16 PERCENT

I’m Back

It's Still There!

Pay Attention just completed its L.A. run.   I’m delighted to say we got great reviews and a wonderful response, everything we hoped to achieve from this leg of the journey.  More important, what a thrill to work on something that’s all yours.  As much as I enjoyed developing screenplays for movie stars and big studios, this play gave me a chance to work on something more serious, and at the same time personal and close to home.  

Director Mark Travis comes back from his work in Europe in August at which point we go back to work on the  material.  Then, it’s on to New York.  

More information and video about the play:  http://www.franksouth.net/about.htm

A Free Sample

I’ve been away for a bit because I’m

1.  Producing a Play– it’s in L.A. now and goes to New York in the fall.

2.  Launching my new online course  –  We’re in the groove!

3.  Trying to be a decent mother to my kids — Went to see Star Trek last night.  Recommend!

Here’a free sample of the course.  Today’s lesson in the lusty month of May:  TEMPTATION

As we discussed last week, Lust is one of the Seven Deadly Sins.  It’s a biological imperative to ensure the survival of the species.   All human beings experience this basic human drive, therefore, your main character will experience this basic human drive.  From time to time, all human beings give in to temptation.  Therefore, your main character will at one point or another in the story, give in to temptation (either sexual or otherwise.) 

Write a scene in which your main character struggles with, then gives in to, temptation.

To find out more about the course:  http://theartofstory.com/

Enjoy!

Elvis Has Left the Building

Frank is in L.A.!!!

Of all the movies, plays and projects I’ve produced, the one that makes me the most proud calls itself Pay Attention: ADHD in Hollywood on the Rocks with a Twist.  My husband wrote the story of his ADHD, Hollywood success, and Alcoholism.  It’s a fine piece of work.

For the past three years, he’s worked on the script in our Master Classes.  The World Premiere was in Honolulu in October.    Since then we’ve been getting ready for the L.A. production and only this week on Wednesday, I dropped Frank off at the Honolulu Airport at 5AM, drove home and fell asleep for about three days.

If you’re in L.A., please do see the show.   Send friends!   Here’s the link to a sneak preview: http://franksouth.net/

M

LoopDeeLoop

Handwriting from a Seventh-Grader

Here’s a tip if you have a child with ADHD, or autism, or crummy handwriting.

What we know about writing by hand is that there’s a special link between the brain and the act of handwriting. I see in many of our students a sense of being overstimulated and exhausted at the same time.  At the same time, our kids spend so much time with their technology toys, their handwriting suffers.  We can’t let this happen; it’s too important to the development of the brain.   

I’ve developed a simple tool to help a restless child calm down.  I draw some loopy loops across the page.  In the illustration above, you can see where I made the first row of loops.  I asked the student to simply copy what I did.  As you can see, in the second row, he couldn’t keep them in the same line.  But with practice, he got better.  

Guess what?  Kids love doing this.  It feels good to them.  And as a teacher, it feels great being able to give them something they can do.  Success!

Writing Sample on the Same Day

On this sample, you can see that at first, I took dictation so the student had some point of reference.  Then, I had him start writing his story (the red arrow)  trying to keep his work legible and organized.  A great improvement in only one day. 

CONCLUSION:  Kids need quiet space and time and they need time with grownups to show them the way!  It’s not rocket science.

Homework Help

Today we moved into our new home at Palama Settlement.  I expected it would take some time to attract neighborhood kids to come in and for awhile it would be just me in an empty classroom.   Guess what happened?  My dream came true when six kids saw the “Homework Help” sign, walked in, and let me help them with their homework!

April is our official opening and we’ll be staffed with volunteers.  We’re off to an amazing start.

A Message from Travis T

Our coolest teacher, Travis T, gives his gifts to the In Community Treatment Kids at Palama Settlement.  These kids struggle with difficult issues and Travis is there to help them.  (They adore him!)  But Travis faces an emergency of his own right now.  Please help if you can.  From Travis: 

Aloha Everyone,

As I’m sure some of you may already know
I was at the hospital with my girlfriend Shanna Blumenfeld on Friday the 13th of February (the day before Valentine’s Day),
when she was diagnosed with what they call a choroidal ocular melanoma in the back of her left eye.
Basically we found out that she has a super rare eye cancer.

In the weeks since, after test after test and scan after scan
it has for the most part been determined that there is no visible evidence that the cancer has spread to anywhere else in her body.
Thankfully her insurance has paid for much of the medical attention she’s been receiving.
Which is good.
She’s also been seeing a naturopath, an accupuncturist, a massage therapist, and has pretty much gone raw vegan.
Its amazing all of the people we know who are connected to holistic healing and wellness etc.

