Hello all. Apologies for the lateness of this post. I got sucked into last night's Academy Awards and fell down on my blogging duties. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa. I think I should take this moment to celebrate, however, that I've been doing this project for EIGHT WEEKS, that's TWO MONTHS. Yay! I feel like I should celebrate somehow. Maybe you guys will have some suggestions for a proper way to celebrate (besides looking at my growing stack of plays).
This week's play is called And The Winner Is. And yes, it's about the Academy Awards. I was struck while watching the Oscars how few movies I had actually seen this year. I don't think I'm alone in this. A lot of bloggers and writers have been talking about how the Oscars are out of touch. That's kind of what happens when the voters who decide who should win are almost unanimously white males over the age of 50. It's pretty much the same demographic that makes decisions about women's health in this country. Oh my. It's funny 'cause it's true. Anyway, my play examines what would happen if the Academy Awards didn't turn out as planned. I guess we can all hope, right? It sure would be more interesting than the snorefest that happened last night.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Week 7 - Blocked
This week's play was probably the most challenging one for me to write so far. I've been dealing with some personal issues that have made me very angry. When I sat down to start writing this week's play, I could not get started. The anger was clouding the creative part of my mind. I had the dreaded Writer's Block. I started feeling a little panicky that I might not make my deadline. What if this was the end of 52 plays? So, I stopped. I stopped staring at my laptop, went downstairs, watched the news, ate some dinner, and then came back to my computer. And I started to write out the anger. And it felt good.
This week's play is called Blocked. It is about a writer struggling with writer's block and the disapproving voices in her head that are all too real to her. But this time, instead of simply listening to the voices, she talks back.
Well, they say "write what you know." I was angry and struggling this week, so I wrote about it. :)
This week's play is called Blocked. It is about a writer struggling with writer's block and the disapproving voices in her head that are all too real to her. But this time, instead of simply listening to the voices, she talks back.
Well, they say "write what you know." I was angry and struggling this week, so I wrote about it. :)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Week 6 - Good
Okay, I've made it to week six. So, I think it's safe to say that I have gotten into the habit of writing. Yay. :) Now, to keep it going...
My Week 6 play is called Good. It's a bit hard to summarize. Basically, it's the story of the growing up that happens when you find out that someone you revere is fallible. And human. The play sort of poured out of me today. After I finished writing it, I had that odd moment when life imitates art, as I found out that someone I have long admired and respected did something unforgivable. Part of growing up is watching your heroes fall. That happened to me today.
My Week 6 play is called Good. It's a bit hard to summarize. Basically, it's the story of the growing up that happens when you find out that someone you revere is fallible. And human. The play sort of poured out of me today. After I finished writing it, I had that odd moment when life imitates art, as I found out that someone I have long admired and respected did something unforgivable. Part of growing up is watching your heroes fall. That happened to me today.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Week 5: Kissing Frogs
Welcome to Week 5! Is it five weeks that it takes to make a habit stick or six weeks? If nothing else, this project is getting me into the habit of writing, which is precisely what I wanted. The downside, of course, to knowing you have a play due by 10 p.m. every Sunday night is...well, that you have a play due every Sunday night. This week has been challenging for me. I've been in a bad mood and the weather, the news, really it seems everything has been conspiring to keep my mood down. Truth be told, I was tempted to blow off writing the play this week. I wasn't in the mood to play, to create. I couldn't think of any ideas. The old Bonnie would have blown it off this week, gotten out of the habit of writing, and this project would have been stopped dead in its tracks. The new Bonnie, however, doesn't go for the old excuses. So, I wrote. Even though I was tired. Even though I didn't want to.
This week's play, Kissing Frogs, is a fresh look at some old favorites. I've been reading The Annotated Grimm's Fairy Tales this week, on loan from the public library (yay libraries.) The stories, in their original, non-Disneyfied form, are a lot more grim(m) than I remember. My play revolves around three Grimm heroines: Snow White; the Princess in The Frog King; and the miller's daughter in Rumplestiltskin. Trapped in an abandoned cottage and on the run from their husbands, they long for a different fate...
