Literary Getaway: A Cheap Motel

I have some writing deadlines I have to meet. I could't focus at home, so I rented a room in cheap motel for the weekend. Boy, what a change in location can do!

I managed to churn out some much needed writing. Fortunately, the motel wasn't capable of free wireless internet or else I would have spent hours googling useless information.

I encourage students to go away and write sometimes. If you can afford a weekend away to clear your thoughts and get perspective, do it.

Literary Craig's List

Every once and awhile, I scan the writing opportunities on Craig's List. I hope to find some cool writing gig that will take me away from the drudgery of ordinary life. Then I saw this:

★ Experienced Writer For DIFFERENT Adult Company (Full Time)

Experienced Writer Needed For High End Adult Internet/Production Firm
Know how to write conversationally but still know when to use "whom"?
Are you able to write in the style of someone else with ease?
Do you thrive on getting all the details just right?

A little about the company:
We're a very successful adult video production company specializing in real straight men testing their sexual boundaries and we're at the top of our game. Customers are intensely loyal to our brand and they're incredibly happy with the content. Yet there's one repeat complaint: the release schedule isn't quick enough.

Our competition releases a new video at least once a week. We average one full video every three. An attention to detail unheard of in the industry means that we're a filet mignon in a sea of cheeseburgers... but given a choice between a cheeseburger a day or not eating for three days (while that filet's being prepared), it becomes a more difficult equation for the customer.

Must be willing to relocate to Las Vegas.

Wow, the chance to be a full-time writer, but I don't want to live in Las Vegas. I guess that counts me out.

Literary Encounter: Philip Kan Gotanda

During the Asian American Theatre Conference, I had the opportunity to sit down with playwright Philip Kan Gotanda. I hadn't seen him in atleast ten years. He knew me as an actor and he was pleased to know that I'd transitioned to writing. When I was much younger, I strived to be the kind of artist Philip is. I still do.

We talked writing and he said, "You have to bleed a little, give a little of your flesh to write what you write."

Indeed, indeed.

Literary Roots

I'd been checking out "The Next Big Bang," The Asian American Theatre Conference. It's quite amazing. I have strong theatre roots, something I'd forgotten about when I threw myself into writing novels.

This conference forced me to rekindle my love for the Theatre. Before I wrote for the page, I wrote for the stage. I ran into theatre artists that I hadn't seen in eons. I talked to Philip Kan Gotanda, Alice Tuan, Dan Kwong, Leilani Chan, Jessica Hagedorn, and more!

It was cool seeing and talking theatre again. I got a lump in my throat seeing people perform their hearts out. (If you haven't noticed I changed the "About Me" to reflect more of my work for the stage.) I think I'm gonna step back into the (theatre) ring again. It's time.

Literary Love: My Computer

I can't begin to tell you how having a laptop has changed my writing life. I can now write anywhere. I used to be limited to my home computer. Now, I can go the library and write. I can be that dork at a cafe hogging all the good tables while he stares intently at his screen. I can't wait to take a trip and write on a plane. Then I can be that idiot who holds up the security line because he has to take his computer out of his case. Yes!

Literary Pride

I marched in Pride for the umpteenth time over the weekend. This still surprises me. I once believed that in order for me to have any kind of a succesful creative life, I had to stay in the closet. Indeed, being gay has inspired many stories. My work has also been supported by the gay and lesbian community. And the straight community who find value in reading diverse voices.

I'm reminded of the X-Men Movie: The Last Stand. The mutants are given the opportunity to "cure" themselves of their "illness." There's nothing to cure, said Storm. There's nothing wrong with you.

If I had the opportunity to cure my gayness, would I take it? Hail Naw. Why would I give up my special powers?

(photo courtesy of Kristina Wong)

Literary Office

I always had this dream that someday I'd write full-time. I imagined myself renting out a little office somewhere. I saw myself getting up in the mornings and going to my "office" to work on a novel or some short story.

Well, I'd been taking my laptop and going to the library. I'd sit among all those books. There's something about that environment that is so inspiring. (Writing at home hasn't been all that productive, because all I can think of is that someday I should pick up all those clothes strewn on the floor.) I'm writing in the library and thinking, you know, what's stopping me from using this library as my "office." And I don't have to pay rent!

