The discovery is the thing!

It's always fun to find something new. It's that explorer/adventurer nature in us. Part of the reason I write is to explore new places, even if it is just something I created. It's new, exciting, and I never know where my story is going to go.

So, today I set up a Roku streaming device -- mainly because there are a couple channels my 360/PS3 don't have. However, I've found a ton of content I never expected. There are a surprising number of cooking channels. That's fun; I do like food.

More importantly, there are some great music channels! One of the things I miss most about college is the strangely organic and viral way that new music infects you. Everyone is looking for a new sound and is excited to share. Once you're in the "real world," it almost becomes work to find new songs.

One of the channels I loaded up was SomaFM -- wow, there are a bunch of amazing, eclectic stations with a diverse selection of genres. I often like to listen to music when I write; it inspires me. Having all this new music where I can simply switch between trance or world music at touch is fantastic.

Anyway, check it out online - you don't have to have a Roku! SomaFM is commercial free and listener supported. If you do like it and start listening, you might want to consider a donation! You can listen and check them out here.

On the writing side, I solved a major plot/motivation issue in the writing assignment I'm working on. I'll be starting the write up the proposal tomorrow. Fingers crossed - I'd love to get hired. I think I have a really strong story for this. It'll be nice to have some new music to write to!

Just wanted to share two anime really quick. First up, Hanasaku Iroha is a slice of life story about a girl from Tokyo being shipped off to her grandmother's traditional Japanese inn to live and work. It has a really mellow, moving, and funny storyline. I love that the big story events are really just every day occurrences. The music and backgrounds are amazing, too. You can watch it for free, legally, here.

I've also just started watching a new series that has just begin broadcast in Japan called Kids on the Slope. It's set in 1966 Kyushu and is about teens and jazz. The music is by Yoko Kanno, so you know it's amazing. Only a few episodes in, but, so far, I have to highly recommend it. I mean, come on! Moanin' by Art Blakely on Blue Note Records features prominently in episode 1. How cool is that? You can also watch it free here.

I have decided to enter a couple of my screenplays in the StoryPros script contest. Sometime this summer, I would like to start approaching agents and managers to try and get my career off the ground. I have an option, which is great - but, placing in a contest or two would really kind of beef up my credentials. It's hard to get read in Hollywood when you don't live there, so I need to take opportunities where I find them.

I'm still plotting out bits for my submission to a writing opportunity, while working on the expanded plot of Gaia 4 for the novel. When you create a world and know everything that's going on in it, one of the hardest things to do is to determine what to share.

Every glimpse that you give the reader shapes their impressions and expectations. Revealing to much information too soon can rob a scene of dramatic impact. If you don't reveal enough you may lose the reader or leave your world flat. So, yeah ... I've got a lot of work ahead of me.

And, months later, this happened ...

I really, really promise - the blog thing is going to pick up. Life has been busy in a good way. First off, I've optioned my first screenplay! BLACKBURN BURROW was picked up by Amazon Studios and is now on their development slate.

Even better - it's going to be a comic book written by Ron Marz and illustrated by Matthew Dow Smith! Look for it around Comic Con time - I'll have more to announce then, I'm sure.

I've been struggling with what to focus on since then. I've completed a couple more screenplays, but the challenge is where to go from there. I do believe I'm going to turn one into a novel. I think a book would capture the world and allow greater exploration of the setting than my screenplay allows. Hopefully, it will generate more interest, as well.

Anyway, I'll leave it there for now! Exciting things are afoot - now, I just have to actually put in the work!