Book to Movie

It's the dream of a lot of writers to see their work up on the big screen. Imagine, your book brought to life, maybe populated by well-known actors portraying your carefully crafted characters. I know that plenty of writers are purists and abhor the idea of their work appearing on the big screen. Hey, I totally respect that! I have to admit however that I think I'd LOVE to have my writing made into a movie!
 To that end I took a chance and submitted my novel to the Latino Books to Movies contest. Well, to my pleasant surprise I was eventually notified that I'd won "Honorable Mention" in the Drama category! Shortly thereafter I had to create and submit 10 double-sided color copies of a promo page for my novel along with 10 copies of my novel. Now supposedly these things are going to be in turn submitted to people in the movie industry.
 Yes, so I'm excited about the possibility of my novel being made into a movie. Sorry, but I really like the idea!
 Got my fingers crossed!
 Hope to see you at the movies!

Happy Holidays... Now Write!

In seven or so minutes Christmas will be over. About a week later the New Year will be counted down and ushered in. Then that will pretty much be it for the major holidays. People will have eaten, drunk, partied, gifted, and made resolutions until they've had their fill and then some! But you fellow writer should also be ABSORBING. What do I mean by that? It's a fact that stress levels during the holidays soar sky high, making the holiday season a time not just for giving and rejoicing, but also a time of intense human drama and interaction. Raw emotions are often on display, and almost every spectrum of the human condition is played out in the open. In other words things are laid bare all around you that could, and even should, be considered grist for the mill. You as a writer have no choice but to file away some of these for later use in your writings, whether it be poetry or prose. Something from the holiday season should find its way onto your pages... without naming names of course.
Feel free to consider this advice a Christmas present from me to you.
Feliz Navidad.

A Writers Retreat

Hey, ever been to a Writer's Retreat? Yeah, me neither. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted to go but there were two things about doing so that I've always found to be Writer's Retreat prohibitive...
1. The cost
2. The fact that I would then have no excuse as to why I'm not writing.
  Like a lot of my fellow writers, I seem to have inherited a muse that is easily distracted, or that downright procrastinates when there's work to be done. Dirty dishes, unopened mail, social media... all seem to have that siren's call effect on my muse when it is presented with the challenge of a blank page.
  But what would my excuse be if I'm actually at a place where all anyone is expected to do is write? No distractions. No reason, real or imagined, to procrastinate. I would be expected to WRITE! And not only that, but there would be other writers present whose mere presence, in my opinion, would fill me with guilt if I were not toiling away at a new story or novel every minute that I was there.
  So, why am I anguishing over this? Well, because I was recently notified that I won a 4-day, 3-night stay at the "When Words Count" writers retreat in Vermont. It is a prize that is at once thrilling and terrifying! Thrilling because as I've said, I always wanted to go to a writers retreat. Terrifying because now I'll no choice but to face down that blank sheet of paper and write. This is probably all Colleen Vito's doing! Sorry, inside joke.
  So, in a couple of months I'll be on my way to a beautiful farmhouse in rural Vermont, my muse kicking and screaming all the way. And there will be no distractions. No procrastination. No excuses. I am going...

to write.

October 1st, 2011. My fledgling organization, the Latino Authors & Writers Society, was having its first writer's conference.
  The conference took place in a fancy building on Third Avenue with an auditorium, classrooms, sign-in area, and catered food and drinks. One of the speakers, as I'd mentioned before was the great poet and essayist; Louis Reyes Rivera.
  His was definitely one tough act to follow. But our Keynote Speaker was more than up to the task. He started out with his background, then segued into what drove him to become a writer and the particular obstacles facing Latino(a) writers trying to get published. That Keynote Speaker was Judge Edwin Torres, author of Carlito's Way (among others).
  Judge Edwin Torres was eloquent, funny, witty, informative and inspiring. He waxed nostalgic about a childhood that seemed so typical for many of us that it brought many of our own childhood memories to life. He shared writing secrets and urged us to keep writing and work towards bringing Latino literature to the fore.
  He was great and I appreciated the favor he did for my organization. He refused an Honorarium, saying that he was happy just to support a Latino organization. Especially one that was for Latino literacy and literature.
Cool.

