I was mighty impressed by Jeffrey Overstreet’s debut novel, Auralia’s Colors, and am so pleased that he had the time to answer some questions for Reading is my Superpower. Check back for the winner of the Auralia’s Colors giveaway!
When did you first begin Auralia’s Colors, and what was your inspiration? Continue reading
As you may be aware, I currently have a part-time job analyzing books and screenplays for a production company. I read the material, provide a detailed synopsis, and then offer my opinion as to whether the material has promise as a feature film. Last night’s work read was an especially challenging one, offering a strong premise but weak-to-infuriating execution, and as I had just given some notes to a writer friend of mine on how to improve her (already-wonderful) work, I got to thinking about how I tailor my criticism based upon who’s on the receiving end. That inspired this post for Daily Blog Tips’s latest writing project on what I think are the underlying principles of giving criticism that works. Continue reading
I’m attempting to write a novel. Well, I’ve attempted to write several novels, at least five that I can think of. This time, I’m attempting to finish a novel. At least a first draft.
In the past, I’ve tried free writing on the computer and in a notebook, but I always get bogged down somewhere around 50 pages. Continue reading
Synopsis:
A memoir about a writer’s descent into Ritalin and cocaine addiction while working on the not-supposed-to-be-about-her follow up to her best-selling first memoir.
Review:
If I could dare to face my obsession with Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation, I would still not go into therapy because any cure for Wurtzelmania would ruin my taste for things like “Real World: Reunited” and Lindsay Lohan gossip, and I’m just not ready to give up all of my guilty pleasures. Continue reading
I had brunch yesterday with fellow fast reader Alissa and Carey, who shared such astute insights into Brothers K. The time flew by, as it does when readers get together and get on the subject of books. It was such a pleasure to spend time with people who are as passionate about reading as I am. I got some book recommendations (I think I will be checking out Michael Chabon’s newest) and got to rave about mutual love for authors like Tolstoy and George RR Martin.
Later, at a barbecue, I met another woman who is a poet, and since she is also connected to me and Alissa and Carey I think that we’ll be making such conversations a regular occurrence.
This weekend I read another one of those brand-laden YA chicklit books that I get so many of for work. They depress me.
My dear friend Megan got to hang out with Jonathan Lethem and learn all about how he came up with the songs for You Don’t Love Me Yet. The piece made me want to reread the book, which I wasn’t crazy about the first time around. Or maybe I’ll just read more of Megan’s stuff. Either way, read the piece here.
In another incarnation I spent some time teaching screenwriting, which, as you may know, is all about structure. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that there is no screenwriting without structure. Typically, that means three acts highlighting a tightly causal chain of events with linear narration. In films that utilize flashback structure, these flashbacks are usually ordered so that they unfold in a linear fashion. Even Memento, to provide a notable example of a film that plays with time, employs linear temporality after a fashion. In other words, when it comes to time, things can only get so complex. Continue reading
I posted last week about a mistake I made when I first started Reading is my Superpower. It was part of a blog project at Daily Blog Tips, and here is the final list: Continue reading
I’m often asked what I look for when I evaluate books for the movie biz.
First and foremost, I look for the elements that are important to my employers–things that they are specifically looking for in terms of genre, execution, etcetera. I read for a couple of different places, and each has a slightly different mandate.
In general, in order for a book to become a movie it has to have a strong, forward-moving plot line, and a premise that you can easily picture on a poster or in a TV ad campaign. Deal killers are: Continue reading
