Devon Ellington's Blog, page 64
May 10, 2023
Wed. May 10, 2023: Good Trellises Make Good Neighbors
image courtesy of Kerstin Riemer via pixabay.comWednesday, May 10, 2023
Waning Moon
Mercury and Pluto Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant
It was cold enough, again, for frost on the car overnight, and 33 degrees F when I woke up. It’s supposed to go up to 72 later today.
Over on The Process Muse today, we’re talking about showing up and doing the work. You can read it here.
Today’s serial episode is Angel Hunt.
Episode 31: Battle With the Witch Hunter
Lianna fights the witch hunter with some unexpected weapons.
I was worn out yesterday, from the big client project’s finish and the FALL FOREVER reading done. This girl was tired.
I created the episode graphics for this week’s episodes of Legerdemain and uploaded/scheduled yesterday’s promo. I’m trying something different this month; instead of dropping the episode graphics of the week’s episodes every day, I’m only dropping them on the day they go live. On off days, I will post more general promos for the whole series. We’ll see how that works for the rest of the month.
Twitter’s not driving any traffic to anything anymore (partially because I had to lock my account). But the bulk of WGA info is on there, so I haven’t left completely.
The big morning project yesterday was the proposal for the play commission. So, fingers crossed. It would be a great opportunity.
I did a drop off/pick up at the library. Then I went to the pharmacy and got a last batch of home COVID tests from both my mom’s insurance and my insurance. As of tomorrow, we’re on our own and have to pay for them. Which means people won’t test and will go untreated, and more people will die.
I am highly skeptical that my mom’s illness was “flu” even though she tested positive for it. I think she had a variant. She’s still coughing a little. And exhausted all the time. I may have fought off a variant (hence the fever), and I still have the fatigue (which I figure is the fight combined with exhaustion from pushing on the projects these last weeks). And, of course, now we’re in the season of “is it pollen or is it the plague?” I’m worried that the home tests aren’t picking up the variants, which is why I isolated for several days when I came down with the fever.
Other than being tired, I felt okay yesterday, which is why I ran my errands (although I’m still masking indoors). I got the COVID tests. I swung by a couple of stores looking for some stuff I needed, and they didn’t have it. I mailed some bills. I ordered cat litter. You know, the basics of keeping a household running.
Ran into the maintenance guy. They’re coming around next week to check on a few things in the apartments and test the smoke detectors, etc. ahead of upcoming insurance inspections. And he’s going to take another look at the dishwasher, and maybe replace the outlet.
We unwrapped the tarp from the bench and bistro chairs on the back balcony and got those set up, along with the bistro table. I teak oiled everything. Hopefully, it’s soaked in overnight and I can add the cushions today. I put out the hanging birdbath. It’s still too cold at night to put out any plants, which means I can’t yet put down the rugs. But slowly, slowly, we’re getting there.
The neighbor whose house back is at right angles to our back balcony (the front is on a cross street) called me over to whine about the bucket truck the landlord keeps parked at the back of the driveway here. I was Very Cordial. Now, anyone who knows me well knows that when I go into Very Cordial mode, it’s best to back away slowly, and, once at a safe distance, turn and run like hell. In my mind, I called her “Aunt Bea” because she reminded me of all the negatives of that character from the ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. I’m the tenant; I’m not going to tell the landlord what to do, when he’s behaving perfectly legally ON HIS OWN PROPERTY. And, frankly, it has no impact on her property. She said she doesn’t want to look at it, and she can see it out of her window. She said she called the city to complain and they told her my landlord followed all protocols and she should mind her own business. I suggested that, instead of cutting down all the foliage at the fence line, she grow clematis and hops and make a natural screen. She was not amused.
Hey, not my problem. Also, more importantly, not my business.
I, however, am likely to get some clematis and/or hops and put it on that side of the balcony to create a foliage screen. Getting large trellises around here is not a problem. It’s the pot-sized ones who are rare.
I planted a few things where the seeds had cooled in the fridge and want some cold still before they come up. Supposedly, last night was the last frosty bit, so I can start planting more stuff.
I need to get some black-eyed Susan vine going, or it won’t come up in time. And it did so well last year.
Tomorrow’s garden post will have more exploration of all of this.
I did client work in the afternoon. Managed to finish it before yoga. I’d home tested two hours before class, as a precaution. Negative, thank goodness. I was pretty sure it would come back negative, since I felt fine, just tired. But I wanted to be sure.
I kind of dragged myself to yoga, not wanting to leave the house, and then I was happy I did it, because I felt so much better. My teacher also recommended a local vet, which is good, because I need to get the cats in to update shots, etc.
Home, dinner, then reading Cherie Priest’s FLIGHT RISK, which is a lot of fun.
Up early this morning. Did not go to the laundromat. I’ll regret that next week, but I’ll deal with it. . .next week.
I have writing to do this morning, client work to do in the afternoon, probably more planting. I am going to take Friday off from client work to focus on the serials, the Poets in Conversation piece, the flash fiction piece, and maybe go to the Clark to work on that project a bit. So I need to dig in a bit earlier in the week.
