Category Archives: Blog

What I really, really, want to do now.

So I have a couple of days to get homework done and in the mail to best advisor ever. Really the clock is ticking. There is barely enough time to do what needs to be done, not really anytime for anything extra. Yet…

My prequel to Jennie Manning is still on my computer’s desktop waiting to be opened and worked on. Manning is my character that I created in middle school. Since her creation, I knew we’d be friends for a long time. I love her. She’s a tough around the edges cop who is dedicated to family and what’s right, by any means necessary. Sarcastic, wonderfully flawed and broken. Her first novel length adventure was conceived several NaNoWriMos ago. See, the goal was to have the short story prequel completed and ready to rock and roll on the blog to introduce my first mystery character.

But then I got into grad school and here I am writing things that are more literary. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Or anything wrong with genre fiction. I just miss Jennie and her world.

It’s just like missing the characters and the world of my first book. I missed those girls something awful. So much so that I wrote their prequel stories and even the beginning of their second part. It’s not for mass consumption. I only pull out those stories when I need to go visit.

So what I REALLY want to do now is go visit Jennie and play around in her world for awhile. But what I’m going to do is open up my annotation file and get ready to write about writing technique. Not that that isn’t sexy. But I miss Jennie.

Maybe one day we’ll have a nice long visit.

Skipping down memory lane with Glee

This scene from Glee takes me back to high school. Yes, I was in high school show choir. We were pretty good.
In fact so good, my senior year in high school we performed for the Texas Music Educator’s Association conference in San Antonio. That’s like going to state for us choir geeks.
But I really don’t remember the performance much. I remember bright lights and the Majestic Theatre being beautiful. But my memories of that time in my life are really about the years of preparation it took to get there.
I remember the rehearsals — before, during, and after school. I remember spending lots of lunch periods in the choir room. Voice lessons. Warm ups. Warming up in the car to school. Practicing when I got home. I remember knowing those notes and rhythm better than I knew my name. It was a time in my life when I learned a hard lesson — if you want it, to be the best, you gotta work for it. Hard.
It should consume you because you love it.
That so translates into my writing.
It’s 11 p.m. I’ve been writing since 11 a.m. Grad homework, blogging, and creative writing. I just finished a two hour break to watch, well Glee.
This episode reminds me of that time. That young Icess learning one of the most important lessons of her life.
Thanks for the reminder, Glee. Back to work I go.
Me in my choir dress, circa 1995.

A lesson on writing from Jeff and Donnie

This has been a crazy week that started with a lesson and ended with one.

This week I interviewed Jeff Goldblum and Donnie Wahlberg. Wait, let me read that sentence again to myself ’cause I don’t type that everyday….Okay.

So fangirl things aside, these two wonderful gentlemen had something to teach me and I was glad for it. Both are wonderful actors and both, during the interview, talked about writing and scripts. Just goes to show an education isn’t always in a classroom.

Jeff Goldblum is probably best known for his role in The Fly. I am a huge fan of his and actually had a crush on him in college. I remember him from Independence Day, Jurassic Park, The Big Chill, and other movies. He’s now an official cast member on Law and Order: Criminal Intent on USA.

Jeff talked about how, when he’s developing a character as an actor, he’s fueled by good writing.

“Well, I love writers and good writing and literature and stories and a good script,” he said. “So I try to, as much as anything,(to) figure out what they meant, what this thing is about, and there are many nuts and bolts issues that come up in that vein, in our show or a lot of scripts and stories.

He went on to say this:

“What exactly and specifically? That’s an important question in the theatrical dictionary, an important word. What specifically do they have in mind for this, are they trying to depict for this? What reality are they trying to depict here? This is nothing new. Everybody’s done (this)—and anybody’s trying to do this, but it constantly fascinates me. And more and more, I try to give myself over to and serve what they’re doing. And not only that, but who the writer is and what their whole spirit is, and inner dynamic and what the message they’re trying to, and feeling that they’re trying, and song that they’re trying to sing?”

For a writer, this is pivotal. Interpretation of our texts is key. As writers we are taught that there are several points of view to a story and several layers. Sometimes those layers don’t come across as well as we would like but what we can depend on, what we should be able to depend on, is the reader’s curiosity to interpret. It’s through those interpretations that the text–novel, story, poem, script–creates meaning for the reader. And isn’t THAT our jobs.

