Writing a Sex Scene

It's official. There now exists a screenplay for the up and coming film:

"Because We Could: An Unauthorized Love Story"

It's not finished, but it does exist.

Early every morning, my studio space, dawn's blue light, loud birds and strong Panamanian coffee all try to kick start me. I'm at the part of the script where Burton Cummings and I are about to make love Don't think that because I've already written about it in the novel that this will be a pice of cake. That's like assuming that because an artist has already captured a model on canvas, sculpting that model would be effortless.

The first thing writers must do is establish what the protagonist and the antagonist want and what obstacles get in their way. Then they must show how the characters react to the conflict (fear, trust/no trust, excitement, disappointment, euphoria, naivety). And finally, they must present the resolution.

Burton wanted a woman who wanted him for what he thought was his real inner guy. I wanted a man that could activate my Variety Club card with a bang. (Our Variety Club Cards were matching imaginary cards that my boyfriend, David, gave each of us thus condoning 'free love'.)

Although Burton, who was the lyricist to the Guess Who's most famous song, often belted out -

     'American woman, stay away from me

     American woman, mama let me be

     Don't come a hangin' around my door

     I don't want to see your face no more ... '

- he told me that the words did not apply to Canadian women. Regardless of my notable nationality, it was really hard to get his attention, to make him want me. If you remember, apart from my girlfriend's say-so,  I didn't know the height of his fame. I simply saw him as a drop dead gorgeous guy whom I could probably entice into bed - thus my naive and bold approach. Burton found this refreshing, his guarded trust was surmounted and he took a stab at being regular Burton with regular Marni.

The flirtation was a long time coming; the chase a dramatic reversal of rolls; the climax a complete surprise for both of us.

Stay tuned - next Blog will be the result of my first attempt to write a screenplay sex scene.

Looking For Romance

LOOKING FOR ROMANCE!

Yesterday, while attending a great Jazz and Blues Festival in Lakefield (a small village on the Trent Canal System), my friends and I were invited to visit ‘Romance’, docked in the harbor, for cocktail hour.

“It’s easy to find – 32 footer with a burgundy top,” said the hostess.

We laughed and talked on the way over about Burton Cummings’s upcoming concert here in Peterborough and how we all agreed that he should open with, ‘Your Backyard ‘ because, once again, he would be in my backyard.

We were not paying much attention to the task of finding our friends’ boat.

Escaping a sudden downpour, we quickly clambered onboard the burgundy topped cruiser and took shelter under the covered back deck. It looked like our friends had stepped out for a moment and, getting caught in the downpour, sought shelter elsewhere. So we made ourselves comfy and somehow the conversation got around to Murphy’s Law.

I am sure you have all met Murphy and know about his law but just in case, allow me to enlighten you. According to Wiki, “It is found that anything that can go wrong at sea, generally does go wrong, sooner or later, so it is not to be wondered that owners prefer the safe to the scientific.”

In my novel, 'Because We Could',  Murphy first visits the pages when we are about to begin our disastrous journey across the Bay of Fundy -  the most treacherous body of water in the world. Our ship was an antique 112′ submarine chaser and, our misly crew of four, clueless. 

“During the shoving off maneuvers, Murphy went straight to work and pushed Greg’s outsized glasses off our crewmember’s nose into the sea to become the first piece of jetsam we would unwillingly offer up to Mother Ocean. Unfortunately, this sacrifice took with it Greg’s sight and every last ounce of his pint-sized courage. After pawing his way to the inside of the wheelhouse, he pretty much stayed there for the duration of the crossing, earnestly gripping the rail.”

OK, back to our current storey. About 45 minutes passed with no sign of our hosts, a woman was standing on the dock asking what the hell we were doing on her boat? She saw no humor whatsoever in what had happened.

Tails between our legs and full of apologies, we disembarked and walked to the stern to see what the heck the name of her boat was. There, written in the standard black letters was:

MURPHY'S LAW 

Hysterics prevailed.

Notable groups at the concert:

      Jane Bunnett Cuban Rhapsody - Jazz

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0fikzzjUJ8

      Blackburn - the blues, Baby

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-lhsZjbE6g

And, to read how Burton ended up in my backyard - see chapter 4 in 'Because We Could'.

And for the song, 'Your Backyard' go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAUyRMrPu4U

                       

Back At It

I'm back! Took a short sabbatical to check out a couple of hospitals. Piece of advise to readers - if you think you are going to pass out at the wheel, don't give it a second thought - pull the fuck over thatmoment, 'cause hitting a tree at 80 k's, hurts like hell.

The heli lift was cool and definitely on my bucket list, but the board and neck brace were bloody uncomfortable and the view of only the chopper's ceiling, a huge disappointment. My car 'is' no longer, but I live on, pretty much unscathed. Prior to the accident, I had been contemplating highlighting my life's adventures with tattoos, but now the scars collected over the years, along with the addition of the numerous recent ones, have pretty much taken care of that. I am definitely a walking storyboard now.

