ahream

I had a professor my freshman year of college who inquired if our class would prefer to hand in their short writing pieces or to read them aloud. I said I didn’t think writing was a performance art. And he nodded as though this were sage wisdom, and we all passed our papers to the front for him to read privately.

I’ll remember that every time I do a reading – should I be so lucky to one day be sent on a book tour. I’ll remember it right after I swallow half a bottle of Malox, a shot of tequila and pray to every god I can think of that somebody, anybody, might show up – and that they not be armed with rotting fruit.

Don’t you just hate when stuff comes back to bite you in the butt?

That’s why I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard that mystery novelist Laurie R. King (if you haven’t read “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice,” you should) would be writing a short story in public in real time as her words are broadcast on a screen as well as online for the public to follow. In REAL TIME. No second draft, no editor, no lying on the floor of your office with a bag of cheese doodles listening to classic rock while you wait for an idea that doesn’t suck to find its way into your brain.

I think that’s unbelievably brave. Possibly crazy. Myself – I’d rather drink bleach.

But I wish her luck.

This writer’s improv, as she’s calling it, will take place on May 20th in honor of her being named Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year 2006.

Now where did I put my cheese doodles...

ahream Dispatches from the City of Angels I'm a mystery writer living in and writing about Los Angeles. You can catch my short story, "Running Venice," in the new anthology LAndmarked for Murder. Look for it in bookstores and on Amazon.com now. In the meantime, feel free to poke around. Over at my website you can find even more blog entries than I could fit here, as well as a few other ramblings. Enjoy and come back often.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (1) Most Recent Twitters: A 3-foot long alligator was found walking down the middle of the street in Venice Beach this morning. I love L.A. In case you were wondering, it is very difficult to get a hummingbird out of your house. They are irrational and prone to hysterics. L.A. Finds: The Nickel Diner on Main between 5th and 6th is a made-to-look-old, throwback of a place that melds into the old downtown and is, at the same time, part of the renaissance. They serve their burgers medium, their soda in bottles and offer all they can to locals in need. Flickr Updates: The second Thursday of every month is the Downtown Art Walk. The galleries stay open late, the restaurants are packed, bands perform on the streets. God, I love L.A. What I'm Reading: Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks by Christopher Brookmyre What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami Want E-Mail Updates? Click here, type your e-mail address into the first field (for public entries) and receive an e-mail note each time a new blog post goes up. (Photo updates, Twitters and "L.A. Finds" features not included. Those you have to swing by and check yourself.) Absolutely, positively no spam. Promise. Other author blogs: Sue Ann Jaffarian Eric Stone Christa Faust Lipstick Chronicles		2006-03-01 11:07 AM Now that’s a writer with some cojones I had a professor my freshman year of college who inquired if our class would prefer to hand in their short writing pieces or to read them aloud. I said I didn’t think writing was a performance art. And he nodded as though this were sage wisdom, and we all passed our papers to the front for him to read privately. I’ll remember that every time I do a reading – should I be so lucky to one day be sent on a book tour. I’ll remember it right after I swallow half a bottle of Malox, a shot of tequila and pray to every god I can think of that somebody, anybody, might show up – and that they not be armed with rotting fruit. Don’t you just hate when stuff comes back to bite you in the butt? That’s why I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard that mystery novelist Laurie R. King (if you haven’t read “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice,” you should) would be writing a short story in public in real time as her words are broadcast on a screen as well as online for the public to follow. In REAL TIME. No second draft, no editor, no lying on the floor of your office with a bag of cheese doodles listening to classic rock while you wait for an idea that doesn’t suck to find its way into your brain. I think that’s unbelievably brave. Possibly crazy. Myself – I’d rather drink bleach. But I wish her luck. This writer’s improv, as she’s calling it, will take place on May 20th in honor of her being named Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year 2006. Now where did I put my cheese doodles... Read/Post Comments (1) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top