After much, much deliberation, despite reservations about western medicine, and beliefs in the healing powers of the human body,
she’s decided to go ahead with the treatments suggested by her doctor.
These treatments require surgically implanted “markers” on the retna around the tumor,
and 4 days of photon laser beam radiation.
But
because her cancer is so rare, the nearest specialists who can perform these procedures are found in San Francisco,
thus requiring travel expenses, flying back and forth etc.
Such expenses are not covered by her insurance.
Which isn’t good
SO HERE WE ARE, KINDLY ASKING OUR FRIENDS FOR DONATIONS

Shanna will be flying to the Bay Area as soon as March 20th and be gone til May.
While there, she will receive over 5 different procedures allowing time for recovery
in order to try and raise funds quickly, she’s started up a paypal account
see this link below:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3475169
donations of any size will help immensley $5, $10, $20
not that it matters much, but im sending out a free copy of my 2007 spoken word poetry cd “The TrapperKeeper Files”
to anyone who asks for 1 but only IF they make a confirmed donation of $20 or more

We are confident that Shanna will make a swift and speedy and healthy recovery
but your help is greatly appreciated in this matter.
I know the economy’s taking a beating so I’m asking: PLEASE
make a donation of any amount ASAP
and/or please wish her the best and keep us in your meditations

Many blessings and health to you all

peace

T

ps. heres that paypal link just one more time:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3475169

Business is Booming

I’m often asked how my business is doing in this economy and I’m happy to say that we’re booming.  It seems when things get tough (or even confusing), people search for meaning.  And that’s what we do in helping writers tell their stories.  We facilitate the search for meaning.

In our Saturday Master Class, we debated about the main character under discussion and whether it was likely that he’d be able to be unaware of time in the given situation.  We talked about how far along this character would have been on his journey toward enlightenment (he is something of a Buddhist, but we’re not sure how much.)    We focused on just this one moment in a work in progress, and yet there was so much meat to the topic.  Of course it helps that this group has worked together now for almost two years.  We know each other pretty well and we trust each other and we can also point out where we go wrong! 

I feel lucky to engage in such a process with writers.  I feel blessed to work in the same way with our young authors.  They search for meaning as well.   Please check out this link to an article about Kids Talk Story in the Sunday March 1 Honolulu Advertiser.  http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009903010323

Development Heaven

If you develop screenplays in Hollywood, you experience what they call Development Hell.  You might come up with a great script, but your star doesn’t like it.  Or the studio says it’s too expensive, or the main character should be a guy instead of a girl.    And you’re back to square one.  I had one of the best gigs ever, working with Bette Midler at Disney Studios and oh it could be so frustrating.  Nature of the Beast.     

In The Art of Story Master Classes I work with 20 or so writers who are developing novels, screenplays, and short form material for the web.  It’s dreamy!  We’ve got a handful of novels almost ready to go out to market.  One of them is a hilarious black comedy that wants to be a commercial movie in the worst way.  A couple of sweeping epics with gorgeous writing.  A funny and filthy animated web series.   

What a great gig for me this time.  I get to work and work and work on this material with these gifted writers.  We have no interference (for now) and we can focus our energy entirely on the material.

LIfe is good.

Kids Paying Attention!

They Really Want to Learn

Children love to learn the secrets of storytelling.  There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting in touch with this delightful energy.

Focus!

I can’t believe I get to work with these amazing kids.

Writing Character

Frank and I recently finished watching the “John Adams” miniseries.  Many of you know how I felt about the book (fabulous!) and the miniseries was compelling as well.  The bonus features on the Netflix DVD were the best ever.   Author David McCullough talks about the challenge of writing “history” which he clarifies:  he’s really writing about people, about life.  About love.  Who would ever imagine that a biography about a little-known President cold be so captivating?  And why?  Because it’s about love.  Suprisingly, it’s not just about the love story between John and Abigail.  In a sense, it’s also about the love story between John and his ideals, as challenged by his most difficult rival, Thomas Jefferson. 

So hear me, writers:  it’s all about love!

Story in Gaming?

Frank and I start a new project this month, working with a company that produces video games and computer games.  Yes, even computer games use the principals of classical storytelling. Often that’s my first way in with a student.  Favorite story?  I don’t know.  Favorite book?  Favorite Movie?  TV show?  Nah.  What about video games?  Do you like those?  And we’re off and running. 

