The Hollywood Studio Club, just like I remember and write about it in the screenplay I am writing. We were all such lively young women, with stars in our eyes.
FireflyTree Productions ©mcw2010 ***set me free to be me ***
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Hollywood Studio Club
Places to remember.I lived at the Hollywood Studio Club in the early 60s, when the HSC was a rooming house for young models and young women in the entertainment industry.
Wish I could remember my roomy's name.
Here is what I looked like when I lived there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Studio_Club
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Writers: avoid scams
There are scams and scammers after hardworking writers starving for fame, attention and sales. While writers go broke, predators grow rich. So, beware when looking for publishers, agents and entering contests. Here are some: General Guidelines & Tips on Avoiding Scams
Bona-fide editors, agents, and publishers associated with a publishing company don’t ask for up-front money and if you find one that wants to represent you check their record of sales.
I have ideas galore and books in progress but as I write I pay little or no attention to grammar, etc. I do go over my work, and have other eyes read it, several times after its written but final edits are hard for me. It's hard to “Murder your darlings” and harder to find an editor, not associated with a publisher, to go over a manuscript before its submitted. It’s a shame to read published work laden with errors. I have an editor, found him in a writers group, who not only corrects my grammar but also gives me input on the story, structure and dialogue without wrecking my style.
There are many sites one can go to sift-out: Movie producers,
Contests,
Publicists, Cover artists, etc. I find Predators & Editors the most helpful.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Beware what genre you toll
I might have been incorrect in labeling my book VIRGINS as Science-Fiction/Fantasy. Recently someone said that its Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance so I began examining the PNR and UF genres and to my delight I came across an article on Heroes and Heartbreakers by author LARISSA BENOLIELIn the article, Benoliel explains Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance:
1) “Urban Fantasy is all about the paranormal embedded in a modern setting” That is VIRGINS because even though it starts in ancient times it develops in the modern area.
2) There might be “a love interest and even a boyfriend or another, but the focus of the series is the action, character development, and the plot” There again, in VIRGINS there are love interests but plot and characters drive the story.
3) However, wait here is a twist: “More often than, not in Urban Fantasy we get the heroine narrating in first person” in VIRGINS there is a first-person and third person. I am saved by, “On the other hand, Paranormal Romances are usually written in more than one point of view.”
4) Furthermore, “the biggest differences between both genres for me is the character developments. In Urban Fantasy, we usually have one main character that will appear as the protagonist of several novels” my original characters appear in other novels.
5) Moreover, “Some series are in the tiny wriggle room between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance which makes it hard to define them.”
So here it is: VIRGINS is an Urban Fantasy and a little bit Paranormal Romance.
Just like the dragon in the second book of trilogy
This earring is just like the dragon in the second book of my trilogy.
Mystic asian dragon ear cuff earring - gothic dragon jewelry
Monday, July 21, 2014
The PITCH
God Almighty help me with the PITCH. In this article's first thing listed on how to get published is the PITCH and for my science-fiction-fantasy novel that has become the hardest todo!» Top 10 Tips for Getting Your Book Published : Freedom With Writing
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Listening to my body
Could not go back to sleep, one of those nights, the cat was fussing, I woke, stayed in bed for awhile irritated at my husband's snores. In that state of mind I realized that I am trying push myself to stay inside the waking and sleeping times I had before I retired and sometimes that is not working. So I decided that hence forth, unless I have a pressing need to be on a schedule, I will go to sleep when I need to and accept waking up when I do. I will listen to my body. So here I am, 4:37 a.m. with one cup of oatmeal and another of tea sitting in my favorite reading corner, open my iPad and voila, the meditation for the day in my email is about instincts!
"Instincts
Creation gave us instincts for a purpose. Without them we wouldn't be complete human beings. . .
Yet, these instincts, so necessary for our existence, often far exceed their proper functions. . .
Nearly every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case of misdirected instinct.
When that happens, our great natural assets, the instincts, have turned into physical and mental liabilities."
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 42
Thought to Ponder . . .
Once we understand ourselves, the rest of living falls in line.
Courtesy of: AA-Alive.net
Creation gave us instincts for a purpose. Without them we wouldn't be complete human beings. . .
Yet, these instincts, so necessary for our existence, often far exceed their proper functions. . .
Nearly every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case of misdirected instinct.
When that happens, our great natural assets, the instincts, have turned into physical and mental liabilities."
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 42
Thought to Ponder . . .
Once we understand ourselves, the rest of living falls in line.
Courtesy of: AA-Alive.net
http://dailythought@aa-alive.org
Wisdom from all sources
| Deny the Unreal | Tammuz 22, 5774 · July 20, 2014 |
| Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson | Print this Page |
There are things you fix up by doing the right thing with them. Those carry your soul high.There are things you fix up by not doing the wrong thing with them. Those carry your soul higher than high.
There are things you fix up because you did the wrong thing with them, and then you returned with all your heart. Those carry your soul high beyond imagination.
Yet even these have some reality of their own, some means by which they could be used for good purposes.
Then there are things whose entire being is but to oppose all that is good—to strike fear, to cause despair, to be darkness. To deny reality.
And so, in your your denial of their reality, in your refusal to show them fear, to provide them any ounce of credibility, they dissipate into the nothingness they truly are.
