes sense for the table read in early May. I assume I’ll have to send it out early next week. I feel like I’m being egotistical feeling okay about the read? Like I finally have enough craft so it’s not a dumpster fire in the first draft? Well, it’ll be a second draft that goes out.  I mean, I know it still needs lots of work, but there’s enough material, and some good moments between the characters, where I feel as though I won’t cringe the entire time. Which is unusual for this early a draft.

Once that’s done, today is errand day: Library, pharmacy, grocery store, Wild Oats, liquor store, finding a place to pick up some gift wrap. I have three scripts to turn around this evening, and then I have some more cleaning and rearranging to do. That back door to the balcony is not getting unjammed before the guests get here, so I have to adjust in not getting pots and some of the furniture we brought in out there yet. And I have to do the social media rounds to promote Process Muse and Angel Hunt.

The computer is giving me grief; I really hope it doesn’t give up the ghost AGAIN – it had to go out for repair last Mercury retrograde, remember? I have too much work to do, and stuff to prep so that I can enjoy the upcoming weekend.

I’m definitely taking Friday off coverage work, and I might take Monday off it, too, and just focus on finishing the contest entries.

One day at a time.

Have a good one! Tessa is back in the rocking chair in the reading corner of my office, to make sure I don’t faff off today.

Fri. April 21, 2023: And Mercury is Retrograde

image courtesy of Peter Lomas via pixabay.com

Friday, April 21, 2023

Waxing Moon

Mercury Retrograde

Partly cloudy and chilly

It’s here. Mercury Retrograde. Stay low, stay quiet, go shopping for antiques, sales, vintage, small items (but not tech, cars, homes, or big ticket items). Make sure your tech is backed up. When in doubt, keep your mouth shut.

Today’s serial episode is from ANGEL HUNT:

Episode 26: About Those Ethics

Vanka Yelena challenges Lianna’s ethics.

You can read the Angel Hunt serial here.

I had trouble settling into meditation yesterday, but eventually got there.

I am, in general, jumpy and unsettled right now.

I’d written my  3 ½ FALL FOREVER pages before meditation. I’d hoped to finish that scene, but no luck. I’m almost at a beat that’s a pivot point, and I have to figure out if the scene will pivot two or three times. I need to get quite a bit in here. Then comes the climactic scene; then the final scene. I can do this if I just. Keep. Going.

On the upside, it felt really good to write script pages every day, and the play fueled the prose.

Cheated and wrote the next episode of REP. The reveal that comes at the end of it really should be at the end of 3, but that would make those episodes too long, so it stays where it is. In the overall structure of the piece, it needs to be in the spot it is, not earlier.

Drafted the next episode of Legerdemain, which was a lot of fun. The disparate threads of this big arc are starting to come together.

Polished, uploaded, and scheduled the next four episodes of Legerdemain, which gets me through the first week of May. Okay, a couple of them needed another revision, building on the previous revision, and I have to do some follow-through in the next episodes coming up to bat. But they’re up and scheduled, and I have a few episodes in the bank. I’ll keep pushing into next week, and then can enjoy my friends’ visit.

Sat in on Freelance Chat, which was fun.

Had trouble with the tablet. First, it wouldn’t download the coverage I needed, so I went back and read on the laptop. Then, I finally got it on the tablet to finish, but now the search function in Adobe Acrobat Reader isn’t working on either the laptop or the tablet. Now, once I’ve charged the tablet, it won’t turn off.

The joys of Mercury Retrograde.

Ordered Thai food for dinner, because I just couldn’t face either cooking or leftovers.

Worked on contest entries in the evening.

Today, I have pages on FALL FOREVER, another episode to draft on Legerdemain, another chapter of ANGEL HUNT to adapt to serial episodes, the loglines and graphics for the next 4 episodes of Legerdemain to create, the third big coverage to read (and then I’ll write up all three, since they are from the same series), and entering score sheets for contest entries. I also have to do the social media rounds to promote yesterday’s episode of Legerdemain and today’s episode of Angel Hunt.

Somewhere in there, I have to get in a library run and a grocery run.

And today is a planting day. I have to plant.

The weekend is going to be mostly about cleaning and organizing and getting things ready for our guests next week. I’m also going to work on FALL FOREVER. I don’t think I’ll finish it until about mid-week next week. And I’ll keep drafting Legerdemain episodes each day. If I can sneak in a little bit of work on REP here and there, I will, but I’m not committing to it.

