Devon Ellington's Blog, page 294

Tuesday, March 5:

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde

Cloudy and cool

The book didn’t release. Details are in dispute.

The rest of the day was taken up with a funeral and its aftermath. The deceased is the mother of one friend, and the grandmother of another one. The service itself was here, at a local Catholic church. I hadn’t set foot in a Catholic ceremony since a seventh-grade classmate was killed by a drunk driver and the priest said that he must have done something to “deserve” that kind of death, and it was a good thing the kid died because it filled the church. This ceremony was very different, with lovely readings and eulogy from the family, but the priest went off on some (to me) inappropriate tangents. And anyone who says the Catholic service is “the same” as Episcopal (where I used to be an acolyte) — um, no. The prayers and liturgy are quite different. Then, we drove to the cemetery in Bourne for a short service, and then went to Brookside for the reception. It was nice to be able to chat with people and really celebrate the woman’s life and legacy. The funeral began at 11 in the morning, and I got home at 4 in the afternoon. A different chapter in life starts for all of them, and this was an important transition day.

Not a lot got done, but I’m prepping for tonight’s meeting, and getting ready for tomorrow afternoon’s meeting, along with having to rewrite an article, and working on the material for my agent.

So, I better get to it!

Devon

Tuesday, March 5: My Publisher Dropped the Ball

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde

Cloudy and cool

Very unhappy with my publisher. I contacted them to get the buy link, for OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK, which was scheduled to release yesterday — only to be told that there was a two-week delay due to “a proof-reading glitch” and they “forgot” to tell me. After I spent months setting up release day PR. This will have a negative impact on sales, which they, of course, will blame on me. Unacceptable.

The rest of the day was taken up with a funeral and its aftermath. The deceased is the mother of one friend, and the grandmother of another one. The service itself was here, at a local Catholic church. I hadn’t set foot in a Catholic ceremony since a seventh-grade classmate was killed by a drunk driver and the priest said that he must have done something to “deserve” that kind of death, and it was a good thing the kid died because it filled the church. This ceremony was very different, with lovely readings and eulogy from the family, but the priest went off on some (to me) inappropriate tangents. And anyone who says the Catholic service is “the same” as Episcopal (where I used to be an acolyte) — um, no. The prayers and liturgy are quite different. Then, we drove to the cemetery in Bourne for a short service, and then went to Brookside for the reception. It was nice to be able to chat with people and really celebrate the woman’s life and legacy. The funeral began at 11 in the morning, and I got home at 4 in the afternoon. A different chapter in life starts for all of them, and this was an important transition day.

Not a lot got done, but I’m prepping for tonight’s meeting, and getting ready for tomorrow afternoon’s meeting, along with having to rewrite an article, and working on the material for my agent.

So, I better get to it!

Devon

Monday, March 4, 2013: Release Day for the Second Jain Lazarus Adventure!

Monday, March 4, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and mild

Lots to discuss today!

First and foremost, OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK releases today! Woo-hoo! I’m still waiting for the Buy Link from Solstice, but there’s a great interview with me on Cynthia Woolf’s blog, and there’s an excerpt and more information on Billy Root’s blog. Stop by one or both and say hey!

“Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series” workshop runs this week and should be lots of fun. I’m very excited about it.

AND, I’m teaching a one-day QUERY CLINIC on March 23, where you can bring in query letters from your various projects and we shape them, line-by-line, along with learning how to assemble the parts of a strong letter. More info here.

Busy weekend. On Friday, just before 5 PM, I got some great news from my agent! She’s very excited about a project I pitched her a few weeks ago, made some suggestions, and wants to go forward asap. That puts pressure on me I wasn’t expecting until the fall, at least as far adding an extra project to the mix, and means I have to reshuffle back some of the projects I was working on. My GDRS for March have to be re-worked. But I’m very excited!