Donnie reminded me of another lesson.

An aside on Donnie: I love this man. The chance to interview him was a dream come true but I never thought I’d ask him about scripts and writing. He’s a singer and actor after all. But he, the man who gives it all, gave me a lesson too.

Donnie is guest staring on In Plain Sight also on USA. He talked about the magic in the script that makes him connect with it and eventually say yes to a project. He said:

“That’s a complicated question because it can be as simple as reading the script in a certain emotional state and the script just connects.”

Diahann Carol also talked about that intangible connection between actor and script. Adding to what Donnie said, the place where someone is emotionally and connecting, is what writers hope for. The reality is that if an actor is connecting with a script, whether for the character or due to emotional state, they are really connecting to the writer. And that makes magic…the magic Mrs. Carol and Donnie talked about.

“Sometimes there are odd reasons as well,” he said. “A script like the Sixth Sense I just loved it immediately and nothing was going to prevent me from being part of that movie. There’s In Plain Sight — it’s a show that I like with a leading lady who I think is incredibly underrated … and then there’s a movie like Dead Silence…I really felt a great attraction to the character I played because I saw an opportunity to go against the grain in the role.”

Each one of the projects Donnie mentioned above has something special about them, something unique,something that resonated with him as an actor who wanted to interpret that text.

Magic, like Mrs. Carol said.

Now the question is how to put one’s self on that path toward magic. Hopefully the next writer/producer/actor will help me figure it out.

Dear Mr. President…

Dear Mr. President,
Let me start out by saying that is not a political letter. See, I’m a reporter at a newspaper and I really can’t divulge my personal opinions on politics in a public forum such as this. 
But I can give my opinion on books and writing and that is why I’m writing.
Though I know that your visit to Iowa City was about the health care law, but I couldn’t help but notice you bought books from an independent book store.
That rocks so hard core! 
As a writer, future novelist, I am a fan of any place where people have access to literature (good and bad). Indie bookstores are amazing places run by folks who adore books and stories and authors. They are delicate, precious jewels that, in my world, need to exist. Publicly supporting one, no matter how ulterior the motives were, is just…wow! 
Thanks for the support of indie bookstores and I’m sure Mrs. Obama won’t be mad that you completely forgot to buy her a book. (Jewelry works better)
Signed,
Icess

Donnie is more than meets the eye on In Plain Sight


A funny thing happens when I watch Donnie Wahlberg on screen.

I know that sentence is a set up for lots of dirty, funny jokes. In fact, several are coming to mind now but this is not that kind of review or post.
See, when I watch Donnie on screen my initial reaction is of course fangirl — “Oh, he looks good.” “Oh. he sounds good” “He’s so hot.”
But then, I forget. I forget to be a fan girl, completely in love with my favorite New Kid. I watch Donnie Wahlberg actor, not international pop star. I watch a transformation, a metamorphosis, an alteration. I get lost, completely and fully into someone who enjoys the craft of acting, a student at play.
That’s what you’ll get during Donnie’s performance in the In Plain Sight premiere on USA, March 31, 10/9 central. Donnie plays a guy who is in Witness Protection with his teen-aged son, after a deal gone wrong. They find themselves in ABQ under the protection of Mary and Marshall.
Sometimes I forget that this is a man who throws himself fully into his job, whether performing in front of a sold out crowd or in front of a camera. I should know better. With Donnie, it’s either all in or not at all.
It’s easy to see that work side of him here. Remember that transformation? It starts with the first scene and it starts with his voice. You know it’s him. We’ve heard that voice a million times. With that sound comes the initial omg-moment, and then, it’s down to business. Donnie is no longer Donnie but his character.
Oh, but this character is different. While Donnie’s thing is playing cops or some sort of hero, this character doesn’t have a badge. He doesn’t swoop in and save the day. He’s wonderfully flawed and an every man, which makes watching Donnie’s transformation all the more impressive.
Donnie as a bad guy? Yup. It works. But this character isn’t really a bad guy, he just does bad things for a good cause…his family. I guess in this way he’s an indirect hero. But I have to say, I like it. It’s a more subtle performance. More directive and he stretches his actor’s muscles a bit here.
This is a potential performance–there is potential here for him to do other parts. And I’d like to see him to do that. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll enjoy anything that he’s in. I am after all a solider, a member of the family, but I think if there was any question of him being able to do dramatic roles without a badge, this clarifies it. He can. (BTW, love Kill Point. Guns. Donnie. What’s not to love?)
I want to see him challenged in every role because I know he’ll rise to it. More of his muscles, actor-wise, need to be flex. Homeboy has the chops no doubt, he needs the challenge. He needs more roles like this. And no doubt, challenges are his acting fuel
Now let’s talk about scary Donnie. Oh, yes, there is a scary Donnie and it’s magically delicious. Of course for obvious reasons but also for the fact that Donnie the actor is out in full force, playing with emotions, and doing what he does best.
Now let’s get all fangirl, which is my favorite part.
YES! Donnie is hot in this episode. Like on fire hot. He’s not in the entire episode. Remember, he’s a guest star. But In Plain Sight is a good show so enjoy the witty banter.
So, um, how do I say this….you know the BR voice? The nice soft whispery one right before the instrumental…it makes a 2.5 second cameo. You’ll know when.
The actress that plays his wife, you’ll be jealous of her. Promise. But not Boomtown jealous. But jealous nonetheless.
I don’t know about you but I LOVE Donnie with a gun. I just do. Le sigh. Gun Donnie is where it’s at.
Scary Donnie, ain’t no joke. He really is scary. But since I’m a homegirl, it was sorta fun to see him like this. Don’t want to see him like this in real life.
No glasses, no cap. Just him. Which is the best part.
Talking about best part — there is a scene in there that was just heartbreaking, where you know he was talking straight from the heart of a father. That scene brought chills.
There you have it. Hope I remembered everything. Feel free to ask questions, I’ll try to answer as much as I can.