I may start loading more client work early in the week in order to keep taking Fridays off from client work. The instinct is to keep Mondays free (Mondays were often my dark day from theatre work), but my brain starts shutting off Thursday afternoons, as far as client work goes, so Fridays might be a better choice. I may have to do more those early days (which, with increasing my yoga classes over the summer, might be a challenge, since I don’t like to come home and go back to the desk, but we’ll see how it goes).
Anyway, that’s the latest. Back to the page.
May 9, 2023
Tues. May 9, 2023: Table Read (and Other Creative Work)
image courtesy of Mediamodifier via pixabay.comTuesday, May 9, 2023
Waning Moon
Mercury and Pluto Retrograde
Partly cloudy and pleasant
Ready for our regular Tuesday catch-up?
We have another week of Mercury Retrograde: hang in there.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 83: A Chat with Jae
Shelley needs answers about Jae’s interactions with Brother Sangus and with Brone.
Friday was a little chaotic (even beyond things like a lunar eclipse with a full moon and two retrogrades). I didn’t feel great, but there was a lot to do.
I wrote an episode of Legerdemain. Poor Fletcher’s been sidelined for a good bit of this arc, and I need to get him more involved.
I headed for the grocery store. There are some new recipes I want to try (I’m getting excited about cooking again, now that we’re getting into market season). The “experts” say that a grocery list saves money. I always find I buy MORE and spend more with a list. When I go in and see what’s special and make up the meal planning on the fly, I spend less.
I got my cast list for the table read, assigned the roles, and sent off the assignments and the script to the cast. Now, the nerves set in.
I felt like I was running a fever. Tested for the plague, and it was negative, thankfully. But I felt terrible. Which meant no First Friday for me.
For the Kentucky Derby, Tapit Trice was my horse of choice, across the board. I wanted to keep an eye on Mage and Reincarnation, although I figured they’d blossom later in the season. I liked Mage a bit more (even though his odds were longer here). I haven’t really followed this year’s field, and I’m more and more uncomfortable with various aspects of racing. 7 horses dead at Churchill in a week is unacceptable. Every horse death needs more weight, but what’s been going on there lately it out of control.
Oh, by the way? Mage won. At 15-1. It was his day and his race, and he brought it. Good for him.
I felt like crap pretty much all day Saturday. Since I had blocked it off to work on contest entries, I at least wasn’t running around. Since I still had a fever off and on (not a high one, but it was there), I also was staying away from others. Just because I’m testing negative for the plague doesn’t mean I don’t have something contagious.
So I stayed in and worked on the contest entries all day. It’s difficult to winnow down the large final category to just a few slots, but that’s the job. There are some solid books that just missed it, because another book had more craft or a stronger voice or tried something fresh with a familiar trope that made it stand out from the massive number of entries this year.
There was a good batch of strong entries, some which missed by a whisker; then a solid group in the middle that were fine, but didn’t stand out, and then a batch where the writers are finding their voices and learning their craft. Which they learn by writing the books. And when you think how many people yap about writing a book “someday” and how many start and never finish, the fact that all these people DID it should be applauded.
I made pizza from scratch, and it was yummy.
Sunday, I kept going and finished the final category. Made my decisions on winners and finalists; wrote the winning reviews. Entered in the rest of the scoring sheets, and got it all out.
I finished by mid-afternoon and I was exhausted. I still felt like crap, although my fever had gone down. But staying fairly quiet and reading over the weekend, even though it was critical reading, not pleasure reading, was a better choice than running around and/or doing stuff around the house.
I read a book (you’d think I’d be sick of reading by then, but no) that came highly recommended to me in the afternoon. The book was well done and unique, but I disliked all the characters. They were interesting enough to keep me reading, but it’s rare that I so thoroughly dislike ALL the characters in a book.
When I was finished with that book, I switched over to T. Kingfisher’s A WIZARD’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING, which was a lot of fun.
Went to bed ridiculously early on Sunday, because I was so darn tired. The pollen’s also very high right now, so I’m not having fun with the allergies.
Up early on Monday. Nerves about the reading. Didn’t want to get distracted by anything, so didn’t dare start work on anything.
The table read of FALL FOREVER went really well, as far as the actors and the piece. The Zoom – every 40 minutes it kicked out and we had to sign in again. I let Lily over at DG know; we were first up, so hopefully the glitches we had can be smoothed out for anyone else. Digging into Zoom support (well after the reading), it looks like switching hosts for more than 40-minute sessions means the co-host has to be named BEFORE the meeting starts. In other words, a whole lot of extra admin.
Anyway, I was blessed with a terrific group of actors. It was obvious they’d worked on the script over the weekend, and truly made it a three-dimensional piece. They gave a damn, which makes all the difference. It made me realize how much I miss working regularly with actors. I learned a lot. I can cut a good bit (which is great; the red machete is my friend). A couple of relationships are out of balance, and I want to restructure a dynamic between two of the characters a little. They will still reach the same endpoint, but they can get there better. I want the memorial scene near the end to be more joyful; the lines were a little trite, and I need more of a contrast to keeping the joy of the piece with some of the action happening offstage that three of the characters know about, and are trying to keep from the other four. The radio writing tipped in far too much; too much detail about sound that I don’t need.
