The Well Fed Muse

Writing Prompt: Culinary Disasters and Triumphs

2012-01-25T11:45:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman
Writing Pad's scrumptious class offerings will tantalize your taste buds and your imagination this winter. For instance, this Thursday, we will be having Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece with successful food writer, Carol Penn-Romine, I have created a special writing prompt in honor of this class below. If you have ever dreamed of writing a food based memoir, a recipe book, or a food review, this is the class for you! Picture it: you are hopping from one decadent restaurant to another, scribbling notes about the tasty short ribs and gran marnier creme brulee you are sampling. Lucky you, your meal is paid for the newspaper or magazine that you are writing reviews for. Make this dream a reality this Thursday! Also, you can check out some of our other irresistible classes below.

Events
•Writing The Story Worthy Life: Memorable Memoirs (Fri., Feb. 3)

CLASSES THAT START THIS WEEK:
•Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp

OTHER CLASSES BY GENRE:

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel
•Memorable Memoir: Make Your True Tales Thrilling

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy •Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch

Writing Prompt: Make a list of the 3 worst (or best) things that your Mom cooked when you were a child. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch) and write for 10 minutes about it. Then, post your writing in the comments of this blog for the chance to win a free writing class. My mother is an amazing cook, but her spaghetti and meatballs resembled stuffed cabbages or sweet and sour chicken--too sweet and oily to eat. This week, I will be writing about her pasta horror show.

What is the worst or best thing your Mom cooked for you when you were a kid? Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Celebrity Sighting

2012-01-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman
We have lots of wonderful classes to help you stay on track with your writing resolutions, including these fantastic classes that start next weekend: From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and YA (only 2 spots left) and Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp (only 1 spot left) which includes a pitch session to creative execs at the end of the class! I hope to see you soon, and I can't wait to see your response to the prompt below.

Book Publishing
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy
•Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 memorable (or imagined) celebrity sightings that you've had. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch) and write for 10 minutes about it. Then, post your writing in the comments of this blog for the chance to win a free writing class. A few weeks ago, I sat behind Jake Gyllenhaal on a plane back from San Francisco so I probably will write about that!

What memorable celebrity sighting have you had? Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

October/November Comment Contest Winner

2012-01-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

I know that you've all been waiting to find out who won the October/November comment contest. Well before I tell you, let's talk about New Year's resolutions. If you are like me, you're trying to motivate yourself to shrink your backside and WRITE MORE! Let Writing Pad help you make your 2012 literary goals come true. Check out our fantastic January/February roster below!

Events:
•Footprints Screening

Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy
•Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch

The October/November comment contest winner is: David Sanchez. Congratulations, David!

When I asked David what inspires him to write, he said, "I've been reading as long as I can remember, everything from newspapers, magazines, and ketchup packets. Things I read or hear - be it a random quote in a news article or a lyric in a song - are often a trigger for the stories I develop." Sounds good to me! I'm going to have start paying more attention to ketchup packets, David. Fascinating!

You can check out David's wonderful story here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2011/10/writing-prompt-your-very-own-tall-tale.html

I hope that you will all keep commenting on this blog. Your stories are amazing! A new comment contest is on for Dec./Jan. so I hope that you will enter.

Writing Prompt: Collections

2012-01-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Happy New Year! Writing Pad has plenty of fantastic classes to make 2012 even more memorable than 2011. Check them out along with your first free writing prompt of the year below!

Events:
•Footprints Screening

Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sells Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp
•Meet Me Now, Squeeze Me Later: Crafting the Studio Romantic Comedy
•Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 things that you collected as a child (or your fictional character collected). Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch) and write for 10 minutes about it. Then, post your writing in the comments of this blog for the chance to win a free writing class. I collected seashells so that's what I will write about!

What did you (or your character) collect as a kid? Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Winter Holiday Memory

2011-12-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

by Marilyn Friedman

I have a couple more fun literary tidbits for you this Friday and Saturday--check out the details below. Plus the Winter 2012 schedule has been posted! Also, don't forget that Writing Pad gift certificates make wonderful presents. To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

Events:
•One-Person Show Performance Showcase (12/16)
•Footprints Screening (1/13)

Classes This Week:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell

Winter 2012 Classes

Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp

Writing Prompt:
Make a list of the best or worst five childhood winter holiday memories. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch, sight). Then write for 10 minutes and post the results in the comments of this blog!

For instance, I am going to write about getting in trouble for singing Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer on a tour bus in Florida. My parents didn't think that was an appropriate thing a little Jewish girl to do!

Post your writing in the comments of this blog! You could win a free class. What comes to mind when I say, "childhood holiday memory?"

Recipe: Wassail

2011-12-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

by Andrea Ruth and Marilyn Friedman

Take a Writing Pad class, and make your winter cozy and productive! Also, don't forget that Writing Pad gift certificates make wonderful presents. To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

Events:
•One-Person Show Performance Showcase (12/16)
•Footprints Screening (1/13)

Classes This Week:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell

Winter 2012 Classes

Book Publishing
•Get Your Book Published
•How To Hook An Agent

Children's Writing and YA
•Bullies, Werewolves, and Monsters: Creating Characters For Children’s Books and YA Fiction
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt I
•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults Pt III

Creative Writing/Multi Genre
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•So You Want To Be A Writer?
•Finishing School

Fiction, Memoir, Romance
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Write A Book That Sell Itself: Crafting A Killer Premise
•From Aphrodite To Zeus: Myth Fueled Stories
•Storytelling at Light Speed: The Art of Flash Fiction
•I Love You Silly: Crafting The Perfect Romance Novel

Journalism, Personal Essay and Web Writing
•So You Want To Be A Freelancer?
•Blogger's Paradise: Creating Irresistible Content
•Personal Essay II: The Advanced Class
•Literary Feast : Writing A Culinary Masterpiece
•You in 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

Playwriting and Writing For Actors
•Ex’s, Bosses, and Crazy Relatives: Creating Characters For The Stage
•It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop
•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

Screenwriting
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•Lights, Camera, Action: Screenwriting Boot Camp

Andrea says:

"This Wassail recipe is perfect for any and every holiday gathering from now until New Years. It is strong and puts a hum in your day if you have too many at an afternoon party. You can make it sans alcohol, and it is still just delicious!
It's a traditional Irish Christmas drink, and it comes to me via traditional Irishwoman Sarah Lang whose Wassail was the first and best I ever tasted!"

Wassail
For 10 to 12 servings:
8 cups apple cider
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup dark rum
1/2 cup brandy
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Salt to taste (just a couple pinches)
1 lemon and 1 orange, thinly sliced

Mix apple cider and brown sugar in large saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the rum, brandy and Grand Marnier. Stir in spices and lemon/orange. Simmer over medium heat 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do NOT boil. If you want to be fancy, you can serve with grated nutmeg or cinnamon sticks.

Good luck - we hope it and YOU are a big hit!

Writing Prompt: Memorable Movies

2011-11-16T14:26:00.000-08:00

by Marilyn Friedman

Get your writing fix before the holidays swoop you up! We have two fantastic screenwriting classes in December that you won't want to miss: Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot! with award-winning screenwriter, Steven Peros and Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script with development exec/screenwriter, Rob Ripley!

To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

This Week:

•So You Want To Be A Writer? (ONLINE)
•Plot It Out: Mapping A Compelling Journey
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

Dec. 1 - 4:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Your Name In Print: Get Your Story Published

Dec. 6 - 14:
•Girls Gone Wild: Writing For The Female Audience
•Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot!
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street

Writing Prompt:

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to go to the movies (and watch lots of movies on DVD). In honor of this ritual, I'd like you to make a list of five memorable movies (memorable because something bad happened when you went to see the movie, or it was the setting for a first date, or you always watch this movie with your family on Thanksgiving, etc.). Pick one movie. Now write down a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch) to go along with movie. Set the timer for 10 min. and write, and make sure that you include the sensory detail in your piece. When you are done, post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, when I went to see "The Piano Teacher" with Isabelle Huppert, I was so disturbed by the behavior of the main character that I got nauseous and fainted in the movie theater lobby twice. I think that I will write about that!

Comment on this blog! Write what comes to mind when I say, "memorable movie." If you post your story in the comments of this blog, you could win a free class!

Movie Talk With Screenwriter/Director Steven Peros

2011-11-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

By Sophia Kercher

Skim the resume of Steven Peros, and you'll be inspired to rise out of your chair and go make something. Why, you ask?

Steven has created award-winning films and is a twice-published Samuel French playwright. His research into a mysterious death on board William Randolph Hearst's yacht led to his original screenplay, “The Cat's Meow” (Lionsgate, 2002), directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Kirsten Dunst and Eddie Izzard. The film was highly regarded by critics and appeared on a dozen year-end “Ten Best” lists, including Film Comment. When he's not speaking about screenwriting at film festivals and universities nationwide, Steven dreams up budget-friendly movies. His microbudget film "Footprints" comes out next month.

On Sunday, November 13th, Steven will be teaching Writing Pad students how to turn unwieldy real life events or characters into a three-act script in his class "Writing the Royalty Free Screenplay." Before this weekend, we had the chance to pick Steven's brain and, like we imagined, it was quite a ride.

How does L.A. inform your work?
I become very immersed in where I live and have always incorporated it into my scripts. L.A. has a special draw for me because even as a boy on Long Island, I dreamt of Hollywood. Now I can walk to Grauman’s Chinese. For me L.A. has so much history, so much energy of the creative souls that have come, fought so hard to be heard, and won or lost the battle. It’s a crazy, beautiful, ugly, frustrating, and exciting place.

Your movie “The Cat’s Meow” was based on your research of a mysterious 1924 real-life death. Can you explain how people looking to write a screenplay can draw stories from real-life events?
How can writers draw stories from real life? How can they not? Flip through an encyclopedia to any random page. Type arbitrary interesting words or people into Wikipedia and see what pops up or pick up a book on famous murder trials or unsolved mysteries. If a story involves a public figure and that figure is deceased – guess what? – there are no rights required. It’s free! We will go more into this on Sunday (Nov 13) at Writing Pad, so I urge everyone with a true story from history, their family tree, or their own lives to join us so they can take the next steps to putting it on the page.

As an experienced screenwriting teacher, as well as a film professional, what are some of your suggestions for writers who are sitting down to write their opening scene?
Whether you are writing a subtle character piece or a kick-ass action film, you must make us sit up and say, “This is a writer who I want to spend the next 90-120 pages reading.” Your dialogue, description, economy (so important!) lets the reader know they are in good hands. In addition, surprise us with something that we were not expecting in that first scene, a detail we couldn’t predict that tells us your characters will keep us compelled and on our toes. Most people write scripts with scenes unintentionally copied from a million other movies – make your first scene something we haven’t read before.

In addition to your playwriting and screenwriting career, you have made several films on a budget such as “Footprints.” Can you tell me more about what led you to that process?
I have always been a screenwriter with a goal of making the films I write. I tried for years to get four different “first directing features” off the ground with four different producers, each budgeted between $1M and $6M. After a rollercoaster of “almosts” with those films, I finally said, “I’m going to make a movie for an amount of money I can actually raise, instead of for an amount I can’t.” From there, “Footprints” grew. You can read more about how the film happened at The Huffington Post and find out how to do it yourself during our Microbudget Madness class on Dec 11 at Writing Pad.

You have two films coming out next month, can you tell me more about them?
Yes, I’m very excited about them. The first film, "Footprints" was a microbudget film shot entirely on Hollywood Boulevard and stars Sybil Temtchine. We had a limited Engagement in April in NYC and LA. In July, the Chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle called it “One of the 10 Best Films So Far This Year” which led to us being booked into more cities beginning Dec 16. The second film is a larger budget supernatural thriller called "The Undying" which stars Emmy nominee Robin Weigert (HBO’s “Deadwood”) and Wes Studi (“Avatar,” “Last of the Mohicans”). That movie will be released on DVD/VOD on Dec. 12 and will be at every Redbox in the country as well as Blockbuster, Amazon, and Netflix afterwards.

What are your tips for people who are considering writing a screenplay and/or producing their own film on a budget?
Write a film for an amount of money that you can actually raise with a unique script that excites you. In my one-day Microbudget Madness class, we will go through a series of great in-class exercises to help you utilize all that is already in your life and therefore free or very inexpensive (locations, crew, actors, props). If you came to L.A. to not only write, but to go out and make a movie, I hope that you will join us.

Thanks, Steven for sharing your expertise with us! We can't wait for your classes Writing The Royalty Free Screenplay and Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot! at Writing Pad this weekend and on Dec. 11th.

Recipe: The Waffle of Insane Greatness

2011-11-08T15:14:00.000-08:00

by Andrea Ruth and Marilyn Friedman

Writing Pad has a delectable feast of writing classes paired with Andrea Ruth's culinary yummies this November and December. Also, Andrea and rock star novelist Jessica Brody will be tantalizing our literary and food muses at Writing Pad's Idyllwild Writing Retreat this March 9-11th! Stay tuned for more details.

To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

This Week:

•So You Want To Be A Writer? (In-Person)

•Finishing School

•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean

•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story
•Get Your Grimm On: Finding Your Inner Fairy Tale
•Writing The Royalty Free Screenplay
•Period Piece Power: Crafting A Historical Masterpiece

Next Week:
•So You Want To Be A Writer? (ONLINE)
•Plot It Out: Mapping A Compelling Journey
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

Dec. 1 - 4:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Your Name In Print: Get Your Story Published

Dec. 6 - 11:
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Girls Gone Wild: Writing For The Female Audience
•Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot!
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script

Andrea says:
"I didn't start out as a waffle person. I didn't like the idea of starting my day with a griddled cake covered in butter and syrup. A few years ago, I took a job making waffle pops for a holiday party, and I had to come up with a damn good recipe. I stumbled upon the "Waffle of Insane Greatness," and boy were they great! I made 12 liters of waffle batter based on that recipe. We had many subsequent waffle parties in an attempt to use up the batter, and we never got tired of the waffles. They were that delicious.

But I just had to monkey with the recipe. I couldn't resist making them with a little less oil, a little whole wheat flour, a banana or some pecans, etc. The following recipe is a waffle of INSANE greatness to be sure, but it's also good for you! It's a bit more grown up: a sweet breakfast for people who don't really dig sweet breakfasts. And you can feel good eating them five times a week.

To that end here's a tip: double the recipe on Sunday morning, make all the waffles, (not too well done), cool them on a wire rack, and freeze them in a ziplock bag. You can pop them in the toaster all week long."

Thanks, Andrea! These waffles sound fantastic. I can't wait to try making them myself. Yum, yum, yum!

The Waffle of Insane Greatness
1/2 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/4 cup Unbleached White Flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
Between 3 and 4 Tbsp of vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
A few shakes of cinnamon
Optional: chopped pecans or walnuts, mashed banana

Directions: Combine all dry ingredients, whisk together in a big bowl. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix. Add cinnamon, nuts (if using) mashed banana (if using). Let it stand in the refrigerator while the iron heats up. You don't have to spray the iron. But you can if it makes you feel better. But only spray it once!

A few suggestions: serve with warm maple syrup (drop your maple syrup in a bowl of hot water while you cook). Take out your butter first so that its not ice cold by the time you need it. Experiment! Add mashed pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice instead of banana and cinnamon. Use all white flour. Use almost all wheat flour (you want to retain at least 3 Tbsp of white flour for the texture to be good). Add mini chocolate chips (wipe your waffle iron afterwards). Go crazy!

