I (heart) L.A.

So here I am in sunny La-La land, (well, it's not all that sunny), and I'm gearing up for the third annual Inktip Pitch and Networking Summit, (www.inktip.com). Gotta say, so far it's been a blast.

I'm not ashamed to say it's my first time here and I'm doing my best to soak up as much as I can while balancing that with extensive preparation for my two scripts, (and one treatment) -- oh, and a little sleep would be nice.

Yesterday I hit the Santa Monica Pier, (don't worry, there was no damage), then hauled ass down to Hollywood Boulevard where I swear, it felt like I'd just crossed into a sexy Fox drama, (from the 90s anyway). I also had my first taste of Carl's Jr. Guess I'm officially a West Coaster. Hooray!

Today was all about seminars...and maybe some networking. It's all about networking, kids. I just got out of my last one and I'm about seminar-ed out. Now it's all about getting my pitch(es) into game shape. Lean, mean, short and hopefully sweet.

What are my hopes?

Modest, but optimistic. I know my three stories upside-down, inside-out, so really, it's all about strategy. Who to pitch, how to pitch, and when to shut the f*ck up.

At the very least, I aim to have a fun experience, learn some new shit, and make some new friends, (by which I mean contacts, of course - friends are for sitcom execs).

I kid. Seriously, I'm running on fumes here.

Time to sign off for the night. A long night of rehearsing awaits.

I'll be sure and post my experience as soon as I'm done living it.

Bye for now.

D.A.

Back in the Saddle Again

Yes kids, that's right.

Sure, it's been a while, but this blog's just like riding a bike.

Gonna keep things short so as not to overdue it right outta the gate, but suffice it to say, there have been many changes afoot. Many shiny new developments I'll be sure and get into some time soon.

For now, just wanted to get reacquainted.

Much more to come.

Stay tuned.

D.A.

Writer's Block

Man, have I got it bad.

I've been sitting here (off and on) since 10:00 this morning and I just can't figure it out. I've tried everything I can think of to get the juices flowing and I find myself rewriting the same handful of scenes over and over.

I feel lost is this story.
A screenplay I've been trying to crack for two months. Before that I did what every good writer should - an outline. But there were holes. And contradictions. And other problems. Still I pushed on with a first draft. Again it was crude, disjointed and downright terrible in places but I said, (as I so often do), 'I'll just keep going, get to the end and then start a new draft' So that's what I did.

Now here I am. Trying to figure out a story I would so love to tell. But it's so fucking frustrating. I go away, come back, change up the scenery, and at best I move forward an inch or two. The next day, any progress I made seems like it no longer works - or, I guess, never did. I told myself today I would write one complete scene. Any scene. But I haven't been able to. The day is young, mind you. But why does it have to be so hard?

I don't know if this makes any sense, cuz even my blog writing feels shitty but I had to do something. Write something. So here I am.



Anybody got any words of wisdom on the subject?

Right now I would so love to hear some.

D.A.

What Am I Reading?

I just finished a phenomenal book I had to come on here and share. It's called "Kockroach" and its the debut novel from Tyler Knox, (not sure if that's a pen name, but it's pretty catchy). I picked up this book on something of a whim for a very good price at my local Indigo. Not only was I attracted to the cool cover art, I was also intrigued by the Kafka-esqe premise of a cockroach who wakes up one day as a man.
I've mentioned here before how I'm working on a series of stand-alone pulp novels, which collectively tell a larger, more existential story. The series is called The Mantra and I've only just recently finished my first draft of Book #2, entitled Impetus. Anyway, Kockroach, while nothing like Impetus in terms of plot, takes place in the world of American Existential Pulp, a genre aptly coined by Mr. Knox himself. At the end of the book, there's an entertaining Q&A with the author in which he cites various inspirations and influences for the book--the Kafka story, Metamorphasis, being the most apparent. Also, there's a brief essay on the genre of American Existential Pulp, (AEP), which I found truly facinating. I might add, The sensational 100 Bullets series of graphic novels to his already-extensive list of classic and contemporary works. If you haven't heard of it, I highly recommend it. But start from issue one, otherwise you're robbing yourself of a truly rich storytelling experience.
I've been searching for a more succint way to pitch my other The Mantra book, Minutemark, and AEP fits to a tee. Thank you, Tyler Knox.

Check out Tyler Knox's website at www.kochroach.com for more info

D.A.

Canadian Voices - Press Release

Just wanted to offer an update on Canadian Voices, Volume Two, the anothology of poetry and prose in which I will be featured in less than a month. I just recieved the official Bookland Press press release. The PDF is a whole lot fancier but I can't quite figure out how to post that so here's all the info, including all 90-something authors, page count, retail price, and more. The book lauch is September 20th, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Supermarket Art Bar in downtown Toronto. Hope you'll check it out.


MEDIA RELEASE

Canadian Voices is a powerful
and moving collection of prose
and poetry, which stretches
across the boundaries of age,
skin color, language, ethnicity,
and religion to give voice to
the lives and experiences of
ordinary Canadians. This
vibrant, varied sampler of the
Canadian literary scene
captures timely personal and
cultural challenges, and
ultimately shares subtle
insight and compassion
written by a wide spectrum of
stylistically and culturally
diverse authors.
Canadian Voices is more than
simply an anthology — it is a
celebration of wonderful
writing by some of today's
finest emerging Canadian
writers. This book is an ambitious,
lasting, and meaningful
work of literature that will not
soon fade away. It is an exceptional
reading experience to be
enjoyed and savoured.


CanadianVoices, Volume Two
An Anthology of Prose and Poetry by Emerging Canadian Writers

PARTICIPATING AUTHORS

PROSE

Valerie Albemarle
Dahn Batchelor
Sharon Bernas
Mayank Bhatt
Jessica Borges
Alison E. Bruce
Mary A. Bryant
Silene Bumbaca
Altug Cakmakci
Jack Caulfield
Shaheena Choudhury
Christina Clapperton
L. J. Clark
Dayle Cleveland
Cassandra Cronenberg Hunter
Juliet Davy
Susan Desveaux
Heather Dick
Sally Dillon
Michael Robert Dyet
Fran Edelstein
Jude Paul Fernandes
Frances Frommer
Marilyn Garshowitz
Jefferson Guzman
John R. Hewson
Steven Jacklin
Manny Johal
Fatmatta Kanu
Donna Kirk
Enxhi Kondi
Mary Ellen Koroscil
Karen Lam
Peter Lisinski
John Maar
Victoria E. MacDonald
David Mandel
Maria Pia Marchelletta
Louis Massey
Corinne Cast McCorkle
Cassie McDaniel
Braz Menezes
Michelle Monteiro
Yoko Morgenstern
Diksha Pal Narayan
Peta-Gaye Nash
Gord Pannell
Brandon Pitts
Waheed Rabbani
Elana Rae
Elizabeth Carina Ramos
Anu Rao
Larry Rodness
Philomena Saldanha
Mel Sarnese
Suzanne Schmidt
Steven H. Stern
Phyllis Diller Stewart
Urve Tamberg
R. G. Thompson
Linda Torney
David Tucker
Edwin Vasan
Herb Ware
Joyce Wayne
Saniya Zahid
Karol Zelazny
Zohra Zoberi


POETRY

John Ambury
Elizabeth Barnes
Kathleen Burke
Maurus Cappa
Dolores B. Carfagnini
Jasmine D’Costa
Josie Di Sciascio-Andrews
Emily Dunn
Iddie Fourka
Mary Craig Gardner
Zita Hinson
Jasmine Jackman
David Kimel
Ashley Maniw
Jatin Naik
Deena Kara Shaffer
Sheila Tucker
Sarah Zahid


BOOKLAND PRESS, TORONTO
BOOKLAND PRESS
6021 YONGE STREET, SUITE 1010, TORONTO, ON M2M 3W2
TEL: (800) 535-1774, WWW.BOOKLANDPRESS.COM
EMAIL: BOOKS@BOOKLANDPRESS.COM
ISBN: 978-0-9784395-8-3, BookLand Press, 360 pages, $25.95

How to plan your ACTION

July 29, 2010
Volume VI, Issue 3
In This Issue
A Note from Miata
Feature Article: "Grabbing the Reins"
Abundance Bound Recommends: "Artist's Prosperity 101"

________________

Note From Miata:

Have you ever been horseback riding?

I ask because my 8 year old daughter is attending a day camp this summer where she is learning how to ride a horse. I'm thrilled because, truthfully, I haven't had the best experiences with horses. When I was about her age I went away to camp and during my very first riding lesson, I promptly fell off and broke my arm.

Now, of course, I don't want my daughter to be afraid like I was. After her first few lessons, I cautiously asked her, "So sweetheart, how do you like horseback riding?"

"I love it," she answered.

"The horses are so big," I said. "How do you get them to do what you want?"

She looked at me, and with the wisdom (and attitude) that only an 8 year old can manage, replied. "It's easy Mama. You just grab the reins."

I'll tell you that the simplicity of her answer made me smile. It also made me consider how often in our lives we think that situations are too big for us or beyond our control when, really, we just need to "grab the reins." We need to create some order and structure, develop a plan, and get whatever help and guidance required to turn the situation in the direction that serves us best. I realized that much of the work I do could be described as helping my fellow artists learn to grab the reins when it comes to their finances. How often does money feel like the "big bad horse" in your life, at every moment threatening to rear up and knock you off the saddle?

Starting this month, our next few articles and blog posts will focus on giving you some simple action steps that when applied, will help you start to walk, trot, canter and even gallop down the path to financial stability and confidence. Happy riding! :)

As always,

Wishing you happiness and prosperity!

Miata

Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook
___________________________________________________________________________

Feature Article
"Grabbing the Reins"

You've decided it's time to take control of your money. Bills keep piling up, creditors incessantly call, and now you know it's time to start. Sound familiar? You aren't alone. Over fifty percent of Americans have some credit card debt. The housing crisis still isn't over. The unemployment percentage hovers around double-digits. Many of us need to grab the reins and find a plan.

Where to begin, though? How do you start turning pennies into dollars, and dollars into ten dollar bills? Here's step number one:

Let's get the word out the the way. The dirty "b" word.

Budget.

Yuck. A budget feels like work, doesn't it? It's nails on the chalkboard. It's the singer missing the high note. A budget seems like hours sitting over a spreadsheet, tracking every box of macaroni and cheese, every stick of gum, every coffee.

No thanks.

I don't like that type of budget either, so let's change the terminology. You need to change the language to change the behavior. I'll propose a new approach. We should start with the job you're trying to complete. You're trying to practice well with your money so you have funds when you need it. We should use a phrase that conjures up the image of taking control, practicing great habits, and achieving your dream.

Instead of a budget, let's talk about a money plan.

Much like a play well performed or a song well played, I like the practice that makes a money plan perfect. Simply put, a good money plan creates successful money performance. It creates the standing ovation from your wallet that you're looking for when you practice and perform well. There isn't room here to detail the entire plan, but here are some important steps:

1) Write out how much money you earn in a month. Be conservative. You'll need to be able to live through those tough months when money isn't coming in.

2) List the expenses you can't live without. Financial planners call these "committed expenses." We'll call them rent or mortgage, basic groceries, utilities, and costs associated with your work, among others.

3) Now write those expenses you can live without, but currently enjoy. Financial planners call these "discretionary expenses," but we'll just call them gifts, cable television, eating out, and other "lifestyle" expenses.

Now here's the fun part. Before we subtract your expenses from income, it makes sense to see if either of these areas can be improved, doesn't it? Here are some questions to ask yourself, to see if you may be able to save some money.

1) Are there ways to improve my income? I never know the answer when I ask a client this question, but, surprisingly, nearly everyone says "yes, I can." Everyone has a variety of thoughts on how they could earn more money. But before grabbing the first income-generating opportunity, ask yourself a more important question: "Is the way I earn more money going to detract from my artistic potential?" If so, search harder for ways to earn dollars that are congruent with your life goals. Don't create a money plan which is detrimental to your life plan.

2) Are there ways to lower my expenses? Most people begin by cutting discretionary expenses, such as coffee or ice-cream. Generally, this isn't the first place professionals look, because although there might be a few opportunities to save a dollar here, the large savings is nearly always in the committed expenses area. Can you somehow change your rent or mortgage situation? Are there opportunities to lower utility expenses? Do you need both the land line and cell phone? How often do you watch cable television? Comb through each expense and ask yourself if there is a method to lower some costs without damaging your lifestyle.

Once you've examined both income and expenses it's time to do some basic math. Subtract your expenses from your income. Hopefully, there's money left over. If not, it's time to really sharpen the pencil and ask hard questions about income and expenses. If so, you're well on your way to working your money plan. Stay tuned to our website for that topic in a couple weeks!

©2010 Abundance Bound, Inc.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Abundance Bound was created to support actors, artists and creative professionals in the development of financial stability and independence. To learn how to begin the journey towards prosperity, register for the free resources available at www.AbundanceBound.com

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See our Blog.
___________________________________________________________________________

About Abundance Bound

In providing financial education to actors, artists and creative professionals, Abundance Bound aims to illuminate our community's negative associations with money and translate the once-mystical process of money management into the language and experience of the Artist. All individuals deserve a financial fighting chance, and it is our commitment to employ the most innovative and practical methods to share this knowledge and activate the Artist's creative and financial potential.

You can learn more about Abundance Bound courses, programs and products at www.AbundanceBound.com

Abundance Bound, Inc.
PO Box 46517, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Toll-Free Info: 800.768.0281
info@AbundanceBound.com
___________________________________________________________________________

Abundance Bound Recommends

Artist's Prosperity 101

Continue your progress with a four-week crash course that integrates the fundamentals of the Artist's Prosperity System. Each module consists of audio coaching and worksheets that organize your money systems from the ground up. Instruction is offered in simple, manageable chunks so you can meet your artistic and financial goals without the overwhelm! Gain clarity AND confidence!

Click here to learn more

___________________________________________________________________________

©2010 Abundance Bound, Inc. All rights reserved.

What Am I Reading?

Hidy ho, neighbourino!

I realize June was a little bit thin in the blog department, but I do have a life, you know? -- at least I'm trying to.

Yesterday I completed, (reading, not writing -- I wish), book #11 of what is, in my opinion, one of the best graphic novels of all time, bar-none, "100 Bullets."

For those of you not in the know, "100 Bullets" is an ongoing saga, (now over, though not yet for me), penned by the master crime-noirist, (my term), Brian Azzarello and illustrated by his supremely awesome other half, Eduardo Risso. Honestly, where one ends and the other begins in this Heaven-sent collaboration, I shall never dare speculate.

Book #11, entitled, "Once Upon a Crime", encompasses issues 76-83 of the increasingly complicated saga, (don't come in on this one, newbies, you'll be lost), and sports a killer introduction by none-other than Tom Fontana, (no slouch in his own right). The guy created one of my favourite show of all time, (Oz), along with a little show called Homicide: Life on The Street, not to mention a few others.

The series was always intended to go 100 issues, (or 'bullets'), which means I have only two more culminations to devour before saying goodbye to Agent Graves, Dizzy Cordova, Lono, Loop, Mr. Shepperd, (technically already dead, but still popping up on occasion), and the rest of The Trust and The Minutemen. Boy will that be a sad day.

But I digress.

Book #11 delves deeply into the origins of Mr. Sheppard, who met with an ugly, (and extremely cool), demise a few books back, along with the building showdown between the Minutemen and The Trust, which I've been waiting for since...well, at least Book #4 or 5. Not that I'm complaining. That would be like begrudging a spectacular meal cuz it wasn't the rich creamy desert. Speaking of which, Italian temptress, Echo returns in this installment, looking sexy as ever. I know she's a drawing but this girl makes Jessica Rabbit look like...well, still hot too, but a little on the plain side, if you ask me. I can't wait to see where her and her myterious painting fit in to the final picture. But if I've taken anything away from this masterpice of art, literature and pure pulpy goodness, it's that patience is the name of this game.

And it's one well worth playing.

But be warned, you may get a bit dirty.

D.A.