I had a suggestion from a good friend about combining two of the characters to raise stakes, and I don’t think I will go that route. That particular character, in the reading, turned out to be a fulcrum, and he’s necessary to be separate from any of the others.
There’s a LOT of work to do on it. I’m tempted to dive in and do another revision immediately, while it’s fresh. If I get the residency in late August, that’s the time that’s blocked off for the major revision.
Once the reading was done, I sent a thank you to the actors. I updated the PageOnStages website and my resume. Because there are pitches and proposals coming up, and this needs to be on it.
Then, I had to switch over and do client work, because, you know, keeping a roof over my head. I did one of the big projects.
I then got the invoice information for the contest entries (another big client project, different client). They’re paying me more this year than in previous years. I mean, I’m happy, I earned it, but I felt weird getting paid for elements that weren’t previously paid. Anyway, I sent off the invoice a little after 4 PM and was paid by 6. That always makes me feel valued.
Dinner was a new recipe that’s okay, but I doubt I’ll make it again. Just not that good, compared to the stuff I’ve learned from Jeremy and Moosewood.
Soup class was fun. I thought it was the last one, but Jeremy’s doing three more to finish us out, before he does the summer cooking camp for kids thing he’s developed. He’s going to be amazing, and those kids are going to have the BEST experience.
Went back and finished another client project. It was a late wrap for me on that, but necessary.
I was both tired and excited from the reading. I need to remind myself that I am aging, and I need more recovery time after things that require a lot of energy and concentration. If I can balance out my schedule properly, I can keep chugging along. If I overbook without enough recovery time, I push too hard and get sick.
Speaking of sick, I’ve been steadily testing negative for the plague. Not sure why I had a fever, but it seems to be gone. It is Allergies R Us around here right now – you can see the pollen float past the windows when sitting on the porch.
An invitation for a proposal to write a commissioned play built around eco-grief/climate change landed on my desk. It’s so intriguing. I put together the proposal and sent it off first thing this morning. I’ve rearranged my writing resume so I lead with stage plays and radio plays, rather than novels. It suits my current focus better. I’ve done missions-specific playwrighting for the National Marine Life Center; let’s hope they like my proposal well enough to make me one of the three playwrights on this project, which would start this year and continue through next year.
It’s 50/50. Either they believe I’m right for the project, or they don’t. If I don’t pitch, I have 0 chance.
There was another call for submissions for short holiday plays. I looked at my Stage Play Tracker and I have. . .nothing? Yeah. None of my plays are built around a holiday. Huh.
Put that in the percolation compost bin, and see what eventually comes out.
I was invited to a screenwriting virtual conference in June. However, I’m not going to participate (or even sign up) if the strike is still going on, and I expect that it will be.
Today’s agenda: Create the episode graphics for this week’s episodes of Legerdemain. Upload and post the promos for Legerdemain and Angel Hunt. Write another episode of Legerdemain.
I have two short-ish client projects in the afternoon. I also have to contact the residency administrator over at MASSMoCA about coordinating the poets’ reading in the autumn.
I should NOT work on the next draft of FALL FOREVER. But I probably will. Or maybe, maybe, since I’m seriously considering taking Friday off from client work again, I will block that day off for work on the project at the Clark Art Institute and on the FALL FOREVER revision.
I also need to start setting up the back balcony, doing some planting, and getting in some painting. On a creative level, I need to work on the piece for Poets in Conversation, which is coming up, and on the flash fiction inspired by an art piece. Both have been percolating in the back of my brain. I want to get some words down, so I can start rearranging them.
Peace, my friends, and have a good one.
May 8, 2023
Mon. May 8, 2023: Intent for the Week — Embrace the Moment
image courtesy of Yves via pixabay.comI pushed through this weekend and finished a large client project that was due today.
This morning, is the table read of my new play (virtually).
There’s pressure on the early part of the week, but I hope it will ease up as the week continues.
What I’d like to do is enjoy each of the very different responsilities this week, and embrace each one as it happens.
The weather is nice, too, so maybe I can start setting up the back balcony, and get some planting and painting done!
What’s your intent for the week?
May 5, 2023
Fri. May 6, 2023: Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse
image courtesy of Clker-Free-Vector-Images via pixabay.comFriday, May 5, 2023
Full Moon
Lunar Eclipse
Mercury and Pluto Retrograde
Partly cloudy and chilly
The rain might actually stop today. Maybe I can start setting up the back balcony and get some painting done.
AFTER I get my work done.
Today’s serial episode is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 30: Witch Hunter
An inter-dimensional witch hunter uses Niall as bait to get at Lianna.
I printed out the reading copy of FALL FOREVER for Monday’s reading, which meant I ran out of ink and had to go to the store to get some more. I also bought more Command sticky hooks – I’m hoping to hang some pictures and curtains this weekend.
I polished, uploaded, and scheduled next week’s Legerdemain episodes. I have to do the episode graphics this week. I did the social media rounds for yesterday’s Legerdemain episode, but not the previous day’s ANGEL HUNT episode; it seemed too much like a conflict of interest.
I did what I could to support the WGA strikers.