Writing Prompt: Weird Family Ritual

2011-11-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

by Marilyn Friedman

Thanksgiving is nipping at our heels. I don't know about you, but I'm mentally preparing myself for a healthy helping of delicious food with a side of family dysfunction. This November, I'm thankful that we have a bunch of terrific writing classes at the Pad to take the pain away before the holidays descend upon us. Most of them are quickie one-day or one-night stands, so they'll leave you plenty of time to prepare for holiday travel, company parties, and last minute shopping missions.

Relax, get inspired, and write your literary masterpiece in front of the cozy Writing Pad fireplace this November and December. To sign up for a class, click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

This Week:

•So You Want To Be A Writer? (In-Person)

•Finishing School

•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean

•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation

Where's the turkey? It's so small, I need a magnifying glass to see it.

Writing Prompt:

Make a list of 5 weird or unusual family holiday rituals (real or imagined). Pick one. Now write down a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch) to go along with that situation or place. Set the timer for 10 min. and write, and make sure that you include the sensory detail in your piece. When you are done, post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, at Thanksgiving, my family was so small that my mother didn't bother buying a whole turkey at the supermarket. She just bought a capon breast. Or, I might mention that my in-laws insist on passing plates when we go to a restaurant together. So if I order duck and blackberry stuffed ravioli, I might only get a tiny bite because everyone else takes a swipe at my plate before I get it back. I think that I will write about that!

Comment on this blog! Write what comes to mind when I say, "weird family holiday rituals." If you post your story in the comments of this blog, you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Home (Compliments of Judy Reeves)

2011-11-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

by Marilyn Friedman

Judy Reeves will be visiting us from San Diego to teach two classes at the Pad on Saturday, November 12th--Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean and Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation! Judy is the author of "A Writer's Book of Days," one of Writer's Digest's "hottest writing books" on the market. "A Writer's Book of Days" helped me re-establish my own writing practice 12 years ago after I had a long writing hiatus. It has a different writing prompt for every day of the year and is chocked full of wonderful information to help you take your writing to the next level.

When I first met Judy three years ago at the Southern California Writers conference, I was thrilled to meet my writing idol. "I loved your book! It helped me so much. It was so hard to get back into writing, but I felt like you were cheering me on every day with your terrific writing prompts," I told her.

The fantastic Judy Reeves

"I was cheering you on!" Judy replied. I took several of Judy's seminars at the conference, and she further impressed me with her knowledge of writing craft. In just a few minutes, Judy helped me fix an essay that I had been struggling with for months. Armed with Judy's editing suggestions, I polished my essay and one week later, read it at a literary variety show. I not only got a standing ovation but was later contacted by a literary agent who'd heard about my piece from a client who'd attended the show. If you take Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation, Judy can work her literary fix-it magic on you too!

While you are anxiously waiting for Judy's classes on the 12th, I recommend watching these short interviews to hear her helpful tips on writing craft and practice and learn the harrowing story behind "A Writer's Book of Days." You can sign up for one of Judy's classes or any other class by clicking "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class descriptions at the links below, by calling 323-333-2954, or emailing marilyn@writingpad.com to grab a spot before they are full!

November Classes

•Writing A Pilot That Can Fly
•So You Want To Be A Writer? (ONLINE and In-Person)

•Finishing School

•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean

•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story
•Get Your Grimm On: Finding Your Inner Fairy Tale
•Writing The Royalty Free Screenplay
•Period Piece Power: Crafting A Historical Masterpiece
•Plot It Out: Mapping A Compelling Journey
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

December Classes:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Your Name In Print: Get Your Story Published
•The Found Story: Finding Your Story In The Street
•Girls Gone Wild: Writing For The Female Audience
•Microbudget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Actually Go Out and Shoot!
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script

Writing Prompt:

In honor of Judy's visit, here's a November writing prompt from "A Writers' Book of Days." I chose this prompt in particular because it reminded me of the intense feelings that can sometimes accompany family visits on Thanksgiving and the holidays. Make a list of 5 things that come to mind when I say, "This is not my home" (after Elizabeth Bishop). Pick one. Now write down a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch) to go along with that situation or place. Set the timer for 10 min. and write, and make sure that you include the sensory detail in your piece. You can repeat the words, "This is not my home" several times if it helps kickstart your imagination. When you are done, post your write in the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! Write what comes to mind when I say, "This is not my home." If you post your story in the comments of this blog, you could win a free class!

Meet Chad Gervich, TV Exec/Writer Extraordinaire

2011-11-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher and Marilyn Friedman

First things first, Writing Pad would like to give props to Chad Gervich. This week, he is wrapping up not one—but two—TV shows ("After Lately" and "Cupcake Wars")! He stepped off set for a moment to talk with us about the television industry and the craft of pilot writing.

Chad, a TV writer, producer, and development exec, will share his secrets for creating a riveting pilot and bringing it to the screen at his upcoming Writing Pad class, Writing A Pilot That Can Fly. We can't wait! It starts Monday and is almost full (only 1 spot left).

In the meantime, here's a little bit about Chad's background and some of his tips on writing for television.

Chad says, "TV writing is unlike any other kind of writing. It’s nothing like novel writing. It's not like screenwriting. Even if you are a writer who isn't necessarily interested in writing for TV, my pilot writing class will still be incredibly valuable to you because it will teach you new ways of looking at character, story, and conflict. I think people underestimate how complex and interesting TV is."

TV writing has helped Chad, who was originally a playwright, hone his own writing craft. He says, "Even if I'm writing something nonfiction like a how to article or a profile for a magazine, I now make sure that there is story and conflict in every single sentence. Even if I'm writing something that isn't a narrative, I make sure that I am clearly communicating the emotional journey of the piece."

After 12 years in the industry, Chad has worked on programs such as "The Wanda Sykes Show," "Star Search," "Malcom In The Middle," and he regularly publishes articles in Daily Variety, Script, and Writer’s Digest. In 2008, Chad wrote “Small Screen, Big Picture” (Random House/Crown), a guide that makes the complexities and jargon of the TV business easy to understand. He created the book because "a lot of new writers don't think of television as a business with creative rules, business rules, processes and paths that must be followed. They think, 'As long as I'm creative and a good writer, I'll succeed.' But that's not true." The book helps aspiring television writers understand "how the business works, where the business side meets the creative side and how they affect each other." It's used at industry classes and Universities nationwide.

When it comes to pilot writing, Chad says, "A pilot isn't just a great story. It has to do very specific things to be sellable or used as a viable writing sample." He recommends that you keep these three things in mind when you sit down to brainstorm your pilot:

1. The pilot needs to work just like every episode is going to work.

For example, is it a mystery series? If all of the episodes are going to be about solving a mystery throughout the show, the pilot has to work the same way.

2.The pilot needs to show us where the story is going to come from every week.

For instance, if it’s a relationship story like "Everyone Loves Raymond," Raymond is always forced to balance what his wife wants with what his mother wants.

3. You to be very clear on who the characters are and what their relationships are to each other.

You need to really understand those dynamics before you complete your pilot.

Thanks for sharing these helpful insights, Chad! We look forward to learning more from you in your Writing A Pilot That Can Fly class next week.

In Conversation with Short Story Scribe/Novelist Melissa Clark

2011-10-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher

Melissa Clark

Novelist and published short story writer Melissa Clark likes to dive into the extraordinary. Her book "Swimming Upstream, Slowly" features a character named Sasha Salter who discovers that she is pregnant, even though she hasn't had sex in years. It turns out that Sasha's body has been hosting a "lazy sperm," and she must figure out which of her exes is the father of her unborn child. Melissa's imaginative and convincing story-telling (don't worry--she made up the science behind a lazy sperm) makes her novel a page-turner that we couldn't put down! She advises other writers to try incorporating fantastical elements into their stories to make them more exciting.

This November, Melissa will pass on her secrets for crafting a compelling narrative in the Writing Pad class "Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story." By the end of this class, you will have written one amazing short story, and Melissa will help you get it published. In the meantime, we asked Melissa to share her experience and tips on writing with all of you.

How did you get started as a professional writer?
My dad is a writer so I grew up watching him and then mimicking him on my own typewriter. I used to write tons of short stories as a little kid. I majored in writing in college and then went to a writing program for graduate school. I was all about the short story. I lived, breathed, embodied it. It always felt so magical - not only reading them, but writing them. Further down the line I veered off into television writing, mostly kids' shows. I learned quickly that a good story is a good story, no matter what the genre. . . If you'd told me in graduate school that I'd be writing television and novels in the future, I wouldn't have believed you. I was that obsessed with the short story.

What are some tips you have for people who are sitting down to write a short story?
Before you write, read tons of short stories. When you're done writing for the day (whether it's a couple of hours or 10 minutes), stop when it's really flowing - or during a scene that you're excited about. That way, when you pick up your writing the next day, you will tap into that excitement and your story will continue to flow.

Can you tell me what some of the key elements of structure that you utilize to write a short story?
The only three words you need when talking about short story structure are: Conflict, Crisis, Resolution.

You have a screenwriting and TV writing background, how does this shape your storytelling?
Both helped me write stronger dialogue my stories and novels. Writing for TV helped me with speed. There is a quick script turnover in television, and this helped me begin and finish other writing projects swiftly.

Where do you draw inspiration for your own stories?

My first novel, "Swimming Upstream, Slowly" - about a woman who becomes pregnant from a lazy sperm - was born because I was having lunch with a friend and I overate. When I showed him my bloated belly he said, "Are you sure you're not pregnant?" and I said, "Yeah, right, from a lazy sperm." I decided right then and there to write a movie based on that idea, but after a few weeks I decided to write it as a novel instead.

My second novel, "Imperfect" was born because I have a cat with asthma and her purr is so frigging loud. One night while she was on my lap doing her kneeding thing, I wondered, what if people purred? And it wasn't a sexy thing, but more of an embarrassing thing? I started the novel the next day.

You recently finished another novel. Tell me more about that.
My writing is usually on the lighter side, but my latest novel, "Bear Witness" explores the aftermath of a kidnapping in a small town. It is told by the victim's best friend, and we see how she's coping after the tragedy. Last year I traveled to Utah to observe the Elizabeth Smart case which had finally gone to trial. The experience was harrowing but important for the book.

Every artist/writer has an inner critic that lives inside them, how do you battle this inner critic?
I think the biggest issue for most people is negative self talk. If you're hearing, "I can't. I'll never. . ." chances are that you won't be very productive. Catching this and then converting it to positive talk is an effective method. You just have to be able to do this. Rubberbands on the wrists helps!

Thanks so much for sharing these helpful tips on writing, Melissa, and we can't wait for your class which starts next Sunday!

Writing Prompt: Your Very Own Tall Tale

2011-10-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

by Marilyn Friedman

It's almost Halloween--yay! It's time to let your imagination run wild and dress up like a character from one of your favorite stories or movies. Fun!

Once you've settled down from your candy corn high, Writing Pad has a terrrific new class to help you write an amazing short story AND get it published. Successful writer, Melissa Clark, will be teaching Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story starting Nov. 4! Click "Buy Now" at the bottom of the class description, call 323-333-2954, OR email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before it's full!

November Classes

•Mini Writing Pad Bootcamp . . . With Dessert (ONLINE)
•So You Want To Be A Writer? (ONLINE and In-Person)

•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story

•Writing A Pilot That Can Fly
•Finishing School
•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean
•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation
•Period Piece Power: Crafting A Historical Masterpiece
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

December Classes:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script

Writing Prompt:

In honor of our new short story class, here's a writing prompt to inspire your very own story classic. Make a list of your 5 favorite fairy tales or short stories. Pick one. Now write down five specific details of that story (e.g. For Little Red Riding Hood I'd write down: 1. red cloak, 2. big fangs, 3. cherry pies in a basket, 4. granny nightgown, and 5. "What big eyes you have!"). Set the timer for 10 min. Write a modern version of this tale, including at least 2 of the 5 specific details that you wrote down. Maybe apply this story to something that happened to you recently. Start your story with "Once upon a time" and then post the results in the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! Write a modern fairy tale. If you post your story in the comments of this blog, you could win a free class!

Writing Pad Recipe: Creamy Spinach

2011-10-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

by Andrea Ruth and Amy Robinson

Shorter days mean more time at night to write. Writing Pad has so many different classes to fit your writing goals, you'll be more excited than a trick-or-treating Ninja Turtle! Click "Buy Now" at the bottom of each class description, call 323-333-2954, OR email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before the classes are full!

November Classes:
•Mini Writing Pad Bootcamp . . . With Dessert (ONLINE)

•So You Want To Be A Writer?/Finishing School (ONLINE and In-Person)
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story

•Writing A Pilot That Can Fly
•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean
•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation
•Period Piece Power: Crafting A Historical Masterpiece
•Be A Troublemaker! Mastering The Art of Conflict

December Classes:
•Writing Pad Show and Tell
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop
•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script

Andrea says:
"Yay! It's Fall! My favorite season of eating. Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday! It is the only holiday where I will not try any new foods that anyone brings over because as I told one of my Mom's friends last year, 'The real estate in my stomach is just too valuable on this day.'

This is a recipe that I created for the Step-Up Women's Network Healthy Holiday Class. I wanted a recipe that would not suffer even a tiny bit from being made "healthy". And Creamed Spinach is it! Because it is made using a béchamel sauce, it is up to you whether you use 1%, 2% or whole milk. If you don't mind the calories, you can even use half and half or cream. But go easy on the milk or cream--what you want to taste is the spinach."

Creamed Spinach

3-4 natural bunched spinach (greatly preferred- it really makes a difference) or two 10 oz bags pre washed.
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp whole wheat pastry flour or white flour (plus more if needed)
one shallot minced
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup whole milk
whole nutmeg for grating

Wash spinach in one or two changes of water. Shake out or spin dry. Heat a large dry skillet. Add spinach and wilt quickly, turning frequently to avoid sticking or burning. Set aside to cool in a colander or strainer and press to release extra liquid. When cooled, chop roughly.

Wipe out skillet. Melt butter over medium heat, add shallot and sweat gently until translucent. Do not brown. Add garlic and cook about 1 minute. Add flour and cook until soft bubbles form. Add milk and whisk quickly to incorporate. Simmer about 3 minutes until thickened. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and stir in spinach to coat evenly with sauce. Taste and adjust salt pepper and nutmeg. Enjoy!

Writing Prompt - Scandalous Acts

2011-10-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher

With Halloween swiftly approaching, I am reminded of scandalous costumes and October debauchery! For instance, once in college, I dressed up in a très sexy French maid costume and drank such potent vodka-laced cocktails that I passed out at my apartment and didn't even make it to the Halloween party. I bet that you have some great tales to tell. Unlock your wildest stories at our upcoming Taboo Tales Workshop. Published writer and Taboo Tales co-producer Laurenne Sala will teach you how to mix dirty secrets with hilarious details to create an irresistible piece for one of LA's hottest storytelling shows (or any other literary variety show).

Let us help you spill your zany tales at our exciting line-up of October and November classes:

Start 10/23 - 10/31:
•From Snoozeville to Sizzletown: Crafting A Page Turner
•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop

•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script

•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

•Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert

Start in November:
•So You Want To Be A Writer?/Finishing School
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story

Writing Prompt: Here's a writing prompt inspired by our upcoming Taboo Tales Workshop. Make a list 5 things that you've done (or a fictional character has done) that are scandalous or embarassing. Pick one and and write a scene in which you (or your) character are caught doing that scandalous thing.

