Here are fifteen books that stick with me and I would consider my absolute favorites and have also flavored my writing style in some way:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Peter Pan  by J.M. Barrie
The Ragwitch by Garth Nix
Goblins in the Castle  by Bruce Coville
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J.M. Barrie
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
Captain Blood [which I am reading at the moment, and it's already a favorite!] by Rafael Sabatini
The Martian Chronicles [the most poignant and lonely science fiction I have ever read, beautiful!]  by Ray Bradbury
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Sabriel by Garth Nix
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 
The Three Musketeers  by Alexandre Dumas
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

I haven't been writing much because...

A LOT of things have been happening here recently, some art related some not so art related.  The biggest and most interesting probably being STEAM Fest.  You can read all about it HERE as I am feeling lazy and not wanting to regurgitate all the details here.

 I keep having strange dreams that involve large houses, of mansion proportions.  Sometimes it starts out there is a large group of people and then it ends up being me, and other times it is a few people and we are searching for something.

One time it was on the side of a snowy mountain and another it was in the middle of a large field in the middle of spring.  I would look for an interpretation, but so many of the little things keep changing...

...I am trying to resist the urge to base a story off of it....perhaps The Pocket Watch Collective could be based out of a large mansion...something else to ponder!

[Because we all know I need more of that!]

 Why I am create art:  [again in no particular order, and range from the selfless to the completely selfish just to warn you!]

1.  Because it makes me happy
2.  I want to inspire others.
3.  I want to make others happy.
4.  I want to have my own world that I mold and shape as I please and have at my command.
5.  To keep myself from getting stressed out.
6.  To create a legacy that the world will use to remember me-or at least my family.
7.  To connect to others in a way no language can adequately fulfill.
8.  Because otherwise all these characters in my brain [not to mention Gizmo] would drive me crazy!
9.  I want something to give my children [whenever I have them, that is]
10.  "All beings have a purpose." -Story, from Lady in the Water
11.  To fight insomnia and boredom.

I am sure I will add to this list at some point, but these are the core reasons I create art, writing and music.

Why do you create art?

Here is a list of all the current writing projects I am poking around at [in no particular order!]

1.  La Petite Poisson  [theatre for youth play]
2.  The True History of Henry Rayne and the Airship Pirates [gigantic crazy filled steampunk play of dooooom!]
3.  The Wondrous Escapades of Lord Peterbrooke and His Man Quincy [a bit of silliness really]
4.  Children of Destiny [that novel thing]
5.  Wicked Lamppost [that random character thing]
6.  The Adventures of Captain Stormhaven [that serialized steampunk play-ish thing]
7.  The Jester and the Princess [a short story thing]
8.  Twilight Wood [that other theatre for youth play]
9.  The Curious Cavortings of Carter the Cat [a children's book]
10.  The Pocket Watch Collective and the Land of Wednesdays [don't know yet, but I like the title!]

 

"Quincy, having been part of the Peterbrooke household for years, was hardly thrilled when his master decided to take up adventuring. "Oh, bother," was all he muttered as he shifted from polishing the silver to packing the elephant gun. Although to be honest Quincy wasn't quite sure what an elephant was..."

"Lord Peterbrooke of Nottingbrookeshire, founder of Peterbrooke's Chocolatier in 1786, was an explorer who upon traveling to the deepest jungles of South America befriended the Lost Tribe of Aztecs who after worshipping him as a god bestowed upon him the wondrous substance now known as chocolate, beloved of British women everywhere.  However, it would not be an easy journey home, so read on to find out more about the adventures of Lord Percival St. John Reginald Peterbrooke III as he attempts to bring a more civilized confection to the known world." 