I re-read what I have so far of the Heist Romance script. It’s a lot of fun, and I’m starting to see where I can tighten things, raise stakes, build a few comedic beats better. No, it’s not scabbing; I’m not submitting or having any meetings about it, and it’s not on contract, or even represented. The first draft isn’t even finished. It’ll be a long time before it’s ready for anything. And those jerkoffs who attack playwrights? Different guilds, different mediums. The intentional ignorance just so they can attack someone is exhausting. I’ve blocked over 150 asshats since the strike started and will continue to do so.
Posted the serial questionnaire. It will be interesting to see who answers, or who even looks at it. I don’t ask money questions, at least not in this one. I ask about genre, length, number of serials/episodes, etc.
Annoyed that the grant money has been delayed AGAIN. Don’t tell us you’re “prioritizing” payments when you keep delaying delivery. You’re obviously not. Even if only processing 10 payments a day 5 days/week, you’d be farther along by now. And 10 payments a day is only about an hour’s worth of work. So put in a few more hours, boo, and deliver the payments that were promised back in February. (Note: I’ve done this for an organization, back in my nonprofit days, and I know how to actually do it, so I’m not just blowing smoke). I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised, because Mercury Retrograde, but it could have been done before the retrograde. If it’s such a priority, put in some overtime, or hire people for the processing. The budget is there. People were already struggling before this, and they’ve budgeted on the information YOU gave. Don’t keep moving the goalposts. And, of course, the “warning” (aka threat) is if we question anything directly, our paperwork is pulled out and put at the bottom of the pile. This delays things even further. Hmm, punishing people for asking for timely payments on the schedule promised. Sound familiar?
Agreed to be the local point person to help set up the public reading for the poetry residency in autumn. I’ll get in contact with the administrator at the museum next week so we can figure out the details. I’m happy to help; I don’t want her to feel I’m stepping on any toes.
Turned around two coverages.
Didn’t get the paperwork done for the second contest category; will have to do that today.
Worked on more contest entries last night.
Today, I get my cast for Monday’s reading, and the assignment(s) for the play(s) on which I’m helping out. That will all get sorted.
Tonight, I’m going to attend “First Friday” where the stores and galleries are open downtown. I’m going to check out what people are doing, spaces, etc. Get more of a sense of who’s doing what where.
Most of the day will be spent on finishing contest entries and making final decisions in the last category I’m judging. But I’ll need to take breaks to do other things.
I do want to draft at least one episode of Legerdemain. I’m behind, again, where I want to be on that. I hope to draft all weekend, at least one episode per day. I also want to get in a first draft of the poem for later this month, and the first draft of the flash fiction for the call to artists that I saw a few weeks ago.
It’s a planting day today and tomorrow. Maybe I’ll actually get to plant something?
And I have to do a grocery shop today. Not a big one, we still have leftovers. I mean, when my friends came, I bought enough to feed 24 people, not just 4. As one does. I have enough snacks to get me through the summer, I think.
So many people are raving about Bluesky, but the more I see and read about it, the more doubts I have. I may be forced to be on it, for reach. But I have concerns. Well, until I get an invite (IF I get one), I don’t have to worry about it. It looks, to me, as though they are “inviting” names first, and then randomly filling in with regular people. Something else that is a red flag to me. Whatever. It’s not as though I don’t have plenty of other channels to worry about. But I need to build a presence wherever my audience lands, so I have to try everything.
But I don’t have to try it this weekend! I can focus on other things.
Clarence Thomas and his seditionist wife need to be in jail. Not only that, EVERY decision on which he weighed in and had a vote that helped pass a law needs to be revisited. The level of corruption on the conservative side of the Supreme Court is appalling. Not surprising, given who they are. But appalling.
Anyway, I’m off to get some work done. Have a good one.
May 4, 2023
Thurs. May 4, 2023: Work, Work, Work
image courtesy of Erika Varga via pixabay.comThursday, May 4, 2023
Day Before Full Moon
Mercury and Pluto Retrograde
Rainy and raw
The latest, very short post on the garden is over on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is Legerdemain:
Episode 82: Multi-Tasking
Shelley lets the thief and the murderer take each other’s measure while she questions another suspect.
I had to prioritize yesterday, once I came back from the laundromat. The priority was FALL FOREVER. I did another pass on it. Not a deep edit, but a clean-up and tweak. I tightened a few things, and made internal cuts that added up to making it shorter by two pages (a good thing). I feel okay about this being the “reading draft.” I have to print out a copy for myself (which means I’ll need to get more ink by tomorrow – I really need the grant money so I can get my laser printer fixed).But this is the draft I can send to the cast on Friday, and feel okay about. Not great about, because I know there’s a lot more work to do; but okay about.
By the time I was done with that, I had to type up a letter to my mom’s doctor. Her new insurance has refused to pay for the medication she’s been on for 10 years. American Healthcare has nothing to do with health. The pharmacist had done a workaround so that I could afford this month’s refill, but we have to do something moving forward. Either the doctor has to send in a request (demand) that the insurance cover it, or she has to prescribe something that’s on their “list.” This is ridiculous.