For example, I'm going to write about my character Grace who at the age of 13, gets caught smoking cigarettes that she stole from her Uncle.

Comment on this blog! Write about getting caught in a a scandalous act! Post your juicy 10 minute write in the comments, and you could win a free class!

August/September Comment Contest Winner!

2011-10-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson and Marilyn Friedman

There is so much going on at Writing Pad this fall! We have classes for every writer. Let us help you chase down your muse and finish your stories and writing projects. Classes have been filling up fast, so reserve your spot today on our website!

Start This Weekend Thru 10/23:

•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe PT I/PT II

•You In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day)

•Micro Budget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Go Out and Shoot! (1 Day)

•High Desert Retreat (2 Day)

Start 10/24 - 10/31:

•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop (1 Day)

•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script (1 Day)

•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

•Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (1 Day)

Start in November:
•So You Want To Be A Writer?/Finishing School
•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (5 Wk)

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story (4 Wk)

Now, the news you've been waiting for: the August/September comment contest winner is Lorinda Toledo!

We asked Lorinda what inspires her to write. She said, "I get inspired to write by all the fascinating people I meet everyday, by my crazy family and by flaky pastries!"

Well, we are glad for the flaky pastries and crazy family because it inspired Lorinda to write a sumptuous story here. Congrats, Lorinda--you win a free class at Writing Pad!

Please keep commenting on the writing prompts. So many of you posted terrific stories so keep them coming! The best comment of October/November will win a free class. We hope to see your entertaining tales on the blog this month. Have a great Friday!

Joshua Tree Retreat Scholarship Winner! (And More Fall Classes!)

2011-10-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

By Lizzie Vance

This month, we held a contest to offer a full scholarship (an $815 value!) to one lucky writer to our Joshua Tree High Desert Retreat. The submissions were absolutely incredible-- and we wish we could give everyone who entered a scholarship. But alas, there can only be one winner. Before we tell you who that lucky person is, here are the fantastic classes we have coming up at Writing Pad very soon. Sign up online or, call 323-333-2954, or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before the classes are full!

Start This Weekend Thru 10/23:

•So You Want To Be A Writer?/Finishing School

•From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe PT I/PT II

•You In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day)

•Micro Budget Madness: Writing A Script You Can Go Out and Shoot! (1 Day)

•High Desert Retreat (2 Day)

Start 10/24 - 10/31:

•I Would Never Do That: A Taboo Tales Workshop (1 Day)

•Get Your Foot In The Door: Develop Your Dream Script (1 Day)

•From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show

•Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (1 Day)

Start in November:

•You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (5 Wk)

•Short and Sweet: The Art of The Short Story (4 Wk)

•Writing A Pilot That Can Fly
•Speedwriting: Getting It Down Fast and Clean
•Writing Reboot: Rescuing Your Crashed Creation

And now . . . the winner of the Joshua Tree High Desert Writing Retreat is . . . Abby Schachner!!!

Congratulations, Abby! We asked Abby where her favorite place is to write. She said, "Oooh, my very special, lovely coffee shop. At some point, I'll O.D. on that place and write at home or another coffee shop, but for now, it's Cafecito Organico. Lately, I've been donating my pages as their scrap paper. Ripped in quarters, of course, to save myself any embarrassment."

You can read Abby's winning blog entry here. Thank you so much to our fantastic judges, Antoine Wilson, Janelle Brown, Joe Donnelly, and Pamela Ribon. Thank you also to everyone who entered. Please do not be discouraged. Your writing was truly amazing. You will automatically be entered into the August/September comment contest for a free class at Writing Pad. Results of that contest will be announced very soon so stay tuned.

Writing Prompt - It's Just Like The Movies

2011-10-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher and Marilyn Friedman

After watching Ryan Gosling zip around downtown L.A. in Drive, we have fallen in love all over again with cinema. Write your own Oscar-worthy film or TV show and let the successful film industry professionals who teach screenwriting at Writing Pad help you get it produced! Sign-up before these classes are full!

MICRO BUDGET MADNESS: WRITING A SCRIPT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO OUT AND SHOOT! (Tues., Oct. 18)
GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR: DEVELOP YOUR DREAM SCRIPT (Tues., Oct. 25)
WRITING A PILOT THAT CAN FLY (10. Mon. p.m.'s starting in Oct.)

Writing Prompt: Here's a movie inspired writing prompt for this week. Make a list of 5 significant people in your life (e.g., your Mom, your Dad, your siblings, your friends, your boss). Pick one. Write down something specific that the person does or says (for example, Marilyn's mother starts every sentence with the word, "For."). Now, make a list of five celebrities that could play that character in a movie. Pick one. Now, write down something specific that the celebrity does or says (for example, Ellen Degeneres is known to break out into dance, Charlie Sheen is notorious for saying, "winning," etc.).

Write a scene or story where the celebrity you chose meets the person from your life, be sure to include the specific things that the character and the celebrity does or says. For example, Sophia is going to write a scene about her sassy friend Lisa meeting Kat Dennings at a party, and the two of them rolling their eyes in unison at an annoying drunk guy.

Kat Dennings pictured above

Comment on this blog! Write about a person in your life meeting the celebrity version of themselves. If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!

October Recipe: Soup of the Day!

2011-10-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

by Andrea Ruth and Amy Robinson

Our new fall classes will inspire you to curl up with a blank page next to our cozy fire and start writing! At many of our classes , you even get to enjoy Executive Chef Andrea Ruth's tasty treats to rev up your writing practice! Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before the classes are full!

Start This Week:

Start 10/16 - 10/23:

Start 10/24 - 10/31:

Start in November:

Andrea says:
"Hey its Fall! The days are shorter, the nights are cooler and it's finally okay to eat soup again! This is a Mushroom Soup recipe based on one by Anthony Bourdain, but it is so incredibly simple that it's just barely a recipe at all. With 4 main ingredients (and two variable ones), it takes so little effort. You will be amazed how delicious it is."

Easy Mushroom Soup

12 oz crimini mushrooms (equal to one and a half containers from TJ's)
4 tbsp butter
one onion, thinly sliced
4 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
a few sprigs of thyme
salt and pepper
2 oz pale dry sherry*

None of these amounts are written in stone. You don't have to
measure the mushrooms, and you can certainly use more butter, more
sherry, or another herb if you like. Just taste it as you go.

Melt three tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan and saute the onions until they are soft, add one more tbsp. of butter, and then add the mushrooms. (I chop them roughly, but you don't have to if they are
small) Cook on med-low about 8 minutes, stirring often. Add the stock and the thyme. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a low simmer for 30-40 minutes (you can even let it simmer
for an hour, if you have the time)

Remove the thyme sprigs, and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Taste, adjust the salt and pepper. Stir in the sherry. Taste again. Stir in a little more sherry if you like.

*Sherry is a fantastic addition to many soups and stews right before serving as well as any sauteed vegetable. A bottle of pale, dry sherry from Trader Joe's costs about $5. You will never regret buying this ingredient. One splash goes a long way, and it lasts forever.

Enjoy!

Retreat Scholarship Prompt and Rules: Fall in the High Desert

2011-09-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson and Marilyn Friedman

Are you a broke writer who needs a break from the stress of the city? How does a relaxing mini-vacation at the Writing Pad High Desert Retreat sound? Spend a weekend filled with fantastic writing classes, gourmet food, top-notch instructors, and supportive classmates, all set in a beautiful high desert spa. A full scholarship ($815 value) will be granted to one lucky writer to attend our luxurious retreat on October 21-23! All you have to do is enter our writing contest. All rules are below.

Our last scholarship winner, Jim Gillett, got the essay that he worked on at the retreat published in Spirit Magazine, Southwest Airlines' in-flight publication. You should be next!

Don't be intimidated--apply for the scholarship. You can do it! Good luck! :)

Rules
These are the rules that you must follow to apply for the scholarship. Note: Anyone can respond to the prompt and be entered into the August/September contest (we're going to extend the deadline thru Oct. 6th for August/September) for a free writing class!

1. Post 1 writing sample only (that applies to the prompt below) in the comments of this blog AND email a copy to marilyn@writingpad.com NO LATER than Thursday, October 6 at 10 a.m. Your sample should be a maximum of 5 normal sized paragraphs. For poems, the limit would be 5 stanzas maximum or if the poem only has 1 long stanza, it should not be longer than 1 page, double spaced with 12 point font. For short stories, even short lines of dialogue count as a paragraph. Remember, the shorter your piece is, the better (but it should still be a complete story or a complete poem).

2. Also email proof of current or long-term economic hardship to marilyn@writingpad.com NO LATER than Thursday, October 6 at 10 a.m. (Ex. Bank statements, letter demonstrating that you have been laid off from your job, etc.) Feel free to also summarize your situation in the email, but send the back up as well. This will be kept completely confidential.

3. Writing submissions can be in any form (poetry, short story, dialogue, fiction, non-fiction, a rant, etc.) but must follow the paragraph limit and apply to the writing prompt below.

4. The contest will be judged by the following esteemed writers (see the next blog entry for their bios): Antoine Wilson, Janelle Brown, Joe Donnelly and Pamela Ribon. The contest winner will be announced by Tuesday, October 11.

Writing Prompt: October in Joshua Tree is the perfect time of year to visit the high desert. It is warm during the day and cool at night. Therefore, we were inspired to create this writing prompt:

Write about your favorite fall memory. Make a list of 5 things/memories that come to mind when I say the word “fall.” Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch, sight). Note: this does not have to be a true story and can be in any form (poetry, short story, dialogue, fiction, non-fiction, a rant, etc.). For a chance at the scholarship spot, also email your writing sample and proof of current or long-term economic hardship to marilyn@writingpad.com, following the instructions above.

Fall makes Marilyn think of apples and apple picking. Here is an example of a lovely fall poem by former poet laureate Ted Kooser to inspire you. We have also pasted another poem about apple picking by Robert Frost in the comments of this blog to help get your creative juices flowing. Good luck!

Applesauce
I liked how the starry blue lid
of that saucepan lifted and puffed,
then settled back on a thin
hotpad of steam, and the way
her kitchen filled with the warm
wet breath of apples, as if all
the apples were talking at once,
as if they'd come cold and sour
from chores in the orchard,
and were trying to shoulder in
close to the fire. She was too busy
to put in her two cent's worth
talking to apples. Squeezing
her dentures with wrinkly lips,
she had to jingle and stack
the bright brass coins of the lids
and thoughtfully count out
the red rubber rings, then hold
each jar, to see if it was clean,
to a window that looked out
through her back yard into Iowa.
And with every third or fourth jar
she wiped steam from her glasses,
using the hem of her apron,
printed with tiny red sailboats
that dipped along with leaf-green
banners snapping, under puffs
of pale applesauce clouds
scented with cinnamon and cloves,
the only boats under sail
for at least two thousand miles

~ Ted Kooser

Comment on this blog! Write about your favorite memory of autumn. Even if you are not applying for the scholarship, comment! You could win a free class at Writing Pad!

Meet Our Judges for the Joshua Tree High Desert Retreat Scholarship!

2011-09-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

By Lizzie Vance

We are proud to introduce our esteemed judges for the High Desert Retreat scholarship contest. These impressive writers will determine whose writing submission will win the full scholarship to the retreat (an $815 value). Behold our marvelous and impartial panel of judges (drum roll please)!

About Antoine Wilson:
Antoine Wilson’s first novel, "The Interloper," was published by Other Press in May 2007, and his new novel, "Panorama City," is forthcoming in Fall 2012. He is a contributing editor of the literary quarterly A Public Space, and his work has also appeared in The Paris Review, StoryQuarterly, and Best New American Voices. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and recipient of a Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellowship from the University of Wisconsin. He has also taught creative writing at Iowa, Wisconsin, CSU Long Beach, UC San Diego, and UCLA Extension. You can find more information about him here.

About Janelle Brown:

Janelle Brown is the author of the novel "This Is Where We Live." Her debut novel, "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything," was a national best-seller and named one of the best books of 2008 by Library Journal. A novelist, essayist and journalist, her writing appears regularly in The New York Times, Vogue, Elle, Wired, Self, The Los Angeles Times, and numerous other publications. Previously, she spent five years as a senior writer at Salon. In the 1990’s, she was also the editor and co-founder of Maxi, an irreverent (and now, long-gone) women's pop culture magazine. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. You can find more information about her here.

About Joe Donnelly:

Joe Donnelly is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications and anthologies. Joe was the deputy editor of the L.A. Weekly from 2002 to 2008. Before that, Donnelly was the arts editor of New Times Los Angeles and editor in chief of the seminal Los Angeles pop-culture magazine Bikini. Along with Laurie Ochoa, Joe founded Slake Los Angeles, the bestselling quarterly journal quarterly reader devoted to the endangered arts of narrative journalism, polished essays, memoir, fiction, poetry, and profiles.

About Pamela Ribon:

Pamela Ribon has written on several network television shows, most notably the Emmy Award-winning Samantha Who?. A national best-selling author, Pamela has adapted her popular novels for both film and television. She is a recent Oprah.com contributor, where her novel, "Going in Circles," was selected as an Oprah.com Book Club pick. Pamela is also the author of "Why Girls Are Weird" and "Why Moms are Weird." She’s known as a pioneer in the blogging world with her successful website pamie.com, which has been spotlighted for Lifetime Achievement from the Weblog Awards. Her stage work has been showcased at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival and she created the accidental international scandal known as "Call Us Crazy: The Anne Heche Monologues.”

April/May and June/July Comment Contest Winners

2011-09-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

by Amy Robinson

Autumn is finally here, but don't let the change in seasons cool off your writing practice. Check out our exciting fall classes and events:

Classes:

• Stuff I Like: High-Concept Blogging (10/2)

• Ernessa's Ten Page Workout (10/2)
• The Big Finish: Creating An Exciting Third Act (Sun. a.m.'s in Oct.)

• From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults PT II (Sun. afternoons in Oct.)

• So You Want To Be A Writer? (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m's, in Sept. and Oct., Online in Oct.)

• Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m's in Sept. and Oct.)

• Get Your Webisode On (Sun. p.m.'s in Oct.)

• You in 1, 200 Words or Less: Writing the Personal Essay (10/17)

• From Snoozeville to Sizzletown: Crafting a Page Turner (10/20)

And now, for the announcements that you have been waiting for. The April/May comment contest winner is Marissa Engel!

Marisa's favorite place to write is "at the airport during a layover since I'm either just completing or about to embark on some adventure. . ." You can read her fantastic story here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2011/05/writing-prompt-from-boring-to.html

Also, our June/July comment contest winner is Amy Vorpahl!

When I asked Amy what inspires her to write she said, "Inspiration almost always comes from strong emotions I have toward either people, environments, situations, or events or any and all of the above!" You can read Amy's winning, and very touching, story here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2011/06/writing-prompt-dear-old-dad.html

Great job, Marissa and Amy! You each win a free class at Writing Pad!

There is still time for you to enter the comment contest for August/September. So what are you waiting for?We are really enjoying your stories. Keep it up, folks!

Naked and Drunk Writing with Highly Acclaimed Writer and Teacher Adair Lara

2011-09-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher

This week, I spoke with the award-winning author, journalist, and teacher Adair Lara. Lara is known to bare it all. She strips down to the deeply personal in her memoir Hold Me Close, Let me Go and in Naked, Drunk, and Writing, a guide to crafting memoirs and personal essays.

