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Latest Writing News, Headlines and Blogs from Writers Write:

Mel Gibson Goes Apocalypto
From: www.writerswrite.com

"Variety reports that Mel Gibson has written the script for his next film, entitled Apocalypto which -- despite the title -- is said to be non-religious in subject matter. Production starts in Mexico this October, with an eye towards a Summer 2006 release. Production chiefs went to Gibson's office in Santa Monica this past week to read the script under his watchful eye. Helmer-thesp set secrecy rules because he was distressed that copies of his script for The Passion of the Christ leaked to the media, fueling early controversial reports about the project. Since Apocalypto is fully financed by Icon, the project was eagerly sought by the various majors and Disney was the winner.... In winning the deal, Disney had to commit to stringent distribution terms. Stepping up to finance his second straight directorial effort puts Gibson is league with George Lucas, who bankrolled his "Star Wars" prequels and made a deal with Fox to distribute them. Gibson will not star in Apocalypto and may not use a star for the film, which is set in an ancient civilization some 3,000 years ago. The title is a Greek term which means "an unveiling" or "new beginning." Consistent with such Gibson films as Braveheart and Passion, the script depicts abundant action and violence. Gibson has already begun pre-production; he is setting locations and has already begun casting. It's really the writer's dream: he writes the film, keeps creative control, finances it himself and makes millions when it's a huge hit. Gibson joins George Lucas in living the ultimate screenwriter's fantasy. "

The Art of Frankenbiting
From: www.writerswrite.com

"Verne Gay of Newsday explores frankenbiting. The word is "frankenbiting," and it's one of those delicious terms of art in the reality TV trade that means exactly what it implies: A producer on a show decides he or she doesn't like the way a particular taped interview went with a contestant, so "improvements" are made. A snip here, a snip there, a little highly selective editing, and -- presto! -- the "frankenbite" (as in "sound bite"), in which the contestant is made to say something that he didn't actually say. This is sneaky, sure, but is frankenbiting a form of writing? Until recently, the question was mostly academic, in large part because most civilians didn't even know such a practice was commonplace on many reality shows. But two weeks ago, the Writers Guild of America/West filed a class action against four TV networks and four producers on behalf of a dozen aggrieved reality TV show "writers." The WGA claimed they were stiffed on overtime and benefits by big-time producers like Mike Fleiss, the man behind "The Bachelor" and gems like "Are You Hot?" Now, frankenbiting and other tricks of the trade are about to come under the microscope. If the WGA case goes to trial, we'll all hear quite a bit more about what frankenbiting entails -- and whether it qualifies as "writing." ....shows like "The Bachelor" are indeed "scripted," and about the only thing that isn't piped is the dialogue -- although, he adds, "if you want a conversation to happen, and it's not happening, we might stop the camera and say, ', we need you to talk about something ... '" ....Sharp recalls an incident during a show he worked on called "The Dating Experiment," in which a female contestant despised a male contestant, whom she was supposed to like for purposes of the story. On camera, she was asked, "Who do you love?" and the answer was Adam Sandler. In the frankenbite, Sandler's name was dropped, and the hated contestant's name spliced in. Sounds to us like they are writing dialogue. "

Elizabeth Kostova Says No Sequel to The Historian
From: www.writerswrite.com

"Elizabeth Kostova, author of The Historian, talks to Patricia Corrigan of the St. Louis Post Dispatch about her road to success and how she juggled her day job with the lengthy process of writing her first novel. "For seven of those [ten] years, I taught writing and English as a second language. Before that, I had 2 million odd jobs. I mowed lawns, worked as a companion, edited and proofread manuscripts - anything I could find to support my writing habit." "Every day, I worked with whatever time I had. I would look at my schedule and say, 'Tomorrow I have 20 minutes to write' or 'Wow, I have three open hours tomorrow, so I'll write as close to a full chapter as I can.' One summer when I was really busy, I wrote from 5 to 7:30 a.m., and sometimes I wrote late at night - but I always wrote every day. Because I was juggling four timelines, and because of the mystery, I had the book mapped out before I started." Now, here's the horrifying part: she says she's not writing a sequel, saying "I am planning not to write a sequel. I like the idea of leaving something to the imagination." We'll see what her agent has to say about that. "