My neighbor’s dog slipped his leash. He’s not particularly friendly or well-socialized, and the neighbors were terrified he’d either get hit by a car (we’re in a city) or bite someone. They were running after him yelling, and he just ran more. I grabbed a packet of corned beef (leftovers from the weekend’s company) out of the fridge and dashed down the street waving slices of it, calling him. He ran right over to me. I had him sit before I tossed him the meat. He did. He walked perfectly nicely back with me to his people, who got the collar and leash back on him. It was pretty funny. So, I guess, in his eyes now, I’m the “meat lady.” I better start keeping snacks for the dogs in my purse!
I did a library run to drop off/pick up books. Did what I could to support my WGA colleagues in the strike (encouragement, donations to supply coffee and food to picket lines, etc.). I love the pictures posted from the picket lines. I love all the dogs, babies, and kids who are part of it. The writers are fighting for everyone’s creative futures AND for fair wages, no matter what the industry.
The producers intend to wait it out, having stockpiled. They’ll run out eventually.
I have to say, blocking anti-WGA jerkoffs on various timelines has made my life better, overall. Because their anti-WGA stance is just a manifestation of much deeper incompatibility. I have to deal with a certain amount of people who don’t believe a deserve to earn a living in my profession (because it’s not “real” work, you know, although they consume it every day voraciously) in real life. I can CHOOSE not to deal with them online. And I do. There’s no “agree to disagree.” Either you respect me as a human being in a creative profession, or you do not. We can’t disagree on this basic tenet of who I am and then be friends because maybe we both like chocolate ice cream or something.
It also makes me realize how we’re trained to allow toxic people to treat us badly, and how often it’s misnamed “tolerance” or “compassion” or “professionalism.”
Turned around two coverages. Finished the book for review. I will write and submit the review this morning, and then get my next assignment. Finished the second category of contest entries. I need to make my final decision – I know the winner, but I have to look at the score sheets and pick the 5 finalists, although I’m pretty sure I know who those will be. And then I have to write the review for the winner. And enter the scores for ALL the books in the category, because I have not kept up with that.
Then, I’ll move on to finish the final category over the next few days. I’m doing coverage today, but not tomorrow or the rest of the weekend, so I can finish the category and get everything in on time. I’m in decent shape with the category, but usually I have everything finished by May 1, and I didn’t this year.
I could not face leftovers last night, so I ordered Chinese food. Willa snuck onto the porch while I waited for delivery, and got scolded.
I also have to make the rounds to promote Legerdemain and yesterday’s Angel Hunt (which I did not promote). I think I will post the Serial Questionnaire around the different places and start the data gathering.
I need to get next week’s episodes of Legerdemain uploaded and scheduled, then do the graphics and loglines. They’re ready (that editing time at the laundromat is very useful). It’s just a case of getting them up and scheduled.
I started work on the poem for the Poets in Conversation piece, at least in my head. It’s taking shape. I will probably do some noodling on it in the next couple of days.
Off to meditation – have a good one!
May 3, 2023
Wed. May 3, 2023: Arranging and Rearranging Words
image courtesy of Valerio Errani via pixabay.comWednesday, May 3, 2023
Waxing Moon
Mercury and Pluto Retrograde
Rainy, chilly, and raw
Today’s Process Muse Post is about dealing with jealousy, envy, and uncomfortable emotions. You can read it here.
It was hard to get it together yesterday. Twitter is not allowing WP to connect anymore. I was getting a lot of trollish DMs, and I finally managed to lock my account, but I can no longer participate in community conversations. I’d leave completely, but a lot of the WGA conversations are happening there.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 29: Actor or Character?
Lianna unravels the layers of actor energy in the rehearsal room from something much darker.
I wrote a future Process Muse, got it polished, uploaded, and schedule. Finished Episode 5 of REP. Could not get it together for Legerdemain.
I thought I’d started a Series Bible and Style Sheet for Rep, but can’t find them. So I had to redo them.
Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain.
Turned around two script coverages. it’s not scabbing, my coverage agency fully supports and is in compliance with the strike (I checked with the guild). Writers can lock their profiles so that their scripts can’t be downloaded by producers, et al, during the strike. How much work we’ll actually have as things go on, who knows? I feel like I should push this week, because there’s a lot that came in before the May 1 deadline, but I have this other big client project that must be finished, so I’ll have to risk the coverage work drying up.
Finished one of the categories in the contest. Wrote up the winning reviews (it was a tie, two very different and equally wonderful books), put in the other scores, named the finalists, and sent it all off.
Good news on the poetry front!
First of all, I’m getting to know my fellow poets for the fall residency via email, so we all know a bit about each other before we start. They are an amazing, talented group, and I’m so honored to be part of it.
Second, I’m creating a new piece for Word X Word’s event at the Mount (Edith Wharton house) on May 21, as part of their Poets in Conversation series. I started turning over ideas in my head as soon as I got the invite. I’ve got an idea developing that I think will work; I’ll take what I learn from that performance, and it will be one of the pieces I bring into the residency, because it fits with the theme of the other pieces I want to work on then. That wasn’t intentional, it’s just how it percolated.
