Devon Ellington's Blog, page 295

Wed. Feb. 20, 2013: Recovering from Corporate Ineptitude

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Waxing Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

I lost most of yesterday due to an issue that should have taken fifteen minutes with a competent individual willing to do her job. Instead, an aide from my congressman’s office had to intervene. This is NOT acceptable.

Incompetent individuals who hide behind “company policy” and pretend they’re “doing their jobs” MUST be held accountable as individuals as well as company representatives. With all the competent people out of work, the incompetent need to be fired and replaced. However, competent people need to be paid what they’re worth and tend to think for themselves, which is why so many companies retain the incompetent. We wouldn’t need so many regulations if individuals and corporations would behave with integrity. However, since so many are incapable of that, that’s why we have to have regulations, and that’s why they must be enforced.

So, in short, yesterday sucked, but today will be better!

I managed to get the next draft of MURDER “SEALS” THE DEAL done and send it to the actors and the people behind the production who need it. I even managed to work with students. That was woefully inadequate for everything that needed to get done.

I did manage to refresh my hair color in and around all the chaos (I couldn’t stand it anymore), and that made me feel better about everything.

Today is a truncated work day because of a Writers Center event tonight, and tomorrow I have yoga AND a mid-afternoon meeting.

So I have to be focused today.

If you’re writing a series or thinking about it, I hope you join “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series” running March 4-8, which covers the wide range of things you need to think about in relation to the series. Information here.

Devon

Tues. Feb. 18: Hard Work & Frustration with Corporate Morons

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Waxing Moon

Saturn Retrograde

Sunny and cold

Before we get into it all, hop on over for Anne Lange’s outstanding post on “Quality in Writing” over at A Biblio Paradise. Anne took several classes with me, and was a joy as a student. I’m delighted she’s doing so well.

Tough weekend. Got as much done as possible on Friday, despite many obstacles. Between the morons in customer disservice at N-Star and Verizon Wireless, far too much time is being wasted. Individuals who break the law and/or cause harm to customers CANNOT be allowed to hide behind so-called “company policy”, especially when those policies clearly violate state and federal laws. The companies need to be held accountable, but so must the individuals who implement such policies. If you’re too stupid or too cowardly to refuse when someone tells you to do something wrong, you are a danger to society and should be treated as such.

I had to spend way too much time dealing with stupid people, all across the board. How do these people even leave the house or tie their shoes, much less earn a living, when they can’t comprehend the simplest of instructions? I have no patience with them.

Worked Saturday, too, not sure if the power would stay on with the storm coming, and wanted to clear off a few things from my desk, including material for Confidential Job #1 and starting to work on some essays I need to get out this week. They’ve both been percolating for awhile, and since they are based on my own emotional experience (hence the “essay” bit), they take longer to develop.

Had an idea for the Dickensian steampunk that I want to play with, although I’m worried that the cast is getting too big. I think I have to do some work on individual arcs. I hadn’t looked on it as a series, but the way I’m building the characters and arcs, it sure seems that way. Which means I have to settle on a book-specific arc for this one to make it satisfying to stand alone, while still being a part of a series.

Which brings me to my course, “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series”, running from March 4-8, which will help you develop your own series. Sign up here.

And please do NOT send administrative questions to my personal email — they go to the Administrator of Fearless Ink Workshops, which is why we have one.

I had a fabulous audition with the actress to whom I’ve offered the role of Joye in MURDER ‘SEALS’ THE DEAL, and I’m working on Teri casting today. I’ve got to get some tweaks into the latest draft, and then send it out later today. We go into rehearsals next Monday.

Sunday, we had another 8 inches of snow here. I wasn’t feeling well, so I spent most of the day on the couch, reading. I needed to replenish. I read a couple of John Dunning novels.

The opening to THE BOOKWOMAN’S LAST FLING is brilliant: “The morning was angry but I was cool.” What an awesome opening line! I’m going to use that as an example in classes. Now THAT is a line that keeps me reading.

