Great American Short Stories And Poetry
Authored by Geoffrey Zimmerman
The first in a long line of works to come. This book will move, entertain and inspire readers Read more
Books I've Been Reading and Plan to Read
A Word About Patience
PATIENCE
By
Geoffrey Zimmerman
Writers need to be the most obsessed and patient people in the world. Obsessed because there is no way in hell anything is going to get done, (written) unless I do it. I can’t say I’m busy, so do me a favor. And write that short story- or edit that book trailer – or rework that query letter.
Patience- yes. We, (writers) have, above all else in the universe to be patient – with ourselves, with our family, with our friends and contacts, and with the universe.
It’s like throwing a stone into the ocean, and KNOWING that someday the ripple will return. (this is also faith)/
I never realized how large a role patience must play in this chosen career until I started to go public with my newly pressed compilation of short stories.
Regarding one novel- Love Never Dies, I began to write the story in 1989 – 22 years ago!.
I was living in San Francisco then, and since that year I have been married (and divorced) twice, lived in Los Angeles, Connecticut, Germany, Virginia, Colorado and Arizona.
It is not like in 1989 I decided it would take me 21 years before I could call myself a writer – life intervened – but through it all, I kept my eye on the prize.
Now, each day I try to move each project that I am working on forward.
I have a self-published compilation of short stories – on six websites- for sale, and in one restaurant and 2 libraries in my county here in Virginia. I am writing short stories and poetry for the second volume of this endeavor. I am reworking ( and submitting) my 475 page 128,000 word novel I called “finished” 2 years ago. I am reworking and preparing to submit query letters to agents. I am gathering music and images for the book trailer I am producing for the short story book. I am periodically writing erotic short stories, stories that I will create into another and differently marketed compilation of short stories. I am writing daily on two screenplays that I hope to have done and ready to submit to agents, producers and production companies by this spring. I am keeping in contact with friends and contacts, searching for opportunities to make my career move forward. I am keeping in touch with the wonderful family I live with, and doing dishes, taking out trash, mowing the lawn, building a laundry station in the garage and tending to my little medium pet. I am attempting meditation, soul travel (astral projection) and relaxation exercises. I am reading novels and self-help books that I hope will move me forward spiritually and career-wise. I am trying to keep myself healthy by getting enough sleep and eating well during the day. I am working a full-time construction job that pays me 1/3 what I am worth, and pushes me 3 times as hard as I want – after getting up at 5:30 in the morning!
So- now we come back around to patience – just one more day could get me that recognition- just one more week could get me that raise- just one more month and that query letter might be ready to submit again( or accepted this time) – just six more months and that screenplay and short story book will be ready for public view. And tonight at 1:30 am, with just 4 hours sleep before I get up and go to work, I write this blog, to share with those who may care about what it is like to be a committed writer.
Cross your fingers – I may soon be a horse you will want to bet on.
When? Who knows? Be patient.
Check Out These Reviews
Reviewed by Amelia Roberson- Master of Arts in Teaching/MFA Screenwriting Hollins
English Instructor
Geoffrey Zimmerman’s fanciful and grim imagination makes his newest collection of short stories and poetry a delightful read. From menacing girl scouts, haunted ex-wives, and lost love, the author surprises on each page.
“Great American Short Stories and Poetry” is both honest and cynical- an internal investigation and spoof. Zimmerman’s story telling is concise and original with definite consideration of the feminine perspective and its ability to challenge the male ego. “Jane Stalks Dick” and “Lorraine,” the story of a trapped house girl and her escape portray this sensitivity. Dialogue is crisp, true to each character, and his stories as quick yet poignant reads that reminds us of the creative value of short story and why they have become popular once again.
Acclaimed Film Director, Lucinda McNary commented on my book.
“Lucinda, is it ok for me to tell people what you think of my book?”
“You sure can. Now darn it, I liked it so much that the next book I started reading seemed boring. That tells you how good it is.”
“The next book is coming out soon”
“Well I can’t wait These stories were spellbinding and I am still thinking about them. Just beautiful.”
My Book Is Now On Bookbuzzr
Another Interactive Book!
And Now For Something Totally Different
My Challenge to You With Jane Stalks Dick
I BEAT THE 5000 READER MARK! CHECK THIS OUT
99 cents online price! This book is extremely interactive. 26 of the 106 pages are free to read.
Writing A Screenplay Is Like Flying An Airplane
Photograph By SwEeTcHy
By Geoffrey Zimmerman
That concept struck me the other night while I was working on my new screenplay. I have adapted it from a novel that is about ½ to 1/3 done. I am currently on page 11 of that script, which totals 60 pages, so I know I need to add scenes. I had written into a fine scene where my protagonist is beginning to discover that she has powers; powers that she had wanted to have – and had practiced hard to gain – but now she is terrified. She realizes she can do it, and tells a friend. This is where I stopped writing, and decided to sit back and daydream. I said to myself, “You know what? This is just like flying – here’s how.
In this script, I know my direction. I know MOST OF what will happen along the way – and I know where I want the story to end. When I fly, I have a direction – I BELIEVE I know what will happen (and try to prepare for anything that does happen) along the way – and I know where I want to finish – my destination airport.
While writing a screenplay, I am performing several functions at once. In present time, I am writingdescriptions, dialogue, deciding on transitions, and looking ahead to where I want to be with regard to plot.
While flying, I am controlling my heading, altitude, airspeed, groundspeed, and looking ahead for weather and traffic.
While writing a screenplay, what I am doing now is going to (hopefully) create a smooth transition to where I next want to be – where I want to be further along on my flight. I have to plan ahead.
In my current scene, where the protagonist is talking to her friend about her powers, I want the scene to end in less than two pages, into which I will set up for the opening for another scene, where I will introduce another character who has ties to the protagonist.
Now, in this screenplay, I have planned a romance, so I must let the reader (audience) know ahead of time that this is one of the things desired by my protagonist. Planning ahead. Thinking it through. I have tools I can use (skillfully I hope) to create the effect I desire.
When flying, as I near the airfield, I must know beforehand the direction I will be landing. I must know the landing pattern altitude, so I must reduce the throttle so I can descend smoothly, and be where I want to be at the right time and point in space.
In an airplane, I have the dashboard instruments that show me what is currently happening with the airplane and where I am. I have tools like the throttle, ailerons, rudder and elevator to make the plane do what I want it to do.
In my screenplay, I have cuts, dissolves, fades, flashbacks, internal monologue, sound, dialogue, my imagination and memory to make the story do what I want it to do.
Happy writing, and I’ll see you in the air.
My New Short Story And Poetry Book Is Now For Sale