Writer’s Block… or Just Excuses?

Posted on April 14, 2011 by JP

Need an excuse to not write? Hey, just ask me, I’ve got dozens of them!

I’m almost to the halfway point with Script Frenzy (Screnzy as some have taken to call it). Act I of the screenplay is pretty well done. Act II is… Well, it’s… Not there. Act III is actually in fairly good shape. The ending has already been written. I’m just facing that point that I face in every story I write, no matter the medium.

I’m bloody stuck between my desire to write and my fear of writing badly. I know that I need to just power through and write the 50+ pages of Act II and be done with it. After all, this is just a first draft. The real work of editing can happen in May (actually, has to happen in May due to some deadlines).

 

Actually, writing like this about these issues, it makes it easier to go back and just power through it. File off the rough edges when I’m editing. That’s the thing I miss about writing starting with paper. Then I would just dump the story or chapter out of my head. When I entered into a word processor, I’d do my first round editing. Now, when I’m sitting at the keyboard, I feel I should be editing as I write. I did it that way for many years, hard habits to break.

So, back to the keyboard. I have Celtx (www.celtx.org), my screenplay writing software opened to “Closing Time”. Open Office is up with”Around Alone” (a novel about the sea), a window open with a romantic serial I publish under another name, and another window with notes of a story that keeps raising its godawful head at least twice a day. No name. No plot. Just the opening scene and a damned good idea of the back story of the main character. Think mud, as in crawling around in it. I think this could be a damned good story.

So, past the Act II block. Right? Right! The waitress just needs to slap the shit out of the cook. She’s preggers you see and it’s past closing time for their relationship! And the first date couple has to have their first kiss. A real toe curler. And the owner and his wife just have to have a private moment to talk about retiring and selling the place. And the politician who recently lost his wife needs to borrow one of the kitchen knives and go into the alley…

Block? What block!

Thanks for listening.

JP

Posted in Writing | Leave a comment

New Source of Work

Posted on April 9, 2011 by JP

I recently joined vWorker.com, a site for employers and virtual workers. It took a little over a week to land my first contract through it. Not bad, considering some sites I’ve joined over the years!

And, now back to my regularly scheduled Saturday of an F1 weekend!

John P.

Posted in Business, General | Leave a comment

Day Two – Script Frenzy

Posted on April 3, 2011 by JP

O. M. G.

Perhaps I should add a few exclamation points after that?

Why, you ask?

A little over 48 hours into Screnzy (Script Frenzy) and I’ve broken 20 pages. To hit the target of 100 pages, I only need to achieve 3.3 pages a day.

So, celebration time?

Well…

No!

The easy stuff is done. I’ve been planning this screenplay for a while. Characters have been developed. Plots outlined. I’ve played with the opening and closing scenes in my head for months. The critical scenes (as I see them now) are already banging around. In the last two days, all I’ve done is put those out in script/screenplay format.

I have about 2-3 more days of “doing the easy stuff” before things get… tense.

Then it will be days of moving scenes, tweaking words, and staring at the walls looking for… Well, looking for the next thing.

So, yeah, OMG. I’m so far ahead at this point. And, oh so scared about that.

Posted in General | Leave a comment

April Fools

Posted on April 2, 2011 by JP

With the kids out of the house, I was spared the normal pranks (if you can call having the toilet seats Vasolined). Without have to check every nook and cranny and watch my step all day, I had the chance to enjoy the online pranks. Some excellent ones appears on the Web today.

Groupon – the company announced today that they have patented April Fools day and are going to be enforcing their patent.

Thrive Software – announced they are now a pharmaceutical company and were releasing a pill to cure shopping addiction.

US Army – yes, the US Army got into today. They announced new standard headgear by Stetson.

Google – surprise! Although called uninspired, they were worth a laugh including the GMail motion system.

Toshiba – they were busy and put out a few interesting products including a 3D monocle, a laptop for dogs, and an inflatable laptop.

Kodak – a relationship manager for your photographs!

I hope you each had a wonderful, and safe, Day of Fools! Feel free to share with me any interesting finds you had.

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Script Frenzy Day One

Posted on April 1, 2011 by JP

I patiently waited (right!) until shortly after midnight last night and began writing. My opening scenes are done, along with four pages of screenplay. This evening, I’ll be writing the ending sequence. A good start, now to maintain the pace.

I’ve included a page counter on the writing page that ties to my Script Frenzy account. When they update their system, my page counts will appear on the Personal/Writing page.

Posted in Writing | Leave a comment

Site Relaunch

Posted on March 30, 2011 by JP

I’ve learned many valuable lessons over the years about the right time to do something. I waited for a few years before purchasing my first PC under the theory that in a couple of months, mine would be outdated. Well, it happened less than two months after I finally did. Yet, by buying it when I did, I gained that two months of productivity and a few months later when I bought my second, my kids had a machine to use.

I learned the same lesson with web sites. Launching now and adding all you want to later is better than not. I’m going with that same theory by relaunching this site before it is 100% ready, because, quite frankly, it never will be. It will evolve and change over time, just as every other site has done, except the last version of this site (which sat in limbo for too long!).

Action speaks!

Many areas will grow quickly over time, please watch for them. Many features will be added over the coming month or two, including direct connections to my Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.

Do visit. Do explore. Do come back.

JP

Posted in General | Leave a comment

WordPress Plugin Pricing Model

Posted on March 27, 2011 by JP

Why do I charge for plugins when most people give them away?

Why do I give away plugins that I used to charge for?

Here’s my model and thinking:

  • I am a major fan of the Open Source movement. I have been for many years. It is the place where innovation really occurs. I do support OS efforts by contributions of time and money.
  • I am also a fan of paying my bills. Damned that money thing. It would be interesting if farming and ranching were open source! LOL
  • For unique WordPress plugins that solve a real problem, I ask a small fee for the current version of the product (which helps fund the future development) – I release it under an all rights reserved copyright and license it. When I release a new version, a previous version is released with the Creative Commons you can have it for free license (with attribution).
  • When I’ve taken a product as far as it will go based on demand and technical capabilities (and my interest), it’s put under a Creative Commons, let the world have at it (with attribution) license.
  • Don’t like the model? Wait.

JP

Posted in Products | Tagged , , | Leave a comment