Friday night was the staged reading of my new play, SEVEN OF SWORDS, which is not a comedy! I was on the bill with three other short plays, so we were a solid evening — what fun to share the bill with them. I liked my director a lot, and thoroughly enjoyed the work of all the actors, including the ones in my piece. I got some interesting feedback to shape the piece in the next draft. It was a good night, but I was exhausted.

I was up early-early on Saturday morning. I worked on some revisions for MUDER “SEALS” THE DEAL, then I rewrote the first three chapters of the piece per my agent’s suggestions and wrote Chapter Four, which came in just over 3K. I worked with students, and did the final polish on the lectures for the workshop.

Busy day, but fulfilling.

Sunday, I was up early, putting in and printing out the revisions in the script. Then, I packed the car and headed off to the Marine Life Center for rehearsal — we blocked Acts II & III, then went over to the venue to look at the space and a drink and chat. It was fun.

Today is release day for OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK, so I have to do the work associated with that. I have to write Chapter 5 of the other project, attend a funeral, and give the actors the cuts I made last night in the script when I got home.

Oh, and do some work that pays the bills!

Busy, busy!

Devon

Fri. March 1, 2013: Stress and Prep

Friday, March 1, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and cold

Not feeling well. Managed to get some work done yesterday and go to my meeting, but feeling pretty bad. A lot of it is stress-induced.

Managed to write another article. I wanted to let it sit overnight, before editing and sending it out.

I’m supposed to be on Nadia Kim’s blog today — I checked this morning and don’t see it up yet, so I will check back later on and post the link.

Tonight, my play SEVEN OF SWORDS will be read as part of the Play With Your Food series at Tilden Arts Center. I’m looking forward to it, and to the other plays with whom I’m on the bill!

I’ve got a minor rewrite to do on MURDER “SEALS” THE DEAL and a lot of writing to do today and tomorrow, along with prepping for Sunday’s rehearsal and doing a final polish on Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series. Registration closes today at 5 PM, and it’s the only time the course will be offered this year, so don’t miss it! March 4-8. Full information here.

Colin — you’re right — it’s wonderful to see actors bring the words to life, and the characters evolve.

Lots to do today, and not much time, so I better get going!

Devon

Thurs. Feb. 28, 2013: Rehearsals Begin!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde

Cloudy and cool

Yesterday was a flurry of many things. I wrote, edited, and sent off another article. I worked with students. I cleared out the living room and set up for the rehearsal. I worked on the script, so I was properly prepared for rehearsal.

The rehearsal went well. The actors are enthusiastic and good in the roles. I feel like a huge burden’s been lifted off me, and I can concentrate on the actual play instead of the admin around the play. I need to do some tweaking on the script, which I will do tomorrow. We got Act 1 blocked, which is good. We’re blocking Act II & III on Sunday afternoon.

I also had to do some errands, including some stuff for my other play, which goes up as a reading tomorrow night.

I’ve got to do a lot this morning, before I head out for a meeting in the early afternoon. The migraine is still there, although better. And I overslept this morning, missing yoga. But I needed the rest.

Better get going — there’s a lot to do! Plus, I have to find an important prop in the basement — I know it’s down there somewhere, but those are a lot of boxes!

Devon

Registration closes tomorrow for “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series”, running March 4-8. Don’t miss it! Information and registration here.

Wed. Feb. 27, 2013: Migraine & Frustration

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde

Rainy and cool

Yesterday was a day of ups and downs and frustrations — I’m having a rough Saturn retrograde and a rough Mercury retrograde. I’ll have to ride it out. Hopefully, I won’t have this migraine stabbing me through the left eye the whole time, either.

Didn’t get enough of my own work done. Can’t really discuss the frustrations in detail, because there’s no way I can be diplomatic about them — I’m better off venting privately and getting on with it.

Made chicken and dumplings for dinner last night — needed comfort food!

Meeting last night was good — lots of laughter and fun.

Have a stack of books on Impressionism for research, and rejuggling the priorities of the longer project.