Third, I am one of the poets in this year’s Word X Word’s “World’s Largest Poem”, again at the Mount, in July. I will have 24 hours to write my section of the poem (same as last year), once I’m given the last word of the previous poet’s section. We’re being encouraged to be multi-lingual; I hope to compose my short section in English, French, and German. The word I receive to launch it could be anything, in any language. I may try writing part of it ahead of time, and then weave the word into it and adjust as needed. My final word will launch the next poet’s word, and so forth and so on.
Yoga was good. I admit, I rather dragged myself there, not feeling like leaving the house, but I was glad I went.
Worked on contest entries. I’m nearly finished with the second category; I hope I can get those off today, or, latest, by tomorrow. I’ll be down to the wire finishing off the final category.
Out of the house early this morning to go to the laundromat. I edited five episodes of Legerdemain, and a couple of REP.
On today’s agenda: draft an episode of Legerdemain, enter contest scores, make the rounds to promote Angel Hunt and the Process Muse. There’s an Ink-Dipped Advice post to finish and get up. I have two scripts to turn around, and I want to finish the second category in the contest, and get that winner/finalist list out. I also have to finish reading a book for review, because it’s due tomorrow.
I’d like to do another pass on FALL FOREVER today, too, if I can. Not an edit; more of some gentle tweaks. I’ll get my cast list on Friday, and need to send them the script so they can look it over this weekend, before the table read. I’ll also get the assignments of the other plays this week, since part of getting my play read is helping some of the other playwrights out with their readings. My play is in the first slot on Monday, the first slot of the whole table reads program.
Next week, I also want to draft the short piece for the artist call over in Northampton, and get back to work on the next Twinkle Tavern piece, “Labor Intensive.” Along with working on the poem that will be read at the Mount on May 21. I also want to play with FlexClip a little more. I have some ideas on creating short pieces on it to promote the serials.
But first, I have to clear off this week’s deadlines.
Have a good one!
May 2, 2023
Tues. May 2, 2023: WGA Strike (And Other Weekend News)
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Waxing Moon
Mercury and Pluto Retrograde
Rainy and chilly
The WGA Strike began as of 12:01 this morning.
I blocked 47 anti-WGA trolls on Twitter. Before 8 AM. Those who called themselves “writers” are on a list, so I know never to read or purchase anything they do. A lot of those posting anti-WGA material know nothing about how the industry works and thinks all writers are rich and deserve to be denied a living wage because they should go out and get a “real job.” Singing the block song as I block.
There is no “agree to disagree” on this issue. Either you support my right to make a living at my profession, or you don’t and I want you out of my life for good.
Pluto went retrograde yesterday, and will remain so until October 10 of this year. Yup, it’s a long one. This is supposed to be a tough one, with all the squares it goes through with other planets during that time. Pluto is about what’s hidden, so when it’s retrograde, things are exposed, deceit is revealed, etc.
Today’s serial episode is Legerdemain:
Episode 81: The Thief Named Pravin
Pravin’s known for sharing false information. Maybe putting him in a cell with a murderer will get truth out of him.
Friday, I swung by Big Y to pick up the last few things, including fresh ciabatta and fresh flowers. Picked up the wrapping paper and gift bag. Went to the liquor store to get Rose Grenadine, prosecco, and beer. Went to Ocean State looking for a baby gate; they didn’t have one, but I found two rugs. A nice blue one to appease Tessa in my room, and one with wine glasses that was just fun. I got a baby gate at another store.
Unpacked, put the flowers in vases, made the pistachio mousse and the devilled eggs.
I thought they were flying into Albany and driving from there, but they flew into LaGuardia and drove up.
They arrived a little before 7 at night. I should have done quite a bit in the afternoon, but I didn’t. I rested and read.
Anyway, they came in, and I met the baby. She’s one, and walking quite well. She handled a long day and a long trip well. Willa was really good with all the company, including the baby. Charlotte was horrified and being a drama queen at first, but got friendlier as the weekend continued. Tessa just stayed in my room.
We had a good dinner and a good catch up. The baby likes her new book (she loves books) and the stuffed dog that went with it.
Slept pretty well. The baby only woke up a few times, and went back to sleep pretty quickly each time. Tessa slept on the bed. I don’t know where Charlotte was, but she came in the morning to wake me up. Tessa didn’t want to eat in her usual spot, so Charlotte ate Tessa’s food and Tessa ate Charlotte’s food and it all worked out.
I got almost a whole episode of REP written on Saturday morning before everyone woke up.
I made Eggs Benedict for breakfast. We had an easygoing morning, and, after lunch (black bean soup and bread), we took a drive around the area to show them Windsor Lake, downtown, The Spruces. We stopped at the alpaca farm to see the alpaca. The dog there fell in love with the baby and it was mutual, so they played together. We all bought stuff (I got a gorgeous all seasons scarf). We drove around Williamstown, and went walking on the acreage behind the Clark.
Pasta with mushrooms and pancetta in a cream sauce for dinner. Plenty of desserts.
Lazy morning on Sunday. I baked chocolate chip banana muffins. We drove over to Hadley – with their GPS, we actually found Trader Joe’s. I wrote out the directions so that I could find it again. Definitely not a quick trip if one has forgotten something! Then went to Holyoke for another store, which was a disappointment. But at least I know how to get there now.