I'm telling you there's magic in a library. Surrounded by all those stories, you can't help but want to write your own.

I'd been dragging my feet on fine-tuning the pages of my third novel. (I'm up to page 89!) In the library, with all that quiet, I found the courage to flesh out the first two chapters. I knew the pages were rough, but with the rewrites, they felt more whole. I had a physical reaction to it. My shoulders relaxed and I felt like I had saved a baby from drowning.

Literary Refresher: Grammar

I decided to take a refresher course on grammar. The last time I did something like this was in 1998. I found it most useful then and I found it still useful. I have to admit that sometimes I wonder if I'm using a comma or semi-colon properly. Even though I have grammar books at home, information seems to stick best when I'm in a classroom.

I gave up my Sunday morning to take "Grammar, from A-Z" taught by longtime news and copy editor Gary North. I knew I had graduated to being a full-time dork when I was fully engaged in a discussion on the proper usage of "that vs. which" and "who vs. whom."

I was completely fascinated with various Style Guides that dictated whether a period went within or outside of quotes. I always assumed that I was an old "Elements of Style" writer, basing my punctuation on the classic by Strunk and White. Indeed, I'd probably been more of an "Associated Press Style Guide" writer, influenced by material I'd read in newspapers and magazines.

What I appreciated about the class was the reinforcement that the English language is forever evolving, adding new words all the time (sushi, en masse) and witnessing new rules evolve (as in ending a sentence with a prepostion, like "Where you at?")

As we take from computer lingo or pop music, an eloquent sentence in the near future might look like this: "I saw U at my frend's crib...Y U play me like dat?:(" The language that we are using now, might become as arcane as the language of Shakespeare's time.

Literary Life: My Column; Part Dalawa (two)

The latest issue of Arts and Understanding, America's AIDS magazine, is out. Check out my column "From the Trenches." It focuses on longtime workers in the AIDS field. I profiled Vince Crisostomo, an AIDS advocate for 19 years.


If you missed my last column in the January issue, here is a link:

http://www.aumag.org/viewfinder/FTJan06.html

Literary Revamp

I rewrote the catalogue description. My editor was pleased. Tell me what you think. Here's the new "Moon" copy:

"When Jory Lalaban, a Filipino postman, finds himself the target of a racially motivated shooting he is forced to confront long buried memories of his life in the Philippines - how he came to abandon the priesthood to become a worshipper of the Moon; his youth in an orphanage after World War II; the devastating 'curse' that forced him and his new bride, Belen, to flee the Philippines for the United States.

The shooting makes international headlines disturbing the quiet life of the Lalabans, a family forced to face its darkest fears. The reader is introduced to a cast of memorable characters like Emerson Lalaban, the son who talks to his dead brother on the phone, but fails to properly communicate his feelings to the man he loves; Michael, Emerson's Taiwanese boyfriend, who vows to never fall in love with an American again; the wife Belen Lalaban, a woman who hears the quirky voice of the Virgin Mary; and William, the racist gunman who demands to be heard. Inspired by an actual event, this funny, rich novel unflinchingly tackles the most explosive topics facing America today: race, religion, and sexuality."

Literary Queerifying

My editor, Don Weise, e-mailed me the blurb that will go into the publisher's catalogue that will help sell my novel "Talking to the Moon." It's too mainstream sounding. He wants me to rewrite it a bit to appeal more to gays and lesbians, part of my core readership. I don't know what I'll come up with, but I have to do it within 24 hours. Above is a picture of the gayest moon I could find. Hopefully, it'll give me inspiration.

This is the original:

"When Jory Lalaban, a Filipino postman, finds himself the target of a racially motivated shooting he is forced to confront long buried memories of his life in the Philippines - how he came to abandon the priesthood to become a worshipper of the Moon; his youth in an orphanage after World War II; the devastating “curse” that forced him and his new bride, Belen, to flee the Philippines for the United States.

