Wednesday, June 20, 2007

You Gotta Love Rejection to Write a Book.

The following just in from the Peter Miller Agency in New York:

Dear James,

Thanks so much for chance to review your gripping story. I was fascinated and moved by many aspects of it, but in the end, I felt the writing fell a little short of illuminating this important story. This is a very subjective view, so I encourage you to continue writing and submitting to other representatives. Keep at it—you will get
there.

Warm Regards…

Guess that means I better write the last 25 000 words, go back to the beginning, and start polishing...

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Mad Racists and Linkage

A Blogger quickly faces the issue of censorship. I’ve had one comment on this Blog, and it was from a mad racist, an American, in a response to the De la Rey post and the reference to Steve Biko and mad racists. I censored it, because I will not become a forum for mad racists. I was conscripted into the South African army in 1980, and if I learnt one thing, it is that racism is evil. On the other hand, one does not want to rule things out. The Internet, the linkage, is, potentially, humankind falling into consciousness. So I’m thinking of starting a new link category: The Real South Africa? And linking to sites like Kak Duidelik.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Intelligent Life Discovered on Internet

I was feeling a little down this morning, it being June 16, season of strikes and hollow untruthfulness. (Cf J Keats) Then I made an extraordinary discovery. I think I might have proved the existence of intelligent life on the internet. And it’s profoundly South African.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The South African who freed Cuba

1958: Ronald Herbolt, a twenty one year old Capetonian, was working on the cargo ship Constantia. The vessel docked in Cuba to load sugar just as the Cuban Revolution was reaching its climax. Fraternising with members of Fidel Castro's Rebel Army, Ronald was inspired. He left the Constantia to help Fidel and Che fight the Batista dictatorship. After the Bay of Pigs and the missile crisis, Ronald was effectively in exile...

See Idol Pictures for more.

Sorted

The South African blogosphere gets sorted at: amatomu.com

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Thank you to the WGA.

In order to get Otelo Burning (City of God meets Once Were Warriors in a KwaZulu township) eligible for the No Borders International Film Production Market, the screenplay had to be registered with the Writer’s Guild of America. Baring a one technical glitch (their online facility didn’t like the number of digits in a South African ID number) the process was swift and painless. You can secure copyright on your screenplay by registering it here.

Get Your Foreign Ass into LA

My question: "how can a writer get noticed if they’re from outta town", got thorough and extensive treatment from The Commander.

A summary in point form:

1 - Consider managers rather than agents. They’re more likely to sift through the slush pile.

2 - Enter competitions.

3 - Blog.

His bottom line: get your talented, foreign ass into LA.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Not!

Written By has a great piece on what not to do in the writer's room. I have to say, I've done some of them and survived. Maybe that's just Africa for you.

Quick Response from The Commander

"Great question. I'll tackle it in the next few days. OK to use your name or would you rather stay anonymous?"
Commander Shears

I note that he also recommends this little exercise in filmographic numerology.

Monday, June 4, 2007

Great Writing vs Great Ideas

Here's a Hollywood insider who speaks a lot of sense: Kill Him. Very encouraging for those of us with a healthy opionion of our own talent. But is there a way in, if you don't live in LA? I'll have to ask. Watch this space.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Big John, he back

John Perlman, the voice of intelligent South Africa, is back on the radio for the first time since the SABC effectively fired him for honesty. The show starts at 6pm, Monday, June 4th. First guest: presidential hopeful, Tokyo Sexwale. Will Tokyo save us from falling into the chasm between Mt Zuma and Mt Mbeki? You can, theoretically, listen online at www.kayafm.co.za.

Know Thy Place

This blog is ranked 3,336,243 in the world. I’d better keep posting. One doesn’t want to go slipping down the rankings.

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Testing Technorati

It's always nice to know if anyone's interested, and I'm just testing Technorati's ability to find out: Technorati Profile At present, it seems, no one is. Ah well, what the hell, sang McWatt.

Friday, June 1, 2007

And the Dead Watch Over Us

I’ve had a gap in the money work over the last few days and am struggling to pick up the threads on the book I’m writing, And The Dead Watch Over Us. It’s narrative faction, autobiography as novel, written in a third person omniscient point of view with all the problems and advantages that entails. You can see some responses from readers world wide here.