The writing coach is also known for not letting her students shy away from getting personal in their writing. Furthermore, she gives her students the tools they need for publishing success. 95% of her students have been published; their work have been featured in magazines and newspapers including the New York Times, Smithsonian, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Self, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Vanity Fair—not to mention the dozens of memoirs and novels that were incubated in her classes.

Adair will be bringing her expertise to Writing Pad’s Joshua Tree High Desert Retreat. You can study with her Oct. 21-22 at the picturesque 29 Palms Inn. To sign up/for more information, contact marilyn@writingpad.com or call 323-333-2954. Until then, Adair has generously shared some great advice on writing and getting published:

1.    People think that writing a memoir or personal essay is a magical thing-- it’s not. It can be taught. Lara’s workshops teach a practical structure for how to write an essay or put together a memoir. They also leave room for exploring what style or genre of writing is for you; whether it’s writing humorous pieces, long-form or short-form. “I have my students write everything to see what fits them best.”

2.    Some of the best writing comes from sitting down and writing for 15 minutes. Lara says: “I often assign instant writing prompts. The idea is as soon as you get the prompt you have to write your entire story in 15 minutes.” Adair will be will be leading retreat attendees through fun, generative prompts like these in Joshua Tree.

3. A writing habit leads to being published. To start, Lara says to "apply part A (butt) to part b (chair)." Then she advises that you write every day, stick to a writing schedule, disconnect yourself from email and the internet when you are writing, utilize writing partners, take classes, and attend retreats to improve your craft and give yourself the structure you need to finish your writing projects. This method has worked for her and her students.

4.   Writing is about how human beings change. Lara loves helping her students delve into and write about the turning points of their lives which lead to compelling stories on the page.

5.    Intensive writing workshops like the Writing Pad High Desert Retreat often lead to long-lasting friendships. Lara says: “You put a room full of intelligent people who are really being honest about their lives in their writing and you can see how bonding will develop. . . I’ve seen thousands of writing friendships begin like this."

6. Getting naked sells. Lara, finally, explains, “Lots of readers have said that they bought my book because of the title.”

Don't forget to sign up for the High Desert Retreat for your chance to study with Adair. I can't wait to see you in Joshua Tree this October!

Writing Prompt - Getting Nostalgic About The 80's

2011-09-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher

Do you remember a time when boom boxes were awesome, cellphones didn't plague the ears of society, and being a stalker didn't involve Facebook? We do and it was called the 80's! The decade that conjures up tales of PacMan, shoulder pads, and Michael Jackson jackets. Did you wear a terrible poofy gown to prom? Did you lust after Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High? Was "tubular," "gnarly," or "gag me with a spoon" part of your vocab? Or maybe you fell for Michael J. Fox and his smooth skateboarding skills in Back To The Future? Get nostalgic with us at our upcoming event this Sunday night!

• Back to the "Feature:" An Evening with Bob Gale (in conversation with Tom McNulty) (9/25)

And keep your pen moving with our exciting line-up of fall classes:

• Get Your Book Published (9/22)

• Etch a Sketch: A Webisode/Comedy Workshop (9/24)

• Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (1 Day) (9/27)
• The Big Finish: Creating An Exciting Third Act (Sun. a.m.'s in Oct.)
• From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults PT II (Sun. afternoons in Oct.)

• So You Want To Be A Writer? (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m's, in Sept. and Oct., Online in Oct.)

• Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m's in Sept. and Oct.)

• Stuff I Like: High-Concept Blogging (10/2)
• Ernessa's Ten Page Workout (10/2)

• Get Your Webisode On (Sun. p.m.'s in Oct.)

• Short and Sweet 4 Wk (Tues. p.m.'s in Oct.)

• You in 1, 200 Words or Less: Writing the Personal Essay (10/17)

• From Snoozeville to Sizzletown: Crafting a Page Turner (10/20)

Writing Prompt: Make two lists. For the first list, write down ten of your favorite things from the 80's including fashion trends, music, and movies. Consider items that you wore (remember those rad acid jeans?), photographs of your crazy Aunt Sue's hot pink sweater dress, or your mom's boxy work blazers. Don't forget to include your favorite Madonna song and Star Wars movie! Pick one of the items from your list and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about it, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example: In high school I watched Sixteen Candles on loop with my best friend Merril. We were convinced that the movie's Jake Ryan was the perfect man. We shouted, "We love you Jake!" at the television whenever he walked into a scene. To this day, I compare all of my boyfriends with the 80's dreamboat (sigh!). What memories of 80's pop culture or style make you smile?

Comment on this blog! Write about your favorite thing from the 80's (fashion items, movies, music, etc.). Post your 10 minute write in the comments, and you could win a free class!

How I Finished my Book at The Writing Pad Retreat

2011-09-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

by Amy Robinson

Ojai Writing Pad Retreat in a gorgeous craftsman home

My carpool of three women drove to the Writing Pad Retreat in the misty Ojai mountains on a cool Friday afternoon. As we pulled up to the beautiful, eco-lodge property, I could feel the work and city stress start to drain away. Recent heavy rains had brought every tree and plant to a vibrant green and the scent of pine and lavender filled the air.

Once inside I settled down with a cup of tea next to a cozy fire, got out my notebook and readied myself for the Friday bonus class. While we waited, I met a few of my retreat-mates including Jim Gillett, winner of the Writing Pad scholarship to attend the retreat. (Jim has since sold the piece he wrote at the retreat to Spirit, the Southwest Airline in-flight magazine which will be published in October. Congrats, Jim!)

Adel's famous chilaquiles!

Thaisa Frank, author of Heideger’s Glasses and Finding Your Writer's Voice, was Friday’s featured teacher. She led two fun writing exercises and taught us the difference between an anecdote and a story. After an amazing breakfast of chilaquiles the next morning, I took class with NPR news anchor, Alex Cohen, author of Down and Derby: The Insider's Guide to Roller Derby. Alex talked about keeping writing straightforward and led us through cool exercises to help us interview our characters.

After a yummy lunch, several of us went on an imagination-charging hike into Ojai National Forest, which surrounded the property. We carefully hopped across the babbling river, it was swollen from all the recent rains and charged about a mile into the beautiful Ojai wilderness.

Saturday afternoon was free-writing time and time for one-on-one consultations. The lodge had ample space for everyone. I grabbed a blanket, my laptop, a freshly baked snicker-doodle cookie that made the house smell like Christmas and planted myself in an Adirondack chair on a patio overlooking the river. Glancing though my notes from that morning’s class, I realized that I could use a piece of what I had written in Alex Cohen’s class in my book. My memoir about cancer and loss was in first draft form and had yet to find an ending. I had been struggling with it for several months until this moment. With only the swirl of the river and the trees brushing against each other in the wind as a soundtrack, I lost myself in my story and the ending to my book grew on the screen.

Good times!

My one-on-one meeting with Marilyn Friedman, Writing Pad Founder,was next. I had submitted ten pages of my book for her to review before the retreat. She gave me a lot of postive feedback as well as many helpful suggestions. In particular, she said that I should add a few flashback sequences between myself and my Dad into the book to help the reader get to know the characters through specific scenes. Before I knew it, the sun was setting, the steaks were being grilled, my book had its final chapter, and I had a list of helpful suggestions for making the next draft of my book more complex and compelling! I hit the save button and went to dinner. Wine flowed, we made s'mores, and several of my retreat-mates, who I had just met yesterday, told stories, laughed loudly, and became my writing family.

Delicious frittatas

The next morning, after amazing caramel baked French toast (I had 2 helpings, but don’t tell anybody. . .) we headed off to our final class with Marilyn. My class in the advanced track had an assignment to read a piece we had worked on at the retreat for balanced feedback. Since the Writing Pad rule is: what we read and write stays in the group, I can’t give you specifics, but MAN there was so much amazing writing! I shared the ending to my book, which I’d crafted and edited the day before. I felt so supported! Also, someone in the group asked me a question about the ending which later helped me expand and deepen what I had written.

I was so sad to leave Ojai. I came away with some terrific, new friends, some new writing tools, a full belly, and a finished book. I can’t wait for the High Desert Retreat, so I can get away from my daily hubbub with a bunch of writers and award-wining instructors, and get my creativity on!

High Desert Retreat Scholarship Contest!

2011-09-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

By Lizzie Vance

Are you so busy struggling to make ends meet that you don’t have time to finish your book or screenplay? Would you love to treat yourself to a luxurious mini-vacation and a dedicated block of time to get away from it all, complete a writing project, or kick-start a regular writing practice? Do you dream of studying with award-winning writers and literary agents who can help you get your work published? If you feel like writers’ retreats are a fantasy that would require cash to rain from the sky, you may be in luck!

Beautiful Joshua Tree National Park

Writing Pad is holding a scholarship contest to fund one talented but broke writer’s admission to our High Desert Retreat (an $815 value!). The retreat will be held at the fabulous 29 Palms Inn in tranquil Joshua Tree, CA from October 21-23rd.

Writing Pad’s retreats have helped many, many writers create, polish, and publish written material that may otherwise never have been born. Jim Gillett, the March retreat scholarship winner, for instance, was inspired by a writing exercise at the Ojai retreat. He wrote a draft of an essay at the retreat that will be published in Southwest’s Spirit magazine in October! This kind of serendipity may be at your fingertips… so what have you got to lose?

Writers Toasting Their Literary Productivity
at Last Year's High Desert Retreat--
Enter the contest, and this could be you!

This year, the contest will be judged by the incredible Antoine Wilson author of The Interloper, as well as Panorama City, which will be released later this year, the impressive Joe Donnelly, award-winning journalist, former deputy editor of the L.A. Weekly, and cofounder of Slake Los Angeles, and the amazing Janelle Brown, journalist and author of the best-selling novels This Is Where We Live and All We Ever Wanted Was Everything. One other judge will be announced later this week, so stay tuned! Here is the how the contest works:

On September 29th, the contest will begin on this blog. If you’d like to enter, you will post a short essay, story, poem, or scene (3-5 paragraphs maximum) in response to the contest writing prompt and email it to marilyn@writingpad.com along with proof of current or long-term economic hardship (ex. bank statements, letter demonstrating that you have been laid off from your job, etc.). Contest entries should be posted and emailed NO LATER than Thursday, October 6 at 10 a.m. The winner will be announced on October 11th.

They say that money doesn’t grow on trees; but in this case, if you win the contest, it just might!

Back to the Future's Bob Gale Inspires Our 80s Reading List

2011-09-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher

Before Michael J. Fox was crowned teen idol of the 1980s, before leg warmers, teased hair-dos and acid washed jeans were de rigueur for every teenage girl—Bob Gale was just another struggling comedy writer looking for a lucky break. It wasn’t until the soon-to-be creator of the Back to The Future trilogy stumbled upon his dad’s yearbook that he came up with the story of what would eventually catapult him into the top of the Hollywood A-List.

Michael J Fox and Bob Gale (circa 1984)

Gale is speaking at Writing Pad on Sunday Sept. 25th at 7:30 pm where he’ll shed light on breaking into Hollywood, delivering the killer pitch, and writing the perfect screenplay. Bob will be interviewed by producer Tom McNulty ("Date Night"). RSVP for this foray into literary time travel, only 4 spots left! DeLorean is optional.

In honor of the talk Writing Pad has compiled a 1980s inspired reading list to prep you. (Don't worry we won’t tell anyone if you listen to Madonna’s Material Girl while turning the pages.)

80s Reads:

Less Than Zero, Bret Easton Ellis He wrote and published this when he was still in college while the rest of you were playing beer pong.

Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney It’s so good, it’s like doing drugs—but you don’t have to put anything up your nose.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, Douglas Adams Your ticket to the future.

Slaves of New York, Tama Janowitz Prostitutes, saints, and seers, oh my! This one is recommended by our instructor Taffy Brodesser-Akner.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Fannie Flag We return to Fried Green Tomatoes for the recipes included in the book.

The Prince of Tides, Pat Conroy Read with a box of tissues on hand.

Neuromancer, William Gibson Take a moment to revel at the neon design on this sci-fi book's cover.

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Michael Chabon Who doesn’t love to read a coming of age story about questioning one’s sexuality? Also the opening paragraph will blow you away, promise.

Writing Prompt - Weird Stuff

2011-09-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson

What did you do on your summer vacation? Did you fall in love with a Russian author from the late 1800's like Marilyn did on her trip to Russia? Did your elderly neighbor take to sunning himself in a pink Speedo? Turn the weird things you've witnessed into a 10 minute play on Tues. Sept. 20th for 10 Minutes in Heaven: Cook Up a 10 Minute Play with award-winning playwright, Aaron Henne! Click "Buy Now" on our website to enroll in our classes before they are all full!

• Back to the "Feature:" An Evening with Bob Gale (in conversation with Tom McNulty) (9/25)
• 10 Min. In Heaven: Cook Up A 10 Min. Play (9/20)

• Get Your Book Published (9/22)

• Etch a Sketch: A Webisode/Comedy Workshop (9/24)

• Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (1 Day) (9/27)

• So You Want To Be A Writer? (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m's, in Sept. and Oct., Online in Oct.)

• Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m's in Sept. and Oct.)

• Stuff I Like: High-Concept Blogging (10/2)

• Get Your Webisode On (Sun. p.m.'s in Oct.)

• Short and Sweet 4 Wk (Tues. p.m.'s in Oct.)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 of the weirdest experiences or people that have crossed your path. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that item, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about my 7th grade history teacher, who used to store his gum behind his ear for later. What weirdness surrounds you?

Comment on this blog! Write about something weird that you have seen or a weird person that you've met. If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!

Joshua Tree High Desert Retreat Recipe

2011-09-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

By Sophia Kercher/Rachael Narins

Picture this: you've escaped to the desert to explore the stark beauty of Joshua Tree. You are picnicking by the pool with a cocktail in hand, enjoying a picturesque landscape and the company of fellow creatives. While sampling a cool, minty salad, don't be surprised if the reflection in the pool offers you a glimpse into your future as the next Hemmingway. Writing Pad's High Desert Retreat can help make this dream come true. This weekend get-a-way offers all day writing workshops and one-on-one consultations with award-winning writers and literary agents who will help you coax your words onto the page and hone your craft. Last year’s retreat-goers still talk about how much they accomplished and the cool respite of al fresco evenings with delicious, gourmet food and new friends.

Don’t wait to set your writing goals higher. Sign up by calling 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before it is full. Only 2 spots left!

And to tide you over until October, our Retreat Co-Executive Chef, Rachael Narins of Chicks with Knives has been gracious enough to share her refreshing salad recipe so you can get a taste of the retreat in your own kitchen.

Zucchini and Mint Salad - From Chicks with Knives (Serves 4)
The zest of citrus, fresh mint, and crisp zucchinis currently at the peak of their season combine to cool down a desert day and replenish your energy. The results are delicious, vegan, and gluten free so everyone can enjoy.
8 small zucchini, sliced thin
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh mint
Sprinkle salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Fill a bowl with ice water, add the zucchini and refrigerate for two hours. Drain and dry well. Arrange the slices on a serving plate.

In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Pour dressing over the zucchini and serve immediately!

If that didn't make you lick your lips in anticipation, then check out Rachael's sumptuous sample dinner menu for the retreat. We’ve heard whispers that after this meal, folks have been known to write poems devoted to autumn vegetables—or at the very least be inspired by the vibrant colors of their dinner before them!

