Tag Archives: Artists

Network: American Zoetrope

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

When I set out to maintain a blog, it was part of a professional to do list I had created for myself (1 of 25 items, of which approaching my career more professionally was also on the list, hence the list).  Another item was to find and research useful sites that offered either information, sound advice, networking opportunities, or all of the above.  So yesterday I shared Stage 32.  Today, American Zoetrope.  The site was developed by Francis Ford Coppola and is open not just to screenwriters, but all writers, artists, musicians, actors, directors, etc.

The site offers you the opportunity to have your work read by a wide audience and receive feedback, in return you must do the same for others, but a little heads up, there are deadlines and rules.  In the screenwriting “room” you must read 3 scripts and offer feedback before being allowed to submit your own work, and there is a time limit for how long your work will be available (30 days) on the site and how long you have to read and review others (you receive an additional 10 days to write the review).  I think this is a great service as it allows you to be more objective which in turn might help you in your own writing.  Plus, it’s free!  Also, there’s an annual contest (deadline was in September, I missed it by 2 days…).

I hope you find this useful!

Happy Sunday!

Network: Stage 32

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

Happy Saturday!  I thought I’d share this great networking site, Stage 32.  I joined it recently and it’s a great way to meet people in different capacities (mostly film related) all over the world, share ideas, ask questions, and find work.

Give it a look!  Have a wonderful and productive weekend!

 

Escapism

Posted in Images, Posts, Websites by

Alistair&Lady(Disneyesque)Today is about escape.  I need a little break from the recent bout of insanity that has made a home for itself in my life.  As my blog is not only about writing, but fantasy and romance as well, I thought today would be a good day to just drift…

I have a minor obsession with a video game called Dragon Age.  The first game in the series is brilliant, and I will hold myself back from commenting further as this is not meant to be a review.  I Googled it and found myself on Deviant Art, a wonderful site, where artists take characters they love and create new and beautiful images (and other art, cosplay, fan fiction, etc.).  I cannot draw, and that saddens me sometimes when I see images like these.  Here are a few from DA that I wish I had on my wall:DAII-Fenris

As a writer, an image is sometimes a great way to visualize a character or place.  If you visit my Facebook page, you’ll find albums of pictures I’ve discovered that help me with each story https://www.facebook.com/RachaelCMarek/photos_albums), and give you a little insight into the types of stories I’m working on.  In each, I have one I refer to as a “touchstone”.  One image that defines the story in my mind.  Enjoy!

Artists displayed: rooster82.deviantart.com, smilika.deviantart.com, and rinacane.deviantart.com

FenrisThank you to them for their beautiful work and for giving this fangirl something more for her obsession and imagination!  I’m now inspired to escape by playing a little DA…Have a good day!

Pick yourself up…dust yourself off

Posted in Posts by

So, I’ve been absent for a little while.  I received another rejection, this time from a job opportunity, and then went on a mini-vacation (literally – this is not a metaphor for what has happened to my brain).  It was good timing.  I’ve been wanting to get out of Los Angeles, if at least for a few days, and regain some perspective.  I haven’t been away since last Thanksgiving and the walls have been closing in.

On the drive in and out of town there is such darkness and calm; there are stars enough to resemble a layer of glitter across a vast expanse and for miles in all directions you can feel like the only one in existence.  Those moments allow you to reflect on your life, your choices, your present course and remind you how small and insignificant you are in the face of such infinite wonder.  It’s not as if I had some grand epiphany, but I did reflect on my current situation and come to terms with the fact that there is truly nothing else I’d rather do.  I don’t always know where the story ideas come from, but they keep coming (fingers crossed/knock on wood)…so what else would I do?

The life of an artist, any type of creative, is a difficult one.  We not only have to produce the work but then try to make everyone else take notice of it and hopefully pay us for it so we can survive a little longer in order to produce another work.  I don’t think we, artists, choose this life willingly.  We have no other option.  For who would choose to be poor, take menial jobs to survive, spend hours upon hours alone, have your family continually tell you to find a “real” job, have naysayers demean your value, etc?  This is the hand we were dealt, and without us the world would be a very different, boring, lacking in imagination, and colorless place.