I was in the mood to write something yesterday, something NOT playwriting related.  I had heard a classical song on the radio called The Jester at the Wedding, by Eric Coates which they described in the little beginning blurb as being about a jester in love with a princess.  Well that was all they said about it and it got Gizmo and I's gears churning and it got me in the mood to write something short story-ish.  So I am working on my own version of the Jester in love with the princess story, with my own flair.  Here is what I have so far:

 "Fortingear was a most unusual jester, even by jesting standards.   All the other jesters of the neighboring kingdoms were tall, lanky and clothed in patchworked tunics of kaleidoscope colors with hats that shot up into the sky like castle turrets that jingled with tiny silver bells.  Fortingear  was shorter than most girls his age and wore a simple tunic of dark violet with black hose.
       "What is he wearing?" remarked Hingerfeldt the Happy, reknowned throughout the kingdoms for his exuberantly bright costumes.  
       "It looks like he is going to jest at a funeral!" replied Frederico the Fabulous.  "How scandalous!"  They laughed and carried on until the looks of the courtiers drove them to silence.  Fortingear ignored them, as he always did.  His mother had given him the tunic before she died, and had told him it would bring him great fortune one day, however,  his mother had also bestowed upon him his name, Fortingear.  After which no proper title sounded appropriate.  He had tried Fortingear the Fearless (which was sometimes true), and Fortingear the Funny (which was also sometimes true) but none of them had the right feeling about them.
       "Without a title how can he hope to gain a decent position,"  whispered Guillermo the Galant, behind his fan to Willomina the Whimsical.  He was partially correct, for the only way a Jester had of advertising what kinds of trick he plied as his trade was to have a title that encompassed those skills.  This was especially important today, at the Festival of Foolery, where all the nobles of the land came to see the graduates of Master Raggolio's school, and to choose for themselves the best jesters possible.

Hello all!

I am putting together a steampunk inspired event at The Academy Theatre in Avondale Estates, Georgia and am in need of artists, actors, musicians, and fashionistas to fill out this miniature festival June 12th and 13th. The event will be centered around a formal staged reading of a new specifically steampunk work, by local playwright Stephanie Ferguson, The HMS Tempest: A Steampunk Romance.

There will also be a fashion show/ costume contest with prizes, an artists market of all the latest and greatest in local science fiction and fantasy artwork, a high tea, and plenty of good music and dancing time! For more details, please check out www.atlsteamfest.com which will be updated as information becomes available on acts performing. Or you may also email me directly with any questions/comments at lainey_welsch@yahoo.com!

Thanks! 

....I haven't posted in quite a while.  However, do not despair!  It was not for lack of creative expression, but rather a different sort of expression, visual expression.  I had an art show to get ready for and am working diligently on character design for my friend Stephanie's work Tempest: A Steampunk Romance.  Basically it is a neo-Victorian retelling of William Shakespeare's the Tempest, and is very good!  I am creating sketches of the characters, and possibly some costume design if we get that far **crosses fingers**  but I digress.

I have also been working on tTHoHRatAP while driving, cause with a three hour round trip commute what else are you going to do?!  Lately I have been working on Henry's character because while he is the proclaimed protagonist of the play, he is the least developed.  Even Aicilla has more back story and motivation in her actions than he does at this point.  However, at one of our weekly meetings Steph and I were talking and we came up with a few ideas to try out for Henry:

Let's see if I can interpret my scribbles...

1. Henry tried to be a diplomat to make his parents proud but bungled something important because he didn't follow all the protocols and procedures.

2. He is smart but prefers to do things his own way and gets frustrated when other people don't understand how he is going about things.  He's a little bit of a loner, prefers his books, and maps.  Isn't always good with people as a result.

3. Illira tells Henry that she thinks Morgenstern is behind her abduction and that Spencer  may just be pretending to think she is a jewel and this puts doubts in Henry's mind that fuels his decision to turn Spencer and her crew over to the MN although later he discovers that was a mistake.

4.  Need to have Henry talk to Lady Penthrift  early in the bar scene to establish how much this job means to him.  This will help set up in Act II when he kinda freaks out and Penthrift compares him to Fioni.  Fioni put all his hopes on becoming a captain and when Spencer got it instead of him, it turned him sour.  This prompts Henry [because he is in fact a good guy!] to do the right thing and go get the crew out of jail.

5. Need to have Aicilla be genuinely grateful for Henry helping her with something so that she sees he's actually a good guy [perhaps have her and Spencer argue about that in jail]  when he comes back to rescue them.  Aicilla is the first to go with him and then the rest of the crew follows and finally Spencer [although she threatens him as she leaves, but forgives him at the end saying that he was right and that she was being a coward, and all is well!]

