Painful writing

On April 12, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing Happenings3 Comments

Someone brought to my attention today that I had stopped my script frenzy updates. I guess it’s because I’m having so many difficulties with this script, it’s hard for me to describe the already painful experience after using what is left of my brain in actually describing what these characters are supposed to be doing. As my readers know this is my first script.

I truly believe that God is teaching me something through this experience; get out of your comfort zone. I’m a novelist. I can write a short stories and essays. I’ve even done a poem or two and even received recognition for some of them in earlier years. Why is this so hard? I don’t know if it’s the structure of it, or the unfamiliarity. I have to admit that I struggle adapting to new things, so I guess this writing experience is a reflection not only of where my life is, but also where God is taking me. Now, I am almost 95% sure that God doesn’t want me to be a script writer, that’s not what I’m saying. He’s calling me to move out of my comfort zone and take risks and experience new things. It does sound great in theory, who doesn’t like something new. Nobody tells you that just like a beautiful vase that needs first to be molded and placed in the fire to get to that final product; those new things that we’re embracing have a struggle of their own.

This weekend I was about to throw in the towel. I have already written in my mind the blog posting announcing my withdrawal from the competition, then an e-mail came through. It was from one of our frenzy sponsors advising us of what they call, “the moment”, and how to get over it. The email busted every excuse I had come up to get out of the race…once again, I was busted! So I sat in front of my computer and wrote another six pages. Even with my kicking and screaming. Amazingly I’m ahead of schedule.

The story…, it’s not quite what I had envision. It has taken a life of its own, but even then I’m enjoying it again. So here’s where we are… Page 44/100 of my script on Day 12.

Pray for the angels

On April 7, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Articles3 Comments

In the last month two incredible cases have stunned the Hispanic community. It’s the death of two children and the main suspects for their departures are their own mothers. I was not there, so I don’t know the facts and this is not about making accusations. I just can even fathom how this can happen. My heart is grieved with these stories.

image from xposedmagazinenews.blogspot.com

One of these cases is Lorenzo Gonzalez Cacho from my beloved Puerto Rico. This 8 yr old boy went to bed and was found by his sister in a pool of blood. The autopsy shows that he had had wounds in his head from a blunt object and a cut on an eyebrow. He was not taken to medical care until an hour and a half after his discovery; even when the nearest Urgent Care facility was only five minutes away and 911 was never called.

The other case is Paulette Gebara Farah from Mexico. This 4yr old girl had multiple disabilities. She was unable to speak or walk. She needed constant care 24 hrs to the point where she had a few nannies to care for her in addition to her family. This girl allegedly disappeared from her room. In this case the parents went to the authorities and the press to report her disappearance. A few days later, the girl was found stuffed under the own bed in a plastic bag. Her autopsy revealed that she was asphyxiated.

My purpose with this post is not to judge the events that these to little angels endured. Yes, these are horrific crimes. I pray that those responsible for such horrors be brought to justice. I just want urge all to pray for our children. As part of the body of Christ, all of them are ours, regardless of age, gender or race. Let’s pray for their safety and protection.

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10 NIV)

Progress in quality not quantity

On April 6, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing HappeningsLeave a comment

Part of the challenge of not knowing what you’re doing is that you may have done tons of work and it could be done wrong. Last night after writing, I decided to look into our frenzy resources page and realized that there was specific software that helps you format scripts. I subscribed to one of them and had to reformat all that I had written. So today instead of progressing in my story, the time allotted went to reformatting the story. Thank God I’m ahead of schedule and that I found http://www.scripped.com

Day 5 Script Frenzy 26/100

On April 5, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing HappeningsLeave a comment

More than expected; since I am ahead of schedule, I figured I would do just a page, but the inspiration hit and was able to do much more. I don’t have a structure of where I’m going with this story, but I do know that it’s taking a life of its own. I’ve been able to enter some not necessary comedy, but some sarcasm to the story, through the sister of the bride. She’s the voice of reason. This one is definitely going to be more than a 100 pages, so now my goal is not so much the page count, but to actually finish the story.

Day 4 Script Frenzy 22/100

On April 4, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing HappeningsLeave a comment

It was a productive writing day I’ve been thinking all day on how to make this funny. I placed some physical humor. There is nothing better than a couple accidentally knocking themselves over in their honeymoon to make some great memories. Thinks are getting hairy for my main character. She’s starting to discover that her husband and she have different expectations and goals. They just made it home from the honeymoon. We’ll see what will happen next.

