Hi, folks.
It's been quiet on the blog, a little too quiet, and I think I owe whoever reads this an update.
A friend of mine recently asked me if I've been getting any writing done. I replied that I was getting a little bit in here and there, but not too much. And on top of that, I haven't felt very creative lately. On top of that, job-hunting like a mofo and focusing more on entertainment and production work has taken up more and more time.
So here's the deal...
I'm not quite giving up on writing, but I am putting my foot on the breaks some. I know I do have a few more Andrew Ursler stories to be released soon through Arts Collide. I also want to give more brain power to a science fiction project I've wanted to do for years but haven't had as much willpower to give it until recently.
I really wish I had a better explanation, but the bottom line is that I've got to give more priority towards career development at the moment.
About Mario
- Mario Piumetti
- Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mario Piumetti is a freelance writer of science fiction, horror, screenplays, and nonfiction. He has a bachelor's degree in English from California Lutheran University and an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University. An avid music lover, his work is heavily influenced by rock, punk, and metal. You can contact him at mario.piumetti.writer@gmail.com.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
Sick Boy
Holy F-ing God! I haven't been sick like this week in a long, long time. It got so bad that I thought I was going to head to the ER last weekend not because of the illness but rather because I was worried I'd overdosed on medication. Remember, folks, you can take only so much Tylenol and Theraflu before it works against you.
But now that I'm better, I need to get my ass back to the task of writing, and that includes revisions on a new short story that I hope to have out on submission runs by the end of the month.
I've also begun reaching out to LA venues to give readings of Unholy Spirits. Out of five that I emailed on Friday, one wasn't looking to do repeat performers just yet and another has quite a backlog at the moment. Roar Shack has me down for October - perfect timing for Unholy Spirits - another venues is reviewing the story, and a fifth one still needs to get back to me.
I've also got about a dozen or so other places to reach out to. For now, I decided to start things off by reaching out to places where I at least had a contact name. We'll see where those lead.
But now that I'm better, I need to get my ass back to the task of writing, and that includes revisions on a new short story that I hope to have out on submission runs by the end of the month.
I've also begun reaching out to LA venues to give readings of Unholy Spirits. Out of five that I emailed on Friday, one wasn't looking to do repeat performers just yet and another has quite a backlog at the moment. Roar Shack has me down for October - perfect timing for Unholy Spirits - another venues is reviewing the story, and a fifth one still needs to get back to me.
I've also got about a dozen or so other places to reach out to. For now, I decided to start things off by reaching out to places where I at least had a contact name. We'll see where those lead.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Screwy Screenplays
I don't know if it's the cold talking or what (sick twice in one month, folks!), but I just haven't had my heart in this screenplay I've been working on for some time now.
Quick recap: last summer, when I met my boss at the entertainment company I interned for, he suggested I submit my own material, even without an agent. "Lord knows you've earned it," he said. At that point, I'd covered about 70 scripts, 150 by the time I left in November, and had shown a solid understanding of what makes a good and a bad script. Even came up with a little shorthand for my reports; if my comments began with "there's no sugarcoating this..." then chances are it sucks.
It wasn't until August a few months after that first meeting that an idea came to mind that I thought would make a pretty decent screenplay. I sent the synopsis and later the outline, and then I got to work writing the first draft. I figured it can't be as hard as writing fiction, right?
Wrong. It's harder.
Writing a screenplay and enjoying a screenplay are two different things. Of course, I used to say the same thing about writing fiction. Screenwriting was decidedly never an option for me until recently, the logic being that that, growing up in Los Angeles, I knew that everyone had a movie to peddle; even your grandparents' cat Muffy wrote one. The earliest stories I wrote were terrible, but I got better at it over time.
So am I abandoning screenwriting? Not exactly. I am going to abandon this screenplay I was working on. My heart hasn't been in it for a while. Instead, I'm taking a step back and hacking away at smaller scenes to build up my muscles.
Quick recap: last summer, when I met my boss at the entertainment company I interned for, he suggested I submit my own material, even without an agent. "Lord knows you've earned it," he said. At that point, I'd covered about 70 scripts, 150 by the time I left in November, and had shown a solid understanding of what makes a good and a bad script. Even came up with a little shorthand for my reports; if my comments began with "there's no sugarcoating this..." then chances are it sucks.
It wasn't until August a few months after that first meeting that an idea came to mind that I thought would make a pretty decent screenplay. I sent the synopsis and later the outline, and then I got to work writing the first draft. I figured it can't be as hard as writing fiction, right?
Wrong. It's harder.
Writing a screenplay and enjoying a screenplay are two different things. Of course, I used to say the same thing about writing fiction. Screenwriting was decidedly never an option for me until recently, the logic being that that, growing up in Los Angeles, I knew that everyone had a movie to peddle; even your grandparents' cat Muffy wrote one. The earliest stories I wrote were terrible, but I got better at it over time.