Sample Dinner Menu for High Desert Retreat
Autumn Salad of Persimmon, Asian Pear and Spanish Chorizo
Grilled Pumpkin with Chickpeas and Parsley Dressing
Whole Roasted Free-Range Chicken with High Desert Lemony Carrots
Double Fudge Chunk Brownies with Fresh Churned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

We can’t wait to excavate your inner-Hemmingway and sip margaritas poolside with you at the retreat!

Writing Prompt - Etch-A-Sketch

2011-08-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson

What kind of classes interest you: One day or multi-week, short stories, full-length novel or comedy sketch writing, meeting up with other writers in our gorgeous downtown loft or online in the comfort of your own home? We've got any kind of class that your writer heart desires. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

Multi Week Classes

So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (Thurs. pm.'s)

One Day Classes

Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug 21)
You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day--Mon., Aug 22)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug. 28)
Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (Wed., Aug. 31)
Kick-Start Your Novel (Sun., Sept. 11)

Writing Prompt: What comes to mind when you think of your favorite childhood toy? Make a list of 5 toys you remember playing with. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that playful item, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about Inchie, the inch-worm toy that had a bright yellow saddle. He was like a horsie toy that the other kids rode, only he was a giant, green inch-worm. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about your favorite childhood toy. If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt - Get Schooled

2011-08-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson

Time to go back to school! At Writing Pad you'll fill up your paper, write your books, but definitely won't get any teacher's dirty looks. We've got classes for every kind of student. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

Multi Week Classes

So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (Thurs. pm.'s)

One Day Classes

Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug 21)
You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day--Mon., Aug 22)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug. 28)
Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (Wed., Aug. 31)
Kick-Start Your Novel (Sun., Sept. 11)

Writing Prompt: What comes to mind when you think of the going back to school? Make a list of 5 things that pop into your head. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about heading back to school, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about shopping for new jeans, with my Mom, at the cheapest store in town. While the rich kids were across the street getting Levis. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about your back to school experience. If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt - For the Dogs

2011-08-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson

We're in the Dog Days of Summer now and Writing Pad classes are hot! hot! hot! Get your pens wagging happily in one of our great new classes. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

Multi Week Classes

So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (Thurs. pm.'s)

One Day Classes

Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug 21)
You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day--Mon., Aug 22)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug. 28)
Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (Wed., Aug. 31)
Kick-Start Your Novel (Sun., Sept. 11)

Writing Prompt: What comes to mind when you think of the Dog Days? Is it the overwhelming, sticky heat or is it your canine, frolicking in the lake. Make a list of 5 things that pop into your head. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that special occasion, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write in the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about one summer, when I lived in Chicago without AC. The heat was over 90 at midnight, with so much humidity that old folks were dying. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about your dog days? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!

Writing Pad Recipe - Easy, Magical Chocolate Pudding

2011-07-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

by Andrea Ruth and Amy Robinson

We are very excited to welcome Andrea Ruth as the new Writing Pad Executive Chef! Before we tell you about her impressive background,Writing Pad would like to thank Adel Aschenbrener for the past five years of wonderful gourmet goodness and shared recipes. We will miss her very much. We wish her and her husband all the luck and happiness in the world, especially with their upcoming adventure as parents!

I know, you are sad to see Adel go, but have no fear! Andrea is here--and her food is also amazing! Andrea is a graduate of the professional program at the New School of Cooking, and a lifelong cook, foodie and gourmet. After completing culinary school, Andrea went straight to work interning at Suzanne Goin’s A.O.C. Andrea then started Omnibus Delecto (Everything’s Delicious), a gourmet sandwich and catering company. She has many culinary talents ranging from being the Salad Queen of The Universe (she will change the way you view salad forever), to making pecan prailine baked french toast, buttermilk raspberry cakes, truffled mac and cheese, and the best banana puddings you have ever tasted! Andrea has also been a professional actor, comic, teacher, chef and (occasional) clown.

You can sample Andrea's tasty treats at upcoming Writing Pad classes. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before all the classes are full!

Events

From The In Crowd To The Down And Loud: Exploring The Young Adult Experience with Ron Koertge, Jessica Brody, Derek Taylor Kent (This Fri, July 29)

Multi Week Classes

So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)

One Day Classes

Get Your Book Published (Sun., July 31)
Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug 21)
You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day--Mon., Aug 22)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug. 28)
Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (Wed., Aug. 31)
Kick-Start Your Novel (Sun., Sept. 11)

Andrea says:
"Chocolate Pudding! Who doesn’t love it? No one! Facists maybe, but no one else doesn’t love Chocolate Pudding. You open a little baggie and mix some stinky powder with milk and voila you have…pudding? Well, sort of. But not the pudding that dreams are made of. And I do not understand it. No offense to Bill Cosby here, but you can make chocolate pudding from scratch in almost the same time it takes to whip up that crappy stuff. And the difference is immeasurable. There is an instant in the stirring of pudding when it suddenly goes from chocolate milky stuff to chocolate silk. When this magic moment occurs, you’ll be so glad you took that extra ten minutes (or less!)"

Easy Natural Delicious Low-Calorie (not really) Magical Chocolate Pudding

3 cups milk (whole, 2%,1% but not skim)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar (or a little less if you don’t like it too sweet)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped fine
OR
7-8 squares of Trader Joes 72% pound plus bar of chocolate chopped fine
pinch of salt

Bring 2 1/2 cups of milk to scalding (this is just below boiling, one or two bubbles). Mix the cornstarch, sugar, and salt together in a bowl with the rest of the milk and stir to dissolve the solids a bit. Add the chopped chocolate to the hot milk and whisk to combine. Add the rest of the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Whisk constantly until it begins to thicken. Then keep whisking for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour into individual cups, or a big shallow dish and refrigerate until cold. But taste often while hot because hot homemade pudding is the bomb. In England hot custards are often spooned on top of warm cakes. I’m just sayin’.

Writing Prompt - A Ceremonial Event

2011-07-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson

Summer is always sure to be full of weddings, parties, and family reunions. Extend the fun of your summertime celebrations at Writing Pad. You don't even have to dress up! Your pen will dance on the page like drunk Uncle Jim at your best friend's wedding reception. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in our classes before they fill up!

Events

Fictitious Fiction: Navigating The Literary Unknown with Antoine Wilson, Grace Krilanovich, Melissa Clark (Fri., July 22)

From The In Crowd To The Down And Loud: Exploring The Young Adult Experience with Ron Koertge, Jessica Brody, Derek Taylor Kent (This Fri, July 29)

Multi Week Classes

So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)

One Day Classes

Get Your Book Published (Sun., July 31)
Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug 21)
You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (1 Day--Mon., Aug 22)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug. 28)
Short and Sweet: The Art of the Short Story (Wed., Aug. 31)
Kick-Start Your Novel (Sun., Sept. 11)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 ceremonies that you (or your character) have witnessed or taken part in. Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, poem, or scene about that special occasion, including the sensory detail. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write on the comments of this blog!

For example, I'm going to write about how when I was 10 years old, I was a flower girl at my brother's wedding, and I fainted. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! Write about a memorable ceremony? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class!

Writers on Writing: Video Interviews with P.E.N. Prize Recipient, Ron Koertge

2011-07-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

Are you having trouble establishing a regular writing practice? Check out this video interview with award-winning young adult author and poet, Ron Koertge and find out how he overcame his writing hurdles. Ron says, Writing "one page a day gets you over 300 pages in a year. Get off your butt and do your page a day!"

You can watch this other short video on Writing Pad's Youtube channel to find out why Ron likes to have "the hands of dead writers" on him while he writes and how he developed his special writing style.

Ron has won multiple ALA awards for YA fiction, 2 P.E.N. Prizes (one for his book Stoner and Spaz, which Publishers Weekly calls a "sharp and emotionally moving YA novel”), an N.E.A. Fellowship for poetry and has twice been included in The Best American Poetry. Ron's next YA novel Stoner and Spaz II (Candlewick Press) will be released on August 9, 2011.

Also, you can meet Ron and ask him questions at the Pad on Friday, July 29th at From the In Crowd to the Down and Loud: Exploring the Young Adult Experience. Email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up for the event before it is full!

Writing Prompt: Carmageddon

2011-07-14T12:18:00.001-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

The closing of the 405 this weekend will suck, but Writing Pad's classes can take the pain out of being stuck at home this weekend! Sign up for http://www.writingpad.com/classesbydate.htm#CHARACTER, our fantastic online class that will help you develop the most amazing characters you have ever written. Pour yourself some iced tea, grab a cookie, fire up your laptop, and it's almost as fun as being at the Pad! Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to enroll in this class or one of our in-person classes later in the month before they fill up!

Events

Fictitious Fiction: Navigating The Literary Unknown with Antoine Wilson, Grace Krilanovich, Melissa Clark (Fri., July 22)

From The In Crowd To The Down And Loud: Exploring The Young Adult Experience with Ron Koertge, Jessica Brody, Derek Taylor Kent (Fri., July 29)

Multi-Week Classes

Heart of Darkness: Navigating the Second Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Treasure Hunt: Find The Hidden Gems Inside Your Script (Tues. nights)
So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Thurs. nights)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)

One Day Classes

http://www.writingpad.com/classesbydate.htm#CHARACTER (Online--July 16-24)
Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., July 24)
Let Your Pilot Take Off: Crafting A Compelling TV Show (Sun., July 24 & 31)
Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (Online--July 25-31)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., July 31)
Get Your Book Published (Sun., July 31)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 memories or story ideas that you associate with the word "car." Pick one and add a sensory detail to it (smell, taste, sound, touch). Then write a story, a poem, or a scene about this car related item, including the sensory detail. You could write about your first car or a story that includes traffic or a car accident. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write on the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! What do you think of when I say, car or first car? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class.

Writing Prompt: 4th of July

2011-07-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Happy Early Independence Day! As you get ready for your weekend excursions and BBQ's, don't forget to sign up for a Writing Pad July class. We have some terrific, new classes on the schedule! Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com before they are full!

Events

Fictitious Fiction: Navigating The Literary Unknown with Antoine Wilson, Grace Krilanovich, Melissa Clark (Fri., July 22)

From The In Crowd To The Down And Loud: Exploring The Young Adult Experience with Ron Koertge, Jessica Brody, Derek Taylor Kent (Fri., July 29)

Multi-Week Classes

Heart of Darkness: Navigating the Second Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Treasure Hunt: Find The Hidden Gems Inside Your Script (Tues. nights)
So You Want To Be A Writer? (Tues. p.m.'s online, Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat a.m.'s)
From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Thurs. nights)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales of Teenage Woe: Writing for Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s)

One Day Classes

Hello World, Welcome to My Blog (Sun., July 10)
http://www.writingpad.com/classesbydate.htm#CHARACTER (Online--July 16-24)
Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., July 24)
Let Your Pilot Take Off: Crafting A Compelling TV Show (Sun., July 24 & 31)
Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (Online--July 25-31)
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., July 31)
Get Your Book Published (Sun., July 31)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 things that you associate with the 4th of July: foods, vacations, parties, smells, sounds, tastes. Then write a story, a poem, or a scene that includes at least one of the items on your list. Write for 10 minutes, then post your write on the comments of this blog! 4th of July makes me think of that time I went to muggy Florida with my parents and our tour guides got drunk on the bus so that's what I'll write about. What are you going to write about?

Comment on this blog! What do you think of when I say, 4th of July? If you post your 10 minute write in the comments, you could win a free class.

Adel's July Recipe - A Healthy and Cool Treat

2011-06-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

by Adel Aschenbrener and Amy Robinson

Writing Pad is the coolest place to be this summer! Call 323-333-2954 to RSVP before our classes are full!

Classes

Hello World, Welcome to My Blog (Sun., July 10)
Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., July 24)
Let Your Pilot Take Off: Crafting a Compelling TV Show (2 day) (Sun., July 24 & 31))
Imagination Vacation: A Fiction Writing Workshop (Sun., July 31)
Get Your Book Published (Sun., July 31)
Heart of Darkness: Navigating the Second Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Treasure Hunt: Find The Hidden Gems Inside Your Script (Tues. p.m.'s)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)
So You Wanna Be A Writer (Sat. a.m.'s, Wed. p.m.'s, Tues. p.m.'s online)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat. a.m.'s)
From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Thurs. p.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales Of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Mon. p.m.'s starting Sept. 12)

Adel says:
"During the summer I find that I don't have much of an appetite for big, heavy, hot meals or a need to heat up my kitchen. Since I don't have an outdoor grill, this means finding other ways to incorporate healthy, fast protein into my diet. This classic, lemony hummus fits the bill perfectly. It's fast, easy, and won't cause you to break a sweat. Slather it on pita and top with cool slices of cucumber and tomato and some crumbled feta cheese and you have a refreshing summer meal or snack in seconds."

Adel's Hummus

1 15oz. can of garbanzo beans (I like Trader Joe's organic)
2 medium sized lemons
2 large cloves of garlic
1/4 cup greek style yogurt
2 tablespoons tahini
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
salt to taste
paprika for garnish

Drain the garbanzo beans, reserving a few tablespoons of liquid. Rub the outer skins off the beans and discard (I dip my hands in a bowl of water to aid in this process). This step isn't absolutely necessary and to be honest it removes some of the fiber, but it also ensures a beautifully smooth puree, so you make the call. Sometimes I skin only half the beans to save time and retain some of the nutritional benefits.

Place the garlic cloves in a food processor and pulse until chopped. Add beans, yogurt, tahini, and cumin, and the juice of one lemon and puree, scraping the bowl down often. Drizzle olive oil in while machine is running and puree, scraping as necessary, until smooth. This can take a few minutes. If the puree is still thicker than your liking, add more olive oil (use reserved canning liquid or more yogurt for a lower fat version) until desired consistency is achieved. Season to taste with the juice of the remaining lemon and salt. If serving this as a dip or part of an appetizer assortment, I like to drizzle a little more olive oil over the surface and add a sprinkling of paprika for color. For variety, try adding some jalapeno, a roasted pepper, or a handful of cilantro to the recipe.

Writing Prompt - Seriously Funny

2011-06-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

By Amy Robinson

Writing Pad has a whole pile of exciting classes this summer. If you take Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop, you'll learn how to write a comedy sketch so hilarious you'll want to perform it, use it for a webisode, or submit in application to Lorne Michaels for a writing job on SNL! It is taught taught by the talented and successful comedy writer, Jessie Gaskell (head writer of The Dish and Streamy award nominated Dorm Life). Call 323-333-2954 to sign up for a class before it is full!

Etch a Sketch: A Webisode and Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Sun., Aug 21)
Hello World, Welcome To My Blog (Sun., July 10)
Let Your Pilot Take Off: Crafting A Compelling TV Show (2 DAY) (Sun., July 24 and Sun., July 31)
So You Wanna Be A Writer (Sat. a.m.'s, Wed. p.m.'s, Mon. p.m.'s online, Wed lunch online)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat. a.m.'s)
Heart of Darkness: Navigating the Second Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Treasure Hunt: Find The Hidden Gems Inside Your Script (Tues. p.m.'s)
From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Thurs. p.m.'s)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)

Writing Prompt: Life can be hilarious. Make a list of 5 of the funniest situations you've (or your character has) ever been a part of (intentional or unintentional). Perhaps there is something that happened to you that wasn't funny at the time, but is funny in retrospect. Pick one of those experiences and write about it for ten minutes. Make sure to include one of the less common sensory details (e.g., smell, taste, sound, touch). Then post your ten minute write in the comments of this blog! Whenever I hear bees humming, I remember hiking up a cliff and accidentally stumbling into a den of bees. That's what I'm going to write about!

