Don't let another season slip through your fingers!

Greg is offering a SPRING FORWARD SUPER SALE on his creative consulting. Get 12 hours for the price of 10 and commit to weekly check-ins for the next 3 months while you...
Draft your script
Write your show
Outline your book
Finish a book proposal
Create your online profile
Transform your standup act

Veteran screenwriter, story editor, teacher and writing coach Greg Miller will get your creative work on track with concrete suggestions, fresh perspective, strategic planning and regular deadlines.

"It's like magic!" - Parker (outlined and drafted article)

If you have material you've already generated, e-mail your pdf or link(s) or mail to: 137 N. Larchmont Blvd. #107 LA CA 90004. Greg is an expert reader and will help you focus the project, re-ignite your excitement for the material and chart a course to a finished draft (or performance).

"Terrific insights!" - Noah (re-wrote a script)

If you don't have any material generated... then you really need to saddle up and get started. Call Greg directly at 323-717-4731, explain your particulars and schedule your first session today.

Once you're writing and the words start flowing, you can get totally carried away.

A little carried away is a great thing for creativity. Too much and you hit hurdle #4: Losing Perspective.

This is trick because a crazy person doesn't know they're crazy, right?

So here are several ways you'll know when you've lost perspective -- and what to do about it:

#1: Your latest version of the material seems oddly familiar and you realize that you're re-written yourself in a circle and have arrived back at your original version of the material.

Last week we announced the finalists in the Other Network Comedy Contest. This week we're happy to announce...

The runner up in the comedy contest is Derek Taylor Kent, primarily for his "Original Sketch Packet", but also for his other entries, all of which were very nicely done.

And the winner is...

Deborah Gross for her blog "Conversations With Deb".

We admit that we're a little partial to reality, but we admired the way wrote her own lines in life - and found the funny as it unfolded around her. Also, for finding a way to put the work out as it happened without having to wait for a greenlight from anyone else. Since, let's face it, the green lights are getting harder and harder to get, even for seasoned professionals.

Congratulations to Deb and to all the entries for your hard work.

You've started generating material. You've defined the boundaries, genre and format of your writing project. Now get ready for hurdle #3: Making a lot of words flow.

I’ve seen many writers define their project clearly and even get as far as a detailed outline that is completely ready to draft and then… they hit a wall.

Why aren’t the words coming out?

Reason #1: It’s not the right project. It's completely possible that with every rational reason to write the project you're trying to write, it's just isn't the right project for you right now. (Or maybe ever.)

Solution:

Maybe you had some trouble getting started, but now you're beginning to generate material.

Or maybe you're a natural generator, or even an over-producer, and you have too much material.

Is it all even part of the same project? Maybe it’s several different projects?

Congratulations, you've just hit Hurdle #2: defining the parameters of your writing project.
 
If your problem is: “I can’t choose between several possible projects”...

There are several hurdles that almost every writer has to get past in almost every writing project; scripts, books, plays, or even a substantial essay or article.

As a writing coach I've helped many writers and talented would-be writers get over – or around – these hurdles. I've also written over a dozen scripts myself – plus many projects that never got finished because of one or more of these stumbling blocks.

Webster's defines a 'hurdle' as: “an artificial barrier over which racers must leap”. I think the key here is remembering they're artificial blocks, usually psychological, and they're almost always put in your way by you. Of course, they seem - and act - pretty real.

HURDLE #1: GETTING STARTED

You might be one of the lucky ones who has no trouble here. If so you've probably gotten started on way too many projects. If you’re one of those people, you can skip directly to the second hurdle. But if you’re having trouble getting going it’s probably due to one of the following reasons:

“I’m too busy with other things!” aka “I can’t find the time!”

Solution #1:

We're offering a special 2-week session of The Comedian's Way Workshop - A Creative Path for Writers, Performers and Other Creatives.

Get your creativity on track for one-person shows, standup, essays, memoir, blogs, etc. Get comfortable speaking in public, face your fear of being onstage and/or process major life changes. Learn how to tell your story for business or pleasure.

Wednesdays, Jan. 20 & 27, 7-10pm at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood (1 bl. East of Highland, 1/2 block North of Santa Monica). Only $79 for both classes! Register now. (No audits at the Center, but audit class this Sunday at M-Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., 1-4pm - only $10.)

If you've been having trouble scheduling our regular Sunday classes, or need more gay in your life, take this oppotunity to work with comedy gurus Beth Lapides & Greg Miller.

More info and registration for Wednesday classes

More info about Beth & Greg and the Comedian's Way workshop

Greenlight yourself. Face your fears. Wrestle your demons. Buckle down. Buck up. Use whatever metaphor you like to get serious about your creativity. If not now, when?

SUNDAYS, JANUARY 10, 17, 24, 31, FEBRUARY 7, 21, 28 1-4pm at M-Bar, 1253 N. Vine 90038

Single classes $60
Any 2 classes $110
Any 4 classes $200

SUPER SPECIAL HOLIDAY SALE - Commit to your creativity and get any 10 classes for $400 or any 30 classes for $1000 (that's just $33 each!).

See full-size video on youtube

"FUNNY & MIND-EXPANDING!"
LA Weekly

Beth weaves story, home-spun philosophy and big ideas into an unforgettable evening of inspirational comedy.

BETH NOT METH!!

The LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center Presents:

"100% HAPPY 88% OF THE TIME"
One night only
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 at 8 PM
The Renberg Theatre
1125 N. McCadden Place
Hollywood 90038

Net Proceeds Benefit The LA Gay and Lesbian Center's Baby Dragon Fund for Meth Counseling and Mental Health. Tickets only $20. Reservations 323-860-7300 or click here for tickets