Monday, I woke up at 4 AM, thinking it was 6 AM(don’t ask) and was on the road earlier than I expected. There wasn’t much traffic, at least until Providence, and it being a holiday Monday helped. I made great time to CT, picked up my mom, we turned right around to get back, stopping for gas, to eat, and to sell some books at the Book Barn in Niantic. Yup, as I’m going through some of these 250 boxes of books in the basement, I’m culling some to sell. I’m keeping most of the non-fiction and reference books, but the fiction — especially if it’s something I don’t really like or find memorable — is going out, so that someone who’s really enthusiastic about it can enjoy it.

Back to work today — I am not looking forward to what the day holds, but when it’s done, I will feel better.

Devon

Fri. Feb. 15, 2013: Rough Days

Friday, February 15, 2013

Waxing Moon

Sunny and cold

Wednesday was a tough day all the way around. I can’t get into details, but the past few days have been very difficult.

I’m glad I made myself go to yoga yesterday morning. Although I had to be out there at 6 AM, shoveling 4 inches of snow! Still, getting to yoga was worth it.

Worked flat out yesterday, but I’m frustrated, because I’m not getting a pay-off, either financially or emotionally for a lot of this work. Financially, it’s a bit down the road (although I need it NOW). Emotionally — let’s just say I need to make some changes in my overall plan.

There are many things in my life right now for which I am extremely grateful, and, in most ways, I am happy with my overall life. But there is one section that needs some massive changes. I’m not sure how to do that yet, but I’m working on it.

More snow tomorrow — I’m suffering from snow fatigue.

I hope you sign up for my workshops, “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series” March 4-8. Information here.

The journal workshop winds up this weekend — I extended it a few days due to the storm. I’m delighted by the quality of the work in there — the students really take the concepts and run with them, in beautiful ways. This workshop has been a joy to teach.

Have a great weekend.

Devon

Wed. Feb. 13, 2013: Auditions and Writing

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Waxing Moon

Sunny and cold

Worked flat out yesterday. The good mood from the good first writing session (on the Dickensian steampunk) supported me through quite a bit. I had a lot of catching up to do — amazing how much piles up when you CAN’T get online for a few days, isn’t it?

Caught up with students, which is the important thing. The Journal workshop had a rocky start due to the power problems, so I’ll keep it open through the weekend, making sure everyone can catch up.

Bill Keating’s office was very receptive to my views on the power issues, and I have a person to deal with directly. I’ll be submitting a proposal early next week to them with ideas on how to improve the situation in the future and prevent this from happening again — with consequences for the utility companies if they don’t start making improvements. It’s good to know that my elected representatives are actually representing me.

I’ve hit the point in the Dickensian steampunk where I need to sit down and outline the whole book. Some interesting subplots came up as I wrote the chapter I need between the first chapter and what I’d originally thought was the second chapter, but needs to be the third. I need to make sure I’ve got a coherent whole. A title would be good, too, but until I know more of its shape, I can’t give it an appropriate title. Hopefully, that can be handled today and tomorrow. I also need to do some work on the wacky proposal and take that to the next step, although my gut is telling me to take a more traditional route with it for creative freedom. The marketing-savvy approach will limit the creative portion, and there’s no telling which way will be more lucrative in the long run until we try it. So I’m approaching my top choice for the marketing-savvy option, and if it doesn’t interest them, I’ll go the more traditional route that gives me more creative freedom.

I need to print off the audition sheets and sides for tonight’s auditions for MURDER ‘SEALS’ THE DEAL — if you are a Cape Cod or South Shore-based actor, I hope you come by. Details and character breakdowns here. Hopefully, we’ll get a good turnout. I’m eager to get to work on this piece.

If you’re writing a series or interested in writing a series, sign up for “Prolonged Engagement”, from March 4-8, which deals with how to create/evolve a series. Details here.

Better get going — lots to do today!

