I am shutting down this livejournal. I know there will be no tears. I realize this isn't like the retirement of your favorite syndicated columnist with whom you have your cup of coffee. This livejournal died a long time ago. This is simply the official announcement. It is like the obituary of the tv star whose career died in the 70's but whose life ( Read more... )

But suffice to say that San Francisco is terrific place, and my hosts Serena and Sarah were even better. I will fill you all in later when I am able to come up for air.

As you all know, someone walked into my office in the fall of last year and stole my computer, backup, and cell phone. The computer and cell phone, while bad, were insured and just things that carried things. The backup, however, was something entirely different. All my plays, all my syllabi, all my form letters, and the outline for my book were ( Read more... )

Just to give those who are concerned an update. The Stocking Corpses' essay seems to be on schedule. It is over 2,500 words at this point. And I am happy with most of them. The not smoking thing is improving, and I find that if I do my walk, work out and write in prompt morning fashion, I do not think about smoking. I pseudo-hosted a goth dance ( Read more... )

I have set two deadlines for myself. Both are January 3rd. I will be finished the rough draft of the first essay "Stocking Corpses" for my playwriting book "The Mad Scientist's Guide to Playwriting and Other Essays of Theatrical Creation." Also, I hope to have completed the first section of Soul of the City about the death of former mayor Chep ( Read more... )

I have been reading a rather dry biography of Olivier, and I have been moving through it in a rather perfunctory fashion. I started it; I might as well finish it. However, I finally read something that interested me. Noel Coward writes Olivier to dissuade him from running The National Theatre, “Darling, Larry Boy, Don’t administer the National ( Read more... )

I was reading Caitlín R. Kiernan’s journal this morning. She and Spooky went to go see “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” and they were expectantly disappointed. In other words, they knew the lack of director and actual lead would make for a crappy holiday seasonal offering, but they were still disappointed. I agree with her about movies. No one goes ( Read more... )

I don't think I need to say anything else.

The two biggest problems that I have with writing these days both involve what I like to call “the starter pistol.” That name assignment refers to the beginning of the process, the deep breath before the plunge, roiling up, getting your ducks in order, firing up the engine… etc., etc. In other words, “the starter pistol” is how to get the writing ( Read more... )

...other than I am writing again. I had a talk with a friend of mine who told me that I may never write the same again, because I quit smoking. "What?! Are you fucking kidding me?" It made me so angry, not with her but the situation, that I have simply been forcing myself to write. In other words, I refuse to let a little thing like a monstrous, ( Read more... )