I know when the tabs on my browser window take three screens to scroll from end to end it’s time for a NOTES FROM THE NET digest.

1st up is a post from Wil Wheaton (a.k.a. Wesley Crusher of Star Trek the Next Generation)

In case you don’t know, Wil took over social media and blogging long before it was cool or essential.  I forget the specifics, but his first journey into blogging several years ago, led to him self publish his first book and sell roomfuls of it from his home.  He’s increased that inter-connectivity exponentially and has a gagillion readers and followers.

His latest post is a recap on killing your stories, and what to do with the dead bodies afterward.  (When paper was popular this was called a tickler file) This is also a lesson in a good title…

‘STORAGE OF CORPSES IS IMPORTANT’

#2 comes on the coattails of ADAPTING SIDEWAYS and the importance your story perspective plays (it never ceases to amaze me how a topic of discussion can permeate the atmosphere on any given week – from seemingly unrelated fields)  This one certainly poses a compelling argument to do away with omniscient P.O.V. for any story.

WHY ALL (SCREENPLAYS) SHOULD BE WRITTEN WITH SUBJECTIVE P.O.V.

#3 And while we’re on the subject of storytelling – let’s go way back to its origins.  There’s a tiny little town in the Northeastern corner of Tennessee named Jonesborough.  And it happens to be the hub for the International Storytelling Center, an organization dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the oral tradition of spinning a good yarn.  They also have tremendous outreach initiatives for communities and corporations and like most non-profit arts organizations they have been hit hard recently, so they could use some patronage.

They’ve just announced their storytellers in residence lineup for 2011.  And while I fully recommend going to the Storytelling Festival in the fall, if you can’t swing it these residency programs are great way to get a taste for what they have to offer while visiting some beautiful mountain scenery.

STORYTELLING LIVE

#4) With Oscar® season in swing I have to include something right?  Well here’s a short snippet from a Screenwriting nominee’s climb to success, as someone else stated recently, just remember… every writer has been where you are now (in your progress to success).

THE HARD SLOG TO WRITING GRATIFICATION

#5) This link is for those that may be wondering if they will ever have another good idea to write about and have a lot of time to do research.

THE ANNUAL LIST OF NEW PUBLIC DOMAIN WORKS

#6) Is the last ‘official’ number – I try not to let the list go beyond a half a dozen – so consider the 2 that follow this  just for fun.

Novelist Editor, Alan Rinzler offers his take on plot problems.

ASK THE EDITOR: HOW TO UNTANGLE A PLOT

And now 2 short stories for the fun of it:

I love this YouTube chanel, and now you can too.

Finally, I wrap with a little exercise and a prize for those that have stuck with this post.  First read this 37 second story. (here)

Now, next time you want a writing kickstart, take that story and make it your own.  I don’t care if it’s a short screenplay (think Youtube) or a short story (yes the original is a short story – but really it can be SO much better) make it your own, and send it to laurie@lastorystudio.com

I’ll post the top three on the site – there may even be a nicer prize – I don’t have time to insist on  a deadline for this, so just do your best to get it to me by the end of the month.

Stay tooned…