Colby R. Rice's Blog, page 9
May 9, 2018
CEFJ #67 Creative Goals for Q2 + GRAD SCHOOL IS OVER! (5/9/18)
OH. MY. GOSH. Guys, my grad school semester is FINALLY over!! I’ve been through the ringer this quadrimester / semester, but I feel like I’ve also gotten quite a bit done. Now? It’s time to look forward and dish on all my AMAZING summer goals. Self-care, lots of sleep, gourmet cooking, and of course, lots and lots and LOTS of writing. It’s all coming up in today’s journey log.
VLOG VERSIONS
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The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
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QUADRIMESTER #2 CREATIVE GOALS
(MAY 1 – AUG 31)!
NOVEL WRITING GOALS
Polish, publish, and market “2054” novel
Finish Hollow Point (BOE #3)
Finish The Haunt (BOE #4)
Finish Loosey, Goosey (HOHEA #0)
Finish Rose n’ John Does (HOHEA #1)
Continue writing SODOM
Continue writing ASYLUM
Continue writing Wolves, Ash, and Ember (BOE #0)
Scriptwriting
Finish draft of Ezekiel pilot episode
Finish draft of Sandman feature film
Finish draft of Pendragon pilot episode
Finish draft of Morien pilot episode
Worldbuilding / TV Bibles
Research and create PENDRAGON TV Bible
Research and create MORIEN TV Bible
Research and create EZEKIEL TV Bible
Research and add sections to story bible for ASYLUM trilogy
Research and add sections to story bible for THE BOOKS OF EZEKIEL world
Research and add sections to story bible for NEVER AFTER world (which will include The Hitmen of Happily Ever After series, The Godsman series, and The ForNever Files)
Creative Uni
TAKE COURSES FOR TV WRITING: Continue journey into studying television writing and producing through your books, courses. and by developing your television project template and the first scribblings of your television projects (Immortal & Ezekiel)
TAKE COURSES FOR FILM EDITING: Continue studying and practicing film editing skills through the Film Editing Pro blog series, courses, editing books, and your three film editing courses (Editing Fundamentals, The Art of Action Editing, and The Art of Trailer Editing)
TAKE COURSES FOR CREATING A TERRIFYING HORROR SCRIPT: Finish horror screenwriting study course by using it to finish SANDMAN script
TAKE COURSES FOR DIRECTING: continue learning journey into film and theatre directing by reading books and taking courses (Directing Actors (by HCW), The Master Course in High-End Blocking & Staging (by HCW), and Hot Moves: The Science of Awesome (by HCW)
TAKE COURSES FOR GAME DESIGN: continue learning journey into game design by reading and applying books and taking courses on Unity, UnReal, and Udemy
The Bohemian Badass
Finish graphics re-branding of The Bohemian Badass
Finish preparing The Bohemian Badass for launch!
RE-LAUNCH THE BOHEMIAN BADASS!
New Adult Noir(e)
Run a really great, sexy summer giveaway
Podcasts
Keep up with the Epic, Fantastical Journey podcast
Create a NEW podcast intro & outro!
Marketing
Patreon: finish updating the milestones and goals section of your Patreon page
Patreon: finish updating the rewards-levels section of your Patreon page
Patreon: update the post/activity section of your Patreon page
SEO & Statistics: install SEO software to track podcast statistics; install Google Analytics for author website
Colby R. Rice RE-Branding
Do a COMPLETE brand upgrade with the “Publish Your Thing” course!
May 2, 2018
CEFJ #66 Q1 Creative Achievements Round Up! (5/2/18)
The first quadrimester (4 months) of the year is over, and I’ve gotten a BUNCH done. I’m really ready for a break and to settle back into some deep, serious self-care. (And diving into more creative projects, of course!) But before I do, here’s a comprehensive round up of everything I’ve gotten done! I’m having a lot more fun (and “success”) this year, and I just hope I can keep up the momentum!
(Don’t want to listen to a 2-hour podcast? As much as my voice sounds like honey on a hard-on, I totally get it. 
April 23, 2018
CEFJ #65 How Deep Focus Equals Progress + Fighting Artistic Trauma (4/23/18)
The King Arthur Production is OVER, y’all!! And it was excellent! Our actors KILLED IT! I’m super proud of the final results, and I feel really accomplished this semester. At the same time, I do realize that injustices experienced during this process caused a lot of emotional damage, and I’m dealing with the fallout of this. (Even though it’s largely internal.) I talk about how to deal with yourself as an artist when your creativity & creative self-esteem feels attacked.
ALSO, I talk about “deep focus” (defined by me as focusing hardcore on ONE creative task at a time) and how actively engaging in deep focus has helped me to achieve more in four months than I’ve achieved in four years (imo)! Stay tuned.
April 9, 2018
CEFJ #64 Writing Musicals, Directing, and Dealing with Theatre Assholes (4/9/18)
GUYS!!! I WROTE A MUSICAL!! A short one, but still. Baller. I’m also nearly done with my story for the 4-author sci-fi novel collaboration. I’m also in LOVE with directing, and in addition to writing novels, doing musical theatre, screenwriting, and game design, I now KNOW for sure that directing is yet another viable creative path for me. Lots of stuff is happening and coming to fruition in some amazing ways, and I’m so excited to talk about them with you!