I asked my son why he’d play some horrible game like Grand Theft Auto and didn’t he think it could lead to vioence.  He just laughed at me.  There’s not really much chance of him going out and doing those things that are in the game.  He wouldn’t even want to.  But it does make a good game. 

So hey, at my advanced age, I’m lucky I get to participate in the youth culture.  You never know, maybe I’ll learn something new!

Alexander II

Just got back from Alexander II Elementary School in Macon, Georgia, where my sister Liz is a fourth grade teacher.  She lent me her sweater and everywhere I went, I got a double-take from a student who thought I was “Miss Jones.”  We never thought we looked that much alike but the kids all thought we were twins! 

200 fourth and fifth graders came to special sessions of Kids Talk Story.  They all wrote and a few got to share.  I was knocked out by their talent and I only wish I’d had more time with them.  More later, including pictures.

An Overwhelming Reponse

Writers Work

Hey thank you to Alice Anne Parker and Heny Holthaus for hosting a fantastic performance in their gorgeous Pond House at the Buddha-Buddha Retreat.  Frank performed “Pay Attention” as a way of getting ready for our launch in L.A. and it was the best performance so far!  Videos to come.

We got back in the groove just in time to read homework for Saturday’s class.  Paul and Lenette– great work.  Our writers are moving ahead with great work.  Paul, we’ve got to start planning the book party for Path of the Wolf.  Do you have a pub date yet?

Sea Change

    Okay so I’m making arrangements with a caterer for an upcoming Rotary fundraiser, and the assistant tells me she’ll send an e-mail later with the menu and the prices.  All she needs me to do is text her my e-mail address. 

    “I don’t text,” I say.  I know, texting is no big deal.  I’m tech savvy and game for anything, but I don’t text because I feel just a little bit too plugged in already.  It’s a little screen-free bubble I’ve made for myself. 

    I say, “I’ll tell it to you now and you can write it down.”

     “No,” she says,” I don’t have anything to write with.”

     Now she’ll call me later and we’ll work it out but for a moment in time, there we were, stumped.    No electronic device, no pencil.  Scary!

50 Things

Writers seek the truth.  Follow this link to a cool list that could be “50 Things to Say Before You Die,” or “50 Things Your Character Could Say.”  Pick one and start writing. 

http://www.lyved.com/body_soul/50-things-to-say-before-you-die/

You Gotta Have Glitter

Here’s Reni at work with our little group of 1st, 3rd and 5th graders yesterday. We went over their books with them to see what they were still missing. Covers! Most of them had put Santa on the cover – that wasn’t going to work for a book coming out in February. So they each made a new cover and came up with titles like “All About Me,” and “It’s Me.”  Kids are not shy about putting themselves front and center!  

Everybody  had fun with the pop-up card we designed over the holidays.  “Life is Change,” it reads.  Each card has a little caterpillar on the front but when you open the card, a butterfly pops out and it’s all glittery.  Let’s face it, there are some days when you gotta have glitter.

I Like Working With You

Wow I got to spend the whole day with my good friend Zak last Sunday.  We made 13 training videos for the Kids Talk Story program.  Frank has been editing like a madman and they look great.  Here’s a taste of the adorable Zak…

New Internet Friends

Dear Genius Internet People,

I’m so impressed with all my new internet genius friends.  They’ve been putting together this incredible mechanism/art form for years with all their technical brilliance and now that I’m up and running, so many self-described nerds and geeks offer their advice and help (and therapy when required).  I’m thinking ” oh I can’t get it” and “they won’t get me” and the beauty of it is, now that they’ve done the impossible and we’re all wired together in such a way that even I can do a blog (!!) the support and the commentary and the trend is to seek out good content.  On all the “how-to” blogging sites, it’s not about being the best teckie, but simply a good writer.  Wow.  It’s a marriage made in heaven.  Thank you, technical genius friends who are creative problems solvers and who no doubt will change the world if you haven’t already! 

Love,

Margaret

Check ‘em out

 Hello Again Writers–

Below are addresses for two blogs by literary agents that to me give a personal insight that every writer should have.  One is by Rachel Gardner and one is by Colleen Lindsay.  These two agents discuss what it feels like to reject a piece (not fun)  and also give their very indivual takes on the ever-changing publishing business. 

 http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/

http://theswivet.blogspot.com/

 And the following is a soup-to-nuts site recommended by Lynne Wikoff packed with info.  I gave it a glance and did enjoy the way it tells you which agents are NOT recommended!  Let me know what you think of it.

http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pealr.htm

But warning:  Do not become bogged down in blogs and websites.  Keep writing!  Okay now, back to work!