Devon

Tues. Feb. 12, 2013: Home Safely, but Lots To Do

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Waxing Moon

Sunny and cold

Greta van der Rol has a wonderful article up on A Biblio Paradise about “Series and Sequels.” Check it out!

Exhausted. The blizzard hit on Friday. As of noon, there was a travel ban in MA (lifted late Saturday), and mass transit shut down by 3:30. We all hunkered down and let it snow. The trip to CT was postponed, thank goodness.

I managed to get as much work done as possible on Friday, while we still had power. The power went out about midnight-ish Friday into Saturday. Temperatures dropped pretty rapidly. The gas stove still worked, but the gas heat is run by an electric switch — which is crap, if you ask me, but no one did. We kept the house liveable by cooking on the stove and using the fireplace, and wrapping up in layers. We could have warm drinks and warm meals, which was a big help. We read all day, and went to bed early.

Saturday morning, a neighbor came over with the snowblower to help clear the driveway of the 15 inches or so of heavy snow that fell overnight. I couldn’t have done it on my own.

By Sunday morning, we could see our breath in the house. NStar was both rude and unhelpful. I got up early and got the stove going again, and the fireplace on, and we got the temperature up to a bearable level. I went out and shoveled the additional 8 or so inches of snow — this was light and fluffy, so it wasn’t bad. Then, I went and helped neighbors dig out, and they said I could have some of their firewood if I ran out. In other words, we all looked after each other.

The weather was clear up here, and our destination in CT had power, so I stocked up the feeders and waterers, had boosted the temperature up to comfortable, and left hot water bottles and down comforters for the cats. We loaded up the car and left just before 2, with the neighbors keeping an eye on house and cats.

The drive in MA and RI was fine. It was CT that was a disaster. On good days, CT’s DOT’s incompetence is astonishing to behold. This was out of control. The roads were barely plowed — the fucking idiots had let the plows get snowed in. How much brainpower does it take to place your shovels inside garages or warehouses so they can actually go out and do their jobs? Only a moron leaves them outside to be snowed under. On top of that, the plows weren’t shovelling the snow — they dragged on the pavement, sending sparks towards the gas tanks for the cars on the road. Add the glare of the descending sun, and it was a miracle we weren’t killed.

I was so stressed out I had McDonald’s for dinner. Was miserable three hours later, but it was good while I ate it!

Set up the computer, connected, and got some basics done that needed to be done — namely, cancelling yesterday’s auditions. If we have to cancel tomorrow’s, I don’t know how the hell we’re going to cast this piece. But I’m certainly not going to ask people to come out in dangerous conditions to audition in a building with no power.

Collapsed in exhaustion fairly early Sunday night. Up early on Monday. Managed to get out a deadlined piece before shutting everything down and getting back on the road, in rain and fog. Another nightmare of a trip home — I couldn’t make any time, CT was still a mess, and I had trouble getting gas in RI. Buzzards Bay was still in the dark, but I found a gas station and could refill before going over the bridge and heading home. Then, there was a problem on 6, so I had to take 130 & 28.

But I got home, and there was power. I unpacked, fed the cats, cleaned the litter boxes, let everyone know I arrived safely, and collapsed on the couch with wine and mac ‘n cheese. I was incapable of coherent sentences by then. The power was intermittent, going out a couple of times overnight, but this morning, I hope to catch up with everything, especially my students.

I had a good morning’s writing session the Dickensian steampunk, thank goodness, and I’m trying to reshuffle the projects to get everything done.

The cats won’t let me out of their sight.

What irritates me about days getting power back on is not the line crews — they are working their butts off. But management KNOWS there will be problems, yet doesn’t do anything to create ways to prevent problems. Their solution is to clear cut and get rid of all trees, which is total bullshit. Why aren’t they coming up with de-icing coatings that can be sprayed on power lines, or new technologies to prevent outages in the first place? Because there aren’t any consequences for long power outages and suffering, and their fat cat executives still get to collect huge paychecks, while the people who actually do the work are put in the same poor situations over and over again. The contract the power company has with the population is to provide power — not just when it’s easy or convenient. But to provide it ALWAYS. They should be innovating better ways of doing that, but as long as the top brass can collect their inflated salaries while regular people freeze and suffer, there’s no incentive.

