CAMP SLUMP

This week has been devoted to science camp with my 6th graders. Not much privacy to write, so I am   taking it all in with notes on setting, forest winterland, and characters. Lots of interesting people from kids, counselors, other staff, and teachers. I find the counselors most interesting in that they live the ideal nature-lover's dream with adventure and passing on their love of the outdoors with kids. I don't know how they do it, but I'm amazed and intrigued. I've been listening to their stories and taking notes. I'm immersed in the setting too. It's been snowing and blowing all week. What a challenge!

Wrote a Song and Published on Finale Songwriter

Wow! Way harder than I thought. I wrote a song, similar to a poem. So, that wasn't too difficult. It's a camp song for my sixth grade students. The HARD part was using the software to write the music and learning the nuances of music making software. After four hours, I have a song to copy and practice for my students. At least I can count it as my poem for the week, though I've already exceeded my poetry goals this month.

Weekly Poem

Dream Easy

Easy to dream

hard to achieve

no matter how I

weave and weave

the silver strands

through my thoughts

it's not enough

to materialize

difficult to realize

that some whimsy

will never be

though oh so clearly

In my mind I can see

and touch the

quasi-reality of

there being brought

from dust to touch

no matter how determined

or persistent the desire

a stark existence

enflames the fire.

by Marcy Santos

How do you deal with the stark difference between your dreams and how difficult they are to attain?

A Shower of Inspiration

I've been researching and brainstorming to start a new script, struggling a bit. Then tonight I was in the shower and an idea came and more details flooded around the central theme. So now, I'm going to follow the river running wild and go with my new idea since I have such a plethora of ideas. All I can say is that the title so far is "Skirts". I'll post some juicy bits as they flow off the edge of my madness. A little bit of wacky winding around a whole world of weird.

Go Team Santos!

I made it through three rounds of the Filmmakers International Screenwriting Awards:
http://screenplaycontest.net/index-5.html

Look for "Turning Heel" by Marcy Santos under drama. Can there ever be enough drama?

Logline: A boy and a man wrestle with the importance of family by joining forces in the wacky world of wrestling online and in person.

New Year, New Goals

Last year, I made a goal to write every day like Jerry Seinfeld. Seems easy enough, but I am a full time teacher, a mother of three, and a wife. So I set up a portable desk in my walk in closet and sat down every day with my feet up on the shelves. It was much more comfortable than you'd think. I cranked out three scripts and three pitches last year, plus I learned how to play the ukulele.

So, this year I'm making new goals. I am going to continue writing and reading daily and the following weekly: a poem or song, 12 pages of script, 1 analysis of a script and/or movie, and add a post to my blogger. By the end of the year, I should have 54 poems, 648 pages of script (about six scripts), 54 analyses, and 54 posts.

I've been reading for joy for the past 38 years and have always wanted to be a writer. I took classes, read countless books on the subject, and even taught writing seminars to teachers. With my commitment last year, I saw a huge increase in my output and even made it into some final rounds of contests. I'm so excited for the challenge, even if it's just my own.

Crowd Rage

There seems to be a lot of crowd rage going on in Los Angeles, especially where seating and space is at a premium. I went to Barnes and Nobles for a cup of coffee and a read. brushed by a man with his leg sticking out into the aisle. He glared me down and made a snarky remark. He looked ready to kill. So, I downplayed it and said 'excuse me' in a nonchalant way.