​Get out and walk. Really, I mean it. And take those earbuds out. Julie Cameron, the author of The Artist’s Way, urges the artist from every medium to get out there and take a stroll. Not sure what her reasoning is, but I indulge for the time it gives me to think. Think about writing, characters, themes, and, most important, things. That’s right. It doesn’t all have to be about the writing. Just for the record, I am not talking about walks with partners and spouses. Those are equally important, but it is not the dealio I am chatting about now. You need to get out, step away and weigh your options. Your characters, story, and sanity will thank you for it.
 
Or, you can always drink. Up to you really. Who am I to judge? To be honest, having spent all that time in Los Angeles, I very rarely saw Charles Bukowski out for an evening stroll. I guess the wind and rain kept putting out his cigarettes.
 
So there you have it. Your words of wisdom for today.

WTF: It’s blog day.
 
What can I say? I made it back from the Islands in one piece. The only tragedy was losing a pair of iPod Pros, which according to Find My, are currently residing at 1131 B Ave. S, Redmond Washington, 98020.  I have programmed a message to whoever has them that goes like this:
 
Dear Sir or Madam,
Give them back, you fucking thief.
 
Most Sincerely,
 
I think that gets to the point quite nicely.
 
But, if you happen to know the current guardian of my sound technology, give them a call, and let them know. I will be sending a postcard, (with the same message written above), but I am not sure how much good it will really do. Most likely, I will have to resort to buying another pair.
 
Special thanks to Brett and Amy Vail for their hospitality. Tasha, Rasputin, Forrest and June for their undying affection, and, of course, Captain Chad Snorkeling Tours as well as Mount Kīlauea, all of whom know how to show a Haole from Windsor CA a really great time.

Aloha,

Packing for my trip but wanted to let you all know, I will be thinking of you. Oh, and in case you are interested, I will be taking the laptop with and and will be writing. But, before I go, I wanted to leave you with some words of wisdom from none other than Sir Anthony Hopkins.
​

​Begets: “Give rise to; to bring about. Ex Success begets further success.”
 
I have gone on and on and on, that one must keep writing. Even if what’s down on the page is garbage, it is my belief that you need to continue. Why? Because you can only get better. The more you practice, the better you get. Period. I don’t think there is anyone who would ever argue with that.
 
As most of you know, I am currently working with a manager who holds me to a higher standard. In short, I need to be working all the time. Getting her feedback as well as the feedback of others who have succeeded in the same genre. Every two weeks, I present a list of ideas. We go through them and pick what we feel is commercial and worth working on, and which is not. So, I have about five projects I am currently working on. The novel for Prose Press as well as four others. You should be familiar with my schedule as well as we have already gone through it.
 
Yesterday, I had a breakthrough on one of the stories. Up until now, I had only been jotting down notes. Yesterday, wrote up the entire treatment. And while this is no guarantee that the project will ever sell, it was so damn funny and entertaining that I could hardly believe that it came from my imagination. 
 
So, in closing, work begets success. I know I sound like a broken record, but, please, keep at it. Never give up and remember that with every idea that springs from your imagination, another one that is right behind, could be better and the one that will make all the difference. It is what I believe and, I hope, someday, you will to.
 
Note: Next week I will be on vacation. Oh, sure I will be writing but I will be in a location and most likely be unable to post. But, I promise to tell you all about it when I return.
 
Cheers!

​Well, I need to get one thing out of the way. Several weeks back, I raged against Warner Brothers, the owner of a video on YouTube. I was mistaken, the record division was not the one that had my video removed. It was the band itself. So…
 
Still keeping up with the schedule and everything is proceeding. As I complete them, drafts are sent to my manager for notes. Outlines are being developed and scripts are being written.  All in all, a very productive week.
 
Also had my fifth Covid shot, along with a flu shot on Thursday. I am ready for what the CA seasons have in store.
 
Have watched Ring of Power, Andor, and She-Hulk, all with differing degrees of appreciation.  Of all three, Andor is probably the best developed. If you liked, Rogue One, you will most likely enjoy this.  Rings of Power is crazily complicated but good, and She-Hulk is highly entertaining but managed to jump the shark with the season-ending episode.
 
Okay, well, if there is still anyone following along, that has been my week. I hope you had a good one as well.

Hey, J.P., what’s the deal? Don’t you love us anymore? All seven of us?  Of course I do. As I have explained earlier, I have a very full plate right now and one of things I have done to lighten the load, is cut down on the size of my blog entries. Oh, no. You’re kidding? No, I am not. 
 
Right now, I am currently working on finishing a novel from Prose Press, a romantic comedy screenplay, an adventure taking place during the Yukon Gold Rush before the turn of the last century, and a Christmas movie. Geez, that’s a heck of a lot? How do you manage?
 
Okay, I will tell you. I schedule and try to stick to it as closely as possible. Right now, it is currently October 6, a little after 6 pm and I have been writing since 8 am.
 
Schedule:
 
(All times are Pacific)
 
8 – Novel for Pulp Press (1 hour/1/2 cup of coffee and half of a banana)
9 – walk (2 miles)
9:40 – Breakfast (bran flakes, oat milk and a banana)
10 – Work on a Romantic Comedy screenplay (coffee)
12 – Lunch
1 – Work on an adventure screenplay set in the Yukon (more coffee)
3 – Work on a Christmas story (mild heart attack, followed by coffee)
4 - Phone calls (not a story but should be) (diet soda)
5 - Novel (I hour)
6 - Dinner
 
And leisure time. Usually catching up on shows (streaming and otherwise).  So, there you have it. If anyone asks, you can tell them, how I spend my day. And, if no one cares, so much the better. I’m too busy to worry about it.
 
Love and Thunder,
 
J.P.

Every once in a while, I have to pause with the site and devote time to deadlines and such. This is one of those times. I can make no guarantees, but like the Nicholas and Alexandria, I hope to be back soon.

​Greetings, one and all. A bit of news. If you glance down at the space where I usually post a video, you will see that it has been removed with a dire warning. I believe this message is brought to you by the fine folks at Warner Brothers. You know. The fine studio that turned Jared Leto into the joker and JRR Tolkien's beloved classic Lord of the Rings into a Las Vegas slot machine.
 
I have no proof mind you, only suspicion. But this is the age of conspiracies, and I am jumping on the bandwagon.
 
So, in honor of the fine folks at Warner’s I have decided to post a popular song from their label to see how it lasts. I hope you enjoy it. And, if anyone asks, tell them, I sent you.
 
Then again, I could be wrong. It could be the Eagles. Maybe we will see next week.

 
Sitting around and waiting for something to happen can kill a writer. Ask me, I ought to know. I do it all the time. Every opportunity, every option, every invite to meet with a producer (along with the drive on studio pass), I feel that my career is kicking into high gear. I’ve been subscribing to this practice for years. And you know what? It is not the way the game is played. It’s all about the long game. It is about working on more than one opportunity at a time. It is about now worry about the result but the journey it will take to get there.
 
Have you ever met a one and done? These are remarkable creative self-professed geniuses that as soon as the idea is printed out on paper, it is done. Songs, plays, screenplays, short stories, it doesn’t matter. If it has been saved to a hard drive, it is golden. Sometimes these people get lucky, and those in a position of power recognize the potential in the idea. But every piece of art requires hard work. Rewrites, new beginnings and sometimes throwing it all out and starting over.
 
Nothing comes easy. Blood, sweat and tears are required and, remember, you are in it for the long haul. So, for your own sake…take it easy!