Off I Go!
01/27/2010 03:41 PM
So, the route has been plotted, I've tossed all sorts of gear into a bag, printed out my manuscript and been trying to figure out my new MacBook in order to get an early start for the Kindling Words retreat in Vermont this weekend. All kinds of bright minds and great friends will be there... and hopefully some new friends as well!

N.B. The "bright minds" and "great friends" categories are not mutually exclusive.

So, look for a few fun posts early next week when I come home with lots of great photos and maybe some video of the weekend!

Unless, of course, the ferry I plan to take across Lake Champlain sinks into the icy waters. I caught the very end of Titanic on TV the other night so all I can think about is sinking into icy waters!

Ciao for now!





A Writer's Perspective on Ferris Bueller's Day Off
01/25/2010 05:13 PM
I was up late one night last week and happened to catch Ferris Bueller's Day Off on some cable channel. I would have to rank it as one of my favorite movies of all time (and was highly flattered when someone referred to Big Slick as Rounders meets Ferris Bueller), but something about it never sat right with me. I mean, what sort of kid could do all the amazing things Ferris does in a single day?

What kid could sneak into the ritziest French restaurant in Chicago by stealing the Sausage King of Chicago's reservation? What would happen when the Sausage King actually showed up? (Please avoid any inappropriate comments regarding this)

What kids could sit in a private booth in the Stock Exchange? Why weren't they ejected from the building?

What kid could hop up on a parade float and have the entire city of Chicago do an impromptu, fully-choreographed routine to "Twist and Shout" without being dragged off in cuffs?


Not to mention, what kid could convince his friend to steal his father's priceless Ferrari???

YA author to the rescue!

Ask yourself what is interesting about Ferris (or Sloane for that matter) in the first place? They are not compelling characters. They are fine to look at, they are cool, they are suave... but maybe a little too cool to be true or even interesting. Cameron is the only one who "rings true". He's the one who struggles. He's the one who grows.

My Theory:
It occurred to me that the preposterous nature of some of these things could only be explained if Ferris Bueller and Sloane didn't actually exist. What if they were figments of Cameron's imagination? Imagine Cameron as a troubled young man who fantasizes about his ideal friends (one who everything works out for and always has a positive outlook and another who is stunningly gorgeous). Then imagine this boy having a total breakdown and going haywire. He steals his father's Ferrari and hits the city for a day of self-realization. Cameron uses dad's credit card to pay for lunch, uses dad's credentials to get into the stock exchange, dad's season tickets to go to a baseball game, and  hallucinates his buddy Ferris the whole time doing what he wishes he could do.

Of course, the clock is ticking and by the end of the day Cameron has to go home and face the music. After a botched suicide attempt in the pool (which is more a cry for help than an attempt) he has to confront his father about what he's done.

With that in mind, watch this scene:


Disturbing when you think of it in my context, right? And how about this one:


So whatcha think?

Marco Polo Submarine
01/21/2010 10:24 AM
Here is a video that is just plain genius. I love how they take something that we all know about, a simple child's game, and take a look at it in a new and clever way.



Marco Polo Submarine. Just smart.

And I think that's the trick with writing. There have been thousands of war stories. Thousands of sports stories. Thousands of love stories. It's all been done before. I've heard it said that there are no new stories out there. The trick is telling the story in a new and innovative way. A smart way. That's the hard part!

Best Fails of 2009
01/21/2010 10:18 AM
Okay, before this becomes old news, I wanted to post the best fails of 2009. I will admit that I am an aficionado of the fail so this montage is particularly dear to me. I must warn you that there is a touch of profanity and that parts of it are painful to watch in that way that you laugh but then feel guilty for laughing.



Why do I love the fail, you might ask. I think because it is amazing to me at how many thoughtless and idiotic things people are capable of doing. Simple as that. Plus, it's a great way to procrastinate for six and a half minutes. There's that too.
Enjoy!

Lisa Schroeder's Wicked Awesome Blog
01/13/2010 02:44 PM
Author Lisa Schroeder decided to host a themed blog this month. It's called Dream Big 2010 and she asked me to be a guest blogger. My post, called The Bumblebee Conspiracy, went up today. Go on over, check it out and leave a message if you like. I'm trying to check in every so often to answer any comments or questions!

Enjoy!