Comment on this blog! Share one of your funny life stories. Write about it for ten minutes and then post your writing in this blog for the chance to win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Dear Old Dad

2011-06-16T11:20:00.001-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

June and July are the perfect months to bring your journal to the beach and write your own bestselling summer read or blockbuster! Writing Pad has many ways to help you do it! Check out what we have on our menu for the next few weeks below:

Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., June 19)
Dialogue Doctor: Punch Up Your Scenes With Specific Speech (Tues., June 21)
Etch a Sketch: A Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Tues., June 28)
So You Wanna Be A Writer (Sat. a.m.'s, Wed. p.m.'s, Mon. p.m.'s online, Wed lunch online)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat. a.m.'s)
Heart of Darkness: Navigating the Second Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Treasure Hunt: Find The Hidden Gems Inside Your Script (Tues. p.m.'s)
From The Page To The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Thurs. p.m.'s)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)

Writing Prompt: Here is a writing prompt in honor of Father's Day. Make a list of 5 products that you associate with your father. Pick one and write about it for ten minutes. Make sure to include one of the less common sensory details (e.g., smell, taste, sound, touch). Then post your ten minute write in the comments of this blog! Whenever I think of my father, I think of Lava Soap, so that's what my piece will be about.

Comment on this blog! What product do you associate with your Dad? Write about it for ten minutes and then post your writing in this blog for the chance to win a free class!

Writing Prompt: It's Lunch Time!

2011-06-08T07:58:00.001-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Write your award-winning book or screenplay BEFORE the next rapture! Writing Pad wants to help you. We have brand new novel writing, children's book writing, personal essay writing classes starting up this weekend. We have new rounds of Finishing School and So You Want To Be A Writer starting up, and we even have a class that will help you get a publishing deal! Check out the list below and call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com before the classes are full.

Events

Scary School Book Release Party (Sun. June 26)

Classes

Get Your Book Published (Sun., June 12)
Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., June 19)
Dialogue Doctor: Punch Up Your Scenes With Specific Speech (Tues., June 21)
Etch a Sketch: A Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Tues., June 28)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)
So You Wanna Be A Writer (Sat. a.m.'s, Wed. p.m.'s, Mon. p.m.'s online, Wed lunch online)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat. a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales Of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 things that come to mind when I say "childhood lunch." What was inside of your lunch? Did anything significant happen when you (or a fictional character) had lunch in the school cafeteria? Pick one (or several) of the items on your list and write about it for 10 minutes. Then post the results on this blog!

What comes to mind when I say "childhood lunch?" Write about it for 10 minutes and then post your write on this blog for the chance to win a free class!

Writing Prompt: From Boring To Fascinating

2011-05-31T15:40:00.001-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

It's almost summer, and it's time to soak your tootsies in the pool and get those writing projects going. We have lots of amazing classes to help you--call 323-333-2954 to sign up before they are full!

Events

Scary School Book Release Party (Sun. June 26)

Classes

Get Your Book Published (Sun., June 12)
Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., June 19)
Dialogue Doctor: Punch Up Your Scenes With Specific Speech (Tues., June 21)
Etch a Sketch: A Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Tues., June 28)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)
So You Wanna Be A Writer (Sat. a.m.'s, Wed. p.m.'s, Mon. p.m.'s online, Wed lunch online)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat. a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales Of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 boring or tedious things you do on a daily basis. Pick one and write for ten minutes about this activity so that it seems incredibly interesting. Then post your write in the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! What do you do every day that is tedious or boring? Write about it like it is the most fascinating thing in the world, and you could win a free class!

Adel's Memorial Day Recipe - Red Wine BBQ Sauce

2011-05-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

by Adel Aschenbrener and Amy Robinson

Fire up your creativity! Join the party at a Writing Pad class this Summer. Call 323-333-2954 to RSVP before they are full!

Events

Scary School Book Release Party (Sun. June 26)

Classes

Get Your Book Published (Sun., June 12)
Get It On The Page: A Creative Writing Workshop (Sun., June 19)
Dialogue Doctor: Punch Up Your Scenes With Specific Speech (Tues., June 21)
Etch a Sketch: A Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop (Tues., June 28)
Writing The Great American Novel (Sat. afternoons)
So You Wanna Be A Writer (Sat. a.m.'s, Wed. p.m.'s, Mon. p.m.'s online, Wed lunch online)
Finishing School (Wed. p.m.'s, Sat. a.m.'s)
From Bedtime Stories To Tales Of Teenage Woe: Writing For Kids and Young Adults (Sun. a.m.'s)
You In 1200 Words: Writing and Publishing The Personal Essay (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Adel says:
"I never thought that the phrase "leftover red wine" would enter my lexicon, but since the weather has turned warmer, I find myself not wanting to finish that last glass of big, hearty cab or zinfandel, leaving me with lots of sad, unloved partial bottles. This barbecue sauce is the perfect way to make sure nothing goes to waste and it goes with nearly everything you might be grilling up in the upcoming summer months - chicken, ribs, steaks, burgers, and even hot dogs."

Red Wine Barbecue Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1/3 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider or red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey

Heat the olive oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, cumin, and ancho chile powder and cook 1 minute. Add the wine, bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Simmer longer if necessary to reduce and thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The sauce will keep for about a week, refrigerated.

Adel's May Recipe: Roasted Rhubarb

2011-05-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

by Adel Aschenbrener and Amy Robinson

Looking for a warm weather treat? Take a class at Writing Pad this May. Call 323-333-2954 to RSVP before they are full!

Events

The Secret To Getting Your Book Published (Fri. May 13)

One Day Classes

Put Your B Characters on the A-List (Sat., May 14)
Story Doctor: Read and Critique Session (Sat., May 14)
Are You @?$&ing Kidding Me? Responding To Script Notes Without Losing Your Mind Or Your Story (Sun.,May 22)

Multi Week Classes

Writing Pad Playwriting Series: Act I--Family Feuds, Misanthropes, and Love Affairs (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Adel says:
"Although most people think of it as a fruit, rhubarb is really the unsung hero of the vegetable world. Right around this time of year you can see it popping up here and there in local farmer's markets and grocery stores. Typically paired with strawberries or raspberries, the crimson, celery-like stalks are surprisingly versatile and often found baked into pies, cakes and cobblers. This recipe is for a multifaceted compote to eat over pound cake, ice cream, yogurt, or even alongside roasts or seared foie gras. Or try it my new favorite way - pureed and frozen into a tangy popsicle."

Roasted Rhubarb

2 lb. rhubarb, trimmed of all leafy bits (they are poisonous!) and cut into 2-inch lengths
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
½ cup red or white wine
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

optional:
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or ginger
1 cup strawberries, quartered plus 2 T. granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all ingredients. Place in a deep baking dish or Dutch oven and bake until rhubarb is tender, approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Writing Prompt: Mother's Day Prompt

2011-05-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

It's hot outside, so let your muse cool off at Writing Pad's ultra-comfortable, hip loft with one of our fantastic classes! We have a lot going on for the month of May. Call 323-333-2954 to sign up before these classes are full.

Events

The Secret To Getting Your Book Published (Fri. May 13)

One Day Classes

Put Your B Characters on the A-List (Sat., May 14)
Story Doctor: Read and Critique Session (Sat., May 14)
Are You @?$&ing Kidding Me? Responding To Script Notes Without Losing Your Mind Or Your Story (Sun.,May 22)

Multi Week Classes

Writing Pad Playwriting Series: Act I--Family Feuds, Misanthropes, and Love Affairs (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt: Mother's Day is coming up this weekend, so let's write about our Moms. Make a list of 5 things that are in your mother's purse. Make a list of 5 funny stories that you remember about your Mom. Write for 10 minutes either about what is in your mother's purse or a funny story about your Mom. Use the contents of the purse to help us get to know the character that is your Mom. Now post your ten minute write in the comments of this blog for the chance to win a free class!

Comment on this blog. Tell us a funny story about your Mom or tell us about the contents of her purse. You could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: A Facebook Story

2011-04-26T10:27:00.001-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Happy end of April! Make sure to comment on this blog this week--it is the last week for you to enter the March/April comment contest for a free class! Also, we have lots of fantastic classes starting this week and next week. Here's what we have to offer (call 323-333-2954 to enroll):

One Day Classes

It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (1 Day Class) (Thurs., May 5)
Your Life As A Movie (Sun., May 8)
Put Your B Characters on the A-List (Sat., May 14)
Story Doctor: Read and Critique Session (Sat., May 14)
Are You @?$&ing Kidding Me? Responding To Script Notes Without Losing Your Mind Or Your Story (Sun.,May 22)

Multi Week Classes

Writing Pad Playwriting Series: Act I--Family Feuds, Misanthropes, and Love Affairs (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt:
This writing prompt was suggested by the talented writer and Writing Padder, Ersilia Pompilio. Thanks, Ersilia! Make a list of three interesting internet or facebook interactions that you have had (or maybe a character from your project has had). Perhaps an ex has located you through facebook? Or maybe an acquaintance has asked you for a weird favor? Take ten minutes, write about it, and then post the results in the comments of this blog for the chance to win a free class!

Comment on this blog. Have you had any interesting facebook or internet interactions? Post your story in the comments of this blog for free praise and the chance to win a free class at Writing Pad!

Writing Prompt: Products Your Mother Used

2011-04-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Writing Pad has created a special discount for April and May to help you through tax season. You don't have to wait to sign up for a long class! Stop dreaming about writing and let us help you get your pen moving. Call 323-333-2954 to enroll before everything is full!

Here's what we have happening for the next few weeks:

Events

One Person Show Performance Showcase(Fri., Apr. 22)

One Day Classes

It's Playtime: Writing For Kids (Sun., Apr. 17)
Bullies, Crushes, and Pimples: Writing For Young Adults (Sun., Apr. 17)
Stranger Than Fiction: Writing The Unbelievably True (Sat., Apr. 23)

Multi Week Classes

Writing Pad Playwriting Series: Act I--Family Feuds, Misanthropes, and Love Affairs (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 products that your mother used (or uses). Pick one and write about it for 10 minutes. Then post your write in the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! What product does (or did) your mother use? Write about it for 10 minutes and you could win a free class!

Writing Prompt: Veggie Tales

2011-04-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Keep the spring in your writing practice with our fantastic events and classes! We are offering some great tax season deals this month!

Events

Get Your Webisode On: Creating Your Own Series for the World Wide Web (Fri., Apr. 8)

One Person Show Performance Showcase (Fri., Apr. 22)

One Day Classes

It's Playtime: Writing For Kids (Sun., Apr. 17)
Bullies, Crushes, and Pimples: Writing For Young Adults (Sun., Apr. 17)
Stranger Than Fiction: Writing The Unbelievably True (Sat., Apr. 23)

Multi Week Classes

Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 3 foods that you or a character from one of your projects hates with a passion. Pick one and write for ten minutes. Make sure to include a sensory detail (smell, taste, sound, touch, sight) in your piece. Tell us the story behind why you or your character hates it or make up a scene that includes this food item. Then post the results of your write in the comments of this blog for a chance to win a free class!

Comment on this blog! Write about a food that you hate with a passion. You could win a free class!

Adel's March Recipe - World Peace Cookies

2011-03-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

by Adel Aschenbrener and Amy Robinson

Make peace with your writing practice now! You'll find a whole world of new classes and workshops at Writing Pad this spring. Call 323-333-2954 to RSVP before they are full!

One Day Classes

You, in 1200 Words: Revising and Publishing the Personal Essay (Thurs. Mar. 31)
The Power of the Pitch: Selling Your Ideas Hollywood Style (Sun. Apr. 3)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (Thurs., Apr. 7)
It's Playtime: Writing For Kids (Sun., Apr. 17)
Bullies, Crushes, and Pimples: Writing For Young Adults (Sun., Apr. 17)
Stranger Than Fiction: Writing The Unbelievably True (Sat., Apr. 23)

Multi Week Classes

Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Adel says:
"I came across the recipe for these cookies on a blog and was immediately intrigued by their name. Could a simple cookie really inspire world peace? Turns out this is not a simple cookie. It is a double chocolate sable that is rich, chewy, tender and crispy in all the right ways, deeply chocolaty, and studded with fleur de sel. When you eat them, your eyes will close, roll back in your head a bit, and you will go to a special place where everything is quiet and right. World peace indeed."

World Peace Cookies

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup dutch process unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5 1/2 ounces (1 stick plus 3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel
5 ounces extra-bittersweet chocolate (do not exceed 85% cacao), chopped (no pieces bigger than 1/3 inch)

Sift the flour, cocoa, and baking soda into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth but not fluffy. Add both sugars, vanilla, and salt and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add flour mixture all at once and beat just until blended (mixture may be crumbly). Add chopped chocolate; mix just to distribute (if dough doesn't come together, knead lightly in bowl to form ball). Divide dough in half. Place each half on sheet of plastic wrap. Form each into 1 1/2-inch-diameter log. Wrap each in plastic; chill until firm, about 3 hours. The unbaked dough can be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for 3 months.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a thin sharp knife, cut logs crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Space 1 inch apart on prepared sheets. Bake 1 sheet at a time until cookies appear dry, 11 to 12 minutes. Be careful as the cookies will not change color to indicate that they are done. They will continue to firm up as they cool. Transfer to rack; cool.

Writing Prompt 3/30/11: Musical Inspiration

2011-03-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

It's almost April! Put the spring back into your writing practice at Writing Pad. Call 323-333-2954 to sign up for these classes before they are full!

One Day Classes

You, in 1200 Words: Revising and Publishing the Personal Essay (Thurs. Mar. 31)
The Power of the Pitch: Selling Your Ideas Hollywood Style (Sun. Apr. 3)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (Thurs., Apr. 7)
It's Playtime: Writing For Kids (Sun., Apr. 17)
Bullies, Crushes, and Pimples: Writing For Young Adults (Sun., Apr. 17)
Stranger Than Fiction: Writing The Unbelievably True (Sat., Apr. 23)

Multi Week Classes

Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Mon. p.m.'s)
Writing Pad Screenwriting Series: Act I--From Rookie to Rockstar (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop--4 Wk (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Prompt:
Make a list of the first 3 albums or CD's that you or a character from your project owned. Pick one and write whatever comes to mind. Then post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog! You can see that my first album was Leif Garrett's, "Feel The Need." I will be writing about that.

Comment on this blog! Write about the first album that you owned. You could win a free class!

Feb./March. Comment Contest and Ojai Retreat Scholarship Winners

2011-03-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

By Marilyn Friedman

The rest of March is hopping at Writing Pad. Join us for some fantastic classes, retreats, and events. Get your writing practice going and finish those writing projects you've been dreaming about!

Writing Retreats:
Writing Pad Ojai Retreat
March 25 - 27, 2011 at the gorgeous Casa Barranca ecosanctuary
Instructors: Thaisa Frank, Alex Cohen, Marilyn Friedman
Only 2 spots left!
Cost: $715, $300 deposit holds your spot

Writing Events:
--From Page to Stage: Writing for the Theatre with Aaron Henne (Fri., March 18)

One Day Classes:
--You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (Thurs., Mar. 17)
--It's Playtime: Writing For Kids (Sun., Mar. 20)
--Writing Pad Show and Tell (Sun., Mar. 27)
--You, In 1200 Words: Revising and Publishing The Personal Essay (Thurs., Mar. 31)

Multi Week Classes:
--So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
--Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
--Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
--Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

And now, for the announcements that you've been waiting for! First, the winner of the January/February comment contest is Ashley Laub! Ashley, congrats--you win a free class at Writing Pad.

