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The Writerly Life

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Episode 11

Winter’s here, and this season more is changing for me than the leaves.

The past few months have landed me some awards; this is special because I’m not a guy who’s won many honors in his life. Always been a quiet toiler, if not a quiet man. But the late summer brought me a 1st place Essay/Commentary award from the Virginia Press Institute for my regular column in Boomer Magazine here in Richmond, VA. You can check them out here.

Writing for Boomer’s been great, they let me vent on any topic I want. The column is called Native Son, and I’ve discussed a range of topics sad to funny. It’s my little platform, you might find it engaging. Also, the magazine itself is really readable. I’ve never done essay writing, and my first foray out of the gate got me a VPA award. Tickled, proud, and surprised, that’s me.

Next up on my year of writing changes is an adaptation of my novel Scorched Earth. I wrote the script last Christmas, gave it to some folks in the theater world here in Richmond, and danged if the play isn’t world-debuting at Barksdale Theater, a 200 seat venue here in town, next April. (Click here for the schedule.)

This may wind up being one of my life’s greatest thrills, watching my words and ideas on stage for the first time. With luck, the play will get some bookings elsewhere in the country after Richmond. I know the production Theatre IV will put on is going to be first class. Stay tuned for more on this one. I am.

Lastly, in my recent run of awards and honors, all of which are firsts for me, a movie script I wrote called The Rock In The Sun won the 2011 Virginia Film Office screenwriting award. The movie is set just after the Haitian earthquake, involving two American men who go to Haiti to rescue the woman who raised them. The two have not spoken in 15 years after an act of betrayal when they were kids got her deported to her home country Haiti. It’s a road/rescue/disaster/redemption/action flick. Something for everyone. So far, a few stars have shown interest in being in the film, and the talent agency ICM is considering stepping in to help bring the screenplay to life, with local film production house The Branching, director Lucas Krost, and producer Bennett Fidlow. This would be an even bigger thrill than the play and the essay award. And it leads me to my next bit of news.

I’m considering taking a break from writing novels for a while. The book industry, in the words of my agent, is being strip mined by the combination of the economy and e-books. They’re still looking for ways to make their money; advances are down for writers, they seem to be pursuing blockbusters to the derogation of simply good stories, they don’t really seem to have a handle in this emerging e-world how to market a writer or a book – asking writers to come with a ready-made “platform” like pre-existing fame or a massive social network/blog presence. I am not famous, and I loathe the whole transparency performance nature of the blogosphere and Facebook, sorry. So, my novels about WWII and social issues aren’t getting the play they once were. Plus, since I chose to be a professional writer and nothing else, I feel the pinch badly of reduced advances since it’s calculated to be my entire income. Too bad, because the WWII idea I have for a trilogy is the book idea I’ve ever had. If you’re a reader of my work, I feel badly considering abandoning you for a while. I may not, but it’s up in the air. If the screenplay becomes a movie, and I have to opportunity to pursue scripts for a while, I may have to take it until the book industry levels out.

The Devil’s Waters, my Somali pirate book, has had the devil’s own time finding a publisher. It has been met with surprising and worrying disdain, despite my agent’s heroic efforts. There is no ready explanation – the book is fine, I know a good book when I write one. I’ve been waiting and hoping a long time, and it doesn’t seem to be headed for a positive ending. So, after the new year, I may put the book online for my readers, see what you folks think. If it garners some numbers, then that will help a publisher decide. In the meantime, I’m going to pursue some other angles, and not start on my WWII trilogy until I get a clearer signal from the publishing world that it still wants my efforts.

I’m still teaching at VCU in advanced creative writing, admiring all my students. I work hard everyday to maintain and grow my non-profit The Podium Foundation. I’ll hope to see you at Barksdale Theatre beginning April 14th for Scorched Earth. Let me know what you think of the Boomer essays. And let me know you’d if like to read The Devil’s Waters and I’ll send out an announcement if/when I put it online myself in the new year.

Until then, be well. Writers out there, keep the faith. The rest of you, keep the less fortunate in mind always. Folks are struggling, and this is the time to do something, give something.

All best wishes, with warmest regards,

David

—Posted 11.7.11