TUESDAY MASTER CLASS

Our Tuesday Master Class started today with a guilt fest over not writing enough over the holiday, then a great submission by PG.  Our writers produce a tremendous amount of material– it’s fun to me to see all these projects move forward every single week.

Our talk about conflict had me thinking about something I read in Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now.”  He describes “emotion” as a “disturbance.”  Now as creative people, we are always embracing emotion because after all, emotion is what drives us, and emotion is what makes a story.  Looking a bit closer, we can see that it’s emotion that can create a state of unbalance– and being out of balance is what makes a character interesting (and real.)

A Day With Zak

Zak is the first kid client I ever had.   Fours years ago we worked on his book, the aptly named ”Words About Me.”  He’s nine now and today he helped me with a training video. 

He wrote about his experience at the Ice Palace here in Hawaii which is, as he says, “pretty cold but not as cold as Pennsylvania.”  He told his story and I took dictation.  What a great kid.  Thanks, Zak.

Punishing with Writing

So I’m wrapping up a lesson with a darling group of third graders and one of the girls asks if she can stay late and work on her homework.  Of course I say “Yes” because I feel these kids are so overloaded I try to help whenever I can.  She gets her backpack out and pulls out a piece of paper with the homework already started and it turns out she’s writing “I waste my time every morning” over and over, and she tells me she has to finish writing this 250 times by tomorrow morning.  This is an assignment given in the year 2008 to a nine-year-old girl?  Are you kdding me? 

Yes, I called the school and registered a complaint.

Writing With Emotion

How many times have I heard kids tell me, “But writing is so boring!”  I couldn’t understand this until I started seeing what their writing assignments were from their regular classrooms.  Kinda dorky stuff, really.  Like, “Put this setting together with this character” or write about a puppy who meets a princess.  Or a paper on Benjamin Frankin.  Yuck!

However, if you have the kids write about themselves — their favorite subject (and let’s face it, we all love talking about ourselves!)  — they will become emotionally engaged and they will write and they will have fun.  Bottom line is, we are here to connect with other people and writing is one of the ways we can do that.  Just think about it, especially now, we can connect with so many people, just by knowing how to write. 

There are several writing programs out there in the educational system which to me are more accurately described as diagnostic tools.  They fit the current “standards based” trends in education that some of us are so concerned about.    (Our program is standards based as well.)  But if you’re “teaching to the test” are you reaching the hearts and the minds?  If you engage the child at the core of his or her being and at the same time teach a language arts skill, that child will never forget how to spell that word or how to punctuate that sentence, because it will have personal meaning.

Happy New Year

Ready for 2009!  We had a great year in 2008, just great.  How many new companies (especially in this economy) can say they’re not filing for bankrupcy!  At the same time, I look back at some terrific moments of last year and I know we have made a difference in the lives of many children. 

All of you in Kids Talk Story, from Team Hawaii to Lyn’s Syndactics Team in Arizona to the future Georgia and New York and California teachers, have a wonderful and meaningful New Year. 

Margaret

Getting Kids to Write

I’m often asked how I came to be so successful in Hollywood so quickly.  The cocktail party answer is “I have no idea, I certainly didn’t intend it!”  But in truth it’s all about Catholic School, diagramming sentences– also having only three channels in black and white plus two brothers who controlled the set.  When you’re a kid, being bored is the fastest route to a creative practice.  So parents, unplug your kids every once in awhile.  Ask them to tell you what they want for dinner and what they want from life– and make them put it in writing.

Training Videos to Come

Frank and I are shooting training videos this weekend.  We’re planning to target some crafty ideas to keep the kids interested and ways to link craft projects to language arts lessons.  Please let us know if there are any areas you think we should cover.

Teenagers and Electronics

We’re experiencing a happy holiday here in Honolulu.  Each of my children is plugged in to his or her own respective electronic device and they don’t want to hear from me too much.  They don’t get to do this often (especially Coco who’s in seventh grade and banned from all electronics during the school year), so they’re taking advantage of the time they have.  We’ve come a long way from 3 channels in black and white. 

Many parents ask me what the probelm is with their children.  Why can’t they write?   More on this subject tomorrow, but for now, have a Holly Jolly Holiday!

Thank You Teachers

What a great semester we’ve had.  I’d like to personally thank all of you who have contributed!  Teachers, you’ve made a difference to the children in your care.  Please have a holly jolly holiday and know that you are uppermost in my thoughts.