You can read her fantastic story here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2011/01/writing-prompt-pucker-up.html

Ashley says that her favorite place to write "used to be at my college library, but since I've graduated, my favorite place is my kitchen table, some nice candles burning and a glass (or two) of wine." Sounds good to me!

And, the winner of the Ojai Retreat Scholarship is. . .Jim Gillett!
Congratulations, Jim! You can read his fantastic story here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2011/03/ojai-retreat-scholarship-prompt-and.html

When I asked Jim what inspires him to write, he said, "For some kids it was sports, others math and science, but for me it was telling a story. Even before I could write, I couldn't wait for my Mother or Grandmother to read me a story before going to bed. As I grew up, I remember having a story contest with my Grandmother on who could tell the best ghost or horror story. I want to write because it reunites me with that child who couldn't wait to tell you a story."

I can't wait to hear Jim's exciting tales at the retreat!

Thank you so much to our Ojai contest esteemed judges, Joe Donnelly, Michelle Wildgen, James Brown, Adrienne Sharp, and Dan Dunn, and thank you to everyone who participated!

Please keep commenting on this blog. I love your writing! There is a new comment contest every 2 months, and we will be having another retreat scholarship contest in October for our Joshua Tree retreat.

February Raffle/December Contest Winners

2011-03-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

We have lots of great things happening in March. Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up before they are full!

Writing Retreats:
Writing Pad Ojai Retreat
March 25 - 27, 2011 at the gorgeous Casa Barranca ecosanctuary
Instructors: Thaisa Frank, Alex Cohen, Marilyn Friedman
Cost: $715, $300 deposit holds your spot

Writing Events:
--Building Your First Blockbuster (Fri., March 11)
--From Page to Stage: Writing for the Theatre with Aaron Henne (Fri., March 18)

One Day Classes:
--Blog Your Way To The Top (Sun., Mar. 13)
--You, In 1200 Words: Writing The Personal Essay (Thurs., Mar. 17)
--Stranger Than Fiction: Writing The Unbelievably True (Sat., March 19)
--It's Playtime: Writing For Kids (Sun., Mar. 20)
--Bullies, Crushes, and Pimples: Writing For Young Adults (Sun., Mar. 20)
--Writing Pad Show and Tell (Sun., Mar. 27)
--You, In 1200 Words: Revising and Publishing The Personal Essay (Thurs., Mar. 31)

Multi Week Classes:
--On The Page, On The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Mon. p.m.'s)
--WP Screenwriting Series: Hookups, Robbery, and Alien Invasions (Tues. p.m.'s)
--So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
--Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
--Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
--Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

And now, for the announcements that you have been waiting for. The December comment contest winner is Natalie Kottke!

Natalie's favorite place to write is "in a noisy coffee shop full of interesting strangers."

You can read her fantastic stories here:
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/12/writing-prompt-staycation.html
http://wellfedmuse.blogspot.com/2010/12/writing-prompt-feeling-cool.html

Great job, Natalie! You win a free class!

Also, our Ojai Retreat Scholarship raffle winner is Rob Ripley!

When I asked Rob what inspires him to write he said, "Inspiration for my work comes in so many different forms, from people, music, nature, politics, emotions, good times and bad. In general, I write to better understand the world, to forge more meaningful relationships with others and to evolve."

Wonderful! Congratulations, Rob--you win a 5 week class series at Writing Pad.

The comment contest winner for January/February will be announced soon. Please keep commenting folks, you are doing some great writing, and I am really enjoying your stories!

Ojai Retreat Scholarship Prompt and Rules: Escape To Ojai

2011-03-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

We raised enough money for the Writing Pad Ojai Scholarship Fund! Thank you SO much to everyone who donated and volunteered! We will grant a full scholarship ($715 value) to our luxurious retreat on Mar. 25-27 through a writing contest! All rules are below.

Are you a broke writer who wants a mini-vacation, a weekend of fantastic classes, delicious food, and focused writing in a beautiful Ojai ecosanctuary? Please don't be intimidated--apply for the scholarship. You can do it! Good luck! :)

Rules
These are the rules you must follow to apply for the scholarship spot. Note: Anyone can respond to the prompt and be entered into the Mar./Apr. contest for a free writing class!

1. Post your writing sample in the comments of this blog AND email a copy to marilyn@writingpad.com NO LATER than Thursday, March 10 at 9 a.m. It should be a maximum of 5 paragraphs (the shorter, the better).

2. Also email proof of current or long-term economic hardship to marilyn@writingpad.com NO LATER than Thursday,March 10 at 9 a.m. Ex. Bank statements, letter demonstrating that you have been laid off from your job, etc. Feel free to summarize your situation in the email. This will be kept completely confidential.

3. Writing submissions can be in any form (poetry, short story, dialogue, fiction, non-fiction, a rant, etc.) but must apply to the prompt about escaping below.

4. The contest will be judged by the following esteemed writers (see the next blog entry for their bios): Joe Donnelly, Michelle Wildgen, James Brown, Adrienne Sharp, Dan Dunn. The contest winner will be announced by Tuesday, March 15.

Writing Prompt: Write about a time when you (or your character) escaped. Pick one and write for 10 minutes about it. Then post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog. For a chance at the scholarship spot, also email your writing sample and proof of current or long-term economic hardship to marilyn@writingpad.com, following the instructions above.

Comment on this blog! Write about a time when you escaped. Even if you are not applying for the scholarship, comment! You could win a free class at Writing Pad!

Meet Our Judges for the Ojai Retreat Scholarship!

2011-03-03T21:07:00.001-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

We are proud to introduce you to our very esteemed and completely impartial panel of judges for the Ojai Retreat Scholarship Competition. Behold our marvelous panel! They will determine whose writing submission will win the full scholarship to the retreat (cue the music)!

About Joe Donnelly:

Joe Donnelly is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications and anthologies. Donnelly was the deputy editor of the L.A. Weekly from 2002 to 2008. Before that, Donnelly was the arts editor of New Times Los Angeles and editor in chief of the seminal Los Angeles pop-culture magazine Bikini. Most recently Donnelly, along with Laurie Ochoa, launched Slake Los Angeles, the bestselling quarterly journal.

About Michelle Wildgen:

Michelle Wildgen is the author of the novels, You're Not You and But Not For Long, as well as executive editor at the literary magazine Tin House and the editor of the anthology Food & Booze: A Tin House Literary Feast. Her work has appeared in the New York Times,

O, the Oprah Magazine, Best Food Writing 2004 and 2009, Best New American Voices 2004, and various other journals and anthologies.

About James Brown:
James Brown is the author of several novels, and the memoirs, The Los Angeles Diaries and This River. He's received the Nelson Algren Award in Short Fiction and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. His writing has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times Magazine, GQ, and Ploughshares. He is the Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Cal State San Bernardino.

About Adrienne Sharp:
Adrienne Sharp is the author of White Swan, Black Swan (Random House, 2001), a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection; The Sleeping Beauty (Riverhead, 2005), one of Booklist’s 10 Best First Novels of 2005; and The True Memoirs of Little K (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010), one of Oprah Book Club’s 10 Best Books for Fall 2010.

About Dan Dunn:
Dan Dunn is the author of the enormously popular “Imbiber” column for Playboy and his new book, Living Loaded: Tales of Sex, Salvation, and the Pursuit of the Never-Ending Happy Hour (Crown Books; 2011). A longtime journalist and raconteur, Dan’s work has also appeared in GQ, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and the Los Angeles Times. His blog (www.TheImbiber.net) is a popular destination for adult-beverage enthusiasts all over the world. He is a weekly guest on the Playboy Radio Morning Show on Sirius/XM satellite radio, and a former staff writer for the Emmy-nominated Talk Soup.

Writing Prompt: Your Lover's Pillow

2011-02-24T10:43:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Here's what we have on the schedule for the next few weeks. Call 323-333-2954 to sign up or email marilyn@writingpad.com to RSVP for these events, retreats, and classes before they are full!

Events

Literary Cocktail Party (Fri., Feb. 25)

Building Your First Blockbuster (Fri., Mar. 11)

One Day Classes

Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (ONLINE CLASS)
Trix Are For Kids: Writing Animated TV Shows And Movies (Sat. Mar. 12)
Blog Your Way To The Top (Sun., Mar. 13)

Multi Week Classes:

On The Page, On The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Mon. p.m.'s)
WP Screenwriting Series: Hookups, Robbery, and Alien Invasions (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Retreats:

Writing Pad Ojai Retrea t (Mar. 25 - 27 at a gorgeous ecosanctuary with award-winning author Thaisa Frank, NPR's Alex Cohen, and Writing Pad's Marilyn Friedman)

Writing Prompt: I took this one from Judy Reeves' fantastic book, A Writer's Book of Days: "Write about your lover's pillow." Here is my adaptation: make a list of 3 lovers that you or your character has had (or lovers who you or your character has desired). Pick one and write about that lover's pillow. Make sure to include some kind of sensory detail in your piece (smell, sound, touch). Write for 10 minutes and then post the results on the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog! Write about your lover's pillow. You could win a free class for your story or poem.

Adel's Recipe for the Perfect Chocolate Brownie

2011-02-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

by Adel Aschenbrener and Amy Robinson

Join us in a Writing Pad workshop or retreat this spring. Your writing will become as deep and rich as Adel's Supernatural Brownies. Call 323-333-2954 to RSVP before they are full!

Writing Retreats:

Writing Pad Ojai Retrea t (Mar. 25 - 27 at a gorgeous ecosanctuary with award-winning author Thaisa Frank, NPR's Alex Cohen, and Writing Pad's Marilyn Friedman)

Events

Literary Cocktail Party To Benefit the Ojai Retreat Scholarship Fund (Fri., Feb. 25)

One Day Classes

Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (ONLINE CLASS)
Trix Are For Kids: Writing Animated TV Shows And Movies (Sat. Mar. 12)
Blog Your Way To The Top (Sun., Mar. 13)

Multi Week Classes:

On The Page, On The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Mon. p.m.'s)
WP Screenwriting Series: Hookups, Robbery, and Alien Invasions (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Adel says:

"As a pastry chef, I spend a lot of time testing and perfecting recipes. I often find myself making lots of adjustments, adding a little of this and that, and putting my own spin on things. This aptly titled recipe by Nick Malgieri needed absolutely no changes whatsoever. These brownies are ridiculously fudgy, slice perfectly, have that elusive shiny, crackly top, and stay moist and delicious for days. Make sure to use the best, darkest chocolate you can find for the most decadent results."

Nick Malgieri's Supernatural Brownies

16 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for greasing 
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips  
4 eggs 
1 cup sugar 
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar 
2 tsp. vanilla extract
 1⁄2 tsp. fine salt
 1 cup flour

1. Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 9" x 13" baking pan with butter and line with parchment paper; grease paper. Set pan aside.  

2. Pour enough water into a 4-quart saucepan that it reaches a depth of 1". Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Combine butter and chocolate in a medium bowl; set bowl over saucepan. Cook, stirring, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.  

3. Whisk together eggs in a large bowl. Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt; whisk to combine. Stir in chocolate mixture; fold in flour. Pour batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 30–35 minutes. Let cool on a rack. Cut and serve. 

MAKES 24 BROWNIES
Recipe reprinted from http://www.saveur.com

Literary Cocktail Party Fundraiser

2011-02-19T16:09:00.000-08:00

By Sophia Kercher
Writing Pad is hosting two fab events this weekend to raise funds for the Writing Pad Ojai Retreat Scholarship fund to allow a destitute but talented writer to attend Writing Pad’s Ojai Retreat. They are not to be missed. I hope to see you at one of these events!

Can't attend? Donate anyway and be entered into the raffle for a 5 week writing class series at Writing Pad. Just click on the button at the bottom of this article.

Literary Cocktail Party
Don’t over-think things on a Friday. Writing Pad will be swelling with hot artists and folks more interesting than that guy drinking his fourth Budweiser at the bar! Along with getting down for a good cause, there will be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, the musical stylings of DJ Hyde, and raffle tickets that include a chance to win a five week class series at Writing Pad. (Shhh, we’ve been told there’s something in Marilyn’s sangria that gets the creative juices flowing.)

Fri., Feb. 25, 2011
8 p.m. - midnight
Cost: $20 donation to scholarship fund (includes drinks, hors d'oeuvres, DJ'd party, and entry into a raffle for a 5 week class series at Writing Pad)
RSVP to marilyn@writingpad.com

Writing Marathon To Benefit The Ojai Retreat Scholarship Fund
Don’t worry about getting sweaty, this marathon is done Writing Pad style. Your creative muscles will get a great workout over gourmet snacks, soft music and candles. Marathon-goers will keep the pace of their pen moving fueled by six interactive writing exercises in three hours and creative camaraderie. At the end of the marathon, expect to have a chunk of your project done and a ton of new ideas to shape your writing practice.

Instructor: Marilyn Friedman
Saturday, February 26, 2011
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $55
RSVP to marilyn@writingpad.com

Writing Pad Ojai Retreat Scholarship Fund

2011-02-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

How would you like to give up your hard earned cash to nurture someone else’s creativity? He or she will go to the Writing Pad Ojai Retreat, finish a book, win a Pulitzer prize, get a movie deal, and you’ll have helped to make it all happen. Yay, you!

But seriously, help us help a writer in need. We want to give a talented but broke writer the chance to realize his potential regardless of financial status. Writing Pad will take care of the tuition. We need you to make up the difference!

To show our appreciation for your generosity of $20 or more, we will enter you into a raffle to win a five week Writing Pad class series ($275 value). Thanks so much! Click below to donate.

Writing Prompt: Imaginary Worlds

2011-02-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

By Amy Robinson and Thaisa Frank

Thaisa Frank, award-winning author of the critically acclaimed novel Heidegger’s Glasses, will be teaching at our upcoming Ojai retreat. This week, she's agreed to share a writing prompt with all of you! But before we get to her prompt, don't forget to check out our February classes. Call 323-333-2954 to sign up before they're full!

One Day Classes Coming Up Soon:

You, Abbreviated and Fascinating: Writing The Personal Essay (Mon., Feb. 28)

Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp . . . With Dessert (ONLINE CLASS)--Anytime During The Week of March 7, 2011

Write the Road Less Traveled: Writing Pad Nature Walk (Sun., March 6)

You, Abbreviated and Fascinating: Revising and Publishing The Personal Essay (Sun., March 6)

Multi Week Classes:

On The Page, On The Stage: Finish That One-Person Show (Mon. p.m.'s)
WP Screenwriting Series: Hookups, Robbery, and Alien Invasions (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Writing Between The Diapers: Writing For Moms (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m.'s)
Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Retreats:

Writing Pad Ojai Retrea t (Mar. 25 - 27 at a gorgeous ecosanctuary with award-winning author Thaisa Frank, NPR's Alex Cohen, and Writing Pad's Marilyn Friedman)

Thaisa's Writing Prompt:
To write is not just to tell a story, but also to create a world--a context in which your characters live their lives in spite of the plot and not because of it. These worlds can be fantastic (like the world of The Castle, by Kafka), ordinary (the world of Remains of the Day, by Ishiguro) or be a blurred landscape in between (Remainder by Tom McCarthy). All good writers allow his or her readers to travel in a different country. A well developed world includes qualities of weather and sky, cityscapes, landscapes, and sensate objects, ranging from furniture to fruit to velvet.