I am in contact with my congressman’s office, because I have some ideas on restructuring.

Overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done, but all I can do is work bit by bit.

Devon

Stay tuned for information on audition updates for MURDER SEALS THE DEAL.

Sign up for “Prolonged Engagement”, the class on how to develop a series, March 4-8, here.

Mon. Feb. 11, 2013: Tonight’s Auditions Cancelled

Tonight’s auditions for MURDER ‘SEALS’ THE DEAL have been cancelled due to the blizzard and subsequent power outages.

We expect to hold Wednesday’s auditions as planned and hope to see you then.

More information here.

Fri. Feb. 8, 2013: Hunkering Down for the Blizzard

Friday, February 8, 2013

Day before Dark Moon

Blizzard Coming!

I was very stressed out yesterday, trying to get everything done. Originally, I was supposed to hit the road this morning to go to CT, and then come back Saturday. Well, it was pretty obvious I wasn’t going to go anywhere on Saturday, much less get back home, so I figured I’d stay down there until Sunday. Fortunately, the trip’s been postponed.

I’d much rather ride out a blizzard safely at home, with the cats, then be on the road, or, even if I outran the storm, somewhere other than home.

It means doing some work through the weekend in preparation for the auditions on Monday that I planned to do Monday morning, but that’s okay.

Worked as fast as I could yesterday morning, got my students all set up for next week, etc. Annoyed with a late-paying client, especially since this is someone who got in just under the wire on a special deal.

Had a great conversation with my director for SEVEN OF SWORDS. I’m excited about the whole thing!

Good meeting at NMLC — everyone’s excited about the play.

I’m hunkering down for the storm — plan to do lots of reading and writing this weekend!

Stay safe!

Devon

Last day to sign up for “Journal into Fiction”, Feb. 11-15. Information and registration here.

Sign up for “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series”, March 4-8, here.

Cape Cod/South Shore actors, come audition for MURDER “SEALS” THE DEAL Mon. & Wed. Feb. 11 & 13, 5:30-7:30 PM. Details here.

Thurs. Feb. 7, 2013: Projects, Escalating Stress, & Snow

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Waning Moon

Cloudy and cold

So we’re prepping for this big storm and are all in a tizzy. I hope it won’t be anywhere near as bad as they’re saying.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day editing and working with students. I have an awful lot to get done today, because I have to get things cleared off before the storm and potential power outages and meetings and auditions coming up, etc. I’m feeling stressed out and overwhelmed out of proportion to what is actually going on.

Last night was a board meeting for the Writers’ Center, and I have follow-up and additional information to work on there, too.

I managed to fall in love all over again with one of my projects, which is always a good thing, but it’s a tricky one to pull off and I’m feeling so much pressure from so many different factions right now that I’m not sure what to do with the piece.

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for “Journal into Fiction”, which runs next Mon.-Fri. Information here.

I have a new workshop, the only one I’m teaching in March, running March 4-8, called “Prolonged Engagement: Developing the Series”. Information here.

HEX BREAKER just came out in print — woo-hoo!

Auditions for MURDER “SEALS” THE DEAL start next Monday — if you’re in the area, I hope you’ll come by. Details here.

Have a safe weekend!

Devon

Wed. Feb. 6, 2013: Snow and Writing

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Waning Moon

Cloudy and cold

Got quite a bit of work done yesterday. I think SEVEN OF SWORDS is in decent shape, finally. I’m going to give it one more read this morning, and then send it off. Worked with students. I’m polishing the “Journal into Fiction” lectures and exercises — I had to cut some of the material out, because there was too much for a week-long class.

