Tag: online TV writing workshop

Dennis O’Neil: The Return of Doodyville!

NOTE FROM LB: The Howdy Doody Show was my absolute favorite when I was a kid. So much a favorite that I remember sitting on the floor and watching it one day when I was four years old and praying to you-know-Who that I would never get any older because I knew that when I did I wouldn’t love Howdy and the gang anymore. Some people say I never did get any older. Maybe there really is a God.

That's Howdy in the middle, for those who are not of a certain age
That’s Howdy in the middle, for those who are not of a certain age

by Dennis O’Neil

Our man Thunderthud was called a “chief,” but he wore only a single feather on his head instead of the fully-feathered bonnet we were used to seeing perched atop guys who answered to “chief” in the cowboy pictures I saw before you were born. The (if I may) chief is most notable, not for something he wore, but for something he said. This was “Kowabunga,” sometimes spelled “Cowabunga” and used mostly, if memory serves, as an expletive you could say freely in front of your church-going grandma. Some of you – most of you? – thought that Kowa/Cowabunga originated with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, of movie and comic book fame. Sorry, but no.

Beginning in 1947, Chief Thunderthud dwelt in Doodyville which, in turn, was located in midtown Manhattan in a studio owned and operated by The National Broadcasting Company. read article

Inside NICOLIFE, the Web Series LB luvs!

NOTE FROM LB: A couple of weeks ago, we featured a new web series called NicoLife here on TVWriter™ and, yes, it’s true, grumpy old me kinda fell in love with it. I think this is an exceptionally well done series which would work just as well on TV (whatever that is these days) and the interwebs (whatever they are these days.

Recently I talked to Robin Nystom, the show’s multiple hyphenate Writer-Director-Producer, to ask the two questions that always comes to mind the first time I see or read anything, anywhere, from any creator: “What is it you want NICOLIFE to accomplish, artistically and personally/professionally? How does it fit into your dream future?”

Here’s Robin’s answer: read article

Productivity for Writers and Other People

Meredith Allard is a successful novelist who actually shares the “secrets” of her success. We at TVWriter™ dig her. You will too:

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by Meredith Allard

It’s interesting to me to see how conversations change over time. Not so long ago everyone was praising multi-tasking as the best thing ever. Hey, I can write the world’s greatest novel while reading blogs while checking every new email the moment it pops into my inbox while keeping track of every ping on Facebook and Twitter while walking the dog while doing my taxes while binge watching Netflix while juggling watermelons while yodeling to the tune of “O Solo Mio.” At the end of the day I’d wonder why I hadn’t written more. Had I really lost an entire day watching cat videos on YouTube? Then I realized that I didn’t want to spend more time working. I wanted to get more done.

Around this time, I started seeing articles about how multi-tasking may not be all it was cracked up to be. We weren’t putting all our attention and talent into any one task; as a result, we weren’t working to the best of our abilities because our attention was too scattered. Enter the discussion about productivity. read article

How many ways can you not say “Very?”

This is either a very important vital public service or very much total bullshit. But we at TVWriter™ are very interested in dedicated to letting our various and sundry visitors decide:

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HOW TO WRITE A BESTSELLING NOVEL!

Whoa, a bestseller, stamped and certified. But can you, the writer, really make that happen?
Whoa, a bestseller, stamped and certified. But can you, the writer, really make that happen?

by Robert Gregory Browne

I’ll say this right up front:

The title of this post is complete nonsense

I could have used similar words on the cover of my book on craft to attract those who believe there’s some secret ingredient to bestselling fiction, but I didn’t. read article