On a more positive note.....yesterday I had a fun book signing at Chapters Book Store, Canada's version of Barnes and Noble. It was in my hometown in Ontario, and, due to a notice in our local paper, many people from my high school days stopped by to support me and to see if I recognized

them - or vise versa. Not fair!

 . Young me.

One of my fans came to buy a second copy of my book, 'Because We Could', to pass onto a film producer friend of hers who was looking for her next project. I know that this is what it takes these days. More than ever before, it really is who you know.

In the 80's, I worked on a film with Jane Fonda. After that, we exchanged a couple of letters - her's to thank me for the great food and mine to ask if she would like to back a project I had in mind. She actually answered me.

Today, I am trying to send her a copy of my book sort of as a thank you for all the films she has done that I have enjoyed. Also, after the release of Netflix's Frankie and Grace, I thought she would enjoy my story, a lot. Now it seems she has agents for her agents and a wall around her as thick and as complicated to navigate as a rain cloud.

And we all know how my attempt to reach Burton Cummings for a coffee went... So, cross your fingers and hope for me that this film producer friend of a friend loves the read.

Some more good news, the bar on the age of my fans was raised this week with the addition of 91-year-old artist, Bobby Patterson. She loved it!

Slideshow Synopsis & 70's Soundtrack for my novel, "Because We Could: A Memoir"

For a silly little slideshow synopsis of my novel, "Because We Could - A Memoir" -  go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B0gnMNb9Ko

And do take note that when reading the book, that any resemblance to real people, is entirely intentional! :)

For the 70's soundtrack to "Because We Could" - go to the link below.
It is a fun beach-picnic playlist.
Sorry that, from time to time, some videos may be deleted - that's just youtube.
Use Chrome to avoid ads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KKd0kE_21M&index=1&list=PL-Vh_rImJmwyEKylxlJFE8oqIJYIV6DFc

ENJOY!

Your Photography Inspiring Your Writing

Street Photography and Writing

Becoming a good writer does not just come from being diligent about the daily grind of putting pen to paper. To me, it is more about constantly observing scenes around you and being aware of what the characters participating in that scene, that moment, are sensing and thinking. An exercise I enjoy to help enhance these skills is shooting Street Photography and then writing a page about it.

"The street photographer can be seen as an extension of the flaneur, an observer of the streets (who was often a writer or artist)." ... Wiki

Here are a few moments I have captured on film that will always resonate with me. I invite you to pick one - write a paragraph about it - and post it here on my blog. Have some fun!

Slightly Obscure Top Musicians

Slightly Obscure Top Musicians

I finally broke down and hired a Social Media coach. He, Jeff, actually gives me homework! First on the list is to write two blogs weekly for months. I dare not ask what is after these 'months', but my guess is it will be to develop a plan to get new friends to replace the old ones that are sick and tired of my blogging them half to death.

Anyone who has been reading my spotty former posts, knows that I love music. So, today I would like to share with you three of my favourite musicians - all recognized as one of the world's best at playing their chosen instruments.

The first is Bob Weir, rhythm guitarist of the Grateful Dead. His genius can best be seen in the documentary film,"The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir", available on Netflix.

Go to minute 31:16 where you can hear his uniquily creative way of playing with Garcia.

 

The second is Mike Mangini, known as the fastest drummer.

His wild talent can be seen in the documentary film, "A Drummer's Dream", also available on Netflix at minute 6:11

Or, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMn8Et1P9ME

The third is Carlos del Junco, a gold medal winning harmonica player.

He specializes in playing the ten hole diatonic harmonica. He was taught to play chromatically by using an "overblow" technique introduced to him by Howard Levy, a jazz virtuoso.

In 1993, he won two gold medals at the Hohner World Harmonica Championship held in Trossingen, Germany. He was judged world's best in both the diatonic blues category and the diatonic jazz category. 

AND, he jams at my local pub here in Peterborough regularily!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3HRtYpJf7I

ENJOY!

"Framing the Wind"

"Framing the Wind"

I borrowed/stole this title for my next novel from a line in a  poem by Irving Layton, a bold Canadian poet known for his "tell it like it is" style.

I thought that seeing as one of my former blogs was about getting off your butt and writing, I should assure you that I have done just that.

My second novel (mmmm - those words feel nice rolling around in my mind), was initially inspired by a four-month bicycle trek I took around Costa Rica after my son flew the coop - about 17 years after the adventure recorded in the novel, "Because We Could" took place.  As you know, my modus operandi has always been to venture out unprepared and learn things the hard way. That trip's moldy old diary recently re-surfaced and that, along with requests for a follow-up from my readers, got me started. But, I wanted this book to be fiction, using the pages from the diary only for inspiration. The next step seemed obvious. Read some great works of fiction by inspiring writers to rev up my own creative engine while noting how they 'show' rather than 'tell'; how they develop characters; create conflict ... tell a damn good story.

