Authentic Woman

Quote of the Day:  John Updike's birthday was last week. I found this quote at The Writer's Almanac: I want to write books that unlock the traffic jam in everybody's head. - John Updike

I hope that something in my writing, my plays, do that.I'm offering a post on a Tuesday.  I know, not my usual style, but I have some things to share.  First, the Versatile Blogger award from Jade at Blush of Dawn.

Second, I am a guest writer at Clara's blog on living into your authentic self.

This bright and beautiful sunflower is here to cheer you up.  Here in Minnesota we're getting a whipping from Mother Nature.  She's sending down sleet and snow and a nasty bought of weather.  Go read my "Authentic Woman" post at Clara's and think about what warms you up and makes you shine!

I have a third thing:  If you'll look to the right, I have the 2011 Scriptfrenzy badge up.  Yep, I'm doing it again.  I can't decide where to start.  I have THREE ideas brewing.  Choir Loft Confessions, Kitchen Table Confessions, and Piano Bench Confessions.  April 1, I'll sit down at a local coffee shop and begin.  I'll let you know then which one brings the cream to the top of my creative coffee cup.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  What warms you up on a cold day (phyically or spiritually)?  When you're feeling down in the dumps (because of nasty weather, the worlds' crises, or your own), what lifts you up?

Mountaintop Feeling

Quote of the Day:  You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Last April I signed up for Scriptfrenzy where your goal is to write a script in a month.  I wore the above t-shirt for the first time, packed up my laptop, and made myself a table top office at a coffee shop in downtown Brainerd, MN.  I did not complete the script in month, but I got a good start.  I typed "The End" on it last week, made copies, and invited a few talented and supportive friends over for breakfast and script reading.  It was one of the best days of my life!

I served an egg bake with ham, cheese, and hash browns, and made my famous fruit pizza.  I'm showing the readers the pizza because it has a star fruit theme.  I told them, "You are all stars.  I feel like I'm launching my career as a playwright today, and I'm so glad that you are here for it."  And, for those of you who read my blog and know me, you have also been here for it.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I feel your encouragement and creative energy every time I sit down to write.

After much blood, sweat, tears, and coffee, the play is ready to be released to the world.  I had just finished typing "The End," when Janet, a writer friend in Grand Forks, wrote that they were having a theatre opportunity for women writers in Grand Forks, called She Speaks, on March 5, and would I be interested in submitting a 10 page cutting of my script.  Whoa, I thought, I just finished it.  I'm having the first read-through on Sat. morning, but YES, I am interested.  I made the cutting this afternoon and sent it off to the director. 

The story and characters came alive in a new way as my friends read this script.  Several times during the reading, that was often interrupted by commentary, the people reacted to the words as themselves, then realized that it was script, and went back into character.  That's how natural it read.  Oh, my heart was beating fast.  Can you tell from the photo how flushed I am?  I'm still coming down from this Mountaintop feeling.

Here they all are:

Joey, my photographer friend who played Lolly.

Lisa, my neighbor and freind who brought the cream cheese coffee cake and played Jewell.

Laura, my friend with enormous gifts and talents in theatre, played Laura.

Matt and Beth live over two hours away, but just happened to be coming through town, read Nick and Roxy.  Beth was my student back when I was an English teacher.  She starred in the one play that I directed in her high school.  She's also writing a play.

Ed, the coffee drinker sweet dad guy who played Sam.  He's a retired elementary school teacher and a musician.

And, Denise, the birthday girl, who said this was a great way to start out her birthday celebration.  She played Aubrey.

I could go on and on, but I'll save some things for a later post.  We laughed.  We cried.  We shared stories.  Denise said it felt like we were surrounded by a white light of positive energy.  I'm telling you, folks, it's still here.  I'm still glowing.  And, the view from this Mountaintop is spectacular.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Promt:  Describe a mountaintop experience, one you've had or one you dream of having.

Coffee Shop Office

Quote of the Day:  The price of a cup of coffee, even gourmet coffee, is cheap rent for inspirational office space.  Mary Aalgaard, playwright

My artist friend JeMA and I met at our local coffee shop to work.  You know, if you want other people to take you seriously as a writer or artist, or whatever, YOU need to take yourself seriously.  I got up, dressed for work (notice the Scriptfrenzy t-shirt), packed my bag, and set up my work space.  We actually sat across from each other, but came together for the pic.  And, yes, I did write.  I'm up to 13 pages.  A little behind schedule, but plugging away.

This morning, we met another woman who is starting up an events planning business.  We exchanged cards.  People were having business meetings, working, meeting friends.  I've observed job interviews and overheard a social worker (I assumed) speaking in the cellphone:  The important thing is that you stay sober and get to class.  The events planner we met today told us of a time when she overheard a woman sobbing into her phone, lost and feeling alone.  She had just left an abusive husband.  Our friend bought her a cup of coffee and gave her a list of social services in the area.

So much life happens in a coffee shop.  That's why it is such a rich setting for my drama.  Coffee Shop Confessions happen everyday here.  I think of a coffee shop as a daytime bar, minus the alcohol, but filled with the same angst, life's struggles, mingling, longings, and confessions.

JeMA couldn't bring her paints and canvasses to the shop, but she did bring her laptop and took care of the putzy work of her business.  We'd like to share a book title with you folks.  The Artist's Guide How to make a living doing what you love, by Jackie Battenfield.  JeMA said this book practically jumped off the shelf at her.  Her kids were the first to point it out and say, "Hey, Mama, there's a book for you."  She said the focus is on building a business as an artist, in her case a visual artist, but anyone who craves success in their creative field could use this book.

Journaling Prompt:  What or who helps fuel your creative energy?  Have you ever tried a new space for inspiration?