Something out of Nothing

I have several family members that crochet. Some knit and crochet, and their skill never ceases to amaze me. I have watched in awe while they have taken what really just amounted to a single long thread and created scarves, hats, mittens, sweaters, and even coats! I have mentioned many times that what they do often seems magical to me. Using their skill and know-how, it almost seems that they create something out of nothing.
  As writers, do we do any less? We use our skills and know-how to face down a blank page and fill it with words meant to convey feelings, images, and ideas. One page often becomes more, with the words coalescing into poems, short stories, articles, books, etc. It can seem magical.
  But, the magic is only an illusion of course, because as the person who is crocheting a blanket or capelet knows, just like the person hard at work on a poem, story or article, it's work! The creative process, the melding together of ideas, dreams, and the physical tools needed to bring those dreams, etc. to fruition very often involves copious amounts of the proverbial blood, sweat, and tears.
  It is the illusion of creating something out of nothing that makes writing such a controversial career choice sometimes, as folks looking in from the outside may not understand the process.
  I guess what I'm trying to say is that regardless of what it may look like, writing is hard work! We so often do create magic when we write, building worlds and touching hearts with words painstakingly put together with skill and even love. In effect, making something out of nothing. A poem, a story, a novel, an essay, onto blank sheets of paper as empty and formless as a deep, dense fog. We as writers work up the nerve to reach into the unknown depths in order to put our thoughts and ideas down where they are then open to critique and vulnerable to opinion.
  Because thats what we do. We make something out of nothing.

I recently participated in Comite Noviembre's Puerto Rican Artisan Fair & Book Expo at Hostos Community College. It was such a refreshingly positive and powerfully energizing experience!
  The downstairs area was filled with visual artists of all types with exquisite paintings, sculptures, and more adorning the many artist's tables. Meanwhile upstairs, authors proudly stood by tables that displayed their literary work. Practically all of the genres were represented. It was a heady and exciting experience to be surrounded by so many talented and creative people of Latino(a) lineage. A perfect example of this are the enormously talented and effervescent Dania Ramos and her husband Mike. These two folks exuded creativity, energy, and positivity. Not to mention graciousness and class.
  I was also lucky enough to run into extremely talented and stalwart fellow authors Theresa Varela and Manuel Melendez. And of course Maria Aponte was there inspiring everyone with her own creative spark and energy!  Olga Huraira Ayala was there with her AWESOME artwork, as was Luis Cordero Santoni; lending his strength and wisdom to the attendees.
  Sorry if I missed anyone, but believe me when I say that it was a dynamic day that I won't soon forget. I can barely wait 'til next year!
Meanwhile, I encourage you to check out these books and their authors. Books make wonderful Christmas presents!

Write like nobody's watching...

There's an old saying, "Dance like nobody's watching."  I really like that old piece of wisdom and what it signifies. It means that we should embrace our joy and let go our encumbrances, our fears, our self-doubts and our insecurities.  We should shed the constraints of self-consciousness and just celebrate life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.  In the bible it says that King David was so overjoyed that he danced non-stop until he danced right out of his clothes!

  When you write, you should do so unencumbered by the constraints of conventional wisdom, societal mores, or the opinions of critics, cousins, crazies, or nosy neighbors. Dance with your muse and avoid the accusatory gaze of folks who think they know better. Spread your wings, let your talent and your imagination take flight... and write like nobody's watching!

The Anti-Writer

Writers write. Okay, that's true. But the writing process itself often involves several actions, the nuances of which can be lost on the casual observer, and so lead to the casual observer thinking that the writer is free to be engaged at the moment. The observer then tries to involve the writer in conversation or activities which would unknowingly interfere with the writer's writing process.
  This misunderstanding of the writer's process can lead to hurt feelings, arguments, strife, anxiety... and it lead to spouses, friends, partners, or even children becoming The Anti-Writer!
  Writers tend to be thinkers, and thinking can often involve staring out a window or at a blank computer screen for hours. A writer can, and will, excitedly write down or blurt out an idea before settling down and gnawing on this same idea for hours or even days trying to get it just right.
  To someone on the outside looking in, it seems that the writer has a lot of free time on their hands. So folks that don't quite "get it" will want to share in that "free time."
  Thus friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, spouses, partners, lovers, fellow commuters, curious onlookers and just plain talkative, gregarious people become the Anti-Writer by unknowingly stepping into the path between a writer and their muse.
  So what's a writer to do? Well, as I've mentioned before, a writer should set aside a time and place where they would regularly do their writing and thinking, and then sit down with loved ones and explain that when they are ensconced in this place at that time, they are WORKING and shouldn't be disturbed. Easy? No. Necessary? Only if you're serious about your writing.
  What about those fellow commuters and co-workers, etc.? There's nothing you can probably do about the world at large at this point, so try to be zen about it and just chalk it up to life. And, just keep writing.