The shooting makes international headlines disturbing the quiet life of the Lalabans, a family forced to face its darkest fears. The reader is introduced to a cast of memorable characters like Belen Lalaban, a woman who hears the quirky voice of the Virgin Mary; Emerson Lalaban, the shy son who regularly talks to his dead brother on the phone; Michael, a Taiwanese steward who waits patiently for a guy to say, “I love you”; and William, the racist gunman who demands to be heard. Inspired by an actual event, this funny, rich novel unflinchingly tackles the most explosive topics facing America today: race, religion, and sexuality."

Literary Convention

Book Expo America happened over the weekend. BEA is a huge annual event that brings together publishers and booksellers. If you're an author, the event is about trying to get exposure for your book. If you're a bookseller, it's about choosing which books you'd like to have in your store.

I've gone twice and it's an exciting, frustrating experience. I found myself talking with a bookseller in Ohio trying to convince him that my book should be on his shelves. I also met some terrific people and partied throughout the weekend.

It can be an expensive weekend with many writers paying their own way, hoping that their books are seen by booksellers. I know this will be me next year. I'm saving those pennies.

People will do all sorts of things to bring attention to a book. (Check out the pic above. No, it's not Disneyland. It's part of the BEA feel.)

More from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/books/22book.html?th&emc=th

Literary "what"?

"What Are You Working On?" is an interesting question. It's more interesting when you ask a writer. Mark Prithcard asked many writers what they're working on. (Ur, including me.)

Check it out:

http://www.toobeautiful.org/waywo_top.html

Literary Choice: Beloved

It was interesting to read that the number one choice of Best Work of American Fiction in the Last Twenty-Five Years was Beloved by Toni Morrison (above). Also interesting was that Philip Roth had made the runner-up list with a few of his novels. It's amazing how we come up with this stuff.

But we just love
1. Lists
2. Lists
3. Lists

http://click.email-publisher.com/maaeNb1abquYra3oRghbaeQxXH/

Literary Mothers

My siblings and I are going to take mom out to lunch to a fancy restaurant in Los Feliz for Mother's Day. Part of this day is to help mom set up her laptop that she bought months ago and is still sitting in a box.

I am truly grateful for mother. She was--and is--a big supporter of my creative life. She'd drive me to auditions back when I was a teenager. She didn't question my choice to go after an arts degree (she pulled double shifts to help me make tuition). She sat through performance after performance of shows I'd done. She bought several copies of my novel, just because. I could go on and on and on.

I'm proud to say I'm a mama's boy. In trolling the web on the subject of literary mothers, I found this cool website called Literary Mama (www.literarymama.com), a literary magazine for the maternally inclined. Check it out.

Literary Saturday

Have you ever gone for long periods of time when nothing happens, then--BOOM!--you're busier than you'd ever been in your life? Well, that's me this Saturday. I'll be on a panel for UCLA's Arts Day in the morning. My panel is at 11am. Later, in the afternoon, on the same campus, I'll be attending the Asian American Writers Congress.

Artsday LA:
http://www.uclaextension.edu/artsdayla/

Asian American Writers Congress:
http://apalc.org/bookfestival.htm

Literary Encounter: A.M. Homes

A.M. Homes is a hilarious nutcase. She read from her latest novel "This Book Will Save Your Life." She kept getting distracted by the sounds of the bookstore, like a phone ringing or someone typing on a computer. She'd go on these riffs--"is someone typing a short story while I'm reading?"--voices coming out of nowhere. She's a closet stand up comic, I'm telling you!

I asked her who would play her in the movie of her life. She said, "Lassie."

(Oh, some of you would be happy to know that she's a Mac user.)

Check her out at: www.amhomesbooks.com

Literary Purchase

I did it. I made the purchase. I went with a Toshiba. (Thanks, Sally.) I'd been coveting a Toshiba laptop for years--ever since my first writing teacher bought one and gushed over it. Thanks you all for your suggestions. Sorry Apple people, I just couldn't make the switch from PC to Mac.

This may sound weird, but I felt like I'd reached a turning point in my writing life with this computer. I'd been tossing and turning about this purchase for almost year. Now, that I did it, I wondered what all the fuss was about.

Happy Days are here again!