So with those things in mind I am working on a few scene snippets to add back into Act I, and then hopefully things will fall into place.  Once I can get Henry's character arc established I can focus on Illira and Vin's scenes and characters. I feel like I'm making progress, and this will definitely be the most thought out play I've written thus far [out of the whole two that I have written!]

Next I will have a Spencer/Henry confrontation scene, once I get it typed up!  Woot!

So I am at my mother's house this morning and one of my favorite channels: the History Channel, had some interesting programs  on my favorite being; Star Wars, the Legend Revealed.  This show talked about all of the mythic and literary connections of the story of Star Wars.  It discussed relationships to The Illiad, the heroe's journey, Roman empire, Nazi Germany and a lot more.  It was fascinating on it's own, but it also got me to thinking about Children of Destiny, and the political atmosphere I need to create to make the story work.

I need to completely flesh out the political world of Nemnon, Caktlonai, and Achelon City and how Lex Kazantazkis fits into that realm, and how Salim Kurha twists Lex to manipulate that world.  I don't want to copy Star Wars, but I think if I read about some of the same influences that Star Wars used I can get a similar idea of the political disintegration that happens to allow Salim Kuhra to begin to take over and cause general chaos.

Here are some random quotes and ideas I got from the show, and things I want to read more about:
"Republics do not destroy themselves from without before they destroy themselves from within."

"society is distracted from the growing storm with spectacle" [in regards to the Roman empire]

"politics are cyclical" [could parallel what Lex and Salim are trying to do in the present, with something that happened in the past on Earth that led to war and the subsequent destruction of the system that they want to prevent happening on Nemnom, but Lex is smooth and begins to do it anyways...]

"power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" [I don't think I want Lex to be the one that seizes power in the government, but perhaps he manipulates the situation in the system by having his agents stir up trouble to convince someone else to seek power (maybe the Mayor comes under his influence) so not only do the Four have to fight against Salim, but they have to seek out and fix the political situation as well.]

"Will we live for the machine, or will we live for humanity?" -Jospeh Campbell [I just like that quote!  But perhaps I can explore this in the relationship of Nemnon, and Achelon City which are more technology, science fiction, based with Caktlonai which is more organic, fantasy based.]

Need to explore:
1.  Define Lex's wants and desires [why does he want these things]
2.  His relationship to his father [that's part of the why]
3.  His relationship to Salim [are they partners, mentor/student...]
4.  How to integrate the political situation with the more mythical situation [how do the gods work with the politics
5.  More of the actual mythology [How the Aethril view the situations of the mortals.  Is the political situation of the mortals being mirrored by what's happening with the Aethril? (Ramis causing discord)

Wow, that was a lot more brainstorming than I had initially thought I had bouncing around in there!  I'm still pushing forward on the actual story, but these brainstorming sidetracks, help keep me thinking about the grand view of it all.

And don't worry I am still working on tTHoHRatAP as well, a scene at a time!

[cross-posted from http://community.steamfashion.livejournal.com ]

SteamPunk Bestiary...?!?
The present entry/proposal was inspired by an LJ entry of Captain Robert Brown (</a></b></a>robert_from_ap from the SteamPunk Seattle-area band Abney Park (</a></b></a>abneypark, and found elsewhere across the web!), which was done on November 10, 2008. The entry concerned a picture of a creature called the "Snurtle" which he created:

http://robert-from-ap.livejournal.com/546353.html

In any case, the idea for a "SteamPunk Bestiary" was floated in some of the comments there, and a while back, I wrote to Robert and asked him if I could run with the project and head it up as editor, since it is likely he won't have time to do it. He most graciously agreed, and so I'm going to move forward with it. 


I had hoped to have done so much earlier than the present, but my own schedule has been pretty full. The thing which prompted me to do it now, though, was Robert's most recent entry, on the black lab that needed adopting:

http://robert-from-ap.livejournal.com/558936.html

Even though someone derided his efforts with that entry in the comments to it as a "drop in the bucket," the indomitable and insightful Captain most eloquently replied "even if it's a drop in the bucket, if everyone makes a drop the bucket will soon be full" (paraphrasing the good Captain slightly), and I think that's a very excellent and poignant statement indeed.

But what does that have to do with a SteamPunk Bestiary? 

