April 2011
10 posts
1 tag
You gotta mine a lot of rocks
You have to mine a lot of rocks to get a piece of gold.
The following quote is by Ira Glass, producer and host of the NPR radio show This American Life. I heard him say this on-air, and just read it again on Janet Reid’s blog.
“What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me … is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because...
3 tags
You need to read this.
Hi, friend. I’d like to suggest that the next book you read be Nickel and Dimed; On Not Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich.
The author left her well-paid, well-educated life behind and worked a variety of minimum-wage jobs around the country. She wanted to see if she could provide her own basic necessities with low-income jobs.
It’s a real wake-up call, especially if...
2 tags
Muse in the Marketplace
My friend Danielle Dreilinger wrote a great article about Grub Street writing center’s “Muse in the Marketplace” writing conference for the Boston Globe.
While some reporters are described as fearless, Danielle is the only one I’ve ever known who actually became undead to get a story.
It’s a well-written story. Danielle, you make us all so proud. (And maybe just...
1 tag
Everything Counts
Jack Nicholson is supposed to have said that the secret to his acting success is his realization that “Everything counts.”
I was reminded of this today – the subway doors opened and I heard two notes of a violin before the doors closed again, but they were music. Just two notes with good intonation, expressive articulation, and the person playing meant something by them.
Seems like...
1 tag
Real-deal used bookstore
Unionville, NY is very, very small, but one of the businesses which makes its home there is “Old Books, Bought & Sold,” run by William McDonnell.
We pass by this place on our way to the in-laws, and as we were returning on a Monday, I finally got to peek inside. It’s got everything: stacks so tight you can barely turn around without knocking something over, that...
1 tag
Balance
While reading author William Landay’s very interesting blog, I came across a link to this excellent TED on work-life balance by Nigel Marsh.
You should probably watch it.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/nigel_marsh_how_to_make_work_life_balance_work.html
2 tags
A word about Crystal Meth
I’ve been planning a book for about a year while wrapping final edits on the last one, and have been excited to get cracking on it. But a couple weeks ago, a story decided to cut the line.
Without getting mired in the half-formed protoplasm of this book, I’ll just say that it’s an Eddie Coyle-ish story that revolves around crystal meth.
The research I’ve been doing into...
1 tag
Bad News
So my old bandmate Tim Blane is trying to write a song a day for 30 days, and is asking people to submit titles, lyrics, photos, etc. It’s one of those “crowdsourced inspiration” ideas. He’s quite a talented musician, so I’m sure good things will come of it.
If you have something you’d like to send him, here’s the link: http://timblane.tumblr.com/
Just...
Now you can write anywhere!
Screenwriters, with the new Celtx Script App ($4.99), you can now work on your script anywhere, anytime on your smartphone or tablet! Just like you always could with a pad of paper!
But seriously, if you use Celtx, I guess this is good news.
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/write-on-your-smartphone-or-tablet-script-frenzy-tip-7_b27379
1 tag
Love at first type
On Saturday morning, I stopped by Cambridge Typewriter. (In true New England fashion, it’s actually located in Arlington.) I had a sky-blue manual Royal typewriter from the 60s or 70s I’d picked up at the dump, and wanted to see what it would take to get it serviceable. Long story short: not worth it.
Because I have a massive crush on manual typewriters, I asked to see some of his...