Make chicken enchiladas for a late lunch/early dinner. I went to restorative yoga. We had snacks when I came back. The baby loved playing with potatoes, the cat toys, and the yoga blocks. She loves books. She’s an adventurous eater and had a little bit of almost everything I cooked. She learns really fast – one could see the progress just in a few days, and she adapted well to a new environment.
Monday morning, they had to drive back to New York to fly out of LaGuardia, so we fed them pancakes.
Once they were on the road, we finished stripping the bed and put everything in the laundry bag (I’ll go tomorrow morning). We switched out the red winter curtains with the lace panels.
I hung out on the couch with the cats and read. I read a book that was a lot of fun, but was too easy to get ahead of the characters, plot wise. I worked on contest entries.
In the evening, the Dramatists Guild held an “End of Play” event, which was fun. I’m glad I went, although I couldn’t stay for the whole thing. I have been invited to virtual “silent writing” sessions with the Guild throughout the year, so I’ll check into that schedule and see what I can do.
It was Beltane, but I was too tired to do much.
Didn’t feel well and had a bad night. Was up too often and too long on social media following the WGA negotiations.
Of course there’s a strike. Because producers like to forget that without a script, there is no show. Even “reality” shows have script needs. Having been a negotiator for my union’s Broadway contract, I’ve heard the producers go on about how everyone in the industry is “privileged” to work there – and they basically want US to pay THEM to work. Now, let’s remember that there isn’t a reason for a producer’s job to exist without writers, directors, actors, designers, and crew.
And so many people who don’t know the first fucking thing about working in the business are chiming in, anti-writer, of course. I blocked 47 people on Twitter before 8 AM. Those who call themselves “writers” and boast about scabbing are going on a special list so I know not to ever purchase or read their work. I mean, the Guild will block them from ever joining, but should they write in any other medium, I want to make sure they don’t get a penny from me.
What this means for me personally is no new commissions for radio work during the strike; no rewriters on any film, television, or radio material already under contract; no script doctoring or revision jobs. No pitching scripts.
The whole fellowship/competition arena is somewhat of a gray area and there’s a lot of conflilcting information. Many WGA writers are not applying to contests or fellowships; other committee members are saying, well, the decisions take months to reach, so submit, but if you get it and the strike is still on, you can’t accept/sign/work on anything. I’m still working on a few scripts that I planned to submit in the late autumn/over winter cycle; I’ll keep working (none of it is contracted, so I’m not scabbing). If the strike is over when the cycle comes around, I’ll submit; if not, I won’t (because I won’t submit during the strike), and wait until the next cycle. I can keep submitting stage plays, because those contracts are in good standing with a diffeent union, Serials and novels are not affected, although I would check with the Guild if anything was offered an option, since no one can be hired to do an adaptation until after the strike is over. If anything comes up I’m not sure about, I will contact the WGAE rep and ask.
The other union contracts are coming up soon; the producers are hoping to divide and conquer. Too many of the unions gave up a strike clause (NO union should EVER give up a strike clause, in my opinion), but that’s a different conversation.
People who don’t work in the industry can support writers by cancelling streaming services for the length of the strike AND TELLING THE COMPANIES WHY. Get DVDs from the library instead. Don’t rely on a single form of technology, because it will always fail you.
It’s going to be a stressful summer.
I had some other stuff I hoped to yap about, but the strike is more important, and the other stuff can wait.
On today’s agenda: writing on Legerdemain and REP. Social media rounds for Legerdemain. Work on contest entries. Client work.
The bulk of this week’s focus is finishing up the contest entries.
Have a good one!
May 1, 2023
Mon. May 1, 2023: Intent for the Week — Focus
image courtesy of Luca via pixabay.comAfter a weekend filled with guests, food, and laughter, it’s time to focus.
Today is Beltane.
Pluto joins Mercury in the retrograde cycle.
I have a big client project to finish, along with work on the serials and the play.
In other words, I need to focus.
What’s your intent for the week?
April 28, 2023
Fri. April 28, 2023: A Weekend With Friends
image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska via pixabay.comFriday, April 28, 2023
Waxing Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and cold
There was frost on the car windows again this morning.
Yesterday was busy. I had meditation. Had to get some work done. Filled out my sheet to be a reader for the plays the second week of May (as a playwright whose play was chosen, part of the deal is to help with someone else’s reading; I can do at least two that week).
Made a double batch of black bean soup. Baked a Swedish visiting cake, and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Got some ironing done – I’d washed a bunch of old napkins that came up from storage, some of which I made for the monthly dinner parties I used to give back in the 80’s, and they’re linen, so. . .ironing). Moved the plant pots out of the kitchen; some onto the porch, some stashed in the laundry room; got the chairs rearranged and put cushions on them.
I really wish I’d found the retro kitchen chairs of my dreams before the guests arrived, but this is life. We have 4 sturdy chairs, even if they don’t match and aren’t as pretty as I’d like.
Stashed some more books. Rearranged the front porch a little bit. If it’s not as cold and rainy as predicted, maybe we can sit out there. If it’s rainy, well, they haven’t fixed the leak yet.
However, the door to the back balcony is open! Yay! My neighbor across the hall managed to get it open. But it was too late (and it’s still too cold) to set up the enchanted garden back there. That has to wait until next week.
