Latest Writing News, Headlines and Blogs from Writers Write:

Nick Lachey and the Sports Column
From: www.writerswrite.com

" Is it just us, or has the status of writers been zooming into the stratosphere lately? (not the pay, unfortunately, just the status). Every millionaire celebrity is madly going after that elusive title of "writer" to add to his or her resume, perhaps in a bid to show gravitas?Whatever the reason, the trend continues. Singer Nick Lachey, star of MTV's Newlyweds with wife Jessica Simpson, has penned a column for his hometown newspaper, The Cinncinatti Enquirer.

In the column, Lachey passionately rails against the firing of basketball coach Bob Hugginsnews. Lachey also wrote a column in May after Cincinnati Reds pitcher Danny Graves was fired, so this is looking suspiciously like a trend.

Nick sings, he dances, he acts, he gives time to charity, he's cute and he writes a sports column in his free time. And he's married to the woman who single-handedly brought back Daisy Duke shorts, thereby immediately setting back fashion trends by 30 years. Lachey is really starting to scare us. Who knows what he'll do next? "

Sean Penn Investigates
From: www.writerswrite.com

" Sean Penn apparently wants to add the label of "journalist" to his resume. He's filed an interesting report in the San Francisco Chronicle of his time spent in Iran, a place where few Americans are allowed to go. He visited Iran in June, just before the presidential elections, in which the conservative Muslims party took back power from the more secular politicians.

"He goaded the crowd to join the chanting calls for "Death to Israel!", "Death to America!" Ten thousand strong of voice. I was struck by the familiar: a cleric guiding his followers in their politics, and toward particular candidates away from others. It has been my observation that this kind of invective speech is common, not only in Iran but in the Arab states as well. According to many with whom I spoke, it had always been clear from the Iranian point of view, that the call is related to American foreign policy and does not intend to target the death of the American people. However, when the supposed purpose of a 10,000-person rally is in the prayer and scruples of Islam, I can say that as an American (a half Jew, by the way), the chant demeans both intent and any religion that aspires to a core of love and reduces it to a cheap political threat of violence."

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"I walked slowly over about a 2-square-mile area. The image of Ayatollah Khomeini, as stern as an Orwellian leader, is omnipresent on the sides of buildings, walls, billboards and bus stops, watching my every move. As I studied one of those building sides, the searing eyes of their beloved Ayatollah, I stepped off a curb and was nearly flattened by a transit bus. I leaped backward onto the sidewalk. And there they were, staring down upon me, Iranian men, in the front of the bus. But as I regained my bearings, the last third of the bus passed me and it was there, where everything went into slow motion. Sliding by me was the rear of the bus, occupied only by women in black chadors. The back of the bus. I thought of Rosa Parks."

His script features the hero of Microsoft's Xbox series, Master Chief, a genetically enhanced super-soldier, fighting to save mankind from an alien alliance known as the Covenant.

The pages have already been presented to Universal and Fox in a deal to produce what Microsoft envisages as a money-spinner for Mr Gates, whose Seattle-based empire has made more than 350 million from the game.

Microsoft is reportedly using its commercial muscle to persuade the two studios to spend at least 42 million on the film, with guarantees of extensive consultation on the project.
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The idea is to synchronise the summer 2007 release of Halo with the issue of a new version of the game, which could coincide with the launch of a new version of Sony's PlayStation.

Spinner, a writer and producer on such shows as Cannon and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., filed the suit Friday (Aug. 19) in Los Angeles Superior Court. He seeks unspecified damages for fraud and breach of contract, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The suit claims that Sid and Marty Krofft Productions -- which produced the mid-'70s kids' show Land of the Lost -- hired Spinner in 1977 (before current Lost cast members Evangeline Lilly and Maggie Grace were born) to create a series for ABC called Lost, about a group of plane-crash survivors in a jungle. Spinner also says a contract with Krofft and ABC entitles him to royalties.

Lost, which begins its second season on ABC next month, was one of the breakout hits of last year and is up for 12 Emmys, including outstanding drama series. J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber and Damon Lindelof are credited as its creators.

As the ashes erupted from a tower, red, white, blue and green fireworks lit up the sky over Thompson's home near Aspen. The 15-story tower was modeled after Thompson's logo: a clenched fist, made symmetrical with two thumbs, rising from the hilt of a dagger. It was built between his home and a tree-covered canyon wall, not far from a tent filled with merrymakers.

"He loved explosions," explained his wife, Anita Thompson. The private celebration included actors Bill Murray and Johnny Depp, rock bands, blowup dolls and plenty of liquor to honor Thompson, who killed himself six months ago at the age of 67.