Tee Morris

Writer, podcaster. and streamer

writer

The Importance of Asking Questions (or Yes, ANOTHER Blogpost about Research)

So this week I head off to the 2019 James River Writer’s Conference in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia. (I’ll post my finalized schedule before Friday, promise…) It got me thinking about how there is going to be a lot of writerly advice given at this event, which is fantastic if you are looking to launch a career in storytelling, reboot your authorial pursuits, or take yourself in an entirely new direction with your word-herding.

Thing is, even when you are hearing from the experts, it’s never a bad idea to ask questions.

You see, an author lamenting over her unexpected twists and turns in the publishing industry really hit me in the feelz. I mean it — I felt for this author who was coming clean in this hardcore Medium Mea Culpa as success, much like Shakespeare described it in Twelfth Night, had been thrust upon this author.

But then, she said this…

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The Art of Reading a Room

“What advice would you have for someone who wants to write professionally?” is a pretty tall order. It’s a question that, while I love answering it, remains one of the toughest to answer because you are being asked for that “One Ring” kind of answer. What’s the one takeaway you want people to have after meeting you? Well, apart from buying my latest book, there’s no one thing that makes an aspiring author a success. A lot goes into building a professional writing career.

But one thing I’ve rarely, if ever, hear an author offer for advice is this: Learn how to read a room.

If you want to see a really good dramatization of this, watch the Amazon Prime movie, Late Night. It’s a terrific watch for many reasons (like you need any reasons beyond Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson) but one scene in particular is a masterclass in how to read a room. At a stand-up comedy cancer benefit, late night talk show legend Katherine Newberry (Emma Thompson) takes the stage in an impromptu stand up set, and she is bombing. You watch Newberry look the length of the audience; and the camera switches angles, looking at the world from her perspective. She takes a moment and changes her “opinions on this wacky world” approach to self-deprecating comedy, a change that not only helps her recover gracefully but also makes a connection between her and the audience.

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Writing Is Not a Solo Sport

aly_drew
photo credit: Arne Parrott

Striking a hero’s pose here is Drew Mierzejewski. I briefly met him two years ago through Alyson Grauer. Now if Aly’s name sounds familiar, it’s because you can find her lending her voice to one of my podcasts here, hear her rock the steampunk here, do it again here, and then giving good panel at DemiCon 25. Aly’s got game. So does Drew. That might be one of many reason these two got married.

Check it out, Chicago. This is an up-and-coming power couple to watch. I’m just sayin’.

Thing about Drew—I wish I knew him better. Something just tells me we’d be talking to the wee small hours in the morning about…stuff. Deep stuff. I especially got that impression when I saw a random Facebook post from him yesterday about the road creatives walk. The entire thread is here, and you really should check it out or even chime in if you like, but this was the part that made me stop and think…

Therefore, I would like to place a hypothetical to each of you. Why do we do walk this road alone? There are many of us! Why do we not band together in a great bonfire of creativity and make art? Is it impractical? It is idealistic? Is it too terrifying? What is stopping us from creating a massive company that makes art year round, in which we pool resources and talent to make the best of what we have to offer? Now, I want to reiterate that I ask this in hypothetical but I do want to hear your thoughts on this. So please take a moment and tell me in the comments what you think. Tell me why.

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Glyn Jones: A Man for All Seasons

 

glyn_jonesThis is Glyn Jones. There’s a chance, unless you were at theatre student at James Madison University between 1988 and 1989, or active in theatre circles of England, you don’t know who he is…

…but if you’re reading this blog, you all have met him.

My first meeting with Glyn was in my Freshman Year at JMU. I was acting opposite of him in Molliere’s The Imaginary Invalid. I made a memorable impression by tripping over his chair, and practically falling on top of him. This was the beginning of a friendship where, much to my loss, I fell out of touch, even though we reconnected on Facebook. (Not really the “reconnection” I hoped for, but it was good to see those updates.) I failed in emails and phone calls, but Glyn’s name came up often in my conversations, especially when I talk about my days in the theatre. [Read more…] about Glyn Jones: A Man for All Seasons

Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Nancy S. Kyme asks “Are You a Writer?”

Part of me is so flipping excited about this Endless Possibilities blog tour! Makes me happier than Coke executives the day after airing a Super Bowl commercial reflecting on what makes America great! 

What? Too soon?

Anyway, it has been a real kick introducing you to my fellow authors at Write by the Rails; but I just hope that when all is said and done, you’ll stick around for more musings from the TeeMonster, right? I’ve got to get some posts in the hopper for when it is just me, but until then continue to comment and syndicate on these  terrific and talented individuals. Today the blog belongs to my hostess from earlier this week, Nancy S. Kyme. She is the author of Memory Lake, the Forever Friendships of Summer, a 2012 Next Generation Award Winning memoir and she comes out of the blogger’s box swinging with a pretty deep question for you. 

Heck, on some days, it’s a deep question for me…

18691SD2“Click, tap-tap-tap. Click,” my fingers shifted across the keyboard.  “Clang,” the grandfather clock in the hall chimed one.  “Why am I still awake?” I whispered.

Oh, I see it now.

That last sentence must go to the front of the paragraph.  It no longer needs the second sentence.  Perfect.  My point is made in fewer words and the chapter is almost polished.  I hit ‘save.’ I closed the Toshiba, tip-toed upstairs, and into bed.

The alarm would go off in four hours.  [Read more…] about Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Nancy S. Kyme asks “Are You a Writer?”