Well, as this would be an edited anthology of art and words, the profits for such a thing cannot easily be shared amongst the contributors. Generally, edited anthology profits just go to the editor, since they tend to have a lot more footwork to do than any of the individual contributors. BUT, in the present case, I think the recipient of any profits generated by the sales of such a volume should neither be me, nor anyone else, but instead some animal-related charity that all of the contributors end up deciding upon democratically. (Appropriate enough, considering that it will be a Bestiary, eh?) As completion of the anthology won't be until several months down the road, and then sales of it at some point thereafter, we won't have to worry about who the recipient of its sales will be immediately; but in the meantime, this is the plan, and I think it is an excellent one indeed.



So, the question now becomes: what would be contained in a SteamPunk Bestiary?

As a real-life medievalist/Celticist who has done a lot of work with animal literatures, ancient travelogues and wonder-tale accounts, bestiaries, and the like, there is a general format for these things established by tradition--and I think we can incorporate elements of that, but not be slavishly devoted to sticking to it. I'm also someone who has enjoyed more modern forms of Bestiaries, including the various iterations of Dungeons and Dragons' Monster Manual, Fiend Folio, Monstrous Compendium, and so forth. Other, less serious things, like Ricky Gervais' Flanimals series, also would qualify as modern bestiaries. Even just taking into account these limited examples, there are a million options for how one might proceed with this matter...

Here are some suggestions for what I'd love to see in a miscellany like this (and it will be a miscellany in the end--I don't think there is too much need for, desire towards, nor likelihood of, a standardized format for peoples' submissions and their style):

--SteamPunk travelogue narratives, detailing the amazing creatures which various airship crews, explorer teams, time travelers, and so forth have encountered on their journeys

--more "academic" (or pseudo-academic), naturalist-style entries on the life, habits, and behaviors of different creatures

--artwork of all types (which will have to be in some sense "photos" in electronic format, in the end, to be included in a book like this) depicting fantastic and amazing creatures, on their own or in landscapes, in interaction with adventurers of diverse types, or even anatomical/dissection views of them for the more mad scientist-inclined folk among us

--profiles and mini-biographies of famous SteamPunk naturalists, explorers, scientists, travelers, and others who have come into contact with such amazing creatures (though, I would please suggest that people not indulge their fanfic/Mary Sue/Marty Sean tendencies with this too much...these type of entries/submissions should be limited to something like 300 words, so no one gets carried away...though, with more renowned and famous folks of this type, exceptions could be made...?!?)

--actual scholarly, academic, well-footnoted entries (with bibliographies!) on certain types of fantastic creatures well attested in premodern literature (and by "premodern," I mean pre-1930, let's say...)

--and, anything else you might like to suggest!

With any/all of these, it is possible to go a variety of ways. When one looks at medieval bestiaries, for example, some very strange and ridiculous things are said about elephants, for example, that go all the way back to classical literary precedents (which are equally nonsensical--e.g., elephants have no knees, so if they fall down, they can't get up again and die), and so accounts of Victorian explorers from England encountering ferocious lions in Africa, strange kangaroos in Australia, weird penguins in Antarctica, and so forth, which are silly and fictional but nonetheless based on actual animals, would work. Then one can go in the direction of well-known fantastic or legendary creatures--dragons, unicorns, fairies, but also zombies, vampires, and werewolves--in any of the formats/styles suggested above. One could also go through major SteamPunk literary works (or quasi-Steam things or influential texts, e.g. the works of Lovecraft, etc.), computer games, films, and so forth, and profile new or different creatures that are found in those (as long as proper citations and credits are given for the original sources, and permissions are sought and granted for these things where necessary). And, of course, one can also be purely inventive and original in their efforts, and just make things up in as convincing and entertaining a manner as possible. The options are endless! 

I am going to stake my claim on one thing meanwhile, though: as a major part of my Ph.D. dissertation was on werewolves, and I have a few academic publications in that regard, I'll probably write a short piece detailing them in premodern literature. So, werewolf encounter (or confessional!) stories, poems, and such are possible, but I'd prefer no other submissions on "profiles" or "details" of werewolves for the anthology. My apologies if this destroys an idea you were anticipating proposing (though, feel free to still do so...I'm a very reasonable person!). 