Literary Protest

I went to the "Day Without An Immigrant" Rally. What an awesome spectacle. I'd been to several rallies/marches in my life, but this beat it all! It was a record breaking crowd. Along the route, I spoke with actor Martin Sheen (above). He said that he's marching, because his parents were immigrants.

Immigrants and immigration is a recurring theme in my work. As a writer, I couldn't help but notice some of the writing printed on signs:

"Human Beings aren't illegal"

"Deport Bush"

"Immigrants are not criminals"

"End immigrant bashing and racial profiling"

"Illegal immigration began in 1492"

"You may hate us, but you need us"

Literary Weekend

I would have to say that this past weekend was the most literariest weekend I've had this year. It started with dinner on Friday night with my editor, Don Weise (above). He bought me dinner and we talked books. He said I should expect to look over cover art sometime in June. There might a chance that though "Talking to the Moon" is scheduled for a February 2007 publication, it might actually be in stores by Christmas!



Then we walked over to the Pacific Asia Museum to see my friend Andrew Lam (above) read from his first book, Perfume Dreams. Andrew is a remarkable writer. I had a blast seeing him. It was doubly special because writer Paul Bens was there, too.



After the reading, Don and I hung out some more and he told me that one of his authors on his fall list is the great Gore Vidal (above). It's apparently Mr. Vidal's last book of fiction, so there's a big buzz going around. If my book was published as planned it would have been on the same list as Gore Vidal's book of short stories. In a way, I'm glad my novel was pushed back to 2007. I'm sure my little book would have been passed over with all the attention Vidal's book would be getting.


On Saturday, I called Don to let him know what a terrific time I had and to see if he needed anything. Don handed the phone to an author he was lunching with. It was character actor Rip Taylor (above), who'll be doing his memoir with Don. Mr. Taylor says "Mabuhay!" to me and wants to know if I'll be observing the immigrant strike on Monday. He said Beverly Hills is going to shut down without the immigrants doing all the work. I couldn't help but laugh, because Mr. Taylor has this infectiously funny voice.


On Saturday afternoon, I finished reading a novel called "Behind the Moon," it's a book from Australia that's making its way to the US. I was asked to blurb it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm sure it'll make a splash for the author Hsu-Ming Teo (above). I think 2007 will be the year of the "Moon" books. With her novel and mine called "Talking to the Moon" on the shelves.


On Sunday, I went to the LA Times Bookfair to see former writing teacher Hope Edelman (above). She's terrific. I went from booth to booth and got some free books on Buddhism. I ran into Andrew Lam, who was a panelist, and he took me to lunch at the Author's lounge. I ran into other writers I knew like Janet Fitch and Diana Wagman.


On Sunday evening, I did the Dead Poetry Slam for Smartgals, reading the poetry of the divine Ms. Gwendolym Brooks (above).


Whew! Oh, and somewhere in between I went computer shopping. I didn't buy anything--but I'm close!

Literary Travel

I'm a big fan of travel writing. This one was written by one of my favorite writers, Edward Albee. It's on Easter Island.


http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/travel/30easter.html?th&emc=th

Literary Speakeasy

Smartgals is a terrific arts org. run by Christine Louise Berry. Smartgals does lots of fun stuff--I'd participated in many. This Sunday, April 30th, I'll be part of there Speakeasy, a secret literary event that requires a pass code to get it. Check it out.

http://www.smartgals.org/speakeasy/index.html

I'll be reading poems of the late great Gwendolyn Brooks!

Literary Grasping

I've been saving up for a new computer, a laptop. My old computer, a fossil from the last century, is giving me problems. I'd been looking at computers for months, but I'm shy of buying. You see, I have this little problem: I hate letting go--of anything! I hate letting go of money and my old computer. I hate to say that I'm stingy or cheap. I just have so much attachment to these things (There's a reason why Buddhists believe grasping is the root of suffering.) I ate cheaply, went to less movies, stayed home most Friday and Saturday nights to save up for a computer. It took several months of effort. Now, I don't want to let that money go, because I worked so hard to get it. The same with my old computer. I've written two novels on it, countless stories and essays. The keyboard is dirty from my greasy fingers pounding on it. I know money and a computer are just objects, but I attached memories, meaning to these things. It makes it hard to let go.