So am I abandoning screenwriting? Not exactly. I am going to abandon this screenplay I was working on. My heart hasn't been in it for a while. Instead, I'm taking a step back and hacking away at smaller scenes to build up my muscles.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Brainstorming Sessions
Coming up with ideas has always been a problem for me - always - and I don't think it gets any easier with time. At a reading of my story Roar Shack, the other writers in attendance and I were asked where our particular stories came from. In the case of Roar Shack, it was basically an assignment. The monster theme came from Penumbra in a list of themes they were covering before they closed their doors.
That's the easy way to get an ideas, but there are others.
Every story begins with an idea, and to have any hope of being a productive and prolific writer, you need to keep the ideas coming. I'm speaking for myself, of course, but I think an hour a day at least a few times a week should be spent on brainstorming. Even if you're busy with a bunch of projects, I'd rather have something rather than nothing.
Here are some things you can use for your own brainstorming sessions...
Get out of the office.
This is something I heard from independent filmmaker Ryan Connolly who hosts an entertaining and informative Youtube program called Film Riot. Couch time is exactly what it sounds like: you stretch out on a couch running ideas through your head. Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran says, "Go outside. All the big ideas are on the outside. You'll never have a creative idea at your desk." The bottom line is you need to get out of the office. You might not come up with your next story in this brainstorming session or that, but by getting away from the desk, you're telling Serendipity you're available.
Notebooks are good.
Stephen King says notebooks are the best way to preserve bad ideas, but I also suspect he's got a psychic connection to Todash Space; he might not be willing to admit it. King says that everyone's method is different, so while the notebook might not work for him, it could work for you. I keep one of those composition books on hand and just jot down whatever comes to mind, especially when I'm working through particularly difficult brainstorming problems. No one might read it. Even I might not read it. But writing things down has always been how my brain works. I kept about a dozen journals in college, never looked back on most of them, but I can still remember a few good ideas that bubbled up. I also keep a little pocket notebook in my pocket when I'm out and about. If I'm working on my MacBook Pro and something comes to mind, I have got the stickies app to make a quick note of it.
Talk to friends (real or imaginary).
An idea might sound good on paper, but it could fall apart when spoken out loud. If I have a chance to brainstorm with a close friend of mine, I'll do it. It's hard to get out of your own head, so having someone else with you is a good way to get a new perspective on ideas. I hung out with a friend of mine the other day and bounced ideas off of her on an alien invasion story (something I've wanted to do for a long, long time). A lot of the ideas I had for specific story elements had been in my head for a few years. At the very least, it was a chance for me to ask, "Does that make sense?" It could make all the sense in the world to you, but bouncing ideas gives you the audience perspective on it. If you don't have someone to talk to, think out loud. Tell your idea to your houseplants, and then be the devil's advocate. Sure, people will think you're crazy, but if they know you're a writer, they'll probably think you're crazy anyways.
Put on some music.
Along with couch time, it's hard to think of listening to music as part of the workday (unless you're in the music industry). Not only does a particular song help set the tone you might be aiming for, but every now and then, your ears might pick up on a particular line in the lyrics that could stir an idea.
Some imagination goes a long way.
When all else fails, there is one instance where you could brainstorm in your office: imagine you're in a writers' room. I used this when I began work on my screenplay after taking a TV writing course on building stories and outlines. I also worked at an entertainment company at the time. Basically, I imagined my boss calling me up one morning saying, "Mario, Studio X wants a story about Theme Y. Think you can come up with something?" Theme Y is whichever topic I'd like to write about and gives me a starting point. Then I come up with ten one-line ideas revolving around it. I develop the most promising half into a short paragraph, and then pick the most promising of them. I go right into drafting from that. If it becomes a novel, great. A short story is the least I can hope for, but one can dream. I'll turn the idea into a page-long synopsis and then and outline if I'm working on a screenplay, but only because I've learned writing for the screen is a different animal than for the page.
That's the easy way to get an ideas, but there are others.
Every story begins with an idea, and to have any hope of being a productive and prolific writer, you need to keep the ideas coming. I'm speaking for myself, of course, but I think an hour a day at least a few times a week should be spent on brainstorming. Even if you're busy with a bunch of projects, I'd rather have something rather than nothing.
Here are some things you can use for your own brainstorming sessions...
Get out of the office.
This is something I heard from independent filmmaker Ryan Connolly who hosts an entertaining and informative Youtube program called Film Riot. Couch time is exactly what it sounds like: you stretch out on a couch running ideas through your head. Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran says, "Go outside. All the big ideas are on the outside. You'll never have a creative idea at your desk." The bottom line is you need to get out of the office. You might not come up with your next story in this brainstorming session or that, but by getting away from the desk, you're telling Serendipity you're available.