I can take on one more critique/editing client this week — if it’s booked this week. So email fearlessinkworkshops-at-gmail-dot-com if you’ve got something you need edited or critiqued.

Also, these are the last days to sign up for “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series”. Information and registration here.

Rehearsal is here tonight, so I’ve got to rearrange the furniture in the living room and set up the props. Should be fun!

Devon

Tues. Feb. 26, 2013: Ebooks and Rehearsals

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Waning Moon

Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and milder

Yesterday started off as a good day — knocked out a review and got it to my editor; typed up the article I’d written the night before, edited it and pitched it; pitched two articles to a publication into which I’ve wanted to appear for years; started on another article; worked with students. Most importantly, I had an excellent writing session on my own novel, which put me into a pretty decent mood.

Frustrations started happening in the afternoon, everything from checks that were supposed to be here last week still not showing up to casting problems with the play. We lost an actor to a series pilot — understandable. An actress flaked, and she wouldn’t even have let me know if I hadn’t checked in with her about something about last night’s rehearsal. I was NOT amused, especially since she doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue, just to bail without notice. Needless to say, I won’t be using her for anything else. Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. I found someone else who really wants to do it who ended up having to race to the hospital on a family emergency, so last night wasn’t a possibility, and we’re trying to figure out if we can make it work.

So, we were down two actors for the hospital tour and the read-through. But we coped, and the three actors we have are awesome. Completely the right choices. And they seemed very interested in the workings of the hospital. Townsend is emotionally ready to go, I think. He’s restless. Hopefully, we’ll be able to release him soon.

We loaded up my car with props afterwards, and I came home to work on leads for the other two actors. I have a meeting with one today — hopefully that will work out — he seems eager, and I know he’s really good.

I was exhausted by the time I got home, but so keyed up I couldn’t sleep.

Woke up with an excruciating migraine this morning.

Hop on over to A Biblio Paradise, where I talk about my non-fiction E-books and the Topic Workbooks.

I have a lot to get done today, and a meeting tonight, so, deep breath and jump in. Migraine or not, it all has to get done.

Devon

Mon. Feb. 25, 2013: Rehearsals Begin on a Full Moon

Monday, February 25, 2013

Full Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde

Snowy and cold

We had more snow overnight, but it was a coating, no big deal. I like snow a lot, but even I am getting a little weary of it.

Busy weekend working on casting the final role in the show and setting up the rehearsal schedule. I met some really interesting people during this process, and I think it is opening up some doors for collaborative projects down the road. We have our first meeting/read-through tonight.

Read the materials for the next assignment from Confidential Job #1 and have to do the write-up today. Drafted an article last night, which I will type up and edit today, and hopefully get out the door. Turned around a client project in 24 hours — much faster than I thought, but a block of time opened, and I seized it. The client had paid me FULLY in advance, not just half, so it was worth it to quicken the promised turnaround time.

CREATIVE STIMULUS has released — a new workbook a little more comprehensive than the regular “Topic Workbooks” — this one combines updated material and exercises from the “5 in 10” workshop, the “Sensory Perceptions” Workbook, the “Writing Rituals” booklet and the infamous Tip Sheets, all in one place. It’s $6.99, over on Smashwords.

OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK drops next Monday — I’m looking forward to it, and am doing quite a few guest blogs in the coming weeks to promote the release.

This is the last week to sign up for “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series”. Putting together the materials for this class has been terrific. I’m very excited about it. More information on how to register here.

Read Anna Devere Smith’s LETTERS TO A YOUNG ARTIST. Terrific book for artists at any stages of their careers. Developing an idea based on some of Manet’s Paris cafe paintings. Reading a book called CREATIVE TIME AND SPACE: MAKING ROOM FOR MAKING ART, which is also very interesting.

I can take on one more full manuscript critique and/or edit or 3-5 short projects for a slot, but it must be booked this week. Please contact fearlessinkworkshops at gmail dot com for more information on rates and to set it up. Once I get deep into rehearsal, I cannot take on any more projects until the show is done.