Had to turn something around quickly for one of my other editors, and sent out a few LOIs. Some paperwork came in for another confidential gig that the editor on Confidential Job #1 recommended me for, so that’s all good. The lunch meeting was good, although Beech Tree Cantina, where we wanted to meet, turned out to be closed. Um, it couldn’t have been on the landing page of the website? Especially with all the advertising they’ve been doing? There were a bunch of us, standing outside the door in the snow, totally confused.

We wound up at Rendezvous, the new crepe place. It was really good, with a nice atmosphere. Definitely a place to which I’d go back.

Roasted a chicken for dinner, did some reading, watched my friend’s show — some of the writing was a little heavy-handed, but he had some good scenes, and we dissected the episode, as we usually do after it airs.

Started re-reading POWER OF WORDS, which has been pulling at me lately. It’s such a sprawl — I think it’s really a serial novel about the making of a series. There’s no way I can stay true to its characters and themes and turn it into something that’s a more traditional novel. It’s going to be four novels’ worth of material just to get them through shooting the first season. But I think the dynamics of the individuals, and the creative nuts-and-bolts will be interesting to readers. Well, I need to write it at least through the first season’s shoot, and maybe partially into the second, and then decide what I want to do with it. I also re-read MODERN CREATION MYTHS the other day, and it holds together much better than I expected. I wrote the first draft material in script form (knowing it couldn’t stay a script), and I can see how to open it back out into prose. I think I will complete the draft as a script, though, because that’s giving me the dynamic. When I adapt it into prose, I’ll have to go much deeper into POV.

Did some of my fantasy/sci fi schoolwork yesterday (lectures). Really interesting insights into the Grimm tales.

I need to clear a lot off my desk today, because tomorrow is a busy day, most of it out of the house.

Devon

You can still sign up for “Journal into Fiction”, Feb. 11-14, learning how to transform journal entries into viable fiction. Information and registration here.

Cape Cod/South Shore Actors: Come audition for MURDER ‘SEALS’ THE DEAL, Feb 11 & 13, callbacks Feb. 15. Information and breakdown here.

Tues. Feb. 5, 2013: The Minimum Doesn’t Cut It

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Waning Moon

Cloudy and cold

Marian Lanouette is my guest over on A Biblio Paradise, interviewed about her Jake Carrington series. Stop on by and drop a comment!

The February To-Do List is up on the GDR site. Short month, a lot to do.

I’m frustrated with a few people today, but venting isn’t going to do any good. Let’s just say I hate it when they waste my time, and I’m going to have to make changes to make sure that they don’t in the future.

Worked with students, finished an editing job, got out some pitches, ran errands, went grocery shopping, worked on SEVEN OF SWORDS. I’m almost there, I’ve almost unlocked what I want to fix in it. I’m hoping to get it finished and out the door this morning before my lunch meeting.

Finished Louise Penny’s BURY YOUR DEAD yesterday, and it was so well done and so tragic (in the large sense), that I was in tears by the end of it. The way she had characters re-live a traumatic event, through flashbacks throughout, is not something most people could pull off. But she did it effectively. Part of that is because she is a master of her craft. She understands structure, and therefore, when she goes against the expectations, she has the craft behind her to pull it off. Writers earlier in their careers, who can’t be bothered to learn structure, try this same type of maneuver, and most of them fail miserably. And it’s because they can’t be bothered to learn structure. It’s blatantly obvious when a skilled writer deviates from tradition and pulls it off, and an unskilled writer can’t be bothered.

It always amazes me when people say they want to learn how to do something– be it writing or anything else — and then can’t be bothered to learn the skills required for it. And then they’re surprised when they don’t succeed. If all you ever put in to something is the minimum, you won’t get more out of it.

Better get back to work — I need to clear a lot off my desk before I leave.

Devon

You can still sign up for “Journal into Fiction”, from Feb. 11-15. Transform journal entries into viable fiction. Registration and information here.

If you’re based on the Cape and/or South Shore, come try out of MURDER “SEALS” THE DEAL, Feb. 11 & 13, with callbacks the 15th. Detailed information here.