Happy May

And it is starting out with a bang. Not only are my apple trees already in full bloom, so are the bleeding hearts and new book releases are filling up my schedule quickly.
Spring is a time for renewal. Got your goals on?

If not, why not make this the year you star in your own show. That doesn't mean put on a one man show for television or movies, but to put yourself on track to be the best that you can be.

Give your life your top priority. Go for those goals that have been festering on the back burner of your mind. Want to write that book? Go for it! Want to write that screen Play? Hollywood is hungry for more good movies.

Readers are starved for some reading with depth and clarity. Are you ready to write those memoirs so your children and grandchildren can really know who you are, where you have been, and what they might be because of your courage and adventurous spirit.

I want to share two things with you. A new release Money Isn't Everything,http://www.billiewilliams.com and a wonderful review for my latest writing book just released. A Writer's Vehicle, Henry Ford's Way http://www.spawn.org/blog/?p=1115

Watch for more news soon. Mean time grab that pen, paper, computer, notebook, and write like the wind! Get those goals moving forward.

Determination, Desire, Discipline

Most of you know Debbie Macomber – or about her if you haven’t read any of her books. She is a very prolific and popular romance writer – but guess what? She’s ordinary and she’s motivated by need — or at least she used to be. I found the article below as part of a book by Jack Canfield **The Success Principles, How to get from where you are to where you want to be. I thought it would be an inspiration to us all.

When Debbie Macomber decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, she rented a typewriter, put it on the kitchen table, and began typing each morning after the kids went off to school. When the kids came home, she moved the typewriter and made them dinner. When they went to bed, she moved it back and typed some more. For 2 ½ years Debbie followed this routine. Supermom had become a struggling writer, and she was loving every minute of it.

One night, however, her husband, Wayne, sat her down and said, “Honey, I’m sorry, but you’re not bringing in any income. We can’t do this anymore. We can’t survive on just what I make.”

That night, her heart broken and her mind too busy to let he sleep, she stared at the ceiling in their darkened bedroom. Debbie knew with all the responsibilities of keeping up a house and taking four kids to sports, church, and scouts—that working 40 hours a week would leave her not time to write.

Sensing her despair her husband woke up and asked “What’s wrong?”

“I really think I could’ve made it as a writer. I really do.”

Wayne was silent for a long time, then sat up, turned on the light, and said, “All right, honey, go for it.”

So Debbie returned to her dream and her typewriter on the kitchen table pounding out page after page for another 2 ½ years. Her family went without vacations, pinched pennies, and wore hand-me-downs.

But the sacrifice and the persistence paid off. After 5 years of struggling, Debbie sold her first book. Then another. And another. Until finally, today, Debbie has published more than 100 books, many of which have become New York Times best-sellers and 3 of which have sold for movies. Over 60 million copies of her books are in print, and she has millions of loyal fans.

And Wayne? All that sacrifice in support of his wife paid off handsomely he got to retire at age 50 and now spends his time building an airplane in the basement of their 7,000-square-foot mansion.

Debbie’s kids got a gift far more important than a few summer camps. As adults, they realize what Debbie gave them was far more important — permission and encouragement to pursue their own dreams.

Today, Debbie still has dreams she wants to fulfill—a television series based on her books, an Emmy Award, a number-one New York Times best seller.

To accomplish them, she has a routine: she gets up every morning at 4:30, reads her Bible, and writes in her journal. By 6:00, she’s swimming laps in the pool. And by 7:30 she’s in her office answering mail. She writes between 10 AM and 4:00 PM, producing three new books a year with discipline and perseverance.

What could you accomplish if you were to follow your heart, practice this much daily discipline, and never give up?

This book is filled with motivation and inspiration like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series he is co-author of — it gives one pause to think, and then take action. Unstoppable — that’s what we need to be. WRITE ON gang.

The Success Principles. How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, by Jack Canfield ISBN 978-0-06-059489-3 $15.95 www.thesuccessprinciples.com

Christmas in July

Star* Publish Times – July 1, 2007

STAR* AUTHORS KICK OFF CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Billie A. Williams (script writer of A Christmas Dream) and Janet Elaine Smith (author of the original novel A Christmas Dream) will discuss the soon-to-be-released play on Monday, July 2, on Janet's program "Marketing for Fun and Profit." It can be heard at http://internetvoicesradio.com/ at 9:30 p.m. ET. "Marketing for Fun and Profit" is sponsored by Star* Publish LLC, and they strive to bring you a variety of interesting and cutting-edge issues every week.