I would expect that individual entries should be no more than about 2000 words in length (though, if something is longer, please inquire about it). Short fiction and such in the travelogue style that has been previously published (electronically or in print) can certainly be accepted, as long as the author has retained the rights to it and other places of its publication are cited in it.

While some stylistic things (like layout/format) might take a while and some discussion to decide, a few things should be observed at this stage: submit text documents in Word format (I'm on a Mac, and I'll be using MS Office/Word 2008 to do the editing), and pictures/graphics/photos/etc. in .jpg format; if you are using footnotes, please use footnotes rather than endnotes, and number them in Arabic numerals (i.e. 1, 2, 3); for bibliographic entries, please use the Vancouver style rather than any other, and have full citations in footnotes rather than in an appended bibliography or list of works cited; and please include, with whatever materials one submits, a 100 or so (but not 150!) word short bio of yourself (with SteamPunk persona name and "real name" included, unless one is entirely absorbed in the other).

I'd anticipate using a print-on-demand facility of some sort to create this book--very likely Lulu, since they do hardbound books, and I think something like this really ought to be in a durable and handsome format like that (and getting vellum pages and leather bindings is, alas, not very likely for something like this, but if it is hardbound from the start, getting a special casing or cover made for it wouldn't be difficult), and it would probably be a full-color interior so that the wonderful artistic contributions and beautiful colors of peoples' outfits in photos can be appreciated in their complete glory. Using POD eliminates the middleman, as it were, and would allow a much faster release of the book, as well as a much easier handling of profits, distribution, and the book never going out of print (huge bonus!) or being remaindered and pulped (which is ecologically sound!), and other matters. Something like this would probably run in the $40 range for purchase in the end (of which around $30 would just be production costs), which may be a bit much for a book by some peoples' standards, but since it is for charity, I'd hope people would be willing to spend that much for a volume that I surmise will be a wonderful one to have on one's shelf for posterity. If there are any actual publishers, or people connected with such, who like the sound of this, and think they can make a better pitch for why this project should be produced through them, I am certainly open to discussing that. 

In terms of deadlines: I'd say let's suggest June 30, 2009 at this point. That way, it might be out by the time SteamCon comes around in Seattle in late October!

If there are any further questions, comments, or concerns on this, please feel free to message me via LJ, or send an e-mail to alfrecht (at) hotmail (dot) com. Please also feel free to re-post this proposal in other relevant communities, lists, and so forth. 


Yours sincerely,
Prof. Jeremy M. R. F. Chesterfield-Pickles III

[I am very intrigued by this.  After things calm down from Willy Wonka in March I will have to play around with this.  Steph should do it as well!]

Inspiration is a funny fickle creature...at least for me.  I read something, get that lightning bolt of an idea, I scribble it down furiously, and then like a wisp of fog it floats away and I either forget what gave me the idea in the first place or I forget what I was going to do with that idea.

With tTHoHRatAP there have been many things that helped inspire and form the idea, the characters, and the story.  Coffee, pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean, steampunk, airships, Anne Bonney, Treasure Planet, Atlantis...and I recently rediscovered one of the biggest influences/inspirations for my play.  When I worked at Books-A-Million, and was the Children's book section specialist.  I would read a lot of the books on my breaks, so that I would know what to recommend to parents, and while doing so I came across a wonderfully bizarre series of books known as The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.  They are what first introduced me to the notion of Sky pirates, with their long coats, armor and goggles  and parawings [in case the skyship goes down!] and are what I really think what sparked the idea of writing my own steampunk-ish airship pirates story.  However, in the hustle and bustle of getting the thing written [especially since it was for a class!] I lost where the idea had come from.

That was all changed after this past Christmas, when Kalin's stepmother asked me for a list of somethings they could get me for Christmas, and I remembered those books and asked for them thinking I would only get one or two.  Well apparently they found them at a good price and got me seven out of the nine!  I am working on the second one, and it's nice because they are written for a much younger audience so the description is bold by concise [short attention spans!]  and it gives a complete sense of being on the skyship with them.  I love it!  And it's made me realize that I need to even as I am re-writing constantly be looking to my sources of inspiration to help me figure out what the play is missing.  This has in turn given me a new sense of purpose in regards to re-writing, and although I have to primarily focus on art for my upcoming show I am still working on scenes here and there.

