Finding a publisher for your stage play

It's a busy week for me, with opening night just one day away as my amateur troupe of young actors get ready to perform HOOK'S NEMESIS, an original stage play I wrote a few years ago. This will be the second time I've produced and directed the play, a loose adaptation of the classic 'Peter Pan'. As with any play, I've had to change a few things such as tighten the dialogue and rearrange some scenes for this time around. For those who have ever written a play, you'll know that what looks good on paper can be quite different on stage. The spoken word is different than the written word, and often what seemed logical makes no sense when acted out.

It's why most play publishers do not take script submissions that have not first been 'tested' on stage. I've been writing and producing stage plays for over ten years in my capacity as a high school drama teacher, and I know first hand how a play can be a living and breathing thing. I have yet to produce a play - either one of my own or someone else's - that has not gone through some kind of transformation during the rehearsal process. Of course, when using someone else's work, there is little leeway as far as changing the actual dialogue, (oh those copyright issues ...) but there is definitely a lot of room as far as how the thing is acted and directed.

If you are a playwright and would like to see your work reach a wider audience, make sure you first find a theatre group that will produce the play. Most publishers want proof that your play was actually produced and performed. This can be something as simple as a local newspaper article, review, or play billets.

I have listed several play publishers on my 'Resources' page with their links. Each publisher has their own guidelines, of course, so follow their directions. Some want you to submit electronically through email. Others have an online form that you must fill out. Others only want printed hard copies. Some will only take one submission at a time, while others don't mind multiple submissions. Some even have very specific guidelines about the size of the font etc. Take the time to follow each publisher's directions.

I currently have one play in print and two more that I've signed contracts for and are in the works - hopefully available this year. Getting a stage play published is totally different from a published novel. With plays, you not only receive royalties on scripts sold, but there are also performance rights. I find this especially cool. The thought of my words actually being memorized and performed by another theatre group is pretty satisfying. Also, I've found that the royalties from just one little stage play have actually out-performed my novels. Who would have guessed?

A really great sight to help you find other play publishers is 'Doollee' - an all inclusive site for publishers, resources, and scripts.

Their Separate Ways

This is another book that I read over the Christmas break. Their Separate Ways by Michelle Sutton is potentially her 'edgiest' yet. While not everyone will want to read this one due to some of the graphic content, I believe it has real merit. here is my review:

Their Separate Ways - a review

Their Separate Ways by Michelle Sutton follows the lives of Hope and Tony in the aftermath of their illicit love affair, chronicled in the book Never Without Hope. In the first book, we get an intimate glimpse into the life of Hope, who despite the fact that she is a Christian, finds herself attracted to another man. She soon falls headlong into a steamy love affair with Tony, an attractive Italian immigrant. Both Tony and Hope are married, however, and in the second book, Their Separate Ways, we alternate between Tony’s point of view and Hope’s as they each struggle to put their marriages – and their lives, back together.

Most of the conflict centers around the two couples’ sexual lives. Make no mistake – this is one steamy book, especially given the Christian message it espouses. Sutton includes an introduction where she explains her motivation for writing the book and warns readers of the explicit nature of some of the sexual scenes. Given that warning, readers should be able to skim the parts that they find too graphic and get to the real crux of the story – the marked difference between the way the two couples try to handle the stress of the affair and ultimately find healing.

I especially appreciated the way Sutton treated the relationship of Hope and her husband James. Although they had God on their side, it was not an easy road and there were no pat answers. It took time for healing to take place, fraught with many trials, doubts and stumbles along the way. I found this to be very true to life. As long as readers aren’t put off by the sexual content, this book is an excellent source of hope and encouragement for people struggling with sexual sin, or any other form of trial, for that matter.

Buy at amazon

Motivation and Inspiration - a Feature Interview

This week's 'link' is to Elaine Stock's blog where I had the privilege of sharing some insights into the writing life, going back as early as my first written stage play. In the article, I talk about inspiration and motivation, and even how rejection can fit into both of those categories.