Day 3 Script Frenzy 14/100

On April 3, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing Happenings2 Comments

Even though I didn’t sit to write until about two hours ago, I’ve been thinking about my script all day. My brain felt fried and unmotivated. I was in the middle of a wedding scene yesterday and I couldn’t find the witty to the story. It’s supposed to be a comedy after all. I was too tired to be sarcastic and I have no experience writing comedy. So I’m a blind woman trying to describe color, a newbie to comedy, a newbie to scripts. After shopping for some home improvements, I came home and watched “The Wedding Planner”. Jennifer Lopez is not one of my favorites actress. I do like Matthew McConaughey , but if you need some inspiration on wedding scenes, you can’t go wrong with this movie. I tried to watch Made of Honor as well, but the version I found was in Chinese and my language abilities are limited in that area. After the movie, I took a nap and when I woke up, my muse was back and I was able to make it to fourteen pages. There’s hope…!

Day 2 Script Frenzy 9/100

On April 2, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing HappeningsLeave a comment

Not my best quality writing. I was trying to get water out of rocks. Although these types of challenges are fun, some days are a drag. I’m not supposed to feel like this until week two. It’s too early for the writer’s fatigue. It’s time to hit the sack to renew the brain cells and try again tomorrow.

Day 1 Script Frenzy Day 6/100

On April 1, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Writing HappeningsLeave a comment

First day of the frenzy; not really sure of what I’m doing, but here we go. I plan to get some type of format at the library this weekend, because I’m writing, but I’m not even sure that what I’m doing is right. For those who don’t know what I’m doing, this is a competition of writing a script with a minimum of 100 pages starting April1rst and submitting the script no later than April 30^th.

Today’s countdown 6/100 94 to go!

Eggs and Bunnies by the Cross

On March 31, 2010 By Naty MatosIn Articles11 Comments

As a Christian I want to celebrate things that are related to Christ and I’ve been on the search for the truth regarding our most common holidays. Easter is around the corner and all I’ve seen is colored eggs and rabbits. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but my sixth grade teacher taught me in biology that rabbits had bunnies and hens laid eggs, so that combination alone makes no sense to me.

On the other hand, from my years in church and annual “Good Friday” movies, I never saw rabbits, bunnies, hens or eggs related to the cross of Jesus Christ. Where did this come from? I’ve asked around and nobody seems to have an answer. After much searching, my good friend Google finally led me to my answer, several articles and web pages about the traditions of Easter.

In reality we are supposed to be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the thing that distinguishes Christians from other religions and sects, it’s the fact that our Lord is alive, and not only alive, but conquered death on our behalf. Somehow in the early days of Christianity, the celebration of the Resurrection coincided with a Pagan holiday dedicated to the goddess of offspring and springtime named Eastre. The story says that earlier Christians wanted to celebrate their festivities, but it would have been dangerous and Christianity was sometimes seem as criminal, therefore they decided to modify their celebration for their own safety and to attract non believers.

Why eggs and bunnies?

Both have been perceived as symbols of new life and fertility. This is also associated with the blooming of flowers in the spring time. There was an abundance of eggs during this time as eggs were not part of their diets during the Lenten season. The eggs were boiled for preservation purposes.

Colored Eggs

This tradition was created as another way to celebrate. Early Christians would exchange colored eggs, kind of like Christmas and the gifts exchange. Eggs were boiled in flowers to obtain their color, that’s why when people paint eggs in modern society, they tend to use pastels.

Now, here’s the thing; at least in the United States of America it is no longer particularly dangerous to practice our Christian beliefs and to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, so I’m thinking, ‘Let’s drop the bunnies and eggs.”. I know that all big business will take offense to this particular mindset because of what holidays mean to the economy, but it’s the truth. Some people may think, “But it’s for the children”. How about if we teach the children that we have a bigger gift than the chocolate eggs and the Eater baskets? We have eternal life!

We want the future generations to live in the truth and the light. I think its time to live in that truth by knowing what our traditions really mean. Now trust me, I’m not against chocolate. I give you permission to eat all the peeps and chocolate eggs you want, but let’s make sure we are clear in our hearts about what our true celebration is this coming Sunday; the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!