Loving the art . . .

As I sit here watching the Tony awards, the broad scope of writing is again brought home to me. It happens when I watch the Tonys, the Oscars, the Emmys...It is that feeling of awe that comes over me, realizing the true scope of writing a novel or radio script/screenplay.

As many of you know, my background is in journalism. Writing for newspapers for many years, I know what it feels like to have my work in print and read by many. I have delivered important news and announcements; I have been honored to write feature stories about people, places or events, and to know that those stories have made a difference. In other words, being known as a writer is nothing new.

Of course, now being a published author of Secrets One - The Series is extremely exciting! Holding a hard cover book that I had a part in writing is truly a privilege and a dream come true. The excitement continues as my co-author and I write the radio script for Bloodline Confidential – Part One. The thought of someone taking the words we write to interpret and speak them to a much broader audience just blows me away!!! To hear the words spoken by talented voice actors- and the story come to life- is incredible!

Whether I am writing the news of the day, an opinion piece, a feature story about an interesting person, or a fictional novel, the art of writing is both a joyful satisfaction and a serious undertaking. I sometimes joke about being borderline obsessive-compulsive with my writing. Well- it might be more fact than joking, and maybe more than borderline! Laughs! I love the art, and I want anything I produce to be as perfect as possible, to be true to the art one might say. As a spiritual person, I also strive to do all things as unto the Lord.

With all this considered, it is especially important to me to produce the best work possible for those performers to speak and act. And I know that I am so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work in an art that I absolutely love.

Do I believe that one day my co-author and I will be mentioned at one of those award shows? Absolutely! Hope you are watching!

Secrets One - The Series

Comparing the views . . .

Part of the joy of reading for pleasure- for me- is imagining the various characters and everything about them and their storylines. I am talking about each and every detail about the characters- how they look, how they wear their hair, how they talk, their surroundings and even their vehicles. I have a complete movie of sorts running in my mind as I read. This is also true as I write.

My son is more of a music lover than a reader. In fact, he has written more than 100 songs. When he is not writing music he is listening to it. We were discussing music videos the other day- after watching a couple that only could be called bizarre! There are other music videos that are good overall, but depict a different meaning- or visual- of the song than one may visualize or imagine listening to it. We agreed that sometimes it is just better to listen to the music, letting ones imagination provide the visual! Unless, of course, it is Elvis in any of the videos from the '68 Comeback Special! Laughs!

There are also some avid readers who are reluctant to see a movie based on a well-read and well-loved novel. There are always some changes made when it goes from print to film. And, chances are the actors look or sound nothing like those in the mind's view of a reader. Of course, the reverse does occur- the movie versions lead readers to awesome books.

Working on the Secrets project has been interesting in this respect. Living with the characters for so long- in my mind, anyway- they have a certain look, personality, and even sound. My co-author and I have come up with a fantasy cast over time, but even at that I still have my own version tucked away in my mind.

This was really made evident to me as the audition team recently selected voice actors for the radio drama, Bloodline Confidential – Part One. How does one select the voice actors? For me, it was matter of trying to match the voices in my head for the specific characters! Laughs! Sometimes my choices matched the others on the audition team, and sometimes not. (As a side note, I might add that there were some awesome auditions!) In the end, we have an awesome cast of voice actors!

So, what do you think? Do you have the visions and voices in your mind as you read, or write? Do you prefer your music as you imagine it? Or do you enjoy another's interpretation of the art, be it writing or music?

Secrets One - The Series

Cracking the writer's block . . .

One of the occupational hazards - so to speak - for writers is the onset of writer's block! You will not see any Public Service Announcements (PSA) for this affliction- afterall, with writer's block one would not have the words to write the PSA...laughs! (Sorry, I could not resist!)

OK, maybe it is NOT serious enough for celebrities to do a PSA. But, if you- yes, I mean you- suffered from this you would want help! Or, are you already one of the silent sufferers?

It is time to speak out about this malady. I will admit I have been struggling with a mild case of writer's block the last few weeks. I know I have written before about how an idea forms in my mind and then just grows, like a small seed blossoming into a Spring flower. Well, my seeds the last few weeks were just rolling around, not quite pushing through the dirt to bloom. This is frustrating when I want to write!

It happens to all artists at some point, whatever the medium. And for a variety of reasons. And the antidotes can be just as varied. I know of one person who likes to get in the car, crank up some tunes and just drive to open the mind. A walk in the park might work, or perhaps visiting with family and friends may be another's solution. Both the cause and the reversal can be mysterious....

So, the moral of this blog would be not to panic if your words, or painting, or song just is not there. It happens to all of us at one point or another. And just as quickly, the spark will flash or the seed will bloom, and you will create again. I know that just a few a moments ago I was sitting here wishing I could write a blog that was way overdue...

Secrets One - The Series