Thank Heaven For Friends Who Inspire...

Last week I spent time with some amazingly talented friends and we talked about writing, short story writing, novel writing, ebook/self-publishing writing and screenwriting. The words were flying! (see what I did there...?) I learned a TON and it's hard not to be inspired when you surround yourself with others who share your passion.

The last panel I attended was one on screenwriting. I consider myself very successful considering how little time I've actually spent writing screenplays. Of course, I've only got 20 or so projects either started or in my brain. I used to dedicate more time to screenplays in the past. Last year I focused more on short stories.

But I left the conference determined to increase my efforts writing scripts.

And this week I have.

AND IT'S BEEN A FRICKIN' BLAST!

I know my latest project needs a LOT of help and may never fulfill the true measure of its creation and one day become a film, but at this point, I don't care! I'm about 40 pages into a comedy. The first act takes up 20 pages so I've got another 30 pages or so for the second act. I have a good idea where I think the story will go. Now, I've got to put in the time and finish it!

If I hadn't spent time with friends, I'd probably be trying to work on one of my novels. They're fun, too, but I forgot how much fun screenplays can be. My goal for March? Getting the first draft ready for the critique group. Wish me luck!

Ladies And Gentlemen, I Present Tom Carr...

One of the best parts of attending a conference is creating and building friendships. Some call it networking, but for me, networking is too informal, too stuffy. The guys and gals I hung out with over this past weekend are friends. 

I met many new people last weekend at LTUE and enjoyed being with others I already knew. And as today was President's Day, my mind wondered to a friend who recently wrote, directed, produced, starred in a show about President Lincoln. My friend's name is Tom Carr.

To put it simply, Tom is amazing! There's really no other way to describe him. I first met Tom at the Salt City Steamfest convention last summer. The table our publishing company rented kept encroaching on Tom's table. Tom never complained, at least, not to me.

Since then Tom and I attended both the Salt Lake Comic Con, and LTUE as panelists. I friended him on Facebook and have followed his posts for several months. He has a project called Pinkertons A Secret Mission and he tried several fundraising efforts to produce the series. So far, he hasn't raised enough to do what he wants with that--and several other--projects.

There is no quit in Tom. The guy's tenacious! I probably would have given up after trying one fundraising effort. Then again, I might not have started up such a project in the first place. I'm just not as brave. You can see an excerpt of Pinkertons on YouTube: HERE. If you get a chance, watch it. It's not perfect and Tom admits as such, but he worked hard and he created it, flaws and all.

Tom and I shared several panels at the conferences we attended. I'm hoping we'll be able to share more in the future. And as I hear him talk about his experiences, his successes and not so successful endeavors, I will sit and be impressed by him. I hope only the best for him because if he accomplished a tenth of all the things he wants to do, I think everyone in the world would definitely know who Tom Carr is. I'm lucky enough to already know.

So, You're Telling Me There's A Green Room...?

"So, where are you headed next?" I asked my friend Chas we walked along the semi-crowded halls of the Provo Marriott (that doesn't have free internet for guests, by the way...grrrr). 

"I'm going to go see if there are any free eclairs left."

"Free eclairs?" I asked, for chocolate creaminess sounded pretty good right about then.

"Yeah," he said casually. "They're in the Green Room."

"What?! There's a Green Room?"

"Yeah, it's just up here at the Willow room."

And so, I almost made the same mistake TWICE! I almost missed out on free food at the Green Room set up for panelists and other guest at this year's LTUE writer's conference.

Last year I was honored to be a panelist at the country's most successful Comic Con, the Salt Lake Comic Con, and I didn't realize until after I read a fellow panelist's Facebook post weeks later that he had an incredible experience meeting celebrities in the Comic Con Green Room.

I had no idea a Green Room at Comic Con even existed and I found out weeks after it was over. Today I spoke to the panelist and told him how I only found out about the room after reading his Facebook post.

"Oh yeah! It was great!" he said smiling." They had a chef who would make whatever you wanted right there for you!" This did not improve my spirits, but it forever cemented the thought in my mind that if I'm again fortunate enough to be invited to be a panelist at another Comic Con (or any event, for that matter...), the first thing I'm going to do is find the Green Room!

A Day In Utah County...

One of the most beautiful valleys in my state is the valley that's named after the state, Utah County. I've never lived in Utah County and I know I have made fun of it more than once over the years, but it is really beautiful.

I spent the day here today with two of my kids. I'll be here tomorrow and most of Saturday. I'm here as part of a writer's conference, LTUE (Light, The Universe, And Everything). I've met new friends, spent good times with established friends, and wore out the kids with many hours of writing instruction.

Tonight my brother and sis-in-law were kind enough to allow me and the kids to crash at their place. They have cool--and big--posters. The trip's been fun so far, and it's just beginning.

An Plug For LTUE...

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This week in Provo, Utah, writers, directors, screenwriters and geeks will assemble to celebrate the event that is LTUE, or Light, The Universe, And Everything conference. It's the 32nd anniversary and I'm going.

Not just going, but participating! And I'm going to be on panels with some incredibly talented individuals. If you're going, I'd LOVE to see you! Come up and say, "hello!"

My Schedule And My Fellow Panelists:

Thursday, Feb. 13 2014, 4 p.m.

Small Press Publishing

C. Michelle Jefferies

Candace J Thomas

Chas Hathaway

S. M. Anderson

Scott William Taylor

Charlene C. Harmon

Friday, Feb. 14 2014, 5 p.m.

The Screenwriting Process

Craig Nybo

Fiona Ostler

Nathan Shumate

Scott William Taylor

Michaelbrent Collings

Blake Casselman

Saturday, Feb 15 2014, 12 noon

ePublishing Short Stories

Bill Housley

EA Younker

Elana Johnson

Joe Vasicek

Paul Genesse

Scott William Taylor

Saturday, Feb 15 2014, 5 p.m.

Writing for Film

Blake Casselman

David Farland

Fiona Ostler

Michaelbrent Collings

Scott William Taylor

Tom Carr

Like I said, amazing talent found within those names. I'm so fortunate to be a part of this. If you're in the area and thinking of going, try it out. If you're like me, you won't be disappointed.

* Photo used without permission from: http://ltue.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/LTUE2014poster.jpg