Scene Ten

 

[The lights fade back up on the interior of Blackpool Castle, FIONI’S hideout.  There is a long table laid out with food with two grand chairs at either end.  ILLIRA is sitting at one of them FIONI in another.  As the lights fade up VIN enters with a bottle of wine.]

 

FIONI: I apologize for the lack of a decent vintage.  I am afraid Blackpool does not have many visitors, and even fewer of such a refined elegance as you, milady.

 

ILLIRA: Sweet words will not cover a black heart.

 

FIONI: Your words cut like a dagger.  You see I am not simply your average rum chugging cut throat; I am an enterprising businessman, of sorts.  

 

ILLIRA: What sort of business could a villain like you deal in?

 

FIONI: [Ignores the question and continues.]       You, my dear lady, are but a small step to a much larger goal.   Cabernet or Chardonnay?

 

ILLIRA: Goal?

 

FIONI: You see, a good friend of mine and I are in the arms industry.  However, due to the likes of you our business has been rather slow so we devised a plan to boost are sales, as it were.  

 

ILLIRA: But—

 

FIONI: Yes, I know what you are thinking.  How does inciting war create such an opportunity for wealth?  Let us just say that we have contacts in both places that would just love to get their hands on these weapons.

 

ILLIRA: Playing both sides against one another--you’re despicable!

 

FIONI: No, my dear, I do what I have to in order to survive!  Not all of us grew up privileged!  Some of us had to break our fingers to get what little we have and then watch as the government takes it all away! 

 

ILLIRA: The government works for the good of the people!

 

 FIONI: Have you ever had to watch someone you love die?  I didn't think so.  Well I did...and at the hands of your precious government.  I want what is owed me and I will get it one way or another!

 

ILLIRA: You will not get away with this!

 

FIONI: So educated yet so full of clichés.  It will all make sense soon enough.  Would you care for the salmon or the chicken?

 

ILLIRA: Neither.

 

FIONI: Tsk tsk.  You know I would much prefer you to be in a jolly mood, you are going to be here for quite some time.

 

ILLIRA: What precisely do you mean?

 

FIONI: Well, my exact orders were to dispose of you.  However, it has been awhile since this place has had a feminine presence.  [Strokes her cheek.]

 

ILLIRA: Disgusting pig.    [Slaps him.]

 

FIONI: I would watch my language, if I were you!

 

ILLIRA: Kill me if you please.  It matters not, because you will be caught and punished.

 

FIONI: Oh, my lady, you make me laugh.  Perhaps I shall enjoy having you around, after all.

 

[BLIX and VIN enters.]

 

BLIX: Sir, I have news.

 

FIONI: Well,     [Pause.]    Out with it!

 

BLIX: Captain Bartholomew’s ship has been captured by the MN.

 

FIONI: Excellent.  Another step in the ladder.   Blix, break out the champagne!  [Laughs as he  and BLIX exits.   ILLIRA slips into hiding as they leave.  VIN is left alone onstage.]

 

VIN:  My lady? [Looks around]  My lady I know this castle like the back of my hand and there is no other way out of this room except through me.  [Pause]  Lady, I have been told to escort you to your room and I really have a lot of work to do.

 

ILLIRA: [From the Shadows]    What?  Planning your next kidnapping, or perhaps you've moved on to murder for hire!

 

VIN: My lady-I do appologize if you were hurt in-

 

[ILLIRA jumps out from behind him and grabs one of his swords and stands on guard]

 

ILLIRA: I will be going now, thank you.
 

VIN: You're awfully tough for a diplomat.

 

ILLIRA: And you're awfully not for a pirate.  Why do you carry two swords anyways?

 

VIN: For times like these! [Attacks]

 

ILLIRA: Hmm, not bad.  You're tougher than I thought!

 

VIN: Not bad yourself.

 

ILLIRA: I suppose you didn't think I'd know how to use this?

 

VIN: Quite the opposite actually.  A well-born lady- lots of spunk, lots of money, of course you would!

 

ILLIRA: Of course!

 

VIN: What I wasn't expecting was for you to be as good as Spencer [Stops mid-thrust and backs away.]  I...

