Tag: writing

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Work

I Binge-Watched Fleabag

Fleabag

Fleabag

I binge-watched Fleabag on Amazon Prime.

It won a bunch of Emmys so I had to check it out.

Wow!

What a fabulous example of amazing script writing.

It’s gritty and off-color.

And very, very funny.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

I’ll just say that the fourth-wall element was incredible.

And it wrapped up beautifully with that wave at the end.

This story has a little bit of everything.

Comedy, grief, guilt, guinea pigs, love, acceptance, sin and redemption.

And some theft.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge not only starred in the series, she wrote it too.

Now I have to stalk her and check out all of her work.

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Work

Who Proofreads This Stuff?

Who proofreads this stuff?

Who proofreads this stuff?

Who proofreads this stuff?

I read the following headline:

“Homicide Suspect Arrested from the Sheriff’s Department.”

This implies that the suspect worked in the Sheriff’s Department.

Which was not the case at all.

The suspect was arrested BY the Sheriff’s Department, not FROM the Sheriff’s Department.

That’s a whole different kind of news story.

And a bit of a disappointing read.

Who proofreads this stuff?

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Work

FOCUS

Focus

Focus

A huge problem that I see in the scripts that I cover is that the protagonist lacks focus.

The main character is going in too many directions.

He wants love.

He wants to win.

He wants revenge.

He wants to go home.

He wants to reconcile.

He wants redemption.

I advise writers to focus their protagonist.

Give him one single desire that drives him through the entire plot.

Are there exceptions to this rule?

Of course there are.

But an aspiring writer should master the basics first.

Yes, I know, I used “he” instead of “he/she.”

But I’m thinking of a specific script in which the protagonist was male.

I gave the writer suggestions about refining the main character.

I can’t wait to read the revisions.

It will be a much huge problem when the protagonist is focused.

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Work

It Was For RESEARCH!

Research

Research

I swear, it was for research.

I’m a script reader.

I read book and movie manuscripts,

and I write a technical analysis.

Sometimes I have no idea what the writer is talking about.

I have to research the topic.

If I ever got hacked and someone saw my recent Google searches,

all I can say is,

“It was for RESEARCH!”

Seriously.

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Work

Kudos

Kudos

Kudos

I received some VERY nice kudos.

I just finished a couple of huge script reading projects.

“You were always substantive in your analyses and offered constructive criticisms.”

“You were as good when you were offering praise as you were when you were panning a script, which is a surprisingly rare ability.”

“Your work unquestionably places you among the best readers we’ve had the pleasure and good fortune of working with.”

Thank you, Production Company Guys.

I appreciate the kudos.

Categories
Work

Writing a Blog is Hard

Writing A Blog Is Hard

Writing A Blog Is Hard

Writing a blog is hard.

Well, the writing part isn’t hard.

It’s the blogging part that’s hard.

I am not a tech person.

There are a million things that I don’t understand.

So there I was, in the chat box with the IT guy,  asking yet another question.

We were chatting for a long, long, LONG time, when I realized that he had already answered my question.

At the very beginning of the chat.

If only I had followed his instructions…

I’m probably the reason he’s going to drink heavily tonight.

And be late for work tomorrow.

Sorry, IT guy.

I’d like to promise that it won’t happen again.

But it probably will.

Because writing a blog is hard.

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Diabetes Dog Family Lifestyle Toastmasters Work

I’m Starting a Blog

I'm Starting A Blog

I'm Starting A Blog

I’m starting a blog.

Facebook is easy.

We’re already friends.

I don’t have to explain myself.

I write my goofy stories.

And everyone knows what I’m talking about.

I don’t have to explain a thing.

Blogging is different.

People don’t know me.

I have to explain.

But explaining ruins the rhythm of the story.

It’s kind of like explaining a joke.

If you have to explain it, it’s not funny.

So I will write this first post to introduce myself.

After that, I’ll just write.

I am a mom and an empty nester.

I have two grown sons.

Both of my children are diabetic.

Diabetes is a nightmare.

But it is also our completely new-normal status.

I have a wonderful husband.

Who fixes things around the house and generally makes himself useful.

And is occasionally the subject of some hilarious stories.

I have a dog.

She is lazy but very cute and cuddly.

I often remind my family that the dog is my favorite child.

I teach English as a Second Language to adults, on line, around the world.

I am a Toastmaster.

A Distinguished Toastmaster.

Being a Toastmaster has definitely made me a better English teacher.

And a better script reader which is my second gig.

I love to write.

I’ve been reading and writing as long as I can remember.

My favorite toys, when I was a kid, were my books, a spiral notebook and a pencil.

A pencil, not a pen.

I’ve always preferred a pencil.

I was born and raised in Southern California.

We recently moved halfway across the country to Texas.

This move was not nearly as traumatic as I anticipated.

I have made lots of new friends in Texas.

I am keeping touch with my old friends through social media.

I plan on making lots of new friends through blogging.

Why am I starting this blog?

Because I’m tired of Facebook.

I’m tired of all of the ads.

I’m tired of all of the political wrangling.

I’m tired of the algorhythms that may or may not be connecting me with the people I want to be connected with.

I want to control my own platform.

I want to control my own intellectual property.

Although I use the term “intellectual” loosely.

Why do I write?

Because, to quote someone whose name I can’t recall, but I don’t want to be accused of plagiarism, “I write because I can’t not write.”