"It’s this kind of support that every writer needs at some point or other. Sure, there is going to be lots of rejection. Get used to it. It’s inevitable and it’s one of the best ways to grow as a writer. But somewhere along the line we all need someone to say, “You’ve got something here. This is worth something.” This glimmer of hope is what keeps us writing. "
 
Check out the entire article, and while you're at it, leave a comment - you could win a signed copy of PLAY IT AGAIN.

Showcase: Theresa Franklin's 'Journey to Fulfillment'

The following book showcase is brought to you on behalf of the 'John 3:16 Marketing Network' - a group of authors working together to encourage one another and promote each others' work. 

Journey to Fulfillment by Theresa Franklin

Join Author, Theresa Franklin, in her tender and delightful memoir, Journey to Fulfillment, as she shares her life experiences that have molded her character into the woman God intended her to be. Theresa honestly and brazenly discusses heartaches, tragedies and triumphs from childhood through adulthood. With an open and compassionate heart, the author lays bare the adversity she has faced through life, including the loss of her first love, the challenges one can face as a wife and a mother, and notably her struggles in teaching special needs children. Throughout it all, there has been one constant in her life: the unconditional love of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Gain the proper perspective in regard to your life and glean from Theresa Franklin’s many years of experience as a Director of Special Education to discover your destiny in life and find fulfillment by transforming the adversities and hardships of your life into stepping stones that will lead you to a life well lived through Christ. This book will help you find the fulfillment you are searching for as your reflect on your upbringing and cause you to re-evaluate what is really important in life, regardless of circumstances. Her desire is to see others find fulfillment through Christ. She writes, “May God show you the stepping stones in your life.”

Find encouragement, guidance and strength for your soul within the pages of Journey to Fulfillment, and turn life’s stumbling blocks into stepping-stones to transform your own journey into a life well lived and a completely fulfilled life in Christ.

Excerpt:

Health issues became a concern when I was expecting our youngest child. From the beginning, it was clear that it would not be an easy pregnancy. It was my third pregnancy in four years. When people asked if I was pregnant again, I said, “No—still.” I felt like I had been pregnant for the entire four years. The doctor explained that each of my boys had been large babies for me, and my body had not had time to recuperate.

Having two lively boys, ages two and four, did not allow time for rest. Four months into the pregnancy I was admitted into the hospital to prevent a miscarriage.  In the seventh month, the doctor prescribed bed rest. I explained that bed rest was impossible with the two boys. He drew a deep breath and said the pregnancy would not go full term if I did not get some rest.

When our daughter was born, there were complications. We had gone to the hospital at two o’clock that morning because I thought my water had broken. The nurse checked my dilation and sent me home. We returned to the hospital later that evening. Loretta was born with an elevated temperature and did not begin breathing immediately. I had been right the first time we went to the hospital. My water had broken and the baby had contracted a virus because I had not been in a sterile environment. Loretta weighed six pounds and nine ounces, which was pretty small to us compared to what the boys had weighed. My husband could lay her in the middle of his two hands, and one could still see all around his hands. I told the doctor that if I had known she was so small, I would have stayed home and phoned him for instructions. He said, “You don’t think you needed me?” I told him if I could have a baby that weighed eight pounds, twelve ounces, I didn’t need him for one weighing six pounds, nine ounces.

Sam reappeared in my room one hour after I thought he had left the hospital. He explained that he had been asked to remain in the hospital in case he was needed to sign consent forms to transfer our baby to another hospital if her breathing did not stabilize.  The following day we were told that she would not be allowed to leave the nursery, but we could visit her there. We went to the nursery for every feeding, each time being required to don sterile gowns before entering. Two days later when I was released, our baby remained in the hospital for observation. We were told she could remain as long as two weeks. On the way out of the hospital, I refused my husband’s offer to stop at the nursery. I knew I would be an emotional wreck if I had to say good-bye to our baby girl. We left the hospital with empty arms and hurting hearts. She was released the following evening but required more tests in the doctor’s office. She turned out to be the healthiest baby we had.