My last hold out is my car. I've kept it alive for 16 years. My car, Buster, has outlasted relationships. Buster has helped me move props to theatres, furniture to different apartments, driven me to writing classes, helped me take dates to dinner. I've made love in that car! (Okay, maybe that was too much information.) You get the gist. I can't see myself giving Buster up. I got it when I graduated college. My best friend Adele said Buster is almost college age himself and I need to let go of it.

Oy, I need to meditate on this.

Literary Waistline: Jollibee

I'm worried. Jollibee is a Filipino fast food chain. I've eaten at Jollibee in The Philippines and Filipino neighborhoods in California. Thus far I've always had to drive long distances to find one. Now, they'd just opened a Jollibee near me, on Beverly and Vermont. (I guess someone thought it would be a good idea to open this Filipino phenomenon near Filipinotown).

I told some of my friends that a Jollibee was opening up and they said, "Are you SERIOUS?!?!?"

I ate there this week. I almost cried. Where else can I get delicious fried chicken along with Palabok, a scrumptious noodle dish. I almost cried because Jollibee is pure comfort food. I almost cried because I know that when the writing isn't going so well, I'll be making plenty o' trips to Jollibee. I almost cried because I wanted to shed some pounds before my book comes out...and this will make my goal a little harder to reach.

Damn you, Jollibee! Damn you! (picture me falling over, beating the floor with my fists)

Literary Encounter: Chris Abani

After the rousing energy of James Ellroy, it was interesting experiencing the calm, steady force of Nigerian writer Chris Abani. He came around for his new book Becoming Abigail. Chris Abani began his time at the podium by discussing the problems of sex trafficing around the world. Without raising his voice, he had us transfixed.

It was good seeing Mr. Ellroy and Mr. Abani back to back. It just goes to show that there are different types of writers for different kinds of people.

Literary Encounter: James Ellroy

James Ellroy, author of The Black Dahlia and LA Confidential, packed the store. He's politically conservative and proclaimed himself as "the white Knight of the far right." He opens his reading by calling his audience "panty sniffers and pederasts." He's almost a complete opposite of who I am. So, why do I find him intriguing?

Maybe because I'd read his memoir My Dark Places, chronicling his rough life beginning with the horrific murder of his mother. He's a real character, an eccentric writer. I don't think he'd be allowed to behave this way if it weren't a novelist. Novelists are given a kind of permission to be weird, I believe.

I'd read that his day job was as a caddy. He lugged around gold clubs at country clubs to pay bills. He'd told he'd remained a caddy until his sixth book! I admire that kind of dilligence.

Literary Easter

With Easter coming, I'd been reading stuff on how Christian books are making it onto the shelves--and onto the bestseller lists. Christian books are all the rage.

Someday I hope to write the great Buddhist novel--well, a book using Buddhistic themes like impermanence, reincarnation, and karma. I'm already taking notes.

Literary Musing

You know, sometimes I wonder if I'll run out of things to write about--a scary thought! Then I came across this quote by Willa Cather (below):

"Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen."

Literary Pregnancy

In preparing to market my novel, my publisher sent me six pages of questions to answer this week. My answers will help you, the reader, understand where my book is coming from. Some of those questions were about plot, my intentions in writing the novel, which media outlets should get an announcement about my book. My favorite question: Are there any questions or topics about you, your book, and your life that you would like us (i.e. the media) to stay away from?

My response: Please don't ask about the years I had a perm.

It was exciting to get movement on my novel. I realized that 2007 is only nine months away. Next year, I would have given birth to a book! This questionnaire signals my first trimester.

Literary Jokes

I teach writing classes for UCLA Extension. There's always someone in my class who will ignore tense. Being a dork, I will say, "Your tense makes me tense." Hahaha. I'll get blank stares while I'm laughing my ass off. I came across this little cartoon that made me laugh. I'm sure most of you will be looking blankly at the screen.

Literary Photo: Part 3

I think I'll use this photo of myself safari hunting on the jacket of my book. What do you think?