My poor friends are here when winter is receding, but the weather’s not good enough to fully enjoy the assets of this place.
Turned around two script coverages. I am done until Tuesday. If possible, I will do a light coverage week next week, so I can finish the contest entries. I was ahead on that project for a while, but have fallen behind where I want to be this week (although I’m still fine for the deadline).
Both Charlotte and Tessa slept on the bed last night. I woke up around 3:30. Tessa was by my feet, which were on my usual side of the bed. Charlotte had pushed me so that she was lying across both pillows, and I was shoved all the way to the other side of the bed. In other words, I was beyond diagonal, and almost horizontal.
Got some good ideas for the first season arc of REP while I tried to get back to sleep.
Up early this morning. Made pistachio mousse and ranch dip. Have to run out to the store for a few last-minute fresh things like baguettes and flowers, and get the garlic I forgot and the teabags and another bag of chips, because Charlotte and I got into the chips the other night. Have to pick up the wrapping paper and the baby gate.
When I get back, I’ll make devilled eggs and the chocolate glaze for the Swedish visiting cake.
If our friends aren’t here by then, I’ll do the social media rounds for Legerdemain (which I didn’t do yesterday) and Angel Hunt (Episode 28 drops today). And I’ll start entering contest scores.
I hope the weather’s better than predicted, so we can show our friends some of the really cool stuff around here. I mean, we haven’t seen them since before the pandemic, and they’ve never even met Charlotte and Willa!
Have a good one!
Beltane on Monday (and Pluto goes retrograde – ick).
April 27, 2023
Thurs. April 27, 2023: A Day of Cooking and Cleaning
image courtesy of Denise Husted via pixabay.comThursday, April 27, 2023
Waxing Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Rainy and chilly
Yesterday just wore me out, and I’m not really sure why.
I did another draft of FALL FOREVER. This one feels like it can sustain the table read, well enough so I can take notes and have a good idea of what needs work for the big revision I’ll do in late summer. I sent this draft to my friend who reads the early draft stuff and tells me when I’m way off the mark.
Latest post on the garden (or lack thereof) is posted up on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is Legerdemain.
Episode 80: Dead Priests, Fake Priests, What’s Going On?
The individual searching the dead priest’s room may wear the robe, but he’s not a priest.
Way more books waiting for me at the library than I expected.
Had to go to the pharmacy to deal with an issue with my mom’s medication (so not happy with this new Advantage plan insurance).
Did a big grocery shop for the upcoming company this weekend at Big Y. Then went to Wild Oats to get some more stuff, including the organic wine. Then to Stop & Shop for the last of the items I couldn’t find anywhere else. By then, I was too tired to look for wrapping paper and a baby gate, so I’ve put that off until today.
By the time I got home, got everything unpacked and put away, cleaned out the fridge (not as scary as I feared), and had lunch, it was 3 PM and I still hadn’t begun the script coverages.
But I dug in and turned around all three coverages. Did the social media rounds to promote Angel Hunt and The Process Muse.
Trout, spinach, and mashed potatoes for dinner. Yummy.
I’m having keyboard and cursor issues on this computer. That’s all I need.
Woke up in the middle of the night and made notes on season 2 of Angel Hunt (if there is one) – and I have a cool title for it, too. I’ve pretty much got it figured out in my head. This will be much shorter than the current Angel Hunt. And the third season (again, if there is one) will be longer than the second one, but shorter than the first one. Still working on the title for it, although I have a rough idea. If there aren’t future “seasons” of Angel Hunt, it might just turn out to be a prose trilogy, once I adapt the serial episodes back into book form. But we’ll see. First, I have to finish adapting Angel Hunt, and get those episodes uploaded and scheduled, so I see where I am. Growth is slow, but steady. And I got an idea for a piece that’s tied into a couple of other novella-length pieces I’ve been developing in the cozy fantasy genre.
At first, I stayed in bed, repeating the ideas, but who was I fooling? If I didn’t write them down, I’d forget them, so I stumbled to my desk and scribbled. Hopefully, I can decipher those scribbles when the time is right.
In one of the Kindle Vella groups, a writer talked about writing 100 episodes a week across her various serials, and I can’t even imagine writing that much. Well, I can imagine it. I’d be wrecked. But hey, it’s serving her well; she has a large, growing readership, and is making enough money to support focusing on that intensity.
On today’s schedule: meditation, drafting another episode of Legerdemain, making a double batch of black bean soup, baking a cake, baking cookies, ironing (I washed more napkins yesterday, and they were linen, which means they need ironing), tidying up my office, washing the floors, and turning around two coverages.
I will go out early tomorrow morning to buy the last few things I need fresh, including flowers, and the wrapping paper, and the baby gate. As far as writing, if I can get in an episode of Legerdemain before they arrive, and work on entering contest scores, that will be my focus.
The freezer won’t get defrosted and my room won’t get rearranged until after the guests. I would have liked to have everything done before, but that’s life.
At least I’m happy with the meal planning and there’s plenty of good food and good snacks to keep us busy, since it’s still cold and raining, and we won’t be able to do much outside.
Have a good one!
