Project #2...

This has actually been a great exercise. Before adding to the Slaveryland novel, I've been reading it and adding and subtracting. I really like what I've written. By the middle of next week, I hope to be done with the editing and I can start finishing it. I think I can be done by the end of the month. It was never about knowing where to go with the book, but clearing space from all of the other projects. This should be a lock to get done. Plus I'm getting itchy. I usually write a book every two years and I don't have anything coming out in 2009 yet. So I need to get to writing.

Treatment done...Now on to Project #2

I sent in the treatment for the Sundance grant, and it's a pretty nice one. Too bad I didn't have time to write a script, but hopefully the treatment will impress. Now on to Project #2. Now is time to finish SLAVERYLAND, the novel I began three years ago. It's half way done, but now is the time to finish it and send it to my agent. I almost lost it because in an effort to clean up my computer, I think I mistakenly trashed my folder that had projects in progress. After a thirty second panic mode, I remembered that I'd back everything up on a portable hard drive. Crisis handled. So I'm going to concentrate on SLAVERYLAND for the next few weeks. If I can get it done by the end of October, I'll be happy.

Project #1

In an effort to become more focused, I'm eschewing the big plans and conquering them one at a time. First up: I've been informed that my pitch to the Sundance/Sloan Grant has made it to the next round. This script is called ROUND BRAIN/SQUARE WORLD and is a fictional account dealing with the futurist Buckminster Fuller. They need an eight to twelve page treatment by Wednesday, so that's what I'm writing right now. From there, they will evaluate it and then make a decision in December to see if I get the $25,000 grant. This prize is a version of the Sloan contest I entered as a grad student. I was a finalist for that contest, but didn't win. I've been intrigued by Bucky since my senior year in high school when the last class I took was an architecture class. See geodesic domes got me thinking and I've always wanted to write about him. Now here's my chance. After I write the treatment, I'll continue the research for the script.

As for The Bestsellers, I still haven't heard back from the ICM agent. I'll email her later this week. My book proposal still hasn't gained traction, which is disappointing. This is a tough market and tough economy for non fiction, so I'll just have to trust my agent to work it through the New York publishing houses.

Back blogging...

It's been a packed two weeks. I went on a week long lecture tour and then we moved, so I didn't get internet at our new place until last Thursday. But I'll be back blogging this week.

On Tour...

Hey all,

I've been on tour all week, so I haven't had time to write much. Plus, we move when I get back. I'll be starting again on Monday.

Clutter...

We're in the process of moving and you never know how much crap you've bought until you have to pack it up. The same goes for writing. A few weeks ago, I started cleaning up old projects, while trying to prioritize the ones I want to concentrate on. One thing has been tripping me out. After film school, I have become LESS efficient with my writing. My brain is geared to ideas and I always have a bunch of them. But for some reason, nothing is getting done in the way I'm used to. I did concentrate on The Bestsellers from March 07 until a few weeks ago, so I have that. But I haven't been grinding like I used to. I'm going to have to think of new strategies. Now that I'm not at Icono anymore, or in grad school, I really don't have any excuses. I think some of this will be solved if my agent eventually sells my non fiction proposal. Writing non fiction is my joy. But I have a number of scripts that I want to finish or rewrite, but I need to know how The Bestsellers comes out first. I don't write as a hobby. I write to express myself and make money. So my writing priorities are put in a very distinct order. We'll see.

I'm about to head out to Virginia and North Carolina for a week long Divine Nine lecture tour. I really miss talking to students, so this will be fun. Plus, I love lecturing.

Palin works both ways...

Sarah Palin has pissed me off. Okay, now it's on. This is a non shooting cultural civil war between the cynical Republicans and the party of the future, the Democrats. There's no way we can elect these destructive warmongers to another four years.