"Write now is good."

Playing with the moon

These photographs of jeux lunaires — moon games — caught my eye. They're beautifully executed, playful and inspired.

The above photo "Comme dans un tableau" — like in a picture — is one of many different images located in the online gallery of Laurent Laveder. Based on viewing his work, it looks like he often photographs life on earth during the evening and nighttime.

You can purchase the book Quartier Libre by Laurent Laveder and Sabine Sannier — featuring moon-inspired writing from nineteen authors — here.

Found at [BB-Blog]

Sendak's "Wild Things" classic: A successful book-turned-film?

UPDATE: If the above video clip doesn't work, you can check out a beautiful hi-res version of it at the Apple site.

This trailer piqued my curiosity. How does a film, which will run (most likely) approximately 90 minutes, stay true to the narrative of a 37-page children's book?

I've just looked through my copy of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and I've estimated that twenty-seven of the pages are illustrated. (Some are image only, and on others, the image takes up most of the page with a bit of accompanying text.)

The best films-based-on-books capture the essence of the book. While most novels' plots are too extensive to show completely within an acceptable movie time limit, a film's story—sincerely told and authentically rendered—can do the original work justice.

The trailer shows so much not even hinted at in the original. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the film stands on its own—I'd really like to see this!

Which writers have inspired you? And who has inspired them?

Photo: "rough first draft" by nuanc

Early spring this year, I posted about Opium Magazine's Network of Writers Experiment. If you have not sent them a quotation from a writer who has taught you something valuable about writing, you can still do so ... now, with a twist.

Opium (creator of the East Coast/West Coast Literary Death Match) would like you to send that writer's quotation ... and also requests that you to contact the same writer to ask them for a quote from a writer who taught them something. It works like this:

...if I quote Tobias Wolff, now I will go and ask Tobias Wolff for a quote, something he's learned from a writer. In this way, the network concept will be a) more amazing, if possible, and b) nearly impossible to design in print, but Opium design mastermind David Barringer will take care of that.

Send any quotes here: [email protected]. Also, if you don't know how to contact a writer, or would rather not contact them yourself, we can likely help, so don't hesitate to ask.

Deadline is quick: August 4th (this Monday!).

These submissions will go into Opium's next print edition. And, as offered, they'll be happy to help you contact your writer if you'd like.

If you send in a quotation, drop a comment and let us know!

NOTE: I sent them a quotation from a very popular writer, and I'm crafting my email to him now. We'll see if said-famous-inspiring writer sends me a quotation, too. One of life's little adventures, and I'll post an update when I get a response.

Be an AWESOME writer

Last month, I wrote a post about a very insightful and funny YouTube video called "Book Launch 2.0". It features Dennis Cass, an accomplished writer and the author of Head Case, conversing with a phone-friend about the pros and cons of using new and social media to launch books.

For those of you who enjoyed Cass's video also, I've got good news: he has created an online community. Its goal: to make creative people more effective and successful at their creative lives and careers. It is called, appropriately, "Dennis Cass Wants You To Be More Awesome."

DCWYTBMA is a site full of "advice, jokes and tough love for people who want to make a living making culture." Dennis regularly answers members' questions, providing sound advice on a variety of relevant topics. The community is active, full of creatives commenting with additional viewpoints and examples. Plus, he features an "Awesomizer" to help improve creative endeavors; it has made me look at some pop culture mainstays with a fresh perspective.

I strongly believe that participating in writing/creative groups (even online!) can help their participants grow in their work, get unstuck when creative blocks arise, and provide camaraderie and support when the creative road is nothing but potholes and speed traps. (If you have done anything creative ever in your life, then you know the ride can get bumpy...)

While reading Cass's articles and answers, I have laughed out loud many times. Knowledgeable creative-career guidance + original insights + active community + humor = WIN! And if you sign up, I'll see you there.

First, own a massive wall

Being slightly obsessed with bookshelf furniture, I stared at this photo of a room, seemingly built around the books.

Placed in front of these shelves and to the grand piano's left is a small writing desk. I read the post and discovered that this house of light, space and words belongs to a writer. (Who? The post's author did not divulge.)

Mysterious.

Found at NOTCOT.

237 is the magic number

Our collaborative book-in-progress The Age of Conversation: Why Don't People Get It? is moving right along. According to Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton, it is currently being edited. The original list of 275 authors has finalized at 237. The work will be published in August 2008, and all sales proceeds go to Variety, the Children's Charity.

To see who all of these generous, insightful bloggers are, click here.

Interested in the AOC background? These posts will give you the story. If you have not yet purchased your copy of our first collaborative book, titled "The Age of Conversation", click here to buy it from Amazon.

Oddly inspiring

As a current editor and former grammar teacher, I was stopped in my Web-surfing tracks by this:

Know the rules, and the rules will make you free.

The most typically inspiring words to writers focus on growing wings, dreaming big and believing hard enough. This grounding, practical advice stresses working within confines and structure first; the wings follow.

Rules abound in writing—enough for everyone to follow some and ignore others.

What rules do you follow in your writing? How do they help you?

English excerpt now available for text-message novel "The Last Messages"

For those interested in reading an English excerpt from Hannu Luntiala's text-message novel Viimeiset Viestit (The Last Messages), Lola Rogers has translated a 35-page section of it from the Finnish. It is available for download here (PDF format). A complete English translation may be available soon — Lola is showing this excerpt to publishers.

If you missed my interview with Finnish author Luntiala, click on Part 1 and Part 2 to read it.

Ah, yes — it's "Book Launch 2.0"

Hilarious, frightening and true. Writer and author Dennis Cass captures so much about book promotion in the Internet age in his video "Book Launch 2.0". He skewers both the trials many authors must go through in doing full PR for their own books, and the abundant-yet-confusing social media tools out there to help in the process (supposedly).

Enjoy.

Thanks to Chris Glass for this gem.

One beautiful sentence

Photo: Happy door by Jeff Bauche._.·´¯)

A few bloggers I know are currently struggling with various illnesses. Having closely followed what author (and good blog friend) Patry Francis is going through with her own health battle, her current post really moved me, and this sentence in particular stood out. From "Unreasonable Happiness: The Existential Question of the Week":

"...Maybe I'd left the shallow, mundane world I usually occupy and fallen through a trap door to the place where being in love is quite simply our natural state."

Patry's existential question is "When was the last time you felt incredibly happy for no particular reason?" My not-so-existential question is "Have you recently found one beautifully written sentence which moves you?"

Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate it.