Collaborative Script Project

This one's just plain crazy. A collaborative script in and about Los Angeles. The details are as follows, pretty much straight from the LA Observed description:

Welcome the LA Observed Script Project. Eric Estrin, TV writer and moderator of Writer Action website, has written the opening pages of a screenplay set in and about Los Angeles. It has a name, Right of Way, and a mayor who may or may not be shady as the main character. You can write the rest by submitting a few pages of scene and dialogue. Each week he'll select the best pages and post them. Eric explains:

Anyone who’s been part of a writers’ room knows how exhilarating it can be to work with a great team on an exciting project. So picture LAObserved as the room and the whole world as the team....

As for the story itself, it starts with what I think is a pretty cool premise: an L.A. mayor, Russell Napolitano, hell-bent on reshaping the city by building a transit system. (No, it’s not based on anyone we know. At least not closely.)

I have some ideas about where I want the story to go. First off, it’s going to be a drama, a darkish murder mystery filled with glamour, wit and big dreams, the stuff of life in Southern California. The region, both in real life and as hinted at in the script’s opening pages, is a place on the verge of great change. The tension behind that shift should provide plenty of subtext for our screenplay. But know this: If your vision goes off in an unexpected direction, and you can convince me it works in 1-5 pages, bring it on! This will be a true collaboration.

There's a t-shirt in it for you if your pages make the script. Plus, of course, the admiration of your peers.

Got Erotic? In the Rain?

If your writing has the steam of eroticism, this contest is for you! Desdmona's latest sex story contest will take place in the rain. It could be one of those warm afternoon drizzles, or a gushing torrent, but whatever it is has to contain some of "that wet stuff falling out of the sky." You may enter up to two stories of 1,000 words or less by March 31, 2008. There is no entry fee. Prizes will be awarded to the judges three favorite stories:

• 1st Prize: $250
• 2nd Prize: $150
• 3rd Prize: $75
• Honorable mention prizes of $25 will be awarded at the discretion of desdmona.com and the judges.

Entrants must be at least 18 years old, and no child pornography will be accepted. Your story must have a title, and all your characters must be fictional. Please go to their website for the rest of the contest guidelines, and then tap into your erotic imagination and let your story flow!

Blog-ability

Kareem Abdul Jabbar has a blog on the Los Angeles Times website. Now, normally, there'd be no reason to direct folks to another blog site, but his eclectic topics are great sources of unusual information, ideas, and little-known biographies. Focusing on African-American personalities (the first female black lawyer in the US, jazz great Herbie Hancock, first female airline pilot, for example), health tips for those over 50, and commentary from an insider perspective on the latest sports news and scandals, it's a treasure trove of things that are interesting -- and inspiring -- to know and think about.

Paid Markets for Writers

I happened upon this Web site, FundsforWriters, focused on finding "paying markets for writers." From their site:

"Other websites provide guidance on how to write, how to query, how to format manuscripts, and so on. We give you direction on the funding streams. We focus on markets, competitions, awards, grants, publishers, agents, and jobs for your writing abilities."

They have quite a few newsletters so that the opportunities they find are delivered to your inbox or you can peruse the listings on the site. At a cursory glance, their market listings seem to lean toward wholesome content, so this might not be the resource for you if you are looking for places to submit edgier work. Maybe they will ring in here and let us know. In the meantime, I've subscribed to their lists so you might want to check them out, too.

UPDATE: Hope at FundsForWriters did chime in and said that they do list edgier stuff as it comes up. Click on comments below to see her response. Thanks, Hope!

Can You Come Up With Answers? Of Course!!

Common Ties asks the world 20 questions. They pair the answers with art and publish their favorite 10 every Friday. Your answers, which may be prose or poetry, should be 50 words or less, and answers paired with art have a greater chance of acceptance. The current questions are:

1. What door do you wish you never opened?
2. What is your most obsessive thought?
3. What is your favorite place in the world, and why?
4. What's the one thing your parents don't understand about you?
5. If you could relive a single day or moment, what would it be?
6. What were the strangest circumstances under which you have been intimate?
7. Under what circumstances have you been closest to death?
8. What is the most gracious act of kindness you have witnessed?
9. What is the worst betrayal you have ever experienced?
10. What is the most bizarre thing you have ever seen or done?
11. What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
12. What is your earliest, most vivid memory?
13. What is the most meaningful "I love you" spoken by you or to you?
14. What was the single most terrifying moment of your life?
15. If you have experienced a moment of sudden faith or loss of faith, what prompted it?
16. If you could take back one thing you have done, what would it be?
17. What is your greatest talent or accomplishment?
18. What is the most joyful moment you have experienced?
19. What is the most painful moment you have experienced?
20. Open Question: Submit your own question and answer. No answer is off-limits, and it can be on any personal theme. Here is a sample list of 20: abortion, addiction, adolescence, break-ups, crime, death, depression, eating disorders, humor, lucky breaks, mental disorders, moral dilemmas, pets, poverty, racism, religion, sex, suicide, turning points, war.

These would be inspirational starting points even if there weren't the chance of publication and payment!! Please go to their website for further guidelines and how to submit.

Skir-Crazy

The Skirball Cultural Center, perched on Mulholland and Sepulveda, almost next to the Getty, is full of unexpected and great activities, lectures, exhibits, and film screenings. Whether it's a screening of "Rebel Without A Cause," a book group intriguingly entitled "Around the World in Five Books", the acclaimed Bob Dylan exhibit "Bob Dylan's American Journey" (complete with the ability to play along with Dylan!), a lecture and q&a on the recent Hollywood Writer's Strike, courses on mysitcism in contemporary art, or theater performances, the Skirball is a treasure trove of artistic inspiration.

Sanora Bartels featured at Hotel Cafe Reading Sunday, February 17

“Tongue & Groove”

A monthly offering of short fiction, personal essays, poetry, spoken word and music.

This month featuring: Heather King “Redeemed”, Chiwan Choi, Sanora Bartels, Liz Dubelman, Conrad Romo, and music by Logan Heftel.

Sunday the 17th of February
6:00-7:30 pm
The Hotel Café
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
1/3rd of a block below Hollywood Bl.
Hollywood, Ca 90028
$5.00

Conrad Romo has another Scientology piece. Heather King, a regular on “All Things Considered”, comes to us with second memoir, “Redeemed”. Sanora Bartels is the co-founder of LAwritersgroup.com and has completed her first full poetry manuscript “11th Hour”. Chiwan Choi, a homegrown LA literary treasure, is also an editor, publisher and writing teacher. Liz Dubelman, two time Emmy winner and honcho of Vidlit.com, is the novelist of “What Was I Thinking?”. Salt Lake City homeboy Logan Heftel is our musical guest

Listen, do yourself a favor and show up for this cultural buffet. See and hear what t&g is all about because as always it’ll be… pound for pound, word for word, and beat for beat, a fine and cool experience.

Get there early. Seating is limited and we’re starting on time.

Conrad Romo (323) 937-0136
www.tongueandgroovela.com
www.hotelcafe.com