"Why can't they all act like Pola Negri?"

The Evolution of a Novel Pt. 6

So what happened?  Plenty.  I’ll let you know soon enough.

Evolution of a Novel Pt. 5

Well, the most current draft of “The Bureau of Lost Films” (I’ve settled on that as a title, for sure), is now over the century mark.  It’s been slow-going despite the outline.  I think it’s because I’ve had to re-think how the story is developing and what I have isn’t look like it’ll get past the 200 page mark when I need to break 250 pages in order to have a salable product.  Shit.  “Saleable…

What’s the Book Called?

Why must all original ideas be sacrificed on the altars of commercialism?  My one published book, a biography of silent star Pola Negri had the original title of “Pola Negri:  A Creature of Flame and Desire.”   Man, I thought that was the greatest title since French bread.  My publisher, however, disagreed and their great idea was to call it, “Pola Negri: Temptress of Silent Hollywood.”  I…

Evolution of A Novel, Pt. 4

Some times, all it takes is for one person to tell you you’re wrong before you can get it right.  I started my ninth attempt to get “The Bureau of Lost Films” off the ground with a brand new Chapter One that pretty much discarded all of my previous ideas and adheres to the outline I spent three weeks creating in order to avoid my unfortunate proclivity of exiting the highway onto side streets..…

The Evolution of a Novel Part 3

Okay, I lied.  Sue me.  I thought after the last draft of “The Bureau of Lost Films” that I had something.  Wrong.  I went back and re-read it and there were still the usual problems:  great set pieces, but enough of a unifying story for the set pieces; not to mention the utter lack of a third act.  I just couldn’t get the ending or the villains right and the discovery of the lost film, the…

The Evolution of a Novel Part 2

Where was I?  Oh yeah, “The Bureau of Lost Films.” So after another glorious flame-out, I decided to go Accept–you know, “Balls to the Wall,” with a different concept.  I figured that since my elegant and clever novel, “The Ardent Admirer” didn’t meet with interest from over 60–count ’em–fucking agents because it lacked sure-fire commercial appeal, why not just do something completely off-the…

The Evolution of a Novel Part 1

So, here I am again, at the apex of the latest draft of my new novel–trying to come up with the right ending while praying to the muse that everything in front of it holds up the rest of the story better than Chinese drywall.  This is the third shot at “The Bureau of Lost Films.”  The first two died because I just couldn’t make the story work–and by “not work” I mean I couldn’t make it “not…

Allow Me a Rant

I know writers who know a lot about writing (that’s a weird sentence).  Oh, they can talk about characters development, voice, plot structure, grammar and even marketing.  But that’s all they do.  Ever met a writer who doesn’t seem to write anything?  They’ll tell you, “I’m working on something,” or “I’m writing this novel,” but they don’t seem to be able to tell you what it’s about and sure as…

So, today I get an email from McFarland Books–the publisher for my bio of silent film star Pola Negri (available on their website if you’re interested in checking it out) to show me an advertisement featuring my book which is running in the September issue of Classic Images magazine.  I might have heard of the magazine–cripes, when was the last time I visited a newsstand?  Man, I miss doing that.…

Some times, you have to make a change.  Some times it’s unexpected.  Some times it’s necessary.  Some times….it’s just time. I have been in a critique group for about four or five years now.  I take my work there to be critiqued by other members and I critique the work of other writers.  I have a reputation.  They call me “the Blade” for my penchant for absolutely slaughtering people’s writings.…

One of my goals for this summer was a new novel…well, at least a draft of something new. I had a few ideas:  “The Long-Forgotten”–a ghost story regarding the ghost of a….well, I don’t want to give that away….”The Bureau of Lost Films” about a thief hooking up with film historians to locate a long-lost Charlie Chaplin movie….”The White Hot Spotlight,” a long-planned take on Rudolph Valentino’s…

Sneak Peek for “The Bureau of Lost Films”

Chapter One Right off Hollywood Boulevard is a book shop called “Hollywoodland Books.” Behind the doors is a movie geek’s nirvana with shelf-after-shelf of books about films, biographies of directors and actors, and surveys of cinema culture. Tucked into one corner are wire racks holding ancient movie magazines like Wid’s Daily and Motion Picture Classic, and in the rear there are bulging card…

What I’ve learned…and more

So….my book, “Pola Negri:  Temptress of Silent Hollywood” is just about out.  I got my free copies a couple of days ago.  Needless to say, compromises were made on everything from the title to the size of the book. I will say I’m generally pleased with it, although it’s a far cry from the vision I had of a book about Pola Negri. Lessons learned?  Yep….get an editor before you submit your book for…

Sure, I could go into a treatise on how to write and, perhaps, some day I will.  Right now, however, let’s distill writing into two basic principles: One:  The shortest route between your beginning and ending is a straight line; and Two:  K.I.S.S.    Keep it simple, stupid.  Writers love subtext…they want their novel to be about more than it is in on the surface, so they go for stories within…

House of 1,000 Dolls is closed.

Just one of those things.  Thought people would be interested.  They’re not.  So shutting down here and will be moving site to Facebook in the near future.

I am still trying to make “The Long Forgotten” work.  I think I can make it happen. although the denouement of the plot might not be what everything believes it to be.  When all is said and done, it should be quite a surprise.  For the moment, I am also changing the title to “Ligeia won’t stay dead.”   I like it…and, yes, I do get the Poe reference.   Say tuned..