The 3-act play is geared towards small-medium sized community theater groups, highschool/college drama clubs, dinner theaters and the like. The setting is quite simple, and the cast less than 20 people. The co-authors are already gearing up for a marketing campaign to hit community theaters as soon as the script is available. Their goal is to have it presented in at least one theater in each of the 50 states. Lofty? Perhaps, but as Susan Quincey (the heroine in the book) will tell you, "Miracles still happen, especially at Christmas time."
The book has been compared by many readers to Miracle on 34th Street. They already have one prepublished review, which can be seen

here. ( http://starpublishnews.tripod.com/id6.html )

A Christmas Dream 3-Act Play

My very first attempt at writing a three act play will be released next month. A Christmas Dream is a novel written by my dear friend Janet Elaine Smith. When she mentioned she'd love to see it be produced as a play I had just finished several screen writing courses and belonged to an RWA Screen Writer's group. I volunteered to give it a try.

I had a good deal of fun taking on the challenge of this medium. It is quite different than writing a novel - I had a couple dozen of those already published. The thing with a play is - the dialogue must carry the whole show. The characters must be what the narration of a novel creates for the reader. Certain things cannot be done on a small stage in the time of an hour or so that a stage play uses. Sets must be changed--quickly for the most part--they can't involve a lot of cumbersome extras - a herd of horses - or the like. The danger is that the playwright is so familiar with the story that he/she thinks the words carry the image she hoped to present. This may not be true.

A novel may be 2-300 pages where as a script for a movie is rarely more than 120 or so. A play is even less. A rule of thumb is 1 minute of performance time per page of script. So, the problem becomes; how do I, successfully, show the story my friend has written and keep it in tact and yet structure it to fit in the alloted time frame of a 3-Act Play.

Stay tuned as we examine this phenomina.

Happy Writing!

Billie

So You Want to Write a Play. Just Do It!

So You Want to Write a Play. Why not?

“You are the person who has to decide. Whether you'll do it or toss it aside; you are the person who makes up your mind. Whether you'll lead or will linger behind. Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar. Or just be contented to stay where you are.”
- Edgar A. Guest


“Don’t let me hear you use the word ‘impossible.’ If I’ve learned anything over the course of my career, there’s no such thing as impossible. Overnight the impossible may not be possible. But over time, the impossible certainly becomes possible.” Earl Graves

So You Want to Write a Play. You can, the internet makes learning from your home easy. You can learn anytime of night or day, whenever you have ‘free’ time. Books, classes, like minded people in areas you chose to study are as close as a click away. The Nike™ phrase applies…If you want to, just—DO IT!

There are no guarantees in this world, but if you want something bad enough, you can do it. Stories abound with those who wanted something bad enough, were willing to work hard enough and dream big enough that the desire consumed them. They learned everything they needed to know as they tested the water—first with a toe as a swimmer would do. As they gained more knowledge, interacted with more people in the field of their dreams, they became what their dreams entailed.

Read any of Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen’s Chicken Soup series of books if you need examples. Go to Jack Canfield’s website at http://www.successprinciple.com/ and get on board to learn. Stop by Cynthia Kersey’s website. The author of Unstoppable talks the talk and more importantly walks the walk. http://www.unstoppable.net/ .

This brings me to the title of this missive. A friend had a short novel (A Christmas Dream) that I thought would make a perfect play. I had been dipping my toes in the icy water of learning script writing with classes, books, groups and lists of like minded individuals. I had my own novel I wanted to turn into a script. Tung Umolomo is an African suspense adventure story, a longer novel than my friend's.

I spoke with my friend, Janet Elaine Smith, her exuberance, encouragement and enthusiasm convinced me to apply what I had learned to A Christmas Dream. I did it! The results is a 3-Act Play that is with a publisher now (Star Publish, LLC) going through the formatting process, expected to be available to small and medium theatrical groups of church, school, college, and community theaters in July 2007.

Follow me while we examine the process. As I swim up stream, holding my breath until the first curtain goes up. I’d like to be there where ever that might be. I’d love to congratulate the cast and crew for following their dreams of producing A Christmas Dream where miracles still happen, even for Santa.

Next time, we’ll dip our toes in the icy winter waters of the new. I don’t pretend to know it all, but to me; life, living, learning is an ongoing adventure. I intend to participate to the fullest. Want to write a play? Why not? Be here for the next installment and we’ll do it together.
BilliE
www.billiewilliams.com