NCF Tuesday: Authors Writing for HBO & Showtime; Writing Contests; Tea, Cake or Death
News
Chabon, Waldman and HBO
Authors Michael Chabon and his wife Ayelet Waldman are collaborating on an HBO show called ‘Hobgoblin’ that revolves around magicians and conmen trying to defeat Hitler.
Will fantasy and Hitler mix well?
Rushdie and Showtime
Author Salman Rushdie is “developing Next People, a fictional story which dissects the "radical pace of transformation in contemporary American life – from politics and race to technology, science and sexuality.” Showtime entertainment president David Nevins sealed the deal after convincing Rushdie it was the best place to present his writing.
What do you think about award-winning authors writing for television?
15 Richest Fictional Characters
Forbes magazine is known for printing lists of the richest men and women in the U.S. They also publish an annual list of fictional characters and their estimated wealth. Forbes needs input from readers to create 2011’s list. They provide lists from previous years which include Carlisle Cullen from Twilight, Scrooge McDuck and Jay Gatsby.
Who would you nominate for the list?
Contests
FICTION
New American Fiction Prize
- Fiction: Approx. 100-500 pages of your best fiction
- First Place Prize: $1,000, publication contract, 25 complimentary copies and 15% royalties
- Deadline: May 15, 2011
E.M Koeppel Short Fiction Award
- Unpublished Fiction
- First Place Prize: $1,100
- Deadline: April 3, 2011
Glimmer Train Literary Journal
- Open Fiction
- First Place Prize: $2,000
- Deadline: March 31, 2011
Narrative Magazine
- Fiction and Nonfiction
- First Place Prize: $3,250
- Deadline: March 31, 2011
Writer’s Digest Magazine
- 80th Annual Writing Competition
o Fiction and Nonfiction
o Grand Prize: $3,000
o Deadline: May 2, 2011
- 5-Minute Memoir, “Tales From the Writing Life”
o Personal Essay (600 words or less)
o Prize: Publication in Writer’s Digest magazine
o Deadline: Rolling submissions
POETRY
American Poetry Talent Search Contest
- Poetry (100 lines or less)
- First Prize: $250
- Deadline: March 31, 2011
Writecorner Press Annual Poetry Award
- Poetry (40 lines max.)
- First Prize: $500
- Deadline: March 31, 2011
Fun
Enjoy Eddie Izzard’s Lego-animated stand-up!
Comments
as for the chabon/rushdie TV projects, I think it could really work, but I'm very afraid it won't. When I was living in England I was thrilled when the bbc aired Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere - which was written for TV. I was thrilled until i saw the poor production values and the beast at the end that looked very old school dr. who, but not in a good way, no not at all, because in the 1990's production values should have been better. The story deserved sooo much more love and care, especially one about my beloved London. So, as awesome a writer as Neil Gaiman is, even he couldn't make Neverwhere awesome (but, you could argue, Coraline is awesome...but that's film)
I guess it depends on if HBO and Showtime pony up with the free artistic license. That's the only thing that could make these projects good, or a lack of it could scupper them. it's so up in the air.
BTW, I think True Blood is a zillion times better than the books, so TV can be transformative in a good way...
As far as professional writers taking their work to television...I say the more the merrier. I love television more than I do books (I still read but only for maybe an hour or so a night) and of course I write. I watch at least a couple hours of television a day. There are so many wonderful series on right now and I like looking at the attractive guys. It makes me feel less lonely. Books in my opinion are a lonely enterprise so I can only write for about an hour a day or so and then read before the silence of the apartment overwhelms me.
And Eddie Izzard is awesome. What a great comedian.
I've enjoyed watching many of the original shows on HBO and Showtime. My fingers are crossed that something smart will be produced.