The Third Draft

Yesterday I sent my script to an agent in London. Today I'm mailing it to a manager in Los Angeles.

And then I'm shutting down my computer. Getting up from this chair. And going for a nice, long walk. I live in Paris, after all. I should go out and enjoy it from time to time.

I spent some time in Los Angeles a couple of years ago, networking, pitching, and attending seminars. At one of Gary Shusett's Sherwood Oaks events I met screenwriter/director Lindsay Norgard. I love exchanging work with peers, and I was happy to look at a script of his titled Tijuana and comment on it.

Before I knew it, Lindsay hired me to read another script, this one called Pieces of Sharon. It was an intriguing story with an elaborate structure. It stretched my analytical abilities to the full and was loads of fun to read and to work on.
 
Guess what? Just the other day, Lindsay wrote to say that Pieces of Sharon starts shooting at the end of the month! Lindsay will direct, Sammi Davis-Voss (Hope and Glory, Four Rooms), will star, and she and Lindsay will co-produce.
 
I'm delighted for Lindsay. I loved Pieces of Sharon and I can't wait to see the finished product.

But the best part for me? Lindsay thought my notes were so useful that he’s offered to thank me in the credits. Woo hoo! this networking stuff works. Like my momma used to say: You never know what the future will hold.

Okay, so she didn't really say that. But she should have, because it's true.

So today I got the copies of my book, 101 Screenwriting Tips. It's so exciting to finally hold it in my hands! What a wonderful sensation it is to flip through the pages of my first published book. It's a lovely object, with a nice design, and it weighs in at 180 pages. It's hard to believe I wrote it in only six weeks! But thanks to the producers, directors, and writers I interviewed, the writing was the easy part. Waiting to see it in print, now that was a different story!

I had a blast writing 101 Screenwriting Tips. It was a great adventure and a fantastic learning experience. The tips I inlcuded are my favorite ones, the things I learned along the way that I found the most helpful. I hope they'll help other writers, too.

I'd love to hear from readers. What was your favorite tip? Do you have any great tips you'd like to share with other writers? Drop me a note and let me know!

I'm excited to announce that my book, 101 Screenwriting Tips, is finally available on Amazon.com! I haven't seen the book yet, and the cover art isn't posted on Amazon, but I'm told the book is a lovely object to behold. I'll let you know more as soon as I have my copies.

In the meantime, check out a radio interview I did for LifeTips, the book's publisher, on WebmasterRadio.fm.

It's been a while since I've updated this blog, but I've had a marvelous and surprising career turn that's been keeping me very busy.

Just before Christmas, I was approached about writing a book for  LifeTips.com called 101 Screenwriting Tips. Well, I had never considered writing a screenwriting book before, but this was a challenge and an opportunity I just couldn't turn down. Of course I said YES.

I spent eight weeks writing almost non-stop. I interviewed several industry professionals, including producers, entertainment lawyers, and other writers. It was a massive amount of work, but it was also lots of fun and a great learning experience. And today I found out that the final proof has been approved. The book will be available on Amazon.com and in book stores very soon!

101 Screenwriting Tips is a collection of practical tips and strategies. By sharing the wisdom that I've gathered along the way, I hope to help other writers on their own journeys. For beginners, the book provides encouragement, motivation, and a wealth of information. More advanced writers will discover some new angles amongst the usual advice.

I'm very excited about this new project, and I'd love to hear your feedback on it. I’ll let everyone know as soon as it comes out!