 

ILLIRA: Who?

 

VIN: You diplomats are too curious for your own good. [Turns to leave.]

 

ILLIRA: Your not like him.

 

[VIN stops.]

 

ILLIRA: Fioni, you're nothing like him at all-you pretend but-

 

VIN: Madam, I have duties to attend to.  Your room is down the hallway third on the left.  Good evening.

 

ILLIRA: It was her, wasn't it?  The captain.  I saw how you looked at her as you left-

 

VIN: Good.  Night!  [Exits]

Sorry for it being so long, I can't get the LJ Cuts to work properly!

And is always this material is sole intellectual property of Lainey E. Welsch and if you steal it I will hunt you down and do scary horrible things to you physically, emotionally, financially, ecumenically...you get the drift.

 

 So Tuesday night I had the luck to participate in a Playwrights Slam [much like poetry slam, but you read bits of your work]  which my boss was MCing and judging.  It was hosted by Working Title Playwrights.  There were sooooo many good playwrights, and I was extreeeeeeemely nervous about reading in front of them, but it went alright.

I read part of the scene where Henry is being interviewed by Spencer for the job of what he thinks is a navigational officer, and what she thinks is cabin boy.  It was a lot of fun because I got to do all the voices, which I think worked pretty well.  Most people came up to me afterwards and said they enjoyed it.  One guy even thanked me for doing something science fiction, which was nice, and another woman told me I was a good actress [but nothing about my script..o_O]  I realize that it's hard to pick a scene out of this script because it's such an involved story line, and in hindsight I should have done 'Captain Stormhaven Gets a Beer'  but oh well!  Next time perhaps!

I realize the reason that I'm so nervous about reading my stuff is that it IS so different from what a lot of playwrights write about, but as Robert said that's part the niche that I have going for my work.  I think this was good in many respects:  I got to meet a lot of talented writers that are part of Working Title, and they were all very supportive which is nice, second I am one tiny step closer to getting over my fear of talking in front of people I don't know, and third I got to hear a lot of different writing approaches that I can hopefully learn from for future projects.

On another note I finally finished putting together all four different bits of the Vin and Illira scene and made it into one more [hopefully] cohesive scene.  I'll post that in a separate entry.  Off to do laundry now!

So I had a very vivid and strange dream the other night, and here is all that I can remember of it.

I'm not exactly sure where this goes just yet...some where around page 46-ish...I really need to print out a copy of the whole script so I can look at it while typing on the computer...but 96 pages is a LOT to print when you have to pay for it... Anyways I'm working REALLY hard to reshape Vincent/Illira scenes so that it fleshes out Illira better and makes Vin not so damn whiney! [It's getting there, slowly but surely]  So I have been writing scene snippets and I'll figure out where they go later.  

So if you haven't read the whole play you might not quite understand what is going on, but it could be fun anyways!

VIN:   My lady, I have a message for you! My lady...please come out.  I had searched all over this bloody castle, and I have quite a bit of work to do...

ILLIRA:   [From the shadows]   What, planning your next kidnapping?

VIN:  My lady, I apologize if you were harmed in any way.

[ILLIRA grabs one of VIN's swords]

ILLIRA:   Do not move!

VIN:   Heh, and what are you going to do if I do!  [Draws his other side and attacks]

ILLIRA:  [Parries]   I suppose you didn't think I'd know how to use this! [Attacks]

VIN:   Actually, a well born lady such as yourself, lots of spunk of course you would know how to use these.  What I didn't expect is that you'd be as good as Spence- [Stops abruptly and backs away]

ILLIRA:  Who?

VIN:   I- I was sent with a message.  Allistair will have dinner read promptly at six.

ILLIRA:  But who were you talking about?

VIN:  Don't be late!  Fioni is not a man to be crossed.  Good evening. [Bows and exits.]

ILLIRA:  Wait!  What do you mean?  That was strange...



I think there will eventually be more to that exchange...but it's a start.  One of the ways I'm trying to make Vin not so whiney is to make him more swashbuckley [is that a word?]  in the beginning so there will probably be more conversation while he and Illira fight.  it will also show more of Illira's curious nature as a dignitary which I need to make more of a note of by other characters I think.