My anniversary and I am a story teller.


Today, my dear friends, is an anniversary.

Seven years ago today, I began my professional journalism career, though I’ve had internships and wrote journalistically since my junior year in college. Hard to believe, isn’t it?
Well, it is. Because in this business that I’m in, seven years is a landmark. Most young reporters leave before their seventh year.
I certainly thought that I would never make this mark. In fact, there have been several times during those seven years when I’ve asked myself “what the hell am I doing here?”
Certainly, I could have made more money somewhere else. At one point, I was in demand. Bilingual. Fairly intelligent (or intelligent enough) with critical thinking and writing skills. On those skills alone, I could have reached a level of middle class that even my parents wouldn’t have believed.
But my heart isn’t about money. My heart has always belonged to writing, to storytelling, to this drive to move the human spirit with words.
Some would say the journalists don’t tell stories. And I would agree about 75 percent with that statement. What my profession has become is not a place where stories are told. It’s about business. The bottomline. What’s efficient. What can be told in a matter of inches, 8-10, nearly the length of two pencils ironically.
Some would say the two pencil lengths is, in most cases, enough. Sometimes. Some would say that amount of newshole is not enough. Sometimes. Some would say that it’s useless to continue trying to tell stories in a small space. Never.
The 25 percent of my profession that isn’t obsessed with money issues is shear and pure joy. Who doesn’t want to get paid to have adventures? I know I enjoy them, the good and the bad. But that’s because I know I’m damn lucky.
Here’s the truth about why I wanted a job in newspapers…I wanted to be a writer. In particular I wanted to be a paid writer. Paid writers with a regular paycheck worked for newspapers.
But something interesting happens to well-meaning beginning journalists, they realize, probably the hard way, that working in news isn’t a job or even a career. It’s a marriage. There are hard times, good times, sweet times, trying times. There are times you want a divorce and other times you want to renew your vows. Crying is involved. Elation is involved. You move. You stay. You move again. Who in their right mind wants this life?
Storytellers. They want this life. They crave this life. It’s in them like breath, like fire, like desire.
In seven years, however, some know they don’t, can’t, won’t be storytellers. It’s not for them. And I respect them for it.
In seven years, they get the itch, and they leave.
So here I am. Seven years. And even as I write this, I’m in a newsroom with scanners blazing, clacking away on a keyboard.
I don’t know how, with my MFA degree, my journalism career will go. I’d like to think journalism and newspapers have given me the best lessons in the fundamentals to the craft of writing and living. I can have pretty prose because I’ve had ugly articles. Some would say in abundance.
So here’s the tag to my story or maybe it’s the lede:
Why am I here?
I’m a storyteller. And today I’ve got seven years of proof.