For all the authors and playwrights in our community, a place to discuss, share content and post tips and advice.
As I've posted about many times previously, I've spent the last few years working on a fantasy trilogy of novels concurrently with a sci-fi novel. Literally this month, I finally finished the final edits and plot summaries of the trilogy and will soon start the query process. As such, I have opted t...
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Hey Writers,
Check out today's new blog to learn about the 10 tools that one director uses to maintain a healthy mental state and mentally prepare for their next project! It's filled with fantastic tips that we could all use to reset and recover as we create.
https://www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-main...
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A+ info! (And) Much needed on a hot button topic (subject) of today; where folks referencerust out.
Agreed, Kenneth Adrian Ellis - such an important topic and an excellent and useful read here.
Absolutely, Kenneth Adrian Ellis! We have to take care of ourselves and sometimes it's easier to do that when others remind us how.
I wanted to share this interview with Greg Ruth that I had a couple of years ago for the Burbank International Film Festival. He says some pretty amazing things about his writing process. He uses a metaphor about Frankenstein's monster that I thought was brilliant! I hope you find it interesting!
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Well, it's that time of year again. What is everyone looking forward to in the new year? What creative goals are you all setting for 2024?
Rooting for everyone to reach their goals in 2024! You got this!
I'm hoping to read more this year! I want to read at least 12 books by the end of the year.
Ashley Renee Smith I hope to read more this year too. I've spent the last few years writing a lot, but didn't have much time for reading. I literally just finished The Dark Tower Book 1 for the first...
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I need to get back to reading plays and finding scenes and monologues. Also, I want to write that Stage 32 blog that Ashley Renee Smith asked me about months ago. lol
Hahaha, you just let me know when you're ready, Suzanne Bronson!
After releasing my last book, Access Denied - What Happened Next, back in November, I decided to take a short break from writing or anything to do with writing, bar the occasional marketing of the latest books I'd released.
I came back to a piece I'd started early last year and worked my way through...
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David E. Gates glad you're thinking about getting other eyes on it! If you plan on using beta readers after your revisions, a couple tips to consider: 1) Seek out beta readers who prefer the genre of...
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Agreed - a break is healthy and usually nets great results for the project and you, as an artist. Thanks for the share, David E. Gates!
Happy New Year to all, I'm especially happy because my most recent book, "Mafia, Money, and Mahem," which I have always thought would make a great movie, now has six 5-star ***** reviews on Amazon. I'm trying to figure out how to get a screenplay made.
Congratulations, Lois! And good luck with the next steps to seeing it on screens.
Dear Pamela, Thank you for your very kind words. It seems that mature women really enjoy this book and the many laughs it gives them, which is why I have such a strong feeling it would make a great movie.
Happy New Year, everyone! As we welcome 2024, let us prepare for a creative, successful year ahead, and also reflect on our accomplishments of the past year. I'm looking forward to finishing my 42nd book and my next two feature screenplays. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else does in the new year!
Happy New Year, Steven Gamella! Hope you have an incredible year and get your projects in the right hands!
Happy New Year, Steven Gamella!
Happy New Year, Steven!
That many books -- impressive and inspiring, Steve. Thanks for the nudge to many of the rest of us.
Hey everyone - Peter McDonough, Showrunner's Assistant on Ghosts (CBS) & Stage 32 Educator is hosting a 24-hour Ask Me Anything ("AMA") in the Writer's Room Lounge today, focused on "The Role and Responsibilities of a Showrunner's Assistant". Peter was the very first hire into the writer's room on G...
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Let's roll out the red carpet and welcome some of the fantastic new people joining our Stage 32 Community this January! Thanks to Ashley, Sam, Sydney and the team for bringing us top notch educators. You can read more by clicking on the link below:
https://www.stage32.com/blog/red-carpet-roll-out-jan...
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Thanks so much, Leonardo Ramirez! It's an excited month to kick off a great year!!
It is absolutely going to be a great year, Sam Sokolow !
Hey all - this is your chance to rewrite your TV series pilot script with expert guidance from Anna Henry, a producer who was worked with CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, and more.
Anna is a sought after producer, executive and literary manger who works with writers at the highest level. Working with Anna on...
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For many people starting out, the idea of a producer reaching out to you is the unicorn we all dream of. What? No pitching, querying, praying, begging? They just… come to you? Yes. I’ve found that often it is that way around. What helps to get to that point is relatively straightforward. You have to...
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The author of Younger by Darren Star told me she got the Hollywood miracle. Her book ended up on Darren's desk and he decided to turn it into a series. I think Netflix reached out to the author of Maid. I'm praying I'm next!
I pray you are next as well Lisa Monks!
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
Here's your chance!
In this new Stage 32 screenwriting lab, you will write your television series pilot episode in 10 weeks while being mentored directly by multi Emmy nominated TV showrunner Todd Slavkin.
Todd is a showrunner/writer/director with over 35 years of experience in both film and televisio...
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Sounds like a great opportunity
It is, Lisa Monks - Todd is amazing and such a generous educator and creative spirit. You'll get so much out of working with him if you jump into his lab.
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3 people like this
"The funny thing is now I feel lazy. I was doing too much for so long that now it feels normal. So not overworking myself now feels weird, like I'm doing something wrong."- I completely understand thi...
Expand comment"The funny thing is now I feel lazy. I was doing too much for so long that now it feels normal. So not overworking myself now feels weird, like I'm doing something wrong."- I completely understand this, Terrence Sellers! I tend to run a million miles an hour until I exhaust myself, but whenever I try to slow down I deal with this exact same problem. I'm also trying to be better about this moving forward, but it's not easy.
2 people like this
I think that after so much work you need to rest Terrence Sellers . Your brain will be happy and your whole life too. It's normal to feel lazy, I know what you mean (I'm hyper productive, I don't know...
Expand commentI think that after so much work you need to rest Terrence Sellers . Your brain will be happy and your whole life too. It's normal to feel lazy, I know what you mean (I'm hyper productive, I don't know what is to rest) The process of submission is rather stressing. I will soon have a novel published (I worked a long time on it), but the submission process and waiting for a reply was even worst. I found great advices for the query process in Jane Friedman's site, if you want to take a look. Good luck.
2 people like this
As someone who's spent the past ten years making movies (based on books, mostly) while also writing book after book after book (25+ books later...), I think it's important to rest briefly in between p...
Expand commentAs someone who's spent the past ten years making movies (based on books, mostly) while also writing book after book after book (25+ books later...), I think it's important to rest briefly in between projects - enough to wipe the mental slate clean from one project before starting another. Otherwise, my mind veers into worry and doubt. Even in times of important rest, it's important to keep 500 words daily in practice (a piece of advice an NYT bestselling author told me years ago) even if you delete them later. Just enough to remind yourself the next wave is coming and you must be ready to catch a fish (or many!).
3 people like this
Doing too much, feeling guilty about resting and I can add, waking up to write a new idea at ghostly hours, is probably a 'writer's ailment'. I want to rest but I always pull my laptop feeling guilty for wasted time. I have become a creature of habit when it comes to writing.
2 people like this
Andrea Zurlo Thanks for the recommendation. I will check it out. Currently, I'm preparing to query a novel for the first time and am looking for examples of good novel query cover letters....
Expand commentAndrea Zurlo Thanks for the recommendation. I will check it out. Currently, I'm preparing to query a novel for the first time and am looking for examples of good novel query cover letters.