For more, buy it now! 

Author Bio:

Theresa Franklin grew up in Houston, Texas.  After graduation she attended East Texas Baptist College.  There she met her husband on a blind date.  They married a short time later and moved outside of Beaumont, Texas where they raised their three children. 

Theresa taught school for 12 years.  Students with disabilities won her heart and she became Director of Special Education in an effort to better serve them.  She retired in 2010 and began writing children’s books. 

Theresa is the author of children’s books, Don’t Forget Daddy and A Sunny Tomorrow.  Her adult books include non-fiction Journey to Fulfillment and fiction Triumph Through Trial.  She has written one curriculum guide for the novel Night of the Cossack, a historical fiction for young adults by Tom Blubaugh, titled Night of the Cossack, Lesson Plan.

My crazy life

Forgive me if I seem a bit frazzled these days. The truth is - I am. In the midst of an upcoming book launch for PLAY IT AGAIN, and two new play contracts to navigate, I went ahead and scheduled opening night for this year's winter play right at the end of the first semester when final exams are looming and report cards are due. I guess I thought I was super woman and could handle it ... Somehow the cape feels a bit tattered.

In any case, HOOK'S NEMESIS opens on Feb. 1 and the cast and crew of 33 young people aged 12 - 17 have worked very hard for the past five months to perfect the show. Somehow I'm managing to get my marking done, do all my blogging and emails etc. and put together my launch. I'm looking forward to a new schedule come second semester, and hopefully more time to check if my hair is combed ...

Life doesn't always come at us in nice, manageable increments. We have seasons of over commitment, and seasons of inactivity. We have productive times and times when it seems as if we're moving backwards instead of forwards. This ebb and flow is natural, I think, and as long as we understand that the seeming tidal wave will not last forever, we should be able to weather it. At least, that's my philosophy.

See you on the other side. I might look like I've just been washed up on the beach, but ... you get the picture.

The Quest

While pondering this month's CW Blog Chain theme,  I considered using that master storyteller, J.R.R. Tolkien, as an example. His Lord of the Rings series, as well as the prequel The Hobbit, are prime examples of 'quest' in its classic sense. 'Quest' is a timeless theme found in much of the world's great literature. A quest, in my mind, is so much more than a journey. It involves some other purpose; some sought after outcome, be it spiritual, material, physical, or emotional, that will change the life of the 'pilgrim' forever.

Low and behold, as I was thinking about this, I came across a fellow blogger's post on 'quest'. I encourage you to read Scott Field's post called 'What makes it a quest', (if you haven't done so already) as he so eloquently says exactly what I was thinking, and uses Tolkien's example quite effectively.

Now my dilemma is, what should I write about that isn't just another rehash of what's already been said? This month has been full of thoughtful posts on 'quest' as it applies to our spiritual lives, as well as some lovely anecdotal stories that are quite personal. 

In his post, Scott talks a lot about a writer's quest for publication. I loved this one quote in particular, however:
            "For some, it’s only a journey. They want to accomplish a goal, fulfill an ambition, realize a dream. They just want to get there. Others understand that the objective is only part of the equation. If you don’t grow along the way, what’s the good in getting there at all?" (Scott Fields) 


This is profound. A quest is so much more than attaining a goal. It's about growing and learning and changing - becoming a better writer / Christian / person. (Insert your noun of choice.)


May each of us be on a quest to better ourselves in this life and on into the next.

The Wounded Spirit

Frank Peretti has long been one of my favorite authors, mostly for his supernatural thrillers. Here is a non-fiction book that I read recently which I highly recommend as well.