VLOG VERSIONS
JOIN COLBY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
My Author Website: www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice
March 26, 2018
CEFJ #63 I LOVE DIRECTING!!! (3/26/18)
I LOVE DIRECTING, Y’ALL! What I don’t like? Diva attitudes and not following my instincts, lol. It’s been two weeks since I’ve been back on the podcast, and of course, I have some updates for you on how directing (while being a single mom whose daughter is in the rehearsal room) is going for me.
VLOG VERSIONS
JOIN COLBY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
My Author Website: www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice
March 12, 2018
CEFJ #62 Spring Break is Over… and I’m Sad (3/12/18)
Spring Break is over, and hell has officially begun. For the next 6 weeks, my life is getting dragged by grad school and by this King Arthur production, so just please bear with me. And send me your prayers, lol.
VLOG VERSIONS
JOIN COLBY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
My Author Website: www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice
March 5, 2018
CEFJ #61 Spring Break’s Here + Fuck The Institution (3/5/18)
SPRING BREAK IS HERE, YO!
So, I’ve been away for a couple weeks… sorry about that! I was trying to get things done and out of the way for Spring Break.
I’ve got some interesting updates on directing, dramaturgy, rebuilding The Bohemian Badass, working on a novel collaboration with 3 other sci-fi authors, and MORE! Plus, as usual, I had to brush off the institutional Borg this week as well. Le sigh… But in better news: SPRING BREAK, YO!
VLOG VERSIONS
JOIN COLBY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
My Author Website: www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice
February 23, 2018
CEFJ #60 BLACK PANTHER + The Importance of Creative Entrepreneurship (2/23/18)
BLACK PANTHER WAS LIT!!! Let’s talk about it, y’all. One of the best Marvel movies ever, and frankly, one of the best movies of ALL time. FIGHT ME. xoxoxo
VLOG VERSIONS
JOIN COLBY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
My Author Website: www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice
February 19, 2018
CEFJ #59 Over My Dead Director’s Body, Bruh (2/19/18)
Not many updates here, but I do have a pretty swag story about how I had to, once again, advocate for my director’s credit for a production I’m co-directing. I’m not sure if I’ll ever have to stop having awkward conversations or interactions around directing, but I’m definitely getting a lot better at it because… I WON! Tune in for more details.
VLOG VERSIONS
JOIN COLBY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fantastical-journey-of-a-black-female-sci-fi-writer/
My Author Website: www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice
February 15, 2018
Where To Go Get You Some Inspiration
Inspiration is one of those nebulous forces that many novice writers think is innate. If they don’t have it, they can’t write. That’s their excuse and they’re sticking to it. Anyone who has been at it for a lot longer will tell you: inspiration isn’t always something you’re given, sometimes you have to work for it. So, many writers have their “go-to” sources of inspiration. Here are some that might work for you as well as they work for some others.
Read, read, and read some more
A common issue with newer writers is that they know too well the genre they want to write in. Knowing what you want to write isn’t bad, of course, but sticking exclusively to that genre in your reading is. Vary your reading. If you’re writing a fantasy novel, read history, read romance novels, read thrillers, read classic literature. Otherwise, it’s all easy to ape other authors in the genre you want to be in. While homage and genre conventions aren’t bad, being more well-rounded in your reading can help you gather inspiration for ideas new to the genre, too.
People-watching
When it comes to creating and writing people, then there’s no better inspiration than people themselves. You will often find yourself basing character traits on those you recognize from people around you. But people-watching as highlighted by https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201504/the-experts-guide-people-watching can help you pick on behaviors, quirks, expressions, and other factors that can end up sprouting a whole character in your head or help you better characterize one that needs a little more definition.
Out in the wild
If you’re writing stories that take place out in the wild, then having a deep sense of what it’s actually like out there is incredibly important. If you want to write a forest well, you need to see it, smell it, breathe it in, and feel it under your feet. A little solitude and a new environment is great for thinking away from your comfort zone, but even better is when you’re not so passive about it. When you’re at the beach, check out https://themarinebattery.com/top-10-isup/, grab a board and get out on the waves. When you’re in the woods or at your nearest mountainside, get on your hiking boots and get walking. Exercise is another great way to get your head ticking in another direction on its own, but in the outdoors, it also helps you get more in touch with the sensation of your environment.
Outside your wheelhouse
There is plenty of art inspired by other art. Plenty of writers use music to set scenes or grow scenes in their head. Pieces of visual art can be the starting point for a whole narrative. Explore art outside your own pursuits.
Talk about it
Finally, don’t neglect to talk to other writers and share their work when you can. You’re going to see narrative devices they use that could inspire some creativity of your own, or you’re going to read scenes that have you thinking “but what if it went this way?” Use https://nybookeditors.com/2015/11/11-top-writing-communities-you-should-join-and-why/ to find some great online writing communities, and get involved in the conversation.
You might find yourself getting inspiration from somewhere completely different than the examples named above. Great, that’s perfect. Just take note of it so you know a source you can tap into in future.