Think about a story that you are trying to write. Make a list of five things that are distinct about your character's world. Where does he or she live? What does he or she eat and wear? What is the weather like and how do people speak? If you do not have a fictional world to write about, write about your current neighborhood or the place that you grew up and list five things that are distinct about that world. Write for 10 minutes, including at least 2 of the items from your list, then post the results in the comments of this blog!

Comment on this blog. Write for 10 minutes about the world you or your character inhabits. Post your 10 minute write in the comments, and you could win a free class!

NPR's Alex Cohen: Journalist, Author, and Derby Doll Extraordinaire

2011-02-16T22:51:00.000-08:00

by Lorinda Toledo

This Sunday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., Alex Cohen of NPR will join Jeffrey Kaye of PBS Newshour and Deborah Vankin of LA Times to talk about building a career in journalism at Writing Pad. Best known as the host of "All Things Considered" and "Marketplace" on KPCC, Alex has been a host and reporter of the national radio programs "Day to Day," "Morning Edition" and "Weekend America" and was the LA Bureau Chief for NPR member station KQED. She also co-wrote the nonfiction hit, Down and Derby: The Insider's Guide to Roller Derby, with Jennifer Barbee.

You can study with Alex at the upcoming Writing Pad Ojai Retreat on March 25-27. Reserve a spot by calling 323-333-2954 before it is full!

I had the chance to ask Alex a few questions about her path to success. Here's what she has to say.

1) Why did you decide to become a journalist? Did you always know that you wanted radio to be your primary medium?

I first started listening to public radio in my senior year of college. I thought to myself it would be amazing to work in NPR, but at the time I was an Eastern religions major with no broadcast experience whatsoever, so I chalked it up to a pipe dream. A few years later, I was teaching English in a remote region of Japan where I was cut off from the news. I began to realize how important the news was to me and decided to apply to journalism school. From there, I attended UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism That's where I took my first class in radio. It was love at first listen, and I've been doing it every since.

2) You have become an expert on roller derby and co-authored the book, Down and Derby: The Insider's Guide to Roller Derby. How did you become a Derby Doll and what inspired you to write the book?

I was planning a trip to Austin, Texas and, being a frugal traveler, wanted to find a story to do there so I could write off the trip as a tax expense. A friend of mine had just joined the newly formed Texas roller derby league. I spent a good chunk of my trip interviewing roller girls and going to their practices. I quickly became smitten with the sport. A few months later, my husband spotted a flyer for the LA Derby Dolls who were recruiting for their newly formed league. I went to a practice in November of 2003 and instantly became a derby junkie.

Fast forward to 2008 when I had the amazing opportunity to work as a choreographer and consultant on the Drew Barrymore film "Whip It!" The moreI told non-derby people about the sport, the more I realized that most people really didn't have a clue about it. Also, my co-author and I felt that the sport was evolving so quickly that it was important to chronicle what had been happening and how 21st century women revitalized the sport. Once "Whip It!" wrapped up, we put together a book proposal and the rest is history!

3) Whether at KPCC or on your blog, you are adept at picking out major trends and presenting them with a fresh perspective. Do you have any tips for aspiring journalists on how to do this in a world saturated with information?

The most important advice I can give is look out for topics and trends that interest YOU. If you aren't truly excited about the topic, chances are it will be impossible for you to fake enthusiasm when you are writing about it. Always keep your ears and eyes open. You never know where or when you'll hear about the next big thing. To me, the most interesting stories are the ones that come from simple human observation. My friend and fellow radio reporter, Sean Cole, noticed a few years back that the size of food containers was getting smaller while the prices remained the same. It lead to a great piece that aired on "Marketplace."

4) Do you have any stories that you are particularly proud of? And how do you maintain the journalistic integrity of a topic you are passionate about?

I think that I'm mostly proud of moments in story. . . I once got the chief editor of EBONY magazine to admit that he sometimes uses the n-word. I got Ed Harris to sing acapella at the end of an interview. I once did a story about Guitar Hero, and there was a great moment at a contest for the video game where I described the reigning champion. I think listeners pictured some long-haired white guy in his thirties. Then they heard the voice - it was an 8 year-old Asian kid. Those are the sorts of moments I love.

It's tough to maintain journalistic integrity when it comes to topics you feel strongly about - especially when they're controversial ones like gay marriage, abortion, or the death penalty. But I think that the role of journalism is to give people the information they need and then let them decide for themselves. I once had a great teacher who said the best job she could do is if parties from both sides of the issue thank her for representing them well That's always my goal.

5) What are the challenges of being a journalist?

Sadly, right now the toughest challenge is finding a job. With cutbacks in newsrooms, it's definitely a tough time to be a journalist, especially a newer one trying to break into the business. But I do think opportunities are out there. The other big challenge I think is getting an audience in an era where there are so many things competing for your attention. The amount of media out there now is overwhelming to many and sometimes it's hard to get people to notice you and your work.

6)What advice do you want to impart on fledgling journalists (and maybe those going through a tough time) in this uncertain age of media?

Don't give up hope!! Though there may be fewer spots open in "traditional" newsrooms, this is an exciting era for new journalists. There are so many ways to get your story out now, be it tweets or podcasts or youtube videos. Look at the recent pay scandals in the city of Bell. . . or the uprising in Egypt. . . good journalism still plays a crucial role in our society and I believe it always will.

Thanks for granting us an interview, Alex! I can't wait to study with you at the Ojai Retreat! I hope to see you there and at the Journalism 2011 talk on Sunday.

Writing Prompt: Get In Touch With Nature

2011-02-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

Join us at the Nature Walk class on March 6th! You'll get some exercise and inspiration to write your best work in the beautiful surroundings of Temescal. Here are the fantastic classes that we have left for February. Call 323-333-2954 to sign up before they are full!

February One Day Classes With Spaces Available:

And You Thought Your Family Was F@&ked Up: Developing Compelling Characters From Real Life (ONLINE--Wk of Feb 21)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (1 Day Class) ( Mon, Feb. 21)

Multi Week Classes:

It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (4 Week Class) (Mon. p.m.'s)
WP Screenwriting Series: Hookups, Robbery, and Alien Invasions (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Retreats:

Writing Pad Ojai Retrea t (Mar. 25 - 27 at a gorgeous ecosanctuary with award-winning author Thaisa Frank, NPR's Alex Cohen, and Writing Pad's Marilyn Friedman)

Writing Prompt: Make a list of 5 natural places you have visited. Include places that you have been camping and hiking. Pick one and add a specific detail that you remember about that trip (e.g. the beef jerky that you ate while backpacking that almost pulled out your molars, the tent kept collapsing on your head). Write for 10 minutes and post the results in this blog!

Comment on this blog. Write about a memorable excursion into nature. Post your 10 minute write in the comments, and you could win a free class!

An Interview with Acclaimed Writer, Thaisa Frank

2011-02-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

by Lorinda Toledo

Thaisa Frank is a critically acclaimed writer with a gift for surrealist prose and poetry. Her recent novel, Heidegger’s Glasses, has been called "a tour de force whose imagery haunts the reader long after the final page is turned,” by Jim Moret of the Huffington Post. Thaisa also co-authored the celebrated book, Finding Your Writer's Voice with Dorothy Wall.

Her short stories have garnered numerous awards and landed on the Bestseller List of the San Francisco Chronicle. She also teaches in the MFA programs at San Francisco State, the University of San Francisco and UC Berkeley. You can study with her at the Writing Pad Ojai Retreat on March 25-27! You can also watch a videotaped interview of Thaisa here.

We had asked Thaisa a few questions about writing craft, her books, and teaching style:

1. Why did you want to write the book, Heidegger’s Glasses? Were you drawn to the material in some way?
What sparked me to write Heidegger's Glasses was somebody telling me at a party that Heidegger had had a revelation about his eyeglasses. So I thought 'Wow, Heidegger's Glasses, that's a great title!' I'm pretty title-driven. I often just know something is going to be a story or a book by its title. And then the title is like a pinata made of iron and I just beat it and beat it and beat it until something comes out.

2. You have traveled extensively throughout Europe. How have your travels influenced your writing?
I think traveling in France probably had something to do with my interest in imaginary countries, which I have written about because France is an amazing country. France is very little, but it has all these provinces and every single one of them is different. There's a different dialect, different architecture, different weather, different cheeses and different wines. And it is like an imaginary sort of journey because you plop into a different world. You can be in Alsace, which is very much like Normandy and slightly Germanic, but then you can be in Provence, which is sort of like Ancient Rome. So I think that sense of variety has really had an influence.

3. How would you describe your teaching style?
It really depends on how seasoned the writer is, what they're working on, and how far along their piece is. With a really polished story, it's fine to do line edits. But a lot of my teaching style is encouraging people to forget about what they should write and just write. I try to get people to leap into imagination and stay away from literality. I have various writing exercises to get my students excited about the imagination. Lastly, I try to teach them the difference between between an anecdote and a story. I could tell you an anecdote about my crazy family of origin. But a story manages to find a universal element in that anecdote so people who didn't come from a crazy family can relate, so the story elevates. The difference between anecdote and story is perhaps one of the most important things that a writer can know. Just because I feel terrible that my dog died when I was twelve, it doesn't mean that people who don't know me will feel terrible. I have to get them to feel.

4. You co-wrote a book that focuses on helping a writer find one’s own voice. Why is it important to find one’s voice?
Everyone has a voice. Everyone has had a moment at a party, for example, when you're "on" in a certain way: when suddenly you have worked the room, everyone in the room is looking at you, and you're interesting to people. That's the beginning of your voice. Usually when a writer finds their voice, there's an element of surprise and mystery. Getting voice on a page is often really hard. The only thing that you can do is find the kind of writing exercises that work for you, that help you write the kinds of things you want to write. And if you do that and keep the lengths short, I promise that you will write something whole.

5. Your book, Finding Your Writer's Voice, has a chapter called “Making The Journal Dangerous.” How do you make a journal “dangerous?”
Most of us think of a journal as writing about what we know rather than discovering what we don't know. If I were to tell you about my day today, I could tell you that I got up this morning at my publicist's house, we had a coffee, we waited for Marilyn to pick me up -- and it could go on and on like that. But if I just sort of drift and let my mind go back to the day, what I remember literally is Julia saying, 'Which coffee cup would you like?' and looking in a cabinet and seeing so many coffee cups, differently shaped, different objects, some from Germany (where she was born) and choosing one that said 'chocolat.' If I write all those details down, I'll begin to have a lexicon of things that interest me and things that bring me close to myself.

6. Who are your favorite writers? Who inspires you?
I've always loved poetry. Wallace Stevens, Yates, William Stafford, Celan. I was also very influenced by As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, which I read when I was about 13. I didn't know he was a white male supremacist. I was just sitting on my bed, and it reached my soul. I think that might have been the moment when I thought, 'I want to do this for other people.' Kafka was probably the writer that made me realize that I could trust surrealism the most. Recently, I have loved Remainder by Tom McCarthy. I tend to like writers with strong voices.

I can't wait to learn more from Thaisa at the Writing Pad Ojai Retreat! What could be better than a whole weekend studying with Thaisa at a beautiful ecosanctuary? If you are interested in reserving a coveted space before it's full, contact marilyn@writingpad.com or call 323-333-2954.

Writing Prompt - Believe It!

2011-02-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

By Amy Robinson and Julie Brister

Julie Brister, teacher of the Writing Pad class It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop, has created a great writing prompt for you today! Julie is a successful writer/director/performer for stage, screen and TV and an experienced teacher. Spaces in Julie's classes are limited and filling up quick! Call 323-333-2954 to RSVP and save your spot today!

By the way, we are running a Valentine's Day special this month. For any Feb. one day classes, if you sign up with a friend, a sweetie, or a lover, 2 people can attend for $80 (normally $110). What a deal!

Julie's Classes:

It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (4 Week Class) (4 Mon. p.m.'s starting March 14)
It's All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (1 Day Class) ( Mon, Feb. 21)

More One Day Classes this Winter with Spaces Available:

Hanky Panky - Writing the Erotic (Thurs. Feb. 10)
Writer's Room Work Out (Sat. Feb. 12)
Writing Pad Movie Club - Anti-Valentines Day Class (Mon., Feb. 14)
Stranger Than Fiction: Writing The Unbelievably True (Sat. Feb. 19)
And You Thought Your Family Was F@&ked Up: Developing Compelling
Characters From Real Life(ONLINE--Wk of Feb 21)
Write the Road Less Traveled: Writing Pad Nature Walk (Sun. Feb. 20)

Multi Week Classes:

WP Screenwriting Series: Hookups, Robbery, and Alien Invasions (Tues. p.m.'s)
So You Want To Be A Writer (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Finishing School (Wed. a.m., Wed. p.m., Sat. a.m.'s)
Acting Out: One Writer, One Act (Thurs. p.m.'s)

Writing Retreats:

Writing Pad Ojai Retrea t (Mar. 25 - 27 at a gorgeous ecosanctuary with award-winning author Thaisa Frank, NPR's Alex Cohen, and Writing Pad's Marilyn Friedman)

Julie's Writing Prompt:
An opinion is a great way to start a character monologue or a story. When a character strongly asserts his opinion in the opening line, the audience or reader gets to know him right away. Make a list of three things that you believe strongly. For example: I believe that people should always use their turn signals.

Now write the belief as though it’s something you do not believe in. For example: I don’t believe it’s necessary that people always use their turn signals, because. . . Use the second statement as the opening sentence to a character monologue or story. Tell us why the character believes what they believe. What else do they believe or not believe? Write for 10 minutes.

Comment on this blog! What is a strong opinion that your character holds? Post your 10 minute write in the comments, and you could win a free class!

About Julie Brister:
Julie Brister is a performer, director and a long time teacher at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre both in NYC and LA. As an actor, she has appeared on Rules of Engagement, Children’s Hospital, The Tonight Show, Reno 911, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Little Britain USA, Spike TV, MTV, FUSE, and she can be seen regularly as Lauralee Hickock on the Onion News Network show In the Know with Clifford Banes. Julie enjoyed a long run of her solo-show, Fatparts, at UCB and performed it as part of SF Sketchfest 2010, one of the country’s top comedy festivals. She’s directed numerous solo-shows in both NYC and LA including Crush, Past Her Prime, and Collections. She has a BFA in Theatre from Southwestern University.

Writers on Writing: Video Interviews with Thaisa Frank

2011-02-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

By Marilyn Friedman

What kind of writer are you? Are you a sprinter or a marathon runner? How do you make your journal dangerous? Check out this video interview with award-winning author, Thaisa Fran k and find out!

You can also watch this second short video on Writing Pad's Youtube channel to find out how Thaisa came up with the concept for her fascinating novel, Heidegger's Glasses. Her book has been called “a tour de force whose imagery haunts the reader long after the final page is turned,” by Jim Moret of the Huffington Post.

On March 25-27, 2011, you can study with Thaisa at our Ojai Retreat. Normally, you would have to attend an MFA program in the Bay Area to have access to this seasoned teacher and talented writer. I hope that you'll join us for a weekend of one-on-one consultations, amazing writing classes, and gourmet food at a breathtakingly beautiful ecosanctuary in Ojai.

Call 323-333-2954 or email marilyn@writingpad.com to sign up for the retreat before it is full!