The Wounded Spirit - a review
Frank Peretti tackles bullying and abuse head on in this book. Much of the book is a personal account of the abuse he himself suffered as a child due to a physical disfigurement. He manages to weave lots of gripping narrative in with an expose of the gravity of this problem. He uses references to Columbine and other examples as the culminating outcome should this type of abuse continue to go unchecked. He also offers hope and practical solutions to the problem. Frank Peretti is one of my all time favorite authors in terms of his supernatural thrillers. I found this book, although not written as a novel, just as gripping and engaging. Peretti has a way with words, and he presents his case against bullying and abuse in a very convincing way. This book should be required reading by anyone in a position of authority, and would be an excellent tool in the hands of counselors, pastors, or anybody that is dealing with bullying – as a victim or even as a perpetrator. By making himself vulnerable and telling his own story, he opens the door for others to find hope and healing from these wounds that often leave people scarred for life.

Inscribe and other links

If you missed my regular post this past week at 'Inscribe Writers Online', why not check it out and leave a comment? This month I talked about my inspirational word for 2012 - PURPOSE.

Yesterday I mentioned the feature on 'Inspirational E-books', but its worth repeating here. :)  I'm gearing up for my official launch of PLAY IT AGAIN on Feb. 21 and in this feature there's an excerpt and I also talk about why I wrote the book. Check it out and leave a comment.

Feature at Inspirational E-Books

Please link to the feature of PLAY IT AGAIN on 'Inspirational E-Books'.

ANOTHER New Play contract

Things are heating up on the theatre front. Last week I told you about a new contract for my play 'A Midterm Eve's Phantasm'. I have more good news! I just received a contract from a different play publisher for another play. JAC Publishing wants to publish my play 'Dorothy's Road Trip' - an adaptation of 'The Wizard of Oz'. I've produced the play twice now, and as one of my earlier plays, I am thrilled to see it finally get into print so that other theatrre groups can produce it too.

In this version, Dorothy is not the typical naïve girl, but is a modern, assertive teenager who is used to getting her own way. (Perhaps she’s even a bit spoiled!) Also added is the Munchkinville Police Chief, who is ready to arrest Dorothy for ‘flying’ without a license. An audience favorite is the wizard’s personal maid – a ‘French maid’ style character more concerned with doing her nails than anything else, and who, it turns out, actually runs the place. The Wicked Witch also has a personal henchman, Watson, who adds lots of slapstick fun and humor. Again, as with most of my plays, I have tried to add a modern ‘edge’ to this classic tale to make it more relevant for today’s audience. 

I will certainly be sounding the celebration horn once the play releases. 

So You Want to Write a Book ...

I just learned a new presentation technology called 'Prezi' and would like to share my presentation called 'A Writer's Journey'.
Prezi is somewhat like a powerpoint, but has the ability to zoom in and out and is much more engaging. Once at the site, just click on the 'next' arrow to go to the next point.Enjoy!

I've also embedded it here:

Lost by E.G. Lewis

I thoroughly enjoyed reading LOST by E.G. Lewis over the holidays. Here is my review:
 

Lost - a review

Military secrets, corruption, greed, international intrigue; tenderness, human frailty, devotion, and loyalty. All of these describe Lost by E.G. Lewis. A wide and varied cast of characters are intricately woven together in this very satisfying mystery that is a follow up to Promises. However, Lost totally stands on its own two feet, and although some characters from the first book make an appearance, it is not necessary to read book one in order to enjoy book two.  The main character from Promises, Claudia Monet, has an important role to play, but the primary character by far is a loveable, albeit crusty, newspaper man named Tom Jenkins. He’s a semi-retired Vietnam war vet, living in a small Oregon town. When his wife goes missing while on board a cruise ship bound for Alaska, Tom begins to investigate the ship’s strange disappearance, and thus the roller coaster ride of conspiracy begins.

