Category: Writers

Thoughts From A Screenwriter On Wrapping His First Movie

Doug Spak

Readers of this blog have met my friend, fellow author and screenwriter, Doug Spak. He contributed his first guest post here about writing a screenplay in 42 days.

Although I met Doug at the Algonkian Novel Workshop, Doug’s talents have detoured from novel-writing to screenplays. And, he is obviously good at screenwriting since his first screenplay, A Christmas Masterpiece was filmed this summer in Cincinnatti  for a Hallmark-style movie to be aired during the holiday season.

In today’s Guest Post, Doug describes the thrill of watching his screenplay brought to life: Continue reading “Thoughts From A Screenwriter On Wrapping His First Movie”

Why We Talked About Quitting At A Writers Reunion

At breakfast in St. Augustine, Florida

Writers sometimes need to get together with other writers to swap stories of the hardships of a writing life, and occasionally to celebrate a piece of good news about the latest WIP (work-in-progress.) This week, I got together with two compadres who I met several years ago at the Algonkian writers’ workshop in St. Augustine, Florida.

Since then, I have mentioned members of this 8-strong group (we call ourselves the Gonks) in posts on this blog. Several of them have contributed guest posts on how to get published (Greg), how to query agents (Mandi) and how to write a screenplay that will get optioned (Doug.) Continue reading “Why We Talked About Quitting At A Writers Reunion”

Shonda Rhimes is McBrilliant in Her Masterclass on TV Writing

Shonda Rhimes, Creator of Grey’s Anatomy & Scandal

For anyone who doesn’t get the “McBrilliant” reference in today’s blog title, you obviously have never watched Grey’s Anatomy. That’s the ABC-TV medical drama    — created by Shonda Rhimes — in which Derek, the best-looking neurosurgeon in the show is nick-named McDreamy and Mark, the equally hot-looking plastic surgeon is known as McSteamy. Continue reading “Shonda Rhimes is McBrilliant in Her Masterclass on TV Writing”

How Debut Author Became A Bestseller On Publication Day

Wow! I just read the most fascinating step-by-step account of exactly how The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides shot to the top of the bestseller charts earlier this year. Aspiring authors: Listen up. There’s a lesson to be learned here. Continue reading “How Debut Author Became A Bestseller On Publication Day”

Author’s Surefire Way of Getting Words Onto The Page

In the time, it’s taken me to think about, write, edit and revise my third novel, author R.G. Belsky has written five mysteries. This week, his latest, Below The Fold was published.

Belsky and I worked for the same employers and publications for decades — without ever actually working together. But a book launch party is a party, and authors successful enough to be published must be celebrated — especially if the launch party takes place in the most suitable of locations like the iconic Mysterious Bookshop in New York City. Continue reading “Author’s Surefire Way of Getting Words Onto The Page”