My other show, SEVEN OF SWORDS, will be read this Friday at Tilden Art Center. That should be interesting. It’s definitely not a comedy, and it’s a raw piece that could go in several different directions.

I have to get a proposal for an arts festival out today or tomorrow — I have to figure out what I want to do for it.

Great morning’s session on the Dickensian steampunk.

That’s kind of where things stand, going into this week. I hope you have a good one!

Devon

Fri. Feb. 22, 2013: Life Inspires Art — Sometimes For the Wrong Reasons!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Waxing Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

Tough day yesterday. Still working on casting issues. Managed to work with students, but didn’t get CREATIVE STIMULUS finished, so that is today’s priority.

I emailed the author of an article I really liked (who happens to live in Boston); I heard back from her, and she gave me an idea for a new piece. Love when that happens! I did some work on it this morning, although I may be still too close to the situation that inspired it for the piece to work best. I may just sketch it out and do more on it in a couple of months. It’s a mystery, and yes, I plan on “killing off” everyone who is currently working my last nerve! Ah, the transformative power of art.

So sick and tired of late-paying clients I could scream. The people I have to pay (utilities, et al) still expect their money on time, and this attitude that my freelancing “should” just be a hobby and I should get a “real” job infuriates me. Writing is a real job, and I’m a damn good at it. Time to up myself to a better client tier, which is a process.

And then, just after this rant, a payment comes through from a new client — not only on time, but early! Which just brightens the world a whole lot more for me today.

Hope I can clear a lot off my desk and get some rest this weekend. I need it!

Devon Ellington

Don’t forget to sign up for “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series” from March 4-8. Developing the class has been a terrific process, and I think you’ll get a lot out of it!

Thurs. Feb. 21, 2013: Every Title I’ve Given This Post Was Way Too Snarky

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Waxing Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Sunny and cold

Worked hard yesterday. CREATIVE STIMULUS is almost ready to release — the Table of Contents is working my last nerve, with all the hyperlinks, etc. The ebook contains updated versions of the booklets for “5 in 10”, “Sensory Perceptions”, “Writing Rituals” and also contains the Tip Sheets I use in a lot of the classes.

I also did a lot of work on “Prolonged Engagement” — I’m excited to teach the class. I’ve gathered some good information in it.

I’m still on the fence about teaching anything in April aside from the “Setting as Character” I’ve got at NECRWA, and I’m not sure about May. In June, I’ve got the other RWA class, “Supporting Characters”, and I’m hoping July and August will be off. I need the break.

Hop on over to The Writers Vineyard, where I talk about “The Chance to Apprentice.” This goes back to online classes, where, unfortunately, too many aspiring writers look at online classes as a “service” rather than an “apprenticeship”. Classes are not services. They’re challenges, and they require commitment and work AND classes are done the way the teacher wants to run them, NOT the student.

Still dealing with casting; have a couple of dilemmas to resolve, which I hope to do today and tomorrow. We go into rehearsal on Monday, and, hey, guess what, we’re expected to get another snowstorm this week. Oy!

The Writers Night Out dinner was last night, and lots of fun, lively conversation (as always) and some readings. I also found out one of my closest friends here is moving to Amsterdam in a few months. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for her! And yet, I’ll miss her a lot. But that’s why there’s emails and letters and blogs.

Yoga was good this morning, I stopped at the beach on the way back and met a person walking two Scottie dogs (so cute), and I’m trying to clear off a few things before the 11 AM audition.

Also have to figure out how I’m going to resolve a delicate issue with a manipulative person who, while probably not actively wishing me harm, does not wish me well, and wants to be central to a particular situation for kudos, but not actually do any of the work. Which I won’t tolerate. I don’t care about the kudo bit, but if you’re going to be here and claim you’re a part of this, you are going to fucking do the work.

Busy day.

Devon