I do, however, hope to do the first draft of the flash fiction inspired by the artwork.

Have a good weekend!

Thurs. April 20, 2023: Projects in Different Stages

image courtesy of Albrecht Fietz via pixabay.com

Thursday, April 20, 2023

New Moon

Partly sunny and chilly

How’d you do with the eclipse? Are you ready for tomorrow’s Mercury Retrograde? Such are the preoccupying thoughts.

I wanted to post the questionnaire for Serial Writers, but really? With Mercury about to go into retrograde? What am I thinking? And yet, I might do so anyway.

Today’s Gratitude and Growth post decries the way I’m dragging my feet in this spring’s planting.

Today’s serial release is Legerdemain.

Episode 78: Abbot Ellis Confides Over Tea

Abbot Ellis planned to remove the controversial priest; however, someone else took that initiative.

Legerdemain serial link is here.

Legerdemain website link is here.

Settling in to FALL FOREVER wasn’t easy, but once I did it, it flowed pretty well. I wrote 4 ½ pages. I think I have one more scene (today’s, I hope), then the climactic scene, then the final scene. The end is in sight. I just have to hold steady and do the work to get there, and I’m flagging. I can’t/won’t take a day off, because if I do, I’ll take another and another and it won’t get done. I need to push through and finish.

Got up the promos for this week’s episodes of ANGEL HUNT.

Faffed around getting settled back into Legerdemain. Wrote an episode, although it’s on the short side for this serial. But it does its job and it was a good end point for the episode, so there we go.

FALL FOREVER has been chosen for an END OF PLAY table read in early May. In fact, it’s the first slot of that week’s programs. I am terrified and excited. Guess I really do have to finish it now, don’t I? And then do a revision before I send it off!

I mean, slots were chosen by random lottery, so it’s not like it was chosen because anyone fell in love with it, but I’m still excited.

The seed for this play was planted in the playwrights workshop I took last June, sponsored by the Williamstown Theatre Festival. It looks like they’ve discontinued the program (since I haven’t heard anything since), but I’m sending a thank you note to the leader of the workshop, and will, of course, credit him, the workshop. The Dramatists Guild, and the arts council in the work. Even though the grant money hasn’t arrived yet, I don’t know that I would have blocked off the time to write the play this month if I hadn’t known it was on the way.

I stared at the art piece and let a few things percolate. The character is coming into view. Now I need the character to tell me her story.

Did the social media rounds to promote The Process Muse and Angel Hunt. For some reason, I couldn’t post the Substack link on Post. I hope they’re not getting squiffy about Substack links like Twitter!

Can I just say how much I love Substack Notes? At first, I groaned – not one MORE thing! But I’m finding all kinds of great conversations there. It’s one of the things I enjoy about Substack – the chance to have actual conversations, both on my own project and on other people’s projects.

Did not manage any work on REP other than the revisions/multi-colored draft on the first episode at the laundromat, but that’s okay. REP is a project to work on in stolen moments at this point, when my work on other projects is complete. It’s definitely mixing the retro theatre touring vibe with a futuristic vibe in the way I hoped.

Was late getting started on coverage. Since the three coverages in my queue are all novels with an eye to adaptation, I downloaded yesterday’s to the tablet (creaky as it is) and read it lying on the couch, Charlotte on my lap, taking notes in longhand. It was a delight, a reprint of a mystery from the 1930’s by an author whose work I had not yet read, but who is on my list of authors to research. Such an enjoyable read. I will write it up and send it off today, and then read the next one (I have three in my queue by this author, rounding out my week).

I read a couple of contest entries afterwards.

Slept badly, but managed to pull myself out of bad dreams and get back to sleep.

Meditation this morning, then my FALL FOREVER pages (might try to get them in before meditation), draft another episode of Legerdemain. And a grocery run – I did not plan Tuesday’s trip well enough.

I need to get the next 4 episodes of Legerdemain polished, uploaded and scheduled. That will take pressure off me next week with our friends coming in, and Angel Hunt’s all set. It will just be a case of doing the rounds to promote them, while continuing to draft episodes of Legerdemain. Social media rounds, script coverage and contest entries later on.

What’s on your agenda today? Have a good one.