April Fools!

Ha! That's not me. That's Ernest Hemingway. Gotcha!

Literary Sex

It comes as a surprise that writers screw around. New York Magazine has this take on Erica Jong and Edmund White, writers who recently published memoirs chronicling their sex lives.

http://newyorkmetro.com/arts/books/features/16509/index.html
Someday, I'd like to write such a book. I better start my research.

Literary Encounter: Michelle Tea

The writer's life has been making great movies: Truman Capote, now Grace Metalious. The truly awesome Michelle Tea (left) dropped by to talk up her new book "Rose of No Man's Land." I asked her if her life was made into a movie, who would play her. She responded, "Zooey Deschanel. She's really wonderful and great to look at."

Michelle, Zooey (right) ain't got half of what you got.

Literary Grace

I was inspired to write this post after reading the March Issue of Vanity Fair that profiled writer Grace Metalious and the 50th anniversary of her novel Peyton Place. Several years ago when I was touring New England, I read Peyton Place (about the underbelly of a New England town) on the train. Oh, what a wonderful time in my life that was: I was performing my second solo show "Master of the (miss) Universe," doing reading/signings of "Letters to Montgomery Clift," and my father was still alive.

I became curious about Ms. Metalious and googled her. What a tragic life she'd led--dirt poor, instant fame, then dead of alcoholism at 39. It's the stuff made for a Hollywood movie.

Maybe that's why Sandra Bullock will soon star as the tragic author in an upcoming biopic.

Literary Cold

Achoo! By Dose is stuffy, by head hurts. But thoughts keep swirling about on plot points for my next novel. No rest for a writer.

Literary Avalanche

There I was minding my own bizness, just sitting, listening to some strangers talk. Then out of nowhere... an idea for a story popped into my head. Just like that. The story wasn't sparked by anything as far as I can tell. It just appeared. At first, I dimissed it, thinking: I have waaaaay too many unfinished stories in my computer already. I didn't need another one. But the story wouldn't go away. It kept coming and coming. The less I tried to think about it, the more it persisited. It was followed by voices ("Did you see the news?" "Yes, I'm on it."), then images popped into my head (a crowd of people, a sniper), then names floated by (Blake, Gloria), themes inundated me (it's about sacrifice, no, it's about greed). I was overwhelmed, inundated. Finally, I caved in and started outlining the story, hoping to satisfy the rush of demons in my head. At this time, the story is called "Martyrs, Inc."

Literary Correction: Not Quite "There"

What I love most about my literary life is knowing people who will correct me. Writer Mark Haile read through my blog and saw my post on "Literary Oakland" (11/13/05). I wrote that Gertrude Stein (left) insulted Oakland, stating, "There's no there there."

Mark e-mailed me this...

"About that Gertrude Stein quote: it's famously out of context, (although San Franciscans take great delight in repeating it) as it was actually from a visit she made to her childhood home, where she was dismayed to see that it had been torn down (it's now in downtown Oakland). She had written much from memory about her happy childhood spent there, and was shocked to discover there was not a physical trace of her childhood left."

Literary Words To Live By

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."

Henry David Thoreau

Literary Bookstore: Vromans

Vromans is one of those bookstores you've GOT to visit. I'll be on a panel with MONA GABLE and CHRISTOPHER MEEKS offering insights and tips on the writing life (like buy a pen). And it's free. C'mon down if you got the time.

Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101
Friday, March 17, 2006 ~ 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Literary Clothes

I feel like I've been writing intense things lately. What with all the talk of death and lunar cycles and name calling and such. So, this post is pure fluff.

I've been preoccupied with clothes. More importantly, literary clothes. Maybe this has something to do with the fact I watch Project Runway when I can't write anything worth mentioning. Now, having hosted litarary events at Skylight for five years, I've seen writers wear all sorts of things (biker jacket, Rick Moody; tuxedo shirt over jeans, Dave Kipen; black turtle neck, Bernard Cooper; Polo button down and kacki's, James Ellroy).

Two items that I'm saving up for: a tweed coat and black leather blazer. One says classic writer, the other says sophisticated writer. What do you think makes up a literary look?