Pamela Ribon's Blog: the latest from pamie.com, page 5

Where To Find Me This Week (Hint: Texas.)

Wednesday: Dallas Quill Awards Gala

It is my first gala. It is my first time being a keynote speaker. I fear that these two firsts will combine to give me a moment like you see in comedy pilots for clumsy-girl-you’re-supposed-to-relate-to-but-will-be-worse-at-life-than-you-are-so-you-feel-a-little-better-about-yourself shows. You know, where I accidentally knock over the podium because I made a joke that didn’t go so well because I didn’t know someone important to the organization had just die...

Hey, Pamie: “I’m almost done with college. How do I break into the industry from here?”

I’m off to the Austin Film Festival next week, where the number one question asked is, “How do I break into the industry?” This week’s Procrastination is for you.

Dear Pamela Ribon,

Hi, my name is Taylor Moran and I am a huge fan of yours. I am a currently a junior at the University of Florida and am seeking advice. I basically want to be you post graduation. I really want to make my way into the television and film industries but I am interested in writing in other capacities as well. It’s b...

Everything Is Different Now

Jason and I have been in talks to start a family for some time now. I say “in talks” because I find it to be along the lines of countries negotiating, as one nation will have to take on a serious — albeit short-term — obligation that could potentially affect that country’s GNP for some time. We went back and forth on when and how, birth vs adoption vs fostering, back to budgeting to financial obligations to legal obligations to when and how we would fit it in with our work schedules and my de...

Updates on Cal

Giving a little Cal update, as he’s sleeping beside me right now on the couch.

After two inconclusive aspirations and a visit to the cardiologist, Cal is now on a tiny dose of daily beta-blockers because of a heart defect, and some occasional subcutaneous fluids to help with any dehydration due to his kidney issues. The mass is still unidentified, but he’s got so much going on with him at once, opening him up to find out what it is seems too risky at this point. He’s still playful and silly, b...

Hey, Pamie: “How do I best jump-start my stalled novel and then what do I do with it?”

Today’s weekly procrastination is making me have to use the tl;dr shorthand, which I only recently looked up as I’d never had to learn it before, because I don’t believe in its philosophy. (What if it was good, and you would’ve been so happy to have read all those words? Why so much judging on length alone? If you’re so busy, what are you doing screwing around on the Internet, anyway?)

The tl;dr answer is in this entry’s title, but here’s the letter in full (I’ll bold the parts where she’s ask...

Found in Old Notes to Myself

I think I wrote this while on an airplane.

“i am working on an essay about nail polish while the lady to my right is editing her documents that attempt to change the FBI’s definition of rape in order to get more rape kits ordered.

… i have done something wrong w/ my life.”

“Super cute script, girl.”

I was driving home from a features meeting yesterday listening to Scriptnotes, a podcast by Craig Mazin and John August. If you are an aspiring screenwriter and you haven’t found Scriptnotes yet, I highly encourage it. Craig plays the cranky rich guy who grumbles when a screenwriter finds this job hard while John soothes with his kind voice and gentle encouragement. I think it’s the kind of balance you need inside your brain if screenwriting is the kind of thing you want to do to your life. (...

Virtual Book Tour date this week, plus Giveaway winners!

Hello!

This Thursday I’ll be on my laptop having a Q&A for YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE just for you! Shindig‘s hosting this event, where we’ll be in a giant video chat room together where I can answer your questions on a wide range of subjects, including my other books, writing advice, the odd private life of Little Pam and the current state of sweet Cal. It’ll be a fun interactive hour.

Thursday, July 26th, 6pm EST
Click here to sign up for the event

And I’m happy to announce the winners for the YOU...

Play Hollywood With Me

I’m sitting on the couch working on a script that’s due, waiting on the phone to ring with some work-related answers, including the latest on how the film rights are going for You Take It From Here. I’m flattered and relieved that there’s interest. Things are moving forward (yet creeping along).

One of the questions I’m inevitably asked about a project, and one that I always dread, is about casting. I’m always asked, “Who do you see playing this role? What’s your dream cast?”

I don’t mind the w...

Our Friend Cal

Man, there are sentences you never imagine you’ll find yourself saying, and one of them is, “Yes, I need the number of the cardiologist you recommended for my cat?”

A week ago, sweet Cal suddenly fell over. He was sort of prancing through the living room and then slammed to his side, looking stunned, staying still. I’ve seen a cat have a seizure before (I will spare you the link to the Lillith story), and this wasn’t quite the same, but it was scary enough that we took him straight to the vet...