There are a lot of really interesting elements to this book. Snatches of Sc-fi co-exist quite naturally with the breathtaking descriptions of the Oregon scenery, while touching glimpses into the emotional make up of the characters flow seamlessly into scenes of high intensity action. It’s a mystery, romance, action, thriller rolled into one. Implausible though the premise of the story might be, it still comes across as very believable, due in part to the well developed characters and obvious research that went into many aspects of the book. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for a great mystery. 

Buy on amazon

New Play Contract!

Amidst the rush of the release of my third novel, PLAY IT AGAIN, I've hardly had time to celebrate another exciting piece of news. In mid December, I secured and signed a contract with Big Dog Publishing for another original stage play I wrote called "A Midterm Eve's Phantasm". I wrote the play in the fall of 2010 and it was performed by my amateur theatre group in March of 2011. I'm looking forward to its release sometime this year. It is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', with a modern high school cast and setting. It was tons of fun to produce and got rave reviews. Link to more photos from last year's spring show!

Purpose

There has been a lot of focus this year on choosing one word that encapsulates your goals for the year. My signature word for the year is PURPOSE. You can read more about my reasons for choosing this word for 2012 in last week's post called "Is 2012 the year of 'The Goal'?"

Today I want to expand on the word itself and what it means to me. When I looked the word up in the dictionary, the definition was long and varied. Here is what I gleaned on a personal level from my friend Webster:
"an ideal kept before the mind as the end of one's efforts; practical advantage, determination, and consistency"

I don't know about you, but I'm far too busy for my own good and I'm tired of expending time and effort on activities that don't always seem to have a purpose. I want to streamline my efforts, especially when it comes to my promotional and marketing activities, with results in mind. This is going to take more planning on my part; better use of scheduling, time management, and finding measurable ways of tracking my progress. I'm not even sure what this is going to look like yet, in its entirety, but I know I need a plan.The old adage, 'Work smarter, not harder," comes to mind. I'll keep you updated on my progress as I flesh out the particulars.

I want my writing and promoting to have purpose, not just be a string of willy-nilly activities leading me in a big circle. I also think that living with purpose in every area of my life is a worthy goal. I want purpose in my job as a teacher, purpose in my time with my husband and family, and purpose in my time spend with God. With this in mind, I've decided to re-read Rick Warren's classic The Purpose Driven Life. I've read and studied it before, but thought that this year I would take the 40 day challenge he suggests once again, applying each days lesson to the new circumstances I find myself in since the last reading.

I'll end this post with a couple of inspirational scriptures that I've chosen for the year to go along with my word. 

Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might ..."  and 1Corinthians 10: 31 says, "... whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Author Platform

I don't normally just send you over to another blog, but I really thought this one was good and I couldn't have said it better ... Here is an excellent resource on building an author platform - something each and every writer, seasoned or aspiring - should be doing. It's called 'The New Author Platform".

First Response

I did lots of reading over the Christmas break and will be posting reviews over the next few weeks. Here is my review of First Response by Michelle Sutton.

First Response - review

First Response is number three in Michelle Sutton’s Tombstone Series. It definitely lives up to the standard of the first two books in terms of its romance, character development and Christian theme. Trinity is a massage therapist and Chet, whom we’ve met in previous books, is an EMT. He’s hurt his back and needs treatment and thus the romance begins. The book is set in modern day Tombstone where ordinary citizens role play characters from the ‘wild west’ for the many tourists that visit. As in previous books, Trinity and Chet participate, but this doesn’t seem to be as central to the story as it was in the first two books. Instead, the real crux of the story is their struggle with sexual purity. Both of them are fairly new Christians and find that the sexual attraction they feel might be more than they can handle, despite their mutual faith. To complicate matters, Trinity’s ex boyfriend, a very nasty fellow, wants her back and continues to threaten her. Of course, Chet saves the day on more than one occasion. The main characters from book one, Sammie and Jimmy, become a sounding board as well as a lifeline for the couple. Also woven into the story is a lovely relationship between Trinity and her elderly grandmother, a fun and feisty lady who has a bit of a mischievous streak. Trinity struggles with abandonment issues because her own mother abandoned her as a child, but with the help of Granny and Chet, she is able to move forward and leave the pain behind.