So take heart, have faith in yourself and your work, and continue on!  Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you, for they are the ones who make this journey bearable and help you retain any amount of sanity.  Here are two of mine (when they were babies) —

IMG_0774

Rejection

Posted in Posts, Quotes by

This year I entered two screenwriting competitions with my second script.  It was the first time I had entered anything, and I was hopeful, but not naive.  When the first rejection letter came in, that my script had not advanced, it stung, and I was sad for a couple of days.  At the end of the mourning, I was more determined.  That’s when I really started taking things more seriously.  I was gonna show ’em all!

When I received the second rejection I was unfazed (well, not as sad as the first time).  Rejection is a part of the process.  Every successful writer I’ve read about has always mentioned the heap of rejection letters tucked away in some box, hidden away, never to see the light of day…and I was on my way to following in their footsteps.  And I found that I was proud of myself for putting my work out there.  That was a stressful click of the mouse.  That first “SEND” had never looked so ominous, but I found it gets easier.

So for those of you in the same boat, here are a few inspirational rejection quotes:

A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success. – Bo Bennett

Rejected pieces aren’t failures; unwritten pieces are. – Greg Daugherty

We will not allow rejection to beat us down. It will only strengthen our resolve. To be successful there is no other way. – Earl G. Graves

We all start somewhere.  Go get ’em!  Wishing you all the best of luck!

Deadlines!

Posted in Posts, Tips by

I love deadlines.  I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. — Douglas Adams

Hi, my name is Rachael, and I am a procrastinator.  If there were a group, I’d most definitely be a member.  Procrastinator.  That’s what I am.  Try as I might, plan as I will, nothing really gets done until the last minute.  I seem to do better now, now that I’ve acknowledged I have a problem, but mostly it still takes a looming deadline to force me to action.  And it can’t be some lofty idea of a deadline, that self-imposed type.  It needs to be a solid, no exceptions type.  I do well under pressure.  And if I know there’s no wiggle room, it’s easier to accept and to make things happen.

But that was the old me…

I am on a new mission, doing things differently.  I set some broad, realistic deadlines to start.  Then I discovered that the more I put myself out there, researching sites, trying to find contacts, etc. I found actual deadlines I could impose on myself of things I wanted to be a part of which helps in putting me on track with a very specific schedule; so far, two screenwriting competitions, an author quest for a new book series, and a fellowship, in addition to reading others’ screenplays to offer feedback and writing/rewriting my own material, reading, blogging, and the rest of my daily routine.  And I’m one of those that does better when they have more on their plate…so heap away!

So, here’s my tip of the day:  If there’s something you want to do, set a deadline, or find one out in the world that will force you (as I have).  Sometimes we need a little blood pumping, sweat, tears, panic, and chaos to achieve great things!

Good luck!

You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is that? Last-minute panic. ― Bill Watterson

It’s all about the routine!

Posted in Posts, Tips by

In an effort to approach my career more professionally I’ve taken to reading numerous articles daily about “the craft” and the like.  I came upon this article recently, originally posted by James Clear (jamesclear.com/daily-routines-writers) about the daily routines of 12 famous writers and how they can be applied to our own lives.  Most writers wake up early and exercise.  I have two dogs so I walk and jog a little daily, but today I tried exercising.  We’ll see how long that lasts.  I hate mornings.

I, myself, am all about routine.  Having the dogs helps too, as they keep me on track, but I’m a night owl.  I write best, I feel, in the late hours of the night when the world is asleep, dark and quiet.  There are no distractions; no phone calls, few Facebook updates, no pressing matters.  And I can play a few mind numbing rounds of Tetris without feeling guilty.  I read somewhere that Bret Easton Ellis plays too.  That makes me feel better.  Sometimes, while I’m spaced out, negotiating odd-shaped blocks into a perfect pattern, I can workout whatever little bump in the writing road I’ve encountered.

Henry Miller’s routine in particular struck me so I thought I’d share – In 1932, the famous writer and painter created a work schedule that listed his “Commandments” for him to follow as part of his daily routine. This list was published in the book, Henry Miller On Writing.

  1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
  2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to “Black Spring.”
  3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
  4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
  5. When you can’t create you can work.
  6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
  7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
  8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
  9. Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day.Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
  10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
  11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

Good Luck!