Its been a while since I got around to writing words that aren’t directly connected to the manuscripts I’m creating. So apologies to the aether and the 2 or 3 out there who stumble past on occasion.
The house move was as horrifying as one can imagine, and the least said about it, the better. More importantly, my tobacco seedlings which I have decided to try and grow as a ‘hobby’ are doing well. Whether or not my enthusiasm will sustain long enough to see it through to planting the 50+ tobacco plants, and then, at the end of it all, harvesting, hanging and curing it ahead of smoking, is another matter entirely. Still, if the world goes boom, there are three basic items which become of value; gold, alcohol, and tobacco. To me, the measure of self preparedness is how much of each of these items one has stashed.
The ‘evil little thing’ I was writing at the time of the last blog entry, has been named ‘Pigman’s Fingers’ – and runs at around 44 pages. I’m pleased with it, it captures a dark American Gothic feel – like Night of the Hunter meets Steinbeck via JM Coetzee.
The epic saga, the 800+ page book, has also been completed – although minor editing tweaks are taking place. It feels at times like I’m hacking through undergrowth and clearing foliage. The book is down to around 670 pages now, which gives an idea of the extent of ‘weeding’ taking place. Its close to the point of being in a fit state to throw towards the Agent.
Had to turn down a voice job last week. I can’t go into details too much, suffice to say that the amount of time and energy required to travel from where I am to LA, in order to record, just wasn’t worth it. Weird though it was to turn a job down. Oh well, inshalla, as they say.
Being a freak of note, amidst the editing and ruefully eying my slowly growing tobacco, I’m 40+ pages into another ‘evil little thing’ – which is providing me with much amusement as I write. If the Pigman’s Fingers work pushes the envelope to a degree that folks may not have seen before, this current work, I contemplate at times, is probably going to get baying and howling mobs trying to hunt me down – as it dives into territory that’s dear to the hearts of many. I personally think its deliciously funny satire, but who knows? It’s not my job to do too much self analysis on my writing. My task is to write the stories that want to emerge, and craft them as well as I can, before I let them loose to hunt for their own food.
Its occurred to me that these ‘evil little things’ are potentially another book, which is a pleasant idea. Each takes me a couple of weeks to create, and then – hello iteration – almost as much time again to chisel, cut, polish, and make the words do exactly what I require. Prose is most certainly a harder taskmaster than theatre scripts. Speaking of which, the rehearsals of Dogs of the Blue Gods are set to begin later this month, and I’ll be relocating to Brown University for the duration. My primary concern? Making sure I have a decent source of fresh vegetables and fruit so that I can continue my food regimen, more or less as usual. I know, I’m a weirdo – but I’ve learned that even one day without my usual x2 fruit intakes and x2 clumps of fresh vegetables (no, not the toxic greasy garbage as found in US restaurants – just simple plain vegetables) and I can feel my body beginning to grind to a halt. Hopefully the other two playwrights aren’t going to mind the constant smell of cooked broccoli in our shared living space 
As for the play, I hear you ask? I’m not too fussed. The actors are good, the director is good, and the text is road-tested. I can see that the only thing really that might need to be done, is to perhaps reassure all concerned to just ‘trust the test’ and do the piece as a straight play, which happens to have comedic and dramatic elements. Having done so much theatre, especially where I was the sole actor/director/performer – I’m fairly chilled about the process. And given the very high quality of acting I saw during the audition process, I think its going to be delicious fun to watch the actors discover the meatiness of what they’re a part of.
Hmm, its now 7.17am – time to get to work. That’s my update, Oh Constant Reader.
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