This week's play, Kissing Frogs, is a fresh look at some old favorites. I've been reading The Annotated Grimm's Fairy Tales this week, on loan from the public library (yay libraries.) The stories, in their original, non-Disneyfied form, are a lot more grim(m) than I remember. My play revolves around three Grimm heroines: Snow White; the Princess in The Frog King; and the miller's daughter in Rumplestiltskin. Trapped in an abandoned cottage and on the run from their husbands, they long for a different fate...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Week 4: Ten Things I Hate About Shrew
This week's play is...well, some might find it a bit controversial. Controversial enough that I'm debating whether or not to put it up on Google docs. Controversial enough that I don't know how comfortable I feel talking about it in a public forum.
Suffice to say, the play's title is Ten Things I Hate About Shrew. It is quasi-semi-sort of-allegedly based on an incident that may or may not have happened to me in real life. That possibly fictitious incident provoked a lot of rage, at least to me. Now that it's all over, I can see the humor in it. So, I wrote a play about it. I think it's pretty funny.
I may just have to call this one a closet drama that is not meant for public performance or distribution. So, I'll be in my closet, reading my play, having a cocktail, and giggling to myself if anyone is looking for me. :)
Suffice to say, the play's title is Ten Things I Hate About Shrew. It is quasi-semi-sort of-allegedly based on an incident that may or may not have happened to me in real life. That possibly fictitious incident provoked a lot of rage, at least to me. Now that it's all over, I can see the humor in it. So, I wrote a play about it. I think it's pretty funny.
I may just have to call this one a closet drama that is not meant for public performance or distribution. So, I'll be in my closet, reading my play, having a cocktail, and giggling to myself if anyone is looking for me. :)
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Week 3: Fish on a Bicycle
Well, here we are at Week 3 of my project. In the musical Rent, Jonathan Larson wrote that we should measure our lives in love. I am measuring my life in plays. It's the same thing, I guess.
I am happy to tell you all that I succeeded in writing a play that had nothing to do with Shakespeare this week. It was tough - when you study one guy for three years, he tends to take over your brain. Just a little advice in case you're thinking about grad school. ;)
This week's play, Fish on a Bicycle, was inspired by a post from She The People, a blog run by The Washington Post. The post can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/lap-dances-for-businesswomen-no-thanks/2012/01/20/gIQAes2KDQ_blog.html.
This week's play explores what it would mean for a couple of men to prove that they were team players to their female boss. When I started writing it, I really didn't have a clear idea of where I was going with this piece. After writing it, I was surprised at how, well, violent and angry it was. I knew I had a definite reaction to the Post piece, but I guess I didn't realize HOW angry it made me. That's the great thing about writing - it gets all of those emotions and thoughts out of your body and onto paper.
I am happy to tell you all that I succeeded in writing a play that had nothing to do with Shakespeare this week. It was tough - when you study one guy for three years, he tends to take over your brain. Just a little advice in case you're thinking about grad school. ;)
This week's play, Fish on a Bicycle, was inspired by a post from She The People, a blog run by The Washington Post. The post can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/lap-dances-for-businesswomen-no-thanks/2012/01/20/gIQAes2KDQ_blog.html.
This week's play explores what it would mean for a couple of men to prove that they were team players to their female boss. When I started writing it, I really didn't have a clear idea of where I was going with this piece. After writing it, I was surprised at how, well, violent and angry it was. I knew I had a definite reaction to the Post piece, but I guess I didn't realize HOW angry it made me. That's the great thing about writing - it gets all of those emotions and thoughts out of your body and onto paper.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I Can Share!
All right! I think I have figured out a way to share my plays without blasting them all over the internet. Yay Google docs! If I think you wanted to see them, expect an email shortly. If you want to see them and don't get an email from me today, leave me a comment here, and I'll add you to the list. Does this work for everybody? :)
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