Writer's Curse?

Ugh, I've been up since four this morning! I've never been a morning person, and I'm even less of a morning person since I've retired. I'm not going fishing this morning, nor am I headed to the airport to jet away to some sun-drenched exotic locale. No, my muse figured she'd have a little fun at my expense and woke me up at this wretched hour with an intriguing (did I spell that right? Sorry, I told you that I'm not a morning person) idea.
  Oh believe me I fought her tooth and nail, tossing and turning in my nice warm cocoon of blankets until finally, with a groan I admitted defeat and rose to jot down this latest revelation from my apparently sleepless muse.
  Now I'm laying here, my mind all a-jumble with electric ideas, dialogues, and characters caring not about my want and need of sleep as they commune, interact and collide loudly with each other. We've all heard of and experienced writer's block, but could this be some sort of Writer's Curse? Could this be some sort of condition unique to creative types wherein the mind never truly rests, but is in constant flux; overflowing, overtaxed, overwhelmed with ideas, structure, paths, memories, and so much more hurtling along screaming rails until you finally give in with a groan and a whoosh of your mental air brakes? Maybe.
  But I wouldn't have it any other way. Except, maybe just a little later in the day? Please?

RAW Curves Media: Curvypreneur - Arnaldo Lopez

Shortly before he passed away in March of 2012, eminent and much-loved Puerto Rican poet, writer, essayist, and master of the spoken word, Louis Reyes Rivera, honored me personally and honored my fledgling organization (The Latino Authors & Writers Society) particularly, by agreeing to be the guest speaker at our first ever writer's conference.
  Mr. Rivera's highly anticipated turn at the mic had the audience electrified! Everyone, myself included, alternated between applauding wildly and crying unashamedly.
  His words and his delivery were that kind of powerful, poignant, and timely.
  In short, he was GREAT!!
  I thanked him effusively of course, and I was hoping that over time we would move beyond the boundaries of colleague and fellow writer, to the realm of fast friends.
  Alas, he left us too soon physically, but his amazing body of work will continue to inspire, move, entertain and elevate us for generations to come.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending Latina author Theresa Varela's reading and signing of her latest novel, "Nights of Indigo Blue."
  I had enjoyed the novel thoroughly, and so I looked forward to meeting the writer as well.
  I was not disappointed. Theresa is such a gem that she sparkled the entire evening: witty, knowledgeable, attractive, and forthcoming, she made time for everyone and I, along with everyone else, was swept away by her energy and good humor.
  Needless to say I got my copy of her wonderful novel autographed. I also enjoyed the poetry and spoken word of her invited poets and readers, and I had the pleasure of meeting Manuel Melendez; author of "When Angels Fall" and "Battle for a Soul".
  It was a good and feel-good experience, particularly seeing so much Latino(a) talent and their supporters.
  I definitely need to attend more of these functions.

Real Life Crime

I write about a lot of things. The truth is that writing and reading are passions of mine. One of favorite genres, whether I'm reading or writing is crime fiction. I guess it started years ago when I was a kid in school and I discovered Encyclopedia Brown. Then of course I practically devoured all of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries I could lay my hands on.
  Of course over the years I progressed to more "mature" fare as I went on to immerse myself in the works of Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and so many others.
 Well, it's one thing to enjoy crime as a fictional element in one's literature, and horrifically quite another to have an actual crime touch your family. Last week my nephew Jonathan was shot in the head after exiting a club in Miami, Florida. He's a fighter though, and he's currently in stable condition at Jackson hospital. He's only 23.
  His mother (my sister), and his sister flew down to Miami from New York to be by his bedside. Many people have shown their support in the forms of well-wishes, prayers, and funds. I am immensely grateful to them all. I am also very grateful for the doctor's hard work and positive medical diagnoses.
  Writers rarely expect what they write about to land on their doorstep. I know I didn't.
  I hope they catch the guys who did it, and I hope and pray for my nephew's speedy and complete recovery.
  And let's hope violent crime only occurs between the covers of a book.
Jonathan's "Go Fund Me