This article, about how “cancer survivor” came into popularity, is my first attempt at posting something on Medium. The Semantics Of Survivor Update: I got a note from Medium saying I had been “curated,” which is apparently a good thing, and would be promoted in the “Health” section. Woot!
Thursday, April 16, 2020 I’ve turned a corner somehow, and lost my intrinsic motivation to take my morning walk — maybe because it was raining on a couple of days, maybe because I threw my back out a few days ago. Lately I wake and think, what if I just stay in bed? I’ve let … Read more
In my last post, I was saying that two of the classes I’m teaching this term two are very similar to classes I took in screenwriting school. One — the topic of my last post, I enjoyed. The OTHER was pitching class. The room was small and bright. The number of students was less than … Read more
This spring I’ll be taking a cross country trip in order to teach three classes at University of Florida. Two of the topics I’ll be teaching will be very similar to classes at USC that I feel were the most valuable to my writing career. One of them I enjoyed greatly. The other, I did … Read more
2019 has been a year. Such a year that I haven’t even thought much about how it’s the end of a decade — another thing to process at another time. Parents of dear friends have been ill this year. Parents of dear friends have died. Spouses of friends were ill this year. Spouses of friends … Read more
EPISODE 06: “Superman Falling”To save his marriage, a New York advertising exec reluctantly accompanies his wife to the Midwest. Superman Falling lives near to my heart, first because it came from an emotional place, and second, because it I learned so much working on it. The emotional origin was years ago. I was recovering from … Read more
It’s a tough time of year. The weather is hot, both in the way that August is always hot and the way that portends the ever-nearing climate apocalypse. The autumn is nigh. In the way that August always precedes the too-fast downhill slope into the holidays and the end of the year. We’re housesitting for … Read more
The other day, I was asked to give notes on a short script that had an interesting premise and main character and cool settings, but felt lacking in dramatic dramatic tension. In my notes I talked about obstacles and stakes, which are elements that come up commonly enough with clients or students, that I thought … Read more
EPISODE 01: “Room”(After the Storms, Part 1) SUMMARY: In a near-future dystopia, two people check into a hotel room knowing only one will check out. NOTES:This story was first published in Devilfish Review (where you can still read it). It stands alone, but is the first part of a trilogy of stories called “After the … Read more
A couple items: I got very nice note from the editor of the Chariton Review wanting to print a short story I submitted called “How to Write Your Own Biography.” I’ve been writing a treatment for new media project and last week I got a letter saying I’d soon be receiving a contract for an actual script. … Read more