Quote of the Day: I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged. – Erica Jong

InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpgNow, isn’t that the perfect quote for IWSG day. (And, yes, it totally sneaked up on me. Between college visits, snowstorms, and holiday cheer, whoosh, it went right past me.) On the first Wednesday of each month, many, many bloggers put their insecurities out on the World Wide Web and offer encouragement and support to one another. If you’d like to learn more about it, or join, visit the website for Insecure Writer’s Support Group, or its founder, Alex J. Cavanaugh. We’re good people.

Here’s what I’m wrestling with. I know I need to create a deadline for myself to actually edit/finish my current play, Grace Notes, Piano Bench Confessions. I had a table reading last February where the lovely people below read through my play with me and offered wonderful feedback. I had an idea to finish by now and have a local small community theatre produce it. She closed shop this fall, not enough actor support for the tiny town. She did great with the summer shows, but it was hard to get people to audition for winter shows. Too bad. She’s an awesome director, and I liked the idea of her small theatre. 

Readers for the table reading of Grace Notes. THANK YOU!!!

Readers for the table reading of Grace Notes.
THANK YOU!!!

So, without that external goal, and knowing where and when it would actually be performed, the play just sits idle in my computer. Then, I got an email from the MN Fringe Fest. Do you folks have Fringe Fests where you live? I really want to attend, but it’s in the metro, a couple hours away, and I’d have to find a place to stay. Plus, it happens the first week of August which is when The Biker Chef likes to take me to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. And, I’d like to be really brave and have show in the festival. It’s kind of hard to get in. They use a lottery system, and your chances are about 4 to 1. I did try to get in a couple years ago with Coffee Shop Confessions, but I was not chosen for one of the slots, and I was way down on the list as alternates. (I’m not 100% convinced that this is a solely lottery system. I know groups that have been performing several years in a row.) Regardless, if I sign up, that means that I have to A) Finish the play! B) Gather together a cast of willing actors who can travel to and from the metro (two hours away) and/or find a place to stay. (It seems like so much to ask of someone.) C) There is a cost involved, so I have to come up with the $, and ask those same actors to cover their expenses, unless, or until, we get a little profit from performing. Each production can keep 70% of their ticket sales. Which leads me to D) What if no one comes to my no-name, out-state, family friendly show? Is Fringe mostly for edgy artists and audiences? 

Maybe I should just finish the play, have another read-through, and beg the director at our local College Community Performing Arts Center to produce it. (I do have a relationship with that theatre with my children’s theatre workshops.)

Okay, that’s long enough. How are you all doing? I don’t have any Christmas decorations out, or even a tree yet. We usually wait until my boy’s birthday, Pearl Harbor Day, to get a tree and start decorating. Said boy is also doing college visits and applying to colleges, and full of anticipation. Visiting colleges and filling out college applications makes my uterus hurt.

Happy writing and holiday cheer to all of you!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: Do you have a fringe fest where you live? Ever been? Is it edgy? Do you like fruit cake? Is anyone else tired of “Jingle Bells?”