Those carry your soul to its very core and being. And yet higher.
Deny the Unreal - Daily Dose of Wisdom
Friday, July 18, 2014
thought for action
"Don't be afraid to take a big step if needed. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."
-- Anonymous
Courtesy of Brian Tracy
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Want to protect your writing and ideas?
Although I don't think any method is set in stone its better to be safe than sorry.
For my writing I have used the mail to myself and Writers Guild of America. For ideas, such as my travel invention, I do a Patent Pending; not easy to do it on your own but possible.
Here is some more:
EveryWriter - an online publication lists two potions: copywriter and send it to yourself. For procedure read their article: How To protect Your Writing From Theft.
Kiki-How has seven steps: How to Protect Your Written Ideas and Stories: 7 Steps
The article: "How to protect your work on line" has five new ideas worth looking into.
Please share your ideas.
Here is some more:
EveryWriter - an online publication lists two potions: copywriter and send it to yourself. For procedure read their article: How To protect Your Writing From Theft.
Kiki-How has seven steps: How to Protect Your Written Ideas and Stories: 7 Steps
The article: "How to protect your work on line" has five new ideas worth looking into.
Please share your ideas.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Food for action
"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."
-- Brian Tracy, Author
Just read: Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Writer
Great article, I will keep it in mind as I send out the first book of my trilogy to agents and publishers. I read it right after I posted on LinkedIn and Facebook “Last week was amazing! The three main goals on my plate: my land inheritance in Nicaragua, the first book of my Science/Fiction trilogy and my suitcase invention, are all moving to completion. This year is going to be great.”Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Writer
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The path to humility
"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."
To get completely away from our aversion to the idea of being humble,to gain a vision of humility as the avenue to true freedom of the human spirit, to be willing to work for humility as something to be desired for itself, takes most of us a long, long time.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 73
Thought to Ponder . . .
Humility is not thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less.
To get completely away from our aversion to the idea of being humble,to gain a vision of humility as the avenue to true freedom of the human spirit, to be willing to work for humility as something to be desired for itself, takes most of us a long, long time.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 73
Thought to Ponder . . .
Humility is not thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less.
Friday, July 11, 2014
food for action
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others."
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, writer
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
To procrastinate or not
July 8, 2014, 4 PM, first page of my on Blog diary.
After the 4th weekend, I have let myself do whatever but July is my birthday month - for me it is the end of the old and beginning of the new.
As I assess my year I admit that, I have accomplished a lot, but I have also let myself meander from my schedule sometimes for important things, but also because, I tell myself, I am retired. True, I retired by choice to publish my books. Do I still want that? Yes, so to that end I must keep to my schedule - unless on vacations or with family or on Sundays:
1. Up at 8-ish. Except Tuesdays and Sundays: Yoga, Pilates, get ready for the day.
2. A few to-dos and email and office work
3. Writing and editing
4. A few to-dos, dinner.
5. TV, and social media during TV
6. Bed by 10-ish to sleep by 11-ish after I challenge myself in Sudoku and Solitaire while watching Friends and George Lopez.
Today my schedule is whacked, and I don't like the way I changed my side of the office my husband and I share, might put it back the way it was until after the Feng Shui on our house gets done.
While checking my email, I came upon this article: “The Zeigarnik effect: the scientific key to better work - Sandglaz Blog Read it, decided to write about and crunch in a bit of #4-7 until bedtime.
I taught time management in addition to technical and manual procedures, and I am always looking for "more efficient ways to work." The 1921, Bluma Zeigarnik studies demonstrated that adults remember interrupted more than completed tasks, and children were "more likely to recall the uncompleted tasks." Uncompleted tasks will "stay on your mind until you finish them" The Zeigarnik effect drives "media and advertising."
What touched me most is: "Ernest Hemingway once said about writing a novel, “it is the wait until the next day that is hard to get through.” But the Zeigarnik effect can be used to positively impact your work productivity." The article addresses the "anxiety" of not completing tasks and why procrastinators like myself are more likely to finish once they start: "the key to beating procrastination is starting somewhere… anywhere."
Want to know more about the Zeigarnik effect and productivity? Read: The Zeigarnik effect: the scientific key to better work.
HP, this is what I need!
Humility.
On his desk, Dr. Bob had a plaque defining humility:"Perpetual quietness of heart.
It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me.
It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble."
- Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, p. 2
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Hola!: A Year After Mass Hunger Strike in California Pris...
Hola!: A Year After Mass Hunger Strike in California Pris...: Is this brutality resting easy in the conscience of those that push for war to stop brutality in other countries? A Year After Mass Hunger...
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
A. Supreme Court ruling that affects the rights of women and working class.
"You need to know this. Last week, the Supreme Court virtually eliminated the President's power to make recess appointments. While the Justices kept in place that power in the case of a few."
On the News With Thom Hartmann: Supreme Court Eliminates President's Power to Make Recess Appointments, and More
On the News With Thom Hartmann: Supreme Court Eliminates President's Power to Make Recess Appointments, and More
Humans must unite to stop Earth's destruction.
Here in the U.S. it is letting go of a political party bent on polluting for the profit of few. As the article, The Giant Methane Monster Lurking, because of "the global warming that's already occurring, Arctic sea ice is melting at unprecedented rates."
The Giant Methane Monster Lurking
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