The Editor Who Passed on Harry Potter
From: www.writerswrite.com

"So, what's it like to be known as the editor that turned down the first Harry Potter manuscript? John Kenney describes how he said no to J.K. Rowling, and swears he doesn't regret it. I remember the day I read it....the office was empty. On my desk I saw a manila envelope. The cover letter was from an agent I'd never heard of. British. Said the enclosed manuscript was "the next great children's book, a Goodnight Moon for preteens." I laughed. My father, who had also been a book editor before turning to taxidermy, had passed on Goodnight Moon, and he and I often laughed at that. I read the first few chapters of this so-called manuscript and, frankly, thought it drivel. February, perhaps March of the next year, I received a call from J.K. Rowling herself. She asked if I had had a chance to read her manuscript. I'm always embarrassed when fledgling writers get me on the phone. Most are sad, lonely people with no real means of income. I said I enjoyed her work a great deal, but that it didn't meet our needs at this time - the standard industry brushoff. There was a pause and I thought the line had gone dead when I heard laughing. "Mr. Wortham," she said with a light British accent. "I was calling as a courtesy, actually. To tell you that I sold the book. To Scholastic. For..." The line went dead. Or perhaps I passed out. I forget which. At lunch some time later I overheard our chief executive talking about the success of the Rowling book. So I happened to mention, with a chuckle, that we'd had a chance to buy it. Why is it that one remembers a long pause? "Chief?" I said, though to this day I don't know why, as no one called him that. "You what?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. "May I speak with you in my office?" Mr. Kenney says that he is no longer an editor; he is writing his first novel. "

J.K. Rowling Ponders a Pen Name
From: www.writerswrite.com

"So what will J.K. Rowling do after the last Harry Potter book is published? She might use a pen name for future books. In her only British interview (with 14 year-old Owen Jones for ITV), J.K. Rowling discussed her sadness at the thought of the end of the Harry Potter series, and why she might have to use a pen name for subsequent books. She said she had mixed feelings about ending the saga of the boy wizard. "I am dreading it in some ways. I do love writing the books and it is going to be a shock, a profound shock to me," she said. "Even though I have known it is coming for the past 15 years, I have known that the series would end, I think it will still be a shock." Before she sits down to start the seventh book, Rowling said she would take time off to spend with her 6-month-old daughter Mackenzie Jean. "I have already done some work on it and I am still doing little bits and pieces, but realistically I have still got a very young baby, so I think probably next year I will do the proper writing of book seven." As for writing non-Harry Potter fiction, she hinted she might consider a pen name. "A fake name is very attractive," Rowling said. "I'll have less pressure and I can write any old thing I want and people won't be clamoring for it and that might be nice." "


Latest Writing News, Headlines and Blogs from Yahoo:

Reading, writing, now arithmetic (Orange Leader)
From: us.rd.yahoo.com

"For more than 20 years, Rebecca Flickinger wrote news stories. Today, she's writing a new chapter in her life. "At an age when all my friends are readying to retire I'm starting my third career," she said."

Police: Accused Molester Writing Memoir (ABC News)
From: us.rd.yahoo.com

"Investigators Say Accused Child Molester Was Writing Memoir About Alleged Prolific Abuse"

Grant writing seminar scheduled (Corvallis Gazette Times)
From: us.rd.yahoo.com

"The Grant Institute's Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing Workshop will be held at Portland State University on Aug. 16-18. Interested development professionals, researchers, faculty and graduate students should register as soon as possible, as demand means that seats will fill up quickly."

Journalist picked up for writing against Pakistan government (Khaleej Times)
From: us.rd.yahoo.com

"ISLAMABAD - Pakistani law enforcement officers picked up a senior journalist for writing reports on the poor performance of chief minister of southern Sindh province and other officials, a news report said Monday."

Police: Accused molester writing memoir (USA Today)
From: us.rd.yahoo.com

"A man who authorities say could be the nation's most prolific child molester was crafting a lengthy memoir about his sexual exploits with boys when he was arrested, police said."

Accused Child Molester Was Writing Memoir (AP via Yahoo! News)
From: us.rd.yahoo.com

" Dean Schwartzmiller is apparently not talking to police about allegations he molested multiple boys. But the notebooks and inch-and-a-half thick manuscript he left behind may be speaking for him."


Latest Writing News, Headlines and Blogs from The Writiing Life:

UpdateStill cannot pub
From: cdeemer.blogspot.com

" UpdateStill cannot publish on my end unless I ftp and change the index.html file manually. When changes actually appear and the blog looks normal, it's because it has been published on the Blogger end by someone trying to help me."

The nightmare continues
From: cdeemer.blogspot.com

" The nightmare continuesWell, 2 folks who tried to help me so far haven't been able to. Is the 3rd time the charm?"


Latest Writing News, Headlines and Blogs from The Write News:

Lifestyle Magazine for Veterinarians Launches
From: www.writenews.com

"Vetz Magazine is a new lifestyle magazine for the veterinary profession. Formerly Veterinaryindustry.com Magazine, Vetz Magazine launches with its May "Practice Management" issue with a focus on lifestyle and practice. The magazine's main point of difference is summed up in their vision statement: Your life. Your practice. The magazine's mission is to discuss forward-thinking issues and the challenges facing veterinarians today at work as well as at home. "

The IWJ Interviews James Rollins
From: www.writenews.com

"The latest issue of The Internet Writing Journal includes an exclusive interview with bestselling author James Rollins. Rollins recently had two books debut on the New York Times bestseller list: Sandstorm (now out in paperback) and Map of Bones (William Morrow). Map of Bones is a spine-tingling thriller that mixes science, ancient mysteries, the Vatican and exotic locations."


 

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