Out of this reading has crawled "Framing the Wind", staring two startling characters who will boldly challenge nature and society's current ignorance and fears. This tale has what every writer dreams of -  its own momentum.  My Mac and I have hit the cafes and campgrounds with great enthusiasm once more!

                                                                                                                            
Books I enjoyed during my inspiration phase:

"Requiem" by Francis Itani
"Cloudstreet" by Tim Winton
"The High Mountains of Portugal" by Yann Martel


Photo by Marni taken in Panama's Old City

"Are you in love with the art in yourself or yourself in the art?" ... Stahislavski

"Are you in love with the art in yourself or yourself in the art?"     

                                                                                                                             . . . Stahislavski


 Picasso's self-portrait.

I think that one is first in love with the thoughts about a piece of art or music or a story - excitedly  talking about it, researching it, sketching it and thinking about how much fun we'll have putting the ideas and images together. Then, when the art is finished, seeing or hearing ourselves in that art and, if deeming it good, we are in love with the 'me' in that creation forever.

So, what are our motives for writing the way we write? What is our vision? Every story created is the author saying to the reader: "I believe life is like this."

A story is the embodiment of our ideas and passions for the feelings and insights we wish to install in our audience. My job while creating "Because We Could: A Memoir", was to fill every moment with my passionate conviction. I had to write what I believed.

I knew I would use the ancient classical design for storytelling, the Archplot, where a certain value-charged situation in the life of the protagonist (me) makes a great sweep of change thus taking their life from the opening condition to a different value-charged situation which is absolute and irreversible. Easy, right? Nope!

First, there is the issue of the point of view. My first attempt at telling my story was to tell it in the present using letters back and forth between myself and the antagonist (my ex-boyfriend, David). Quickly realizing this was extremely limiting and difficult, I switched to telling it in the third person. This didn't work for me either because it seemed that, too often, the flow of the story was being diffused. After an afternoon of brainstorming with my author friend, John Earle, I reluctantly discarded the completed six chapters and began a six-week cursing spree. Finally, I quit pouting and took a stab at using the first person. Voila! It felt natural; I only had to deal with one mind (mine) and I could create a distinctive internal voice.

Many readers have asked me how I remembered all the details that I put into the novel. After all, it did take place thirty-years before I began writing the book. The answer is that I had told these little vignettes many times over cocktails, around campfires, while cooking, so they naturally stayed in my memory. I also had letters that my mom saved over the years that helped and definitely reminded me of the timeline. And then there was the flat-out-fun of roaming around on Google which provided information on writing, people, places, photos and also, re-connected me with the other main characters, Canadian naval historians, the music of the era and on and on.

My favourite aspect of the remembering and writing process did not come from the writing itself, but rather from the creative editing with my dear friend, Lucy Farrell (aka Elizabeth). This took place Friday nights while sharing a bottle or two of Argentinian Malbec on my jungle porch in the mountains of Panama.  Often we would playact the dialogue between two characters to nail it. Or she would tell me to close my eyes and describe something specific to her, prompting me with question after question. While memory gives us whole chunks of life, imagination gives us fragments - slivers of details and experience that seem unrelated, seeking out their hidden connections and then merging into a whole. Having found these links and envisioned the scenes, it was easy to write a smooth, exciting story with vivid details and characters who stayed true to themselves. 

In summary, quit telling everyone you have always wanted to write a book, (I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said this to me) - and get started! Put yourself in a creative space, have your favourite beverage at hand and plug into some good instrumental music. Now begin by brain storming with yourself as to what your motives are and what your vision is. Then, let go of the fear and enjoy the ride.

                     

Epigraphs

Ep-i-graph:  noun:

• a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme.

“Several years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.”– H. Melville (Moby Dick)

Melville nailed it for me—this was exactly the quote I was looking for to introduce my sea adventure memoir, “Because We Could”.  Raised on the shores of Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes, by twenty-five I longed for the more vast and mysterious. I wanted our puny 1-inch leaches to turn into 6-foot eels; muskellunge to barracudas; waves from ankle-lickers to frothing A-frames. I wanted to enter Mother Ocean’s parlor where we could sip on vintage salt water and converse about her wonders.

I have used epigraphs at the beginning of each of my chapters. It is fun to search for the perfect quote in songs, poetry, novels, on t-shirts, license plates, and raunchy pub stalls. There actually exists 2,000-year-old quotes from Cleopatra, and they are sly and saucy.

“Because We Could: A Memoir”
www.amzn.com/B00MJQTGRG (the two 00 are zeros)