I would give First Response a fairly high rating on the ‘sensual’ meter. For a book that is unapologetically Christian, it also gets pretty steamy at times. It stops at giving a graphic play by play, but some readers may find the sexual references beyond their comfort zone. This is quintessential Michelle Sutton style, however. Sutton isn’t afraid to tread the ‘edgy’ tightrope. She typically tackles real life issues that others shy away from, and presents her characters – even the ‘born again’ Christians - as real, fallible, human beings. I found the book maintained a healthy balance between the romance and the inner struggles faced by the couple. The characters and situations were quite believable and I would recommend the entire series to those who want more than a ‘sweet’ romance, but who want to remain on the moral high ground.

Buy at amazon

First Links of the New Year!

PLAY IT AGAIN found itself on author and reviewer Michelle Sutton's top reading list for 2011. Check it out here and see what else made her list.

Grace Awards - voting has begun!

The GRACE AWARDS are once again open for nominations. This is a reader driven award and it's your chance to vote for your favorite books of 2011. 
 
CRITERIA FOR NOVELS:
Original novels presenting a Christian worldview written in English and originally published in English, released in hard cover, trade paperback, or in Ebook format.
Traditional publishers, Small press, Indie publishers, self-published works. To us, Pbooks and Ebooks all compete on the same level playing field. Where a question arises, the Board makes the final decision, but it is not our aim to exclude, but rather to be inclusive.
Readers can only vote for novels released between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.
Most of all, the novel must reach the highest of literary standards and add something of value to Christian fiction and the Christian community.
Only one novel by an author can final in a category.

WHO CAN VOTE FOR NOVELS:
Individuals (not organizations) who maintain a networking page (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, ShoutLife, Linkedin, Ning sites, etc.) created before November 1, 2011. Why this stipulation you may ask? This ensures that people aren't sending in multiple votes for one book, and that they are actually real people - not just a made up pseudonym designed to increase one person's vote count. Most people are on Facebook anyway, so this should be easy!


An individual not affiliated with the Grace Awards (and not in the publishing industry) will tabulate votes. If a novel is submitted in an incorrect category, the Board’s Voter Panel will move it to the correct category rather than discount the vote. The Panel makes all decisions on what votes will be accepted, but it is not our aim to exclude or disqualify, but rather to be inclusive.
Authors can vote. You are readers too. You can’t vote for your own novel(s).
Board members and judges can vote, but not for their own book(s).

HERE IS HOW TO VOTE:

Copy and paste the Official Template below into an email and send it to: graceawards@aol.com

Give A Link To Your Social Networking Page (web address to your page put up before November 1, 2011, so we know you’re a real person):  Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Shelfari, Linkedin, a Ning Page, MySpace, ShoutLife, or the like. If you do NOT provide a link, your vote is invalid.

Womens Fiction Title (serious women’s issues, can have humor and/or suspense elements). Why you like the story: (At least 25 words)
Contemporary Romance/Historical Romance Title (the primary element is love/marriage, be it now or then). Why you like the story: (At least 25 words)
Suspense/Thriller/Mystery/Romantic Suspense/ Detective Series Title (crime fiction, there’s probably a body). Why you like the story: (At least 25 words)
Speculative Fiction Title (SciFi, fantasy, horror, etc.). Why you like the story: (At least 25 words)
Action Adventure/Western/Historic Epic Fiction Title (exploits, quest, a feel of wide-open spaces, expansive). Why you like the story: (At least 25 words)
Young Adult Title (appeals to ages 15 – 21-ish). Why you like the story: (At least 25 words)

VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WISH! (You can't vote for the same book twice.) 

And while I'm at it, how about a little love? If you liked one of my books released in 2011, why not vote for it?
Play It Again - paperback - Nov. 2011
My Mother the Man-Eater - epub edition - 2011