Notebooks are good.
Stephen King says notebooks are the best way to preserve bad ideas, but I also suspect he's got a psychic connection to Todash Space; he might not be willing to admit it. King says that everyone's method is different, so while the notebook might not work for him, it could work for you. I keep one of those composition books on hand and just jot down whatever comes to mind, especially when I'm working through particularly difficult brainstorming problems. No one might read it. Even I might not read it. But writing things down has always been how my brain works. I kept about a dozen journals in college, never looked back on most of them, but I can still remember a few good ideas that bubbled up. I also keep a little pocket notebook in my pocket when I'm out and about. If I'm working on my MacBook Pro and something comes to mind, I have got the stickies app to make a quick note of it.
Talk to friends (real or imaginary).
An idea might sound good on paper, but it could fall apart when spoken out loud. If I have a chance to brainstorm with a close friend of mine, I'll do it. It's hard to get out of your own head, so having someone else with you is a good way to get a new perspective on ideas. I hung out with a friend of mine the other day and bounced ideas off of her on an alien invasion story (something I've wanted to do for a long, long time). A lot of the ideas I had for specific story elements had been in my head for a few years. At the very least, it was a chance for me to ask, "Does that make sense?" It could make all the sense in the world to you, but bouncing ideas gives you the audience perspective on it. If you don't have someone to talk to, think out loud. Tell your idea to your houseplants, and then be the devil's advocate. Sure, people will think you're crazy, but if they know you're a writer, they'll probably think you're crazy anyways.
Put on some music.
Along with couch time, it's hard to think of listening to music as part of the workday (unless you're in the music industry). Not only does a particular song help set the tone you might be aiming for, but every now and then, your ears might pick up on a particular line in the lyrics that could stir an idea.
Some imagination goes a long way.
When all else fails, there is one instance where you could brainstorm in your office: imagine you're in a writers' room. I used this when I began work on my screenplay after taking a TV writing course on building stories and outlines. I also worked at an entertainment company at the time. Basically, I imagined my boss calling me up one morning saying, "Mario, Studio X wants a story about Theme Y. Think you can come up with something?" Theme Y is whichever topic I'd like to write about and gives me a starting point. Then I come up with ten one-line ideas revolving around it. I develop the most promising half into a short paragraph, and then pick the most promising of them. I go right into drafting from that. If it becomes a novel, great. A short story is the least I can hope for, but one can dream. I'll turn the idea into a page-long synopsis and then and outline if I'm working on a screenplay, but only because I've learned writing for the screen is a different animal than for the page.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Publications - Unholy Spirits
Happy Sunday, folks! My new short story Unholy Spirits came out today on The WiFiles. Unholy Spirits is about a man who does, goes to Hell, and finds it's not all about fire and brimstone. In fact, as AC/DC says, Hell ain't a bad place to be.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Getting Out of Creative Black Holes
I recently finished the Document, my big ol' stack of research notes. And we're talking about notes! 126 documentaries, and I know I watched more that ultimately didn't prove so useful. But know that my brain's swollen with knowledge, it's time for me to get back to the serious task of actually writing. After all, these notes are useless unless I can apply them to some good stories.
As useful as the Document is, part of me really did use it as an excuse not to write. I feel like I've hit a creative slump recently, and was too afraid to admit it to myself. I was afraid because then it meant I'd have to roll up my sleeves and *gulp* work to come up with new material!
That doesn't sound fun. Let's spin it into something pleasant.
Okay, next week I'm not going to work towards coming up with new story ideas. Instead, I'm going to hook my brain up to jumper cables, defibrillate my neurons, and scream, "It's alive!" Muahahahahaaaaa!
As useful as the Document is, part of me really did use it as an excuse not to write. I feel like I've hit a creative slump recently, and was too afraid to admit it to myself. I was afraid because then it meant I'd have to roll up my sleeves and *gulp* work to come up with new material!
That doesn't sound fun. Let's spin it into something pleasant.
Okay, next week I'm not going to work towards coming up with new story ideas. Instead, I'm going to hook my brain up to jumper cables, defibrillate my neurons, and scream, "It's alive!" Muahahahahaaaaa!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Dealing With Distractions
I live with family. It's true. Gallup polls show I'm not alone. That's not to say I'm sitting on the couch all day watching The Walking Dead. I'll have you know I've been out of the loop on the last season, so please don't ruin it for me. I don't want to hear about how Shane was really Judith's father or how Daryl and Michonne are having a little of warrior babies.
Writers can work at home. So can translators, virtual assistants, web developers, and travel agents. And there's no shame in working from home either. The way I see it, I've got two jobs right now: writing and finding stabler work. And I'm happy to say that my family understands a lot of effort goes into these two things.
That said, even with a cozy little office (or scary if the dim lighting freaks you out), I still have to deal with distractions. This is probably the bane of the worker-at-home's existence. People think, Well, he's home, so he can help me put together my bookshelf or run some errands with me. No, sorry. If we had clones, sure, but we don't.
Here are a handful of tips I've tried out lately. Some have been more successful than others, but on the whole, it's pretty solid advice I can give so you can get the most out of your day without being a douche to your peers.
Work when people aren't around.
The first tip sounds the most obvious: get your most important stuff done either early in the morning or late in the evening. Either way, the goal is to hammer through it when everyone else is asleep. I personally advocate getting things done early in the morning so you don't feel pressed for time late at night, which, of course, you would be. Besides, why would you want to spend you nights working when you could be with friends and family?
Clue people in.
No one's a mind reader except Professor X. You're going to have to sit down with your family or housemates and tell them, "Listen, I don't mean to be antisocial, but during the day, I do have to get X, Y, and Z done." If you do work from home, distractions could mean lost income. If you're job hunting, distractions could mean missed opportunities, which is just as bad. The people you live with (hopefully) want you to succeed, so you need to give them a chance to help you, even in a passive way.
The Doors.
Doors aren't just an amazing band, they're a great thing to have in your office, and I'll go so far as saying half the reason you should have an office is just to have a door. I have a nice little code with my family. If the door's open, come on in and bug me. If it's halfway open, bug me only if it's important. If it's closed, I'm pretty much not at home. In exchange for this understanding, I try to keep the door closed as little as possible so they don't feel I'm shutting them out 24/7.
Headphones are code for fuck off!
I'd say use this as a last resort, but nothing says "I'm busy and can't talk right now" like a pair of headphones. I have a pair of earbuds, but I've noticed over-ear headphones are back in vogue. Plus, they have the benefit of being not-so-subtle.
Accept that you WILL be distracted.
You should just make peace with the fact that you're going to be interrupted no matter what. If a kid breaks a leg while you've got the door closed, your spouse isn't going to give two shits about your private time. Fingers crossed, that won't happen, but the point I'm trying to get across is that people got their own lives too and things to do. Sure, they'll try giving you as much space as you ask for, but if they do need to butt in, there's no sense in being bitchy over it. Take a breath, be a grown-up, and accommodate them.
Writers can work at home. So can translators, virtual assistants, web developers, and travel agents. And there's no shame in working from home either. The way I see it, I've got two jobs right now: writing and finding stabler work. And I'm happy to say that my family understands a lot of effort goes into these two things.
That said, even with a cozy little office (or scary if the dim lighting freaks you out), I still have to deal with distractions. This is probably the bane of the worker-at-home's existence. People think, Well, he's home, so he can help me put together my bookshelf or run some errands with me. No, sorry. If we had clones, sure, but we don't.
Here are a handful of tips I've tried out lately. Some have been more successful than others, but on the whole, it's pretty solid advice I can give so you can get the most out of your day without being a douche to your peers.
Work when people aren't around.
The first tip sounds the most obvious: get your most important stuff done either early in the morning or late in the evening. Either way, the goal is to hammer through it when everyone else is asleep. I personally advocate getting things done early in the morning so you don't feel pressed for time late at night, which, of course, you would be. Besides, why would you want to spend you nights working when you could be with friends and family?
Clue people in.
No one's a mind reader except Professor X. You're going to have to sit down with your family or housemates and tell them, "Listen, I don't mean to be antisocial, but during the day, I do have to get X, Y, and Z done." If you do work from home, distractions could mean lost income. If you're job hunting, distractions could mean missed opportunities, which is just as bad. The people you live with (hopefully) want you to succeed, so you need to give them a chance to help you, even in a passive way.
The Doors.
Doors aren't just an amazing band, they're a great thing to have in your office, and I'll go so far as saying half the reason you should have an office is just to have a door. I have a nice little code with my family. If the door's open, come on in and bug me. If it's halfway open, bug me only if it's important. If it's closed, I'm pretty much not at home. In exchange for this understanding, I try to keep the door closed as little as possible so they don't feel I'm shutting them out 24/7.
Headphones are code for fuck off!
I'd say use this as a last resort, but nothing says "I'm busy and can't talk right now" like a pair of headphones. I have a pair of earbuds, but I've noticed over-ear headphones are back in vogue. Plus, they have the benefit of being not-so-subtle.
Accept that you WILL be distracted.
You should just make peace with the fact that you're going to be interrupted no matter what. If a kid breaks a leg while you've got the door closed, your spouse isn't going to give two shits about your private time. Fingers crossed, that won't happen, but the point I'm trying to get across is that people got their own lives too and things to do. Sure, they'll try giving you as much space as you ask for, but if they do need to butt in, there's no sense in being bitchy over it. Take a breath, be a grown-up, and accommodate them.
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