October/November Comment Contest Winner

By Marilyn Friedman
 
I know that you've all been waiting to find out who won the October/November comment contest.  Well before I tell you, let's talk about New Year's resolutions.  If you are like me, you're trying to motivate yourself to shrink your backside and WRITE MORE!  Let Writing Pad help you make your 2012 literary goals come true.  Check out our fantastic January/February roster below!

Events:
•Footprints Screening

Book Publishing 
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast: Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy
•Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch

The October/November comment contest winner is: David Sanchez.  Congratulations, David!

When I asked David what inspires him to write, he said, "I've been reading as long as I can remember, everything from newspapers, magazines, and ketchup packets. Things I read or hear - be it a random quote in a news article or a lyric in a song - are often a trigger for the stories I develop."  Sounds good to me!  I'm going to have start paying more attention to ketchup packets, David.  Fascinating!

You can check out David's wonderful story here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2011/10/writing-prompt-your-very-own-tall-tale.html

I hope that you will all keep commenting on this blog.  Your stories are amazing!  A new comment contest is on for Dec./Jan. so I hope that you will enter. 

Writing Prompt: Collections

By Marilyn Friedman

Happy New Year! Writing Pad has plenty of fantastic classes to make 2012 even more memorable than 2011.  Check them out along with your first free writing prompt of the year below!

Events:
•Footprints Screening

Book Publishing 
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast: Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy
•Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 things that you collected as a child (or your fictional character collected).  Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch) and write for 10 minutes about it.  Then, post your writing in the comments of this blog for the chance to win a free writing class.  I collected seashells so that's what I will write about!

What did you (or your character) collect as a kid?  Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Winter Holiday Memory

by Marilyn Friedman    

I have a couple more fun literary tidbits for you this Friday and Saturday--check out the details below.  Plus the Winter 2012 schedule has been posted!  Also, don't forget that Writing Pad gift certificates make wonderful presents.  To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

Events:
•One-Person Show Performance Showcase (12/16)
•Footprints Screening (1/13)

Classes This Week:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell

Winter 2012 Classes

Book Publishing 
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast: Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp

Writing Prompt:
Make a list of the best or worst five childhood winter holiday memories.  Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch, sight).  Then write for 10 minutes and post the results in the comments of this blog! 

For instance, I am going to write about getting in trouble for singing Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer on a tour bus in Florida.  My parents didn't think that was an appropriate thing a little Jewish girl to do!


Post your writing in the comments of this blog!  You could win a free class.  What comes to mind when I say, "childhood holiday memory?"

Recipe: Wassail

by Andrea Ruth and Marilyn Friedman    


Take a Writing Pad class, and make your winter cozy and productive!  Also, don't forget that Writing Pad gift certificates make wonderful presents.  To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

Events:
•One-Person Show Performance Showcase (12/16)
•Footprints Screening (1/13)

Classes This Week:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell

Winter 2012 Classes

Book Publishing 
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast: Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp

Andrea says:

"This Wassail recipe is perfect for any and every holiday gathering from now until New Years.  It is strong and puts a hum in your day if you have too many at an afternoon party. You can make it sans alcohol, and it is still just delicious!
It's a traditional Irish Christmas drink, and it comes to me via traditional Irishwoman Sarah Lang whose Wassail was the first and best I ever tasted!"

Wassail
For 10 to 12 servings:
8 cups apple cider
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup dark rum
1/2 cup brandy
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Salt to taste (just a couple pinches)
1 lemon and 1 orange, thinly sliced

Mix apple cider and brown sugar in large saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the rum, brandy and Grand Marnier. Stir in spices and lemon/orange. Simmer over medium heat 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do NOT boil. If you want to be fancy, you can serve with grated nutmeg or cinnamon sticks.

Good luck - we hope it and YOU are a big hit!

Writing Prompt: Memorable Movies

by Marilyn Friedman    

Get your writing fix before the holidays swoop you up!  We have two fantastic screenwriting classes in December that you won't want to miss: Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot! with award-winning screenwriter, Steven Peros and Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script with development exec/screenwriter, Rob Ripley!

To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!



This Week:

•So You Want To Be A Writer? (ONLINE)
•Plot It Out: Mapping A Compelling Journey
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

Dec. 1 - 4:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Your Name In Print: Get Your Story Published

Dec. 6 - 14:
•Girls Gone Wild: Writing For The Female Audience
•Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot!
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street

Writing Prompt:

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to go to the movies (and watch lots of movies on DVD).  In honor of this ritual, I'd like you to make a list of five memorable movies (memorable because something bad happened when you went to see the movie, or it was the setting for a first date, or you always watch this movie with your family on Thanksgiving, etc.).  Pick one movie.  Now write down a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch) to go along with movie.  Set the timer for 10 min. and write, and make sure that you include the sensory detail in your piece.  When you are done, post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, when I went to see "The Piano Teacher" with Isabelle Huppert, I was so disturbed by the behavior of the main character that I got nauseous and fainted in the movie theater lobby twice.  I think that I will write about that!

Comment on this blog!  Write what comes to mind when I say, "memorable movie."  If you post your story in the comments of this blog, you could win a free class!

Movie Talk With Screenwriter/Director Steven Peros

 By Sophia Kercher

Skim the resume of Steven Peros, and you'll be inspired to rise out of your chair and go make something. Why, you ask?

Steven has created award-winning films and is a twice-published Samuel French playwright. His research into a mysterious death on board William Randolph Hearst's yacht led to his original screenplay, “The Cat's Meow” (Lionsgate, 2002), directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Kirsten Dunst and Eddie Izzard. The film was highly regarded by critics and appeared on a dozen year-end “Ten Best” lists, including Film Comment. When he's not speaking about screenwriting at film festivals and universities nationwide, Steven dreams up budget-friendly movies. His microbudget film "Footprints" comes out next month. 

On Sunday, November 13th, Steven will be teaching Writing Pad students how to turn unwieldy real life events or characters into a three-act script in his class "Writing the Royalty Free Screenplay."  Before this weekend, we had the chance to pick Steven's brain and, like we imagined, it was quite a ride.

How does L.A. inform your work?
I become very immersed in where I live and have always incorporated it into my scripts.  L.A. has a special draw for me because even as a boy on Long Island, I dreamt of Hollywood.  Now I can walk to Grauman’s Chinese.  For me L.A. has so much history, so much energy of the creative souls that have come, fought so hard to be heard, and won or lost the battle.  It’s a crazy, beautiful, ugly, frustrating, and exciting place. 

Your movie “The Cat’s Meow” was based on your research of a mysterious 1924 real-life death. Can you explain how people looking to write a screenplay can draw stories from real-life events?
How can writers draw stories from real life?  How can they not?  Flip through an encyclopedia to any random page.  Type arbitrary interesting words or people into Wikipedia and see what pops up or pick up a book on famous murder trials or unsolved mysteries.  If a story involves a public figure and that figure is deceased – guess what? – there are no rights required.  It’s free!  We will go more into this on Sunday (Nov 13) at Writing Pad, so I urge everyone with a true story from history, their family tree, or their own lives to join us so they can take the next steps to putting it on the page.

As an experienced screenwriting teacher, as well as a film professional, what are some of your suggestions for writers who are sitting down to write their opening scene?
Whether you are writing a subtle character piece or a kick-ass action film, you must make us sit up and say, “This is a writer who I want to spend the next 90-120 pages reading.”  Your dialogue, description, economy (so important!) lets the reader know they are in good hands.  In addition, surprise us with something that we were not expecting in that first scene, a detail we couldn’t predict that tells us your characters will keep us compelled and on our toes.  Most people write scripts with scenes unintentionally copied from a million other movies – make your first scene something we haven’t read before.

In addition to your playwriting and screenwriting career, you have made several films on a budget such as “Footprints.” Can you tell me more about what led you to that process?
I have always been a screenwriter with a goal of making the films I write.  I tried for years to get four different “first directing features” off the ground with four different producers, each budgeted between $1M and $6M. After a rollercoaster of “almosts” with those films, I finally said, “I’m going to make a movie for an amount of money I can actually raise, instead of for an amount I can’t.”  From there, “Footprints” grew.  You can read more about how the film happened at The Huffington Post and find out how to do it yourself during our Microbudget Madness class on Dec 11 at Writing Pad. 

You have two films coming out next month, can you tell me more about them?
Yes, I’m very excited about them.  The first film, "Footprints" was a microbudget film shot entirely on Hollywood Boulevard and stars Sybil Temtchine.  We had a limited Engagement in April in NYC and LA.  In July, the Chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle called it “One of the 10 Best Films So Far This Year” which led to us being booked into more cities beginning Dec 16.   The second film is a larger budget supernatural thriller called "The Undying" which stars Emmy nominee Robin Weigert (HBO’s “Deadwood”) and Wes Studi (“Avatar,” “Last of the Mohicans”). That movie will be released on DVD/VOD on Dec. 12 and will be at every Redbox in the country as well as Blockbuster, Amazon, and Netflix afterwards.

What are your tips for people who are considering writing a screenplay and/or producing their own film on a budget?
Write a film for an amount of money that you can actually raise with a unique script that excites you.  In my one-day Microbudget Madness class, we will go through a series of great in-class exercises to help you utilize all that is already in your life and therefore free or very inexpensive (locations, crew, actors, props).  If you came to L.A. to not only write, but to go out and make a movie, I hope that you will join us.

Thanks, Steven for sharing your expertise with us!  We can't wait for your classes Writing The Royalty Free Screenplay and Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot! at Writing Pad this weekend and on Dec. 11th.

Recipe: The Waffle of Insane Greatness

by Andrea Ruth and Marilyn Friedman    


Writing Pad has a delectable feast of writing classes paired with Andrea Ruth's culinary yummies this November and December.  Also, Andrea and rock star novelist Jessica Brody will be tantalizing our literary and food muses at Writing Pad's Idyllwild Writing Retreat this March 9-11th!  Stay tuned for more details.

To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

This Week:

•So You Want To Be A Writer? (In-Person)

•Finishing School

•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean

•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story
•Get Your Grimm On: Finding Your Inner Fairy Tale
•Writing The Royalty Free Screenplay
•Period Piece Power: Crafting A Historical Masterpiece

Next Week:
•So You Want To Be A Writer? (ONLINE)
•Plot It Out: Mapping A Compelling Journey
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

Dec. 1 - 4:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Your Name In Print: Get Your Story Published

Dec. 6 - 11:
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Girls Gone Wild: Writing For The Female Audience
•Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot!
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script

Andrea says:
"I didn't start out as a waffle person. I didn't like the idea of starting my day with a griddled cake covered in butter and syrup. A few years ago, I took a job making waffle pops for a holiday party, and I had to come up with a damn good recipe. I stumbled upon the "Waffle of Insane Greatness," and boy were they great! I made 12 liters of waffle batter based on that recipe. We had many subsequent waffle parties in an attempt to use up the batter, and we never got tired of the waffles.  They were that delicious.

But I just had to monkey with the recipe. I couldn't resist making them with a little less oil, a little whole wheat flour, a banana or some pecans, etc.  The following recipe is a waffle of INSANE greatness to be sure, but it's also good for you! It's a bit more grown up: a sweet breakfast for people who don't really dig sweet breakfasts. And you can feel good eating them five times a week.

To that end here's a tip: double the recipe on Sunday morning, make all the waffles, (not too well done), cool them on a wire rack, and freeze them in a ziplock bag. You can pop them in the toaster all week long." 

Thanks, Andrea!  These waffles sound fantastic.  I can't wait to try making them myself.  Yum, yum, yum!

The Waffle of Insane Greatness
1/2 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/4 cup Unbleached White Flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
Between 3 and 4 Tbsp of vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
A few shakes of cinnamon
Optional: chopped pecans or walnuts, mashed banana

Directions: Combine all dry ingredients, whisk together in a big bowl. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix. Add cinnamon, nuts (if using) mashed banana (if using).  Let it stand in the refrigerator while the iron heats up. You don't have to spray the iron. But you can if it makes you feel better. But only spray it once!

A few suggestions: serve with warm maple syrup (drop your maple syrup in a bowl of hot water while you cook). Take out your butter first so that its not ice cold by the time you need it.  Experiment! Add mashed pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice instead of banana and cinnamon. Use all white flour. Use almost all wheat flour (you want to retain at least 3 Tbsp of white flour for the texture to be good). Add